Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the Government of Canada's official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with its communications policy.
Introduction
Thank you Batia [Stein, EY Law] for that introduction, thank you to the Canadian Club for this opportunity, and thank you all for being here today.
I'll begin by acknowledging that we are gathered on the traditional territory of the Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Mississaugas of the Credit.
Thank you, Harpreet [Kochhar], Deputy Minister, for being here as well.
Minister's story
I'm pleased to speak to you today about immigration. It's something that's deeply woven into my personal story-and into Canada's story.
I was born in Halifax but spent much of my childhood in my parents' homeland in a mountainous village in northern Lebanon. My elementary schooling was in French and the Lebanese language.
When war broke out, we returned to Canada, and I had to adapt to a new way of life, including the English language.
These events shaped how I understand the newcomer experience.
I know that immigration can be a powerful opportunity for Canada and newcomers alike-when the right strategy is in place.
My experience as a lawyer and former Immigration Minister for Nova Scotia has also provided valuable insights that shape my decision-making every day.
We're approaching the current immigration challenges with determination, focus and compassion. And we're making progress. In January, I was pleased to announce that we met our immigration targets last year.
Today is a great opportunity to reflect on what immigration in Canada looked like when I took on this role less than a year ago, compared to where we are now.
I'll discuss how we are regaining control of and restoring stability to Canada's immigration system.
I'll share some of the many steps we're taking to ensure the system supports Canada's economy and social fabric.
Pandemic shifts
When the global pandemic hit in 2019, and with our health and economy in crisis, Canada used immigration to address urgent labour shortages and support our recovery.
Unfortunately, it also grew our population faster than many Canadian communities could absorb-putting pressure on housing, infrastructure, and social services.
Taking stock and taking action
When our new Prime Minister appointed me as Immigration Minister last spring, the task was clear:
- Restore control and balance, and rebuild confidence in our immigration system.
- Attract the best and brightest to advance the Canadian economy, all while meeting our humanitarian objectives.
We needed a reset. So, we took a thorough, honest look at pressures across the system and worked with partners across government-and the country- to set clear immigration targets within a measured framework.
Canadians gave our government a clear mandate to reduce and stabilize immigration, and we're doing it.
We've reduced new permanent residents to less than one per cent of the population.
We're reducing the non-permanent resident population, including international students and temporary workers, to reach the target of below five per cent by the end of 2027.
We're modernizing our asylum system.
We're already seeing results.
In 2025, asylum claims declined by one third. We also saw over 50 per cent fewer arrivals of temporary workers and international students in 2025 than in 2024.
And we're already seeing positive impacts: rents are trending down in general. Here in Toronto, rents are down and the city has reported easing demand from refugees and asylum seekers.
Collaboration
As a result, confidence in immigration is starting to return.
We've achieved this, in part, by paying attention to local, provincial and territorial priorities, and by focusing on results people can see in their daily lives.
When newcomers help fill labour needs, build more homes, and strengthen access to health care, all Canadians benefit.
Confidence grows when outcomes are predictable-for employers, communities, and the country. In a city like Toronto-where global talent, capital and innovation intersect-predictability is essential.
Institutions need to know rules will be applied consistently and won't change midstream.
This stability allows Canadian institutions and stakeholders to plan long-term. A predictable, strong foundation helps us meet current and anticipated future economic demands.
Targeting talent
Right now, my department is investing a great deal of focus and energy on attracting and retaining global talent-bringing in the right people to help build a stronger future.
Getting this right largely depends on how we select newcomers.
Across departments, our government has embarked on an ambitious International Talent Attraction Strategy.
At Immigration, we are using the tools at our disposal, to attract talent that grows our economy and fills key labour shortages.
Our Express Entry system is at the core of our approach for attracting and retaining the skilled workers Canada needs.
Express Entry is an online system that we use to manage applications for three permanent residence programs. These are the Canadian experience class, Federal Skilled Workers and Federal Skilled Trades.
In category-based rounds of invitations, we invite candidates in the Express Entry pool with the skills and experience we need to boost our capacity in key sectors and occupations.
Candidates are awarded points and ranked in the pool based on skills, education, language ability, work experience, and other factors. The things employers are looking for.
Today, I welcome the opportunity to announce How IRCC will sharpen Express Entry in 2026.
First, we will continue the existing categories that are working.
That means IRCC will continue to hold invitation rounds to select candidates with strong French skills as well as those with work experience in the following fields:
- Health care and social services, such as nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and chiropractors
- We'll do the same with trades such as carpenter, plumber and machinist. These categories will support our government's nation-building housing and infrastructure projects.
- We'll support education occupations: science, technology, engineering, and math, also known as "STEM."
The STEM categories include engineers and cybersecurity specialists. Tomorrow's economy will be driven by innovation and technologies like artificial intelligence. Growing these industries creates jobs and opportunities for the future.
Second, we're introducing new categories designed to meet and support Canada's evolving needs and reflect our government's determination to attract the best talent to Canada.
Here's are our new Express Entry categories for 2026:
We're adding categories for researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, recognizing that in certain occupations, many years of experience are required to make meaningful contributions.
By providing a clear path to permanent residence, we're supporting the broader federal efforts to drive innovation and growth-including a $1.7 billion initiative announced in December by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to attract world-leading researchers to Canada.
We're adding categories for candidates with work experience in transport occupations including pilots, aircraft mechanics and inspectors.
We've identified these sectors as areas in critical need. Strengthening them helps us move goods across the country and to new markets-supporting trade, supply chains, and economic resilience.
And finally, we've created a new category for skilled military recruits to attract highly skilled foreign military applicants. Eligible recruits with a job offer from the Canadian Armed Forces-including doctors, nurses and pilots-can be invited to apply for permanent residence.
They'll be subject to the same security and all military requirements. This new category supports our government's commitment to strengthen our armed forces, defend our sovereignty, and keep Canadians safe.
This category and other priority categories supports Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy announced earlier this week by adding a range of workers critical to support our sovereignty and security.
And finally, by way of a reminder, in December, I announced a new, dedicated 2026 Express Entry category for foreign medical doctors with Canadian work experience.
Providing a clear pathway to permanent residence helps keep doctors in Canada and supports better access to care.
That's why this week we'll issue invitations to candidates from a number of programs. That includes invitations to provincial and territorial nominees, and the Canadian experience class-both which have already gone out.
And in the coming days, a first round for doctors and a separate one for other health care and social services professionals.
Finally, it's important to highlight that Express Entry continues to support our long-term commitment to strengthen Francophone vitality across the country.
I recently announced that, for the fourth year in a row, Canada has exceeded its target for Francophone immigration, reaching nearly 9% of admissions outside Quebec.
For 2026, Canada plans to welcome over 30,000 francophone newcomers each year over the next three years, with the goal of reaching 12% Francophone immigration outside Quebec by 2029.
More Francophones also means more teachers, nurses, entrepreneurs and workers to contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. These are professions identified by stakeholders as being in particularly high demand.
My department is working hard to broaden and intensify our recruitment efforts.
As I mentioned earlier, IRCC's effort to attract talent is part of our government's International Talent Attraction Strategy.
We're not waiting for the right people to find us. We're going out into the world to recruit the people our country needs, connect them with Canadian employers, and highlight why Canada is the best place in the world to build their careers and lives.
Employers can plan, hire and invest with confidence, with an Express Entry program that functions effectively for them.
As we work to recruit and retain the workers we need, we know there's always room to improve, and work is ongoing.
We're listening, and we're refining how we select and score candidates in the Express Entry system. Open dialogue is central to our decision making-for me as Minister, and for my department.
We're also working closely with provinces and territories to make improvements. This includes helping reduce barriers and support faster pathways to careers in Canada, through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program.
All levels of governments must work together to grow Canada's economy.
Looking ahead
Whether its employers and entrepreneurs, regional and community leaders, refugees and settlement groups, I can tell you that we're listening. And we're also making decisions that, while tough, are necessary, in order to get our system back to balance.
Less than a year into our government's mandate, we're making progress.
Success depends on discipline. Without it, we risk this progress-and the trust of Canadians.
My department is restoring control to immigration so that it remains sustainable, targeted, and able to support Canada's economic growth and labour force needs.
Thank you.
