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Miller Announces New Measures to Manage Temporary Resident Levels

Writer's picture: Parisa ErfaniParisa Erfani


In a recent interview with Reuters, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller discussed upcoming changes aimed at further limiting the number of non-permanent residents in Canada, including those on study or work permits. Miller indicated that the new measures might involve adjustments to Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) and enhanced enforcement.


Miller noted, “The era of unrestricted programs for entering this country is rapidly coming to a close. This represents a significant shift.”


What Changes to the PGWP Are Being Considered?


In June, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) distributed surveys to key stakeholders in post-secondary education, seeking input on potential changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program.


The feedback from the survey and the Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2024 suggests that the IRCC is contemplating aligning PGWP issuance with labor market needs. Specifically, the department aims to manage access to work permits based on the demand for certain occupations, potentially limiting permits for graduates from programs with less demand.


The survey also highlighted that IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) have collaborated to align educational programs with job titles using the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) and National Occupation Classification (NOC) systems. For example, the survey illustrates how NOCs for “carpenters” are linked to programs such as construction trades, carpentry, and woodworking/general.


Part of a Broader Plan


Earlier this year, IRCC introduced its first-ever target for non-permanent resident (NPR) levels within the immigration levels plan. The goal is to reduce NPR levels to stabilize their proportion in the Canadian population at five percent over the next three years, down from nearly seven percent as of last April.


As part of this strategy, IRCC has implemented a two-year cap on international students, limiting the number of new post-secondary students to 292,000 for this year. This cap will be reassessed in 2025, potentially affecting international student levels for that year.


Additionally, Minister Miller has indicated plans to increase “domestic draws” for federal and provincial permanent residence pathways. This approach aims to reduce the number of temporary residents (TRs) by prioritizing them for permanent residence draws, rather than recruiting new permanent residents from abroad, which could exacerbate housing and affordability issues linked to immigration.


These measures come at a time when immigration is under intense scrutiny, with Miller noting in the Reuters interview that “[Immigration will be] a top issue, if not the top issue, in the next election.”



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