Federal government aiming to shrink temporary residents' share of population by 2027

Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Thursday the federal government is looking to shrink temporary residents' share of Canada's population over the next three years.

Miller said temporary residents made up 6.2 per cent of Canada's population in 2023 and the government is working to reduce that share to 5 per cent by 2027. That would mean a decrease in the temporary resident population of roughly 19 per cent, he said.

«This is not a historical low, driving it down by 19 per cent, but it is something that has to be done well,» he said.

«It's a reasonable goal, I think it's relatively ambitious, but its something we have to crystallize over the next three years.»

Ottawa will for the first time include temporary residents in its annual immigration levels plan, which is expected to be released in the fall.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will be conducting a review of the government's temporary work permit programs in an effort to «better align with labour market needs,» Miller said.

«Canada's future economic vibrancy depends on those we bring in today, whether we like that or not,» he added.

Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault said that as of May 1, the government will be shrinking the amount of temporary foreign workers that employers in certain sectors are allowed to hire.

The federal government rolled out temporary measures in April 2022 allowing employers in the accommodation and food service sector, among other sectors facing labour shortages, to hire up to 30 per cent of their workforce through the Temporary Foreign Worker program for low-wage positions.

Boissonnault said Thursday the cap will be cut down to 20 per cent for most sectors. The construction and health care sectors will continue to be allowed to