OTTAWA, Canada: The Canadian government plans to limit the number of temporary foreign workers for the first time after years of high levels of immigration, Canadian officials announced Thursday.
The City of Ottawa has proposed to reduce the number of temporary residents from the current 6.2% (2.5 million people) to 5% of the population over the next three years.
This goal will be reinforced in consultation with Canada’s provinces, some of which are curbing large-scale immigration in response to housing shortages and increased demand for services.
Restrictions on the entry of short-term foreign workers will begin on May 1.
This follows recently announced restrictions on new permits for international students and visa requirements for some Mexican travelers.
Marc Miller, Immigration Minister, told a news conference that Canada has seen a sharp increase in the volume of temporary residents in recent years. The country has seen a rise of international students to more foreign workers filling job vacancies to those fleeing wars and natural disasters.
However, Canada’s labour market is now significantly tighter, with population growth driven by large numbers of immigrants outpacing job creation.
According to government data, the number of job openings fell 3.6 percent to 678,500 in the final three months of 2023, the sixth consecutive quarterly decline from a record 983,600 in the second quarter of 2022.
Labor Secretary Randy Boissono urged employers to consider hiring refugees before bringing in temporary foreign workers.
He said that for companies that are currently allowed to hire temporary foreign workers up to 30% of their workforce, this ratio will be reduced to 20%, except in the medical and construction sectors.
Meanwhile, Miller ordered the Canadian Immigration Agency to review its existing temporary worker programme to better match workers with labour demand and eliminate abuses.
