Mark Carney Signals Return to Controlled Immigration Growth

Prime Minister Mark Carney has signaled a shift in Canada's immigration strategy, suggesting a return to a controlled increase in population following nearly three years of significant intake restrictions. This direction aligns with a broader government agenda to establish Canada as the leading economy in the G7.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced that the government will prioritize foreign workers to fill critical labor gaps over the next decade. To support this, the Express Entry program will be updated on November 3 to award additional points to applicants with Canadian work experience or job offers in high-wage sectors, including medicine, information technology, and engineering. The government intends to maintain a 64% share for the economic class and increase the number of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec.

Despite the shift toward growth, the government is maintaining specific constraints. Carney pledged to limit temporary residents to 5% of the total population by the end of 2027 and keep annual permanent resident admissions under 1% of the population thereafter. Current projections from Diab suggest holding permanent resident intake at 380,000 for 2027 and 2028, while reducing temporary residents to 370,000. The federal government is required to table its formal immigration levels plan for 2027-2029 by November 1.