Pressures on housing | Ottawa wants to stabilize immigrant numbers

The Canadian Press reported on Thursday internal documents from 2022 that show senior immigration officials have warned their deputy ministers that a significant increase in immigration will affect access to housing and services.

The federal government has finally decided to increase the number of permanent residents Canada will welcome to 500,000 in 2025, nearly double the 2015 threshold.

In a joint statement released on Friday, Ministers Fraser and Miller defended the decision to increase immigration restrictions, saying the economy will continue to deteriorate following the COVID-19 pandemic.

They argue that businesses facing labor shortages will likely close their doors, and health care and other services will also be affected by delayed or more difficult access.

But ministers Miller and Fraser also said pressures on housing had pushed the Liberal government to adjust its immigration targets as well as admissions of temporary residents.

Minister Miller has decided to stabilize the number of permanent residents coming to Canada at 500,000 by 2026, the same number in 2025.

The Liberal government made changes to the international student program to address fraud and cost-of-living issues for these newcomers.

Liberal ministers have said the federal government is prepared to take more action if post-secondary institutions cannot ensure they can meet the housing needs of international students.

“We expect educational institutions to accept only the number of students they can accommodate or help them find off-campus housing,” the joint statement said.

“We are prepared to take the necessary steps – including significantly limiting visas – to ensure that designated educational institutions provide adequate services and support to students as part of the academic experience. »