Plans to reduce the number of new permanent residents are raising concerns in northern Ontario

Gurkirat Singh lives in Sudbury, Ontario. On the issue of work permits, he says he is concerned that the federal government will make policy changes that will reduce the number of new permanent residents allowed in Canada over the next few years.

“I spent my time, my money and all that to get permanent residence in this country,” said Singh, who is from India.

“So I don’t think what they did was… fair.”

On Thursday morning, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced plans to reduce the projected number of new permanent residents next year by 20 percent.

The numbers will rise from 485,000 new permanent residents this year to 395,000 in 2025, then fall to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027.

“Today, with this plan, we are proposing controlled immigration that will contribute to a positive future for all Canadians and where we can better serve both Canadians and immigrants,” Miller said.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said in a press release that the government’s new immigration plan will “relieve pressure on housing, infrastructure and social services so that we can increase our economic and social well-being through immigration over the long term.”

Along with the earlier announcement that Canada will reduce its temporary resident population by 445,000 in 2025 and an additional 445,000 in 2026, the government expects the country’s population to decrease by 0.2 per cent over the next two years.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada projects that the decline in population will reduce the housing supply gap by approximately 670,000 units over the next few years.

Skilled labor shortage in mining and healthcare

Anthony Lawley, president and CEO of Sudbury-based immigration consultancy Ivey Group, says those numbers are probably accurate, but adds the government needs to do more to build new housing.

“I think there are other things the government can do from a policy perspective to encourage people to build houses and apartment buildings and things like that,” he said.

“I think the scapegoat is immigration because it’s easy.”

The Ivey Group helps skilled workers in industries such as mining and forestry immigrate to Canada and connect them with employers in northern Ontario and beyond.

“The positions we primarily source for are heavy equipment mechanics, welders, machinists, electricians and millwrights,” Lawley said.

“And frankly there aren’t enough of those available (in Canada).”

When news broke that Canada would reduce the number of new permanent residents over the next few years, Lawley said he received calls from employers and workers concerned about the changes.

“There are a lot of questions: ‘So what does this mean for me?'” he said.

But Lawley says his contacts in the industry have assured him that the government wants to continue accepting permanent residency in skilled trades and health care where there are labor shortages.

Noella Rinaldo, community economic development manager for the City of Timmins, says she is concerned about the decreasing number of new permanent residents.

“It is difficult to find enough people to fill the positions we need,” Rinaldo said.

Timmins was part of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program, which opened the path to permanent residence for newcomers settling in participating northern and rural communities.

The program has since ended, and Rinaldo said the city must look at other programs to meet its workforce needs, especially in mining and health care.

“The appeal of immigration here really fills critical workforce shortages,” he said.

“We need people. Our population is decreasing and we need to find people who can fill all the positions.”