Maple News reports that Canada’s provincial premiers are stepping up their calls for expanded authority over immigration policy, including the ability to issue their own work permits and influence economic immigration levels based on local labour market needs. This growing demand took center stage at the Council of the Federation meeting, held in Huntsville, Ontario, which concluded on July 24, 2025.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford led the charge, asserting that provinces are prepared to exercise their constitutional authority to act independently if necessary. “We will be issuing our own work permits. We aren’t going to sit around and wait for the federal government,” Ford said during the closing press conference, expressing frustration over perceived federal inaction.
Under Section 95 of Canada’s Constitution, immigration is a shared responsibility between federal and provincial governments. Premiers now argue that provinces, due to their direct connection to local employers and economic realities, are better equipped to set immigration targets and rapidly address sector-specific labour shortages.
Concerns about reduced allocations under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were echoed across the table. The PNP allows provinces and territories (excluding Quebec) to select newcomers suited to local labour market priorities. Premiers noted that PNP allocations were drastically cut in 2024 under the Trudeau administration, pushing local communities, particularly rural ones, into economic vulnerability.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew emphasized that limited immigration inflows are already affecting job markets in smaller towns. “There’s consensus among the premiers that we’re going to take a much more active approach,” he said. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and other provinces supported the call for decentralized immigration powers, with specific attention to removing bureaucratic lags.
Work permit delays for asylum seekers were another major sticking point. Ford criticized the system for leaving tens of thousands of work-ready individuals idle due to prolonged processing times. In Ontario alone, over 100,000 asylum seekers remain without legal employment access, many housed in hotels at public expense.
Quebec Premier François Legault also weighed in, contrasting Canada’s three-year average asylum processing time with France’s three-month mechanism. He supported Ottawa’s recent Strong Borders legislation, aimed at tightening refugee claim procedures and eliminating backlogs.
Responding to the criticism, federal Immigration Minister Lena Diab reaffirmed her commitment to working with provinces. She recently announced a $3.2 billion investment over three years to enhance newcomer settlement services, including language programs and credential recognition support. This funding will benefit over 500 organizations across Canada, excluding Quebec.
Despite these efforts, many premiers argue that Ottawa’s measures, while welcome, fall short of meeting the urgency of provincial needs. They continue to push for faster pathways into the labour market and more direct oversight of immigration flows that can better reflect regional economic demands.
If provinces gain broader immigration controls, Maple News notes that Canada could see a shift toward regionally tailored immigration strategies—potentially improving responsiveness and adaptability but also raising questions about the consistency of national immigration policies.