A fresh report from Statistics Canada reveals that non-permanent residents (NPRs) make up a far smaller portion of Canada’s homeownership landscape than many might assume, despite ongoing debates about immigration and housing affordability.
According to the data collected by the Canadian Housing Statistics Program and released on December 11, 2025, NPRs represented less than 1% of all homeowners in the country as of the beginning of 2022. This figure counters widespread public speculation that newcomers are a dominant force driving up housing demand and prices.
NPRs are defined as individuals in Canada on valid temporary permits—such as international students, temporary foreign workers, and refugee claimants. The data includes all provinces except Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, and Quebec. Figures were also excluded for the territories due to small population samples.
Across the provinces analyzed, NPR rates of homeownership remained consistently low. Even in Prince Edward Island (PEI), which recorded the highest share, NPRs accounted for just 0.39% of homeowners. Alberta saw the lowest, at 0.10%. Other provinces like Ontario and British Columbia reported similarly modest numbers at 0.13%.
A breakdown by province shows that the proportion of NPR homeowners is negligible nationwide:
– PEI: 0.39%
– Manitoba: 0.25%
– Nova Scotia: 0.17%
– British Columbia: 0.13%
– Ontario: 0.13%
– New Brunswick: 0.10%
– Alberta: 0.10%
These findings suggest that, contrary to certain narratives, non-permanent residents have a minimal impact on real estate ownership in Canada. Most NPR homeowners tended to concentrate in major urban areas within each province, such as Charlottetown in PEI or Calgary in Alberta.
As Canada continues to welcome record numbers of immigrants to support its labour force and economic goals, this data helps clarify the true extent of NPR involvement in the housing market—a topic often highlighted in discussions about housing shortages and affordability.
Maple News reports that this insight is crucial as policymakers, stakeholders, and the public evaluate the complex interplay between immigration and real estate trends in Canada.