Maple News reports that Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is set to unveil its 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan by November 1, marking a pivotal shift in how the country approaches both permanent and temporary immigration streams.
Traditionally, the Immigration Levels Plan outlines Canada’s targets for permanent residents admitted each year, with additional projections covering a three-year period. These annual plans play a central role in guiding population growth and shaping broader national priorities, including housing demand, health care capacity, labor market strategy, and fiscal planning.
However, 2024 marks a turning point. For the first time, temporary residents—such as those on study permits, work permits, and visitor visas—will be integrated into the plan. This major policy adjustment was announced by Immigration Minister Marc Miller in March, aligning with the government’s recent push to better manage the overall volume of newcomers entering Canada.
In 2023, Canada hosted more than 2.5 million temporary residents, representing approximately 6.2% of the population. The forthcoming plan will aim to reduce this proportion to 5% over the next three years. Although exact figures have not yet been released, the government has already taken several steps that hint at the direction of future targets.
One of the most significant developments has been the introduction of a cap on study permits. In January 2024, IRCC imposed a two-year cap, limiting the number of processed study permit applications to 606,000, with an anticipated approval cap of 360,000. This 35% decrease from 2023 levels represents a significant policy shift, particularly as the minister previously expressed hesitation about imposing such limitations on international student intake.
International students made up roughly 42% of Canada’s temporary resident population last year, making them a key demographic in the federal government’s new strategy to recalibrate immigration flows. The move is also intended to ease pressure on public services and housing markets, while ensuring that international students can access the support systems and quality education promised to them.
The inclusion of temporary resident figures in the Immigration Levels Plan signals a more comprehensive, data-driven approach to immigration management, aiming to balance population growth with sustainable social infrastructure. It also suggests closer coordination among federal and provincial governments to address capacity constraints while continuing to meet labor market and demographic needs.
While the final details of the plan are still awaited, stakeholders across housing, education, healthcare, and the labor sector will be watching closely, as these changes have far-reaching implications for economic planning and community development across Canada.