Maple News reports that Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller has announced plans to introduce a new set of measures aimed at tightening controls on the number of temporary residents in the country. In a recent interview, Miller confirmed that these changes could specifically impact work permit issuance—particularly through the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program—and overall enforcement to manage inflow more effectively.
“The era of uncapped immigration programs is coming to an end. This is a significant policy shift,” Minister Miller stated. His comments reflect a broader governmental effort to manage the growing population of non-permanent residents (NPRs) in Canada, which now account for nearly seven percent of the population.
In June, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted surveys targeting key stakeholders in the post-secondary education sector. The department is considering aligning the PGWP program more closely with the country’s labour market needs. This would mean prioritizing work permits for international graduates entering high-demand sectors and limiting access for those in oversupplied fields.
To support this strategic alignment, IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) have mapped educational programs to occupations using the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) and the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system. For example, programs in construction trades and carpentry could be directly linked to in-demand roles such as carpenters.
This upcoming policy shift is part of Canada’s wider immigration strategy. For the first time ever, the 2024 Immigration Levels Plan includes a target for reducing the number of temporary residents. The government aims to bring the percentage of NPRs down to five percent of the total population within three years.
Already this year, a two-year cap was introduced on new international students, limiting study permit approvals to 292,000. This cap may be revised in 2025 based on the government’s evaluation of housing and labour market pressures.
Additionally, Minister Miller has expressed interest in conducting more ‘domestic draws’ through federal and provincial immigration programs. These would prioritize existing temporary residents already in Canada for permanent residency opportunities, rather than relying on new overseas applicants. This strategy is designed to reduce immigration-related strain on housing and public services.
Maple News will continue to provide updates as these policies are implemented and their impacts assessed across Canada’s immigration and education systems.