CIMM – Narrative – November 25, 2024

Communications Narrative and Key Messages

Immigration is essential to Canada’s economic growth and must be responsive to our country’s needs. Setting goals and targets for immigration is a critical part of how we manage a comprehensive, sustainable immigration system that balances community capacity, humanitarian responsibilities and economic objectives, while prioritizing the health, safety and security of Canadians. Decisive measures were taken in response to the pandemic to attract some of the world’s best and brightest to study and work in Canada, and to integrate them into the economy quickly. This meant a faster economic recovery.
Today, however, Canada’s economy has evolved, and the world is a different place. Though newcomers are still important to our economy, high levels of immigration have contributed to increasing pressures on Canada’s infrastructure and social services, including housing, health care and education.
The government has listened to Canadians, and will continue to protect the integrity of our system and grow our population responsibly. For the first time, the Levels Plan includes targets for both temporary residents, such as international students and foreign workers, and permanent residents. This will support a well-managed and more comprehensive approach to immigration planning that takes into account the pressures facing our country so that everyone—including newcomers—has access to the quality jobs, homes and supports they need to thrive.

Canadians and the parliamentarians who represent them have the right to know how public funds are being spent, and to hold the government to account.
The Supplementary Estimates (B) primarily seek funding to support the Department’s work in addressing irregular migration. This includes funding for the Interim Federal Health Program and additional support to provinces and municipalities as they provide interim housing to asylum claimants.
The additional funding will also help advance the development of a more modern, digital and data-driven migration system, as well as help us continue to fulfill humanitarian commitments related to the resettlement of vulnerable individuals.

Immigration is vital to Canada's economic growth, but record levels of immigration have contributed to pressures on housing, infrastructure and social services as systems take time to adapt and grow.
It's important that our immigration system is responsive to the country's needs. That is why for the next few years, our Immigration Levels Plan will focus on well-managed, sustainable growth for the long term.
This year, we are reducing our permanent resident targets and we are including temporary resident targets to help us align immigration planning with community capacity. This is in line with our commitment to reduce temporary resident volumes to 5% of the Canadian population by the end of 2026.
Through this plan, we are leveraging our existing programs so that everyone, including newcomers, has access to the quality jobs, homes and supports they need to thrive.