CIMM – Question No. Q-46 – October 21, 2025
Inquiry of Ministry
By: Brad Redekopp (Saskaton West)
Date: May 28 , 2025
Peter Fragiskatos, M.P.
Question
With regard to the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan and the statement in the backgrounder that “the plan will reduce the housing supply gap by approximately 670,000 units by the end of 2027”: (a) how was that number arrived at; (b) were any empirical studies done to corroborate this figure, and, if so, (i) what were the names of these studies, (ii) what specific conclusion did these studies reach with respect to that figure; (c) does the government have an algorithm to determine the appropriate number of temporary immigrants per year, per category, in relation to housing demands, and, if so, does the formula vary province by province; (d) if there is an algorithm, (i) what is the formula, (ii) when was it last adjusted, (iii) when were the two previous adjustments, if any, (iv) when is the next anticipated adjustment; (e) does the development of the formula require approval by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; and (f) given that, prior to the release of the plan, the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities said that he “would urge caution to anyone who believes the answer to our housing challenges is to close the door on newcomers,” does this plan take into account this statement, and, if so, what specific accommodations were made in the plan with regard to this statement?
Reply
Insofar as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is concerned:
Housing Supply Gap
The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan (Levels Plan) leveraged a whole-of-government, whole-of society approach to support Canada’s well-managed immigration system. Extensive consultations were carried out to support the Levels Plan in response to the changing public context, the inclusion of both permanent and, for the first time, temporary immigration targets, and the overall desire to broaden consultations and engagement.
As part of the planning process, IRCC sought a variety of perspectives on the balance between different categories and programs, including how immigration can support the vitality of communities in all parts of the country, and Canada’s response to humanitarian crises. Consultations and engagement were conducted with federal partners, provinces and territories, municipalities, stakeholder organizations, Indigenous Peoples, and the public, including through regional townhall meetings. This approach is essential to ensure a sustainable and managed migration system that enables the successful integration of newcomers, while adequately taking into account community capacity.
Specifically for the 2025-2027 Levels Plan, IRCC regularly convened federal government departments and agencies, including Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, the Department of Finance and Statistics Canada, among others, to facilitate horizontal and action-oriented policy planning, in recognition of the connections between immigration levels and other key areas. IRCC also engaged with provinces and territories, including through a dedicated working group from the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI).
This whole-of-government effort to support coordination and alignment across many intersecting mandates and priorities is needed to better align immigration objectives and levels planning with the domestic capacity and resources available to support a growing population, including housing supply.
IRCC is not in a position to speak to some elements of the question. Specifically, questions related to reducing the housing supply gap by approximately 670,000 units by the end of 2027 will need to be directed to the Department of Finance, as they produced this calculation.
Temporary resident targets
As part of the 2025-2027 Levels Plan, there was a focus on reducing the share of temporary residents to 5% of Canada’s total population by the end of 2026.
Targets for temporary resident arrivals were set at 673,650 in 2025, 516,600 in 2026, and 543,600 in 2027 with the intention of achieving this goal. Two major groups of temporary residents are included in the Levels Plan - international students, and temporary workers admitted under either the International Mobility Program (IMP) or the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW Program).
Temporary resident targets were calculated by assessing a number of factors, such as approval rates for each program, estimated renewal rates, individuals transitioning to permanent residents, the number of individuals expected to depart Canada in each program (e.g., when a permit expires), and other factors. Overall targets were set at a national level and do not include breakdowns or sub targets by province or territory.