COW – Opening Remarks – May 28, 2026

The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, K.C., P.C., MP, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Committee of the Whole Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 2026–27 Main Estimates

May 28, 2026

1017 words (~10 minutes)
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Thank you, Mr./Mme. Chair.

I welcome the opportunity to highlight how the Government is investing through the Main Estimates to support a strong and sustainable immigration system.

A system Canadians can trust

Canadian communities benefit from immigration, and Canada benefits from the talent it helps attract from around the world.

Immigration supports our economy, helps communities grow, brings families together, meets skills needs in key sectors, and reflects our long-standing commitment to protect people fleeing violence, persecution and displacement.

To achieve this—for immigration to continue to work for Canada—it must be well managed.

That means a system Canadians can trust: controlled, sustainable, fair and secure.

Clear results across the system

That's the work we have been doing. And the results are clear.

Permanent resident admissions are being stabilized at less than 1% of Canada's population beyond 2027. The temporary resident population is on track to fall below 5% of Canada's population by the end of 2027—a target the Parliamentary Budget Officer has independently projected Canada is on track to meet.

Temporary resident arrivals are already down significantly—75% between January and March of this year compared to the same period in 2024.

That includes international students. New arrivals were down 79% over the same period, following measures such as the annual cap, stronger verification of letters of acceptance, higher financial requirements, and the end of the Student Direct Stream.

We're making more deliberate choices on temporary workers, with new worker arrivals down 74% over the same period and pathways better targeted to high-skilled and high-demand jobs, including through limits on low-wage hiring, reforms to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, and pathways for select skilled workers already contributing in Canada.

And asylum claims have also dropped. Between January and March of this year, 59% fewer people submitted a claim compared to the same period in 2024. This reflects stronger front-end screening, enhanced tools to detect fraud, reforms to the international student and temporary worker programs, and Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act.

These are not isolated measures. They are part of a clear plan to bring immigration back to a more sustainable path, to lessen pressures on our communities, and keep the system focused on Canada's needs.

Canadians can trust that this plan is working.

Main Estimates that support the plan

This work continues through the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, and our Main Estimates.

Together, they show the Government's immigration plan and fiscal plan moving in the same direction: lower volumes, stronger integrity, and funding focused where it has the greatest impact.

In 2026–2027, IRCC's Main Estimates are $4.42 billion, a 15% reduction from last year.

These Estimates reflect a disciplined approach to immigration spending.

They align resources with lower immigration volumes, temporary measures winding down, and the Government's broader commitment to restrain spending, improve productivity, and focus on core priorities.

Funding the people, tools and safeguards the system needs

But fiscal discipline doesn't mean stepping away from the department's core responsibilities.

These Estimates continue to fund the essential work of managing migration, supporting newcomers, strengthening system integrity and improving service.

They also support planning and partnerships that keep immigration organized and sustainable, including the implementation of Canada's multi-year Immigration Levels Plans and the Canada–Quebec Accord.

They include limited, temporary health care coverage to eligible people, and help for provinces and municipalities responding to temporary housing pressures linked to asylum claimants.

These supports help Canada meet its humanitarian obligations, support partners on the ground, and help newcomers settle, contribute and reach their full potential in Canada.

They help maintain the in-Canada asylum system, including work to strengthen system integrity and maintain processing capacity.

And they improve service through modernized digital tools.

The lower funding profile reflects our responsible approach: reducing where volumes are lower, where temporary measures are ending, and where programs can be delivered more efficiently.

At the same time, these Estimates maintain targeted support where the system needs capacity, stability and integrity.

That includes support for the asylum system for protected persons who are already in Canada to permanent residence and for workers already here, already contributing, and able to help meet labour needs in communities across the country.

Chair, integrity is central to fairness. A fair system protects genuine applicants, prevents fraud and misrepresentation, and includes strong screening, identity verification and secure processing.

That's why my department is strengthening asylum system integrity, improving compliance, using biometrics, and modernizing the tools officers rely on.

A controlled and sustainable system also needs modern service.

Canada's leadership in a changing world

Migration has always been part of the human story. People move to build safer lives, to find opportunity, to reunite with family, and to contribute to something larger than themselves.

But around the world, migration systems are under pressure. Countries are facing the same challenge: how to respond to movement that is more complex, while keeping public confidence in the systems that manage it.

When I was at the United Nations earlier this month, it was clear that partners are looking to Canada because we are choosing a responsible path. We are protecting the value of immigration by making the system more controlled, more sustainable and more focused on the people and skills Canada needs.

That is how we keep immigration as a strength.

Delivering a controlled and sustainable system

And that is the system we are building; lower volumes, stronger integrity, more deliberate choices and a clear focus on Canada's capacity and economic needs.

That does not mean stepping away from our priorities and values. It means focusing immigration where it can have the greatest impact.

Canada will continue to attract skilled workers and top talent in sectors that matter to our economy, including health care, construction and emerging industries.

That includes physicians already here and contributing to our health care system. Through the measure I announced last December, 391 physicians have already been invited to apply for permanent residence.

We'll continue working with provinces, territories and partners to respond to labour market needs.

And we'll continue to uphold Canada's humanitarian tradition, while building a system that can endure.

These Main Estimates that work: a system that is controlled and sustainable. Fair and secure. Fiscally responsible. And focused on keeping immigration working for Canada.

That's the system Canadians expect. And that is the system we are delivering.

Thank you.