Canada’s new immigration rules help to control population growth, i.e., changes in immigration policy have all but halted Canada’s population growth, according to the numbers released by Statistics Canada.
Between January 1, 2025, and April 1, 2025, Canada’s population increased by only 20,107.
The reduction in population growth was primarily driven by a decrease in temporary and permanent residence admissions.
According to Statistics Canada, the number of temporary residents in Canada fell by 61,111 from January 1, 2025, to April 1, 2025.
This increase has not been seen since the third quarter of 2020 when the population dropped because of COVID-19 border restrictions.
On the contrary, Canada’s population averaged a growth rate of 0.3% between the first quarter of 2001 and the first quarter of 2024.
Throughout 2024, the Canadian federal government embarked on a sustained program to reduce Canada’s temporary resident levels, citing the increased pressure on housing, social services, and other infrastructure as a rationale.
Below are the measures the government has taken which have been driving the decrease in temporary resident population levels.
Immigration Measures
As Canada’s new immigration rules help to control population growth, there are certain measures that are likely to contribute to the slowing quarterly population growth reported by Statistics Canada.
Fewer Temporary And Permanent Resident Admissions
In October 2024, the federal government declared that they would reduce the number of permanent resident admissions in their 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan.
In 2024, the permanent resident admissions target was 485,000, whereas the most recent Levels Plan highlights a PR admissions target of 395,000 for 2025.
This year’s Levels Plan also introduced temporary resident targets, with an overall target of 673,650 admissions for foreign workers and international student admissions.
The federal government has stated that it intends to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada to 5% of the population by the end of 2026.
The first quarter of 2025 represents the sixth consecutive quarter of slowing population growth since these intended changes were declared.
Cap On Study Permit Applications
Earlier this year, the federal government declared it would be capping study permit applications at 550,162 for 2025.
The number of study permits it aims to issue is lower yet, at 437,000 – which represents a 10% decrease from the 2024 cap.
Study permit caps are a relatively new immigration stabilization strategy, first introduced in 2024.
In order to implement this cap, IRCC introduced Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) requirements for most study permits submitted on January 22, 2024, onwards.
Moratorium On Low-Wage LMIAs
Certain LMIAs submitted from September 26, 2024, onward will no longer be processed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
The government announced this change in August 2024, applying it to the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Officials will not process applications that offer a wage below the provincial or territorial threshold or are located in a census metropolitan area (CMA) with a 6% or higher unemployment rate.
The federal government releases a list of CMAs and their corresponding unemployment rate quarterly.
Without an LMIA, employers cannot hire a foreign national through the TFWP, and the TFWP holder cannot renew their work permit.
Restricted Eligibility For Spousal Open Work Permits
As of January 2025, Canada introduced new rules affecting open work permits (OWPs) for spouses of international students and foreign workers. These changes aim to better align work permit access with labor market needs and program levels.
Now, international students make their spouses eligible for an OWP only if they enroll in a master’s or doctoral program that lasts at least 16 months or in a designated professional program such as nursing, engineering, or law.
For foreign workers, the eligibility for a spouse to receive an OWP depends on the worker’s occupation.
To qualify, the worker must hold a valid work permit for at least 16 months at the time their spouse applies and must work in a TEER 0 or 1 occupation or in a designated in-demand TEER 2 or 3 role.
Post-Graduation Work Permit Eligibility Restrictions
Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program also saw significant changes in 2024.
As of November 1, 2024, international students who applied for a study permit after this date must meet new eligibility requirements to qualify for a PGWP. These include studying in a program tied to Canada’s labor market needs and meeting certain language proficiency standards.
Programs exempt from these rules will still qualify. Still, the shift means international students must now be more strategic when choosing their study programs in Canada to secure future work opportunities.
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