{"id":2858,"date":"2025-06-19T17:20:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T21:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/?p=2858"},"modified":"2025-06-19T17:20:38","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T21:20:38","slug":"canadas-population-growth-slows-sharply-amid-stricter-immigration-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/?p=2858","title":{"rendered":"Canada’s Population Growth Slows Sharply Amid Stricter Immigration Policies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

June 19, 2025<\/strong> \u2014 Canada is seeing a dramatic shift in its population growth trajectory, as a result of newly implemented immigration policies aimed at reducing temporary and permanent resident admissions. Statistics Canada reports that between January 1 and April 1, 2025<\/strong>, the national population grew by only 20,107 people<\/strong>, translating to a virtually flat growth rate of 0.0%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This marks one of the slowest quarterly growth rates in recent Canadian history, comparable only to the third quarter of 2020<\/strong>\u2014when COVID-19 restrictions halted travel and migration\u2014and the third quarter of 2014<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The data reflect a notable reversal from the country\u2019s long-standing population growth trend. Between the first quarter of 2001 and the first quarter of 2024, Canada saw average quarterly growth of 0.3%<\/strong>. But since late 2023, the federal government has been actively scaling back temporary resident levels, citing concerns over the mounting strain on housing, healthcare, education, and infrastructure systems<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Policy Changes Behind the Decline<\/mark><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A closer look at recent federal immigration measures reveals a multi-pronged approach to limiting new admissions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Reduced Permanent and Temporary Resident Admissions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In October 2024, Canada released its 2025\u20132027 Immigration Levels Plan<\/strong>, lowering the permanent resident (PR)<\/strong> target from 485,000 in 2024<\/strong> to 395,000 in 2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More notably, for the first time, the plan included specific temporary resident targets<\/strong>\u2014with 673,650 admissions<\/strong> allocated for foreign workers and international students combined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government also aims to reduce the temporary resident population to just 5% of Canada\u2019s total population by the end of 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Cap on Study Permit Applications<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In a significant policy shift, Canada introduced a cap on the number of study permit applications<\/strong> it would process in 2025. The limit was set at 550,162 applications<\/strong>, with a goal of issuing no more than 437,000 permits<\/strong>\u2014a 10% reduction<\/strong> compared to 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To enforce this, the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL)<\/strong> requirement was introduced in January 2024, making it harder for international students to apply without provincial backing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Moratorium on Low-Wage Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As of September 26, 2024<\/strong>, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)<\/strong> stopped processing low-wage LMIA applications<\/strong> in areas where unemployment exceeds 6%. This effectively limits employers’ ability to hire low-wage foreign workers in affected regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without a valid LMIA, temporary foreign workers (TFWs) cannot obtain or renew their work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Restrictions on Spousal Open Work Permits<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Effective January 2025<\/strong>, eligibility for spousal open work permits (OWPs)<\/strong> has been narrowed significantly. Now, only spouses of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n