LIBERAL PLANS FOR CANADA'S IMMIGRATION POLICY
Immigration law
06 May
As the Liberal Party gears up to form a new government in Canada, its immigration platform is ready to shake things up — and it looks like some major policy changes are on the way.
The Liberal Party wants to steady Canada’s immigration system by changing the number of permanent and temporary residents. This is meant to help address concerns that housing and public services are being stretched thinner than a pancake on Sunday morning.
The Liberal Party's platform recognizes that the former government's immigration policies led to an "unsustainable" increase in immigration levels. To address this issue, the Liberals plan to limit permanent admissions to less than 1% of Canada’s population annually after 2027. With Canada’s population projected to reach approximately 41.5 million in 2025, the current immigration targets are already set below this 1% threshold.
This goal would be achieved through temporary residents transitioning to:
permanent status or
leaving Canada as their permits expire.
Party leader Mark Carney stressed the importance of a careful approach, noting that "immigration limits will stay in effect until we have increased housing availability and adjusted to the immigration levels seen in the country during the pandemic.
It is worth noting that the current Immigration Levels Plan already aims for figures below this limit, with permanent resident targets of:
If you recall, the former Liberal administration, under then-immigration Minister Marc Miller, rolled out several measures to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada because apparently, even immigration needed a bit of a breather. These steps included placing a limit on study permit applications and tightening the rules for who can qualify for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) and Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWPs).
The Liberal Party has proposed raising the target for French-speaking immigration outside Quebec to 12% by 2029. The Liberals' platform also outlines plans to raise francophone immigration outside Quebec to 12% by 2029, surpassing the current federal targets. According to the latest Immigration Levels Plan, it is set as below:
The goal of this boost is to strengthen French-speaking communities outside Quebec and help fill population gaps and job openings because even francophone towns need a few more people to say “bonjour” to in the morning.
The Liberals vow to update the immigration system by:
Using digital tools to speed up application processing and reduce delays.
Providing legal help to asylum seekers and refugees for faster advice and quicker case resolutions.
Removing people whose claims have been rejected, once all legal steps are completed.
Increasing funding for border security, tightening visa rules, and fighting immigration fraud more effectively.
Continuing to share responsibility for immigration with the Quebec government.
Overall, the Liberal Party is preparing to implement changes that support economic migration:
The Global Skills Strategy is a national initiative that assists qualifying Canadian companies in hiring skilled workers from abroad, with expedited work permit processing within two weeks.
The Liberal Party’s platform highlights plan to overhaul the Global Skills Strategy to help bring in top international talent.
The Party commits to collaborating with provinces and territories to simplify and accelerate the recognition of foreign qualifications and international work experience.
Additionally, the Liberal Party's proposal includes new initiatives aimed at helping rapidly growing Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs attract talent. It also expresses a focus on attracting highly skilled workers, particularly from the United States.
Although we don’t have a magic wand to reveal exactly which policies the Liberals will pull out of their hat, their platform and campaign promises give us a decent preview - kind of like reading the trailer before the full immigration movie drops.
With extensive experience in immigration law, RRM Law supports both individuals and businesses by offering expert guidance and legal representation in areas such as work permits, permanent residency, family sponsorship, and asylum applications.
We help navigate complex processes, ensuring all documents are in order and requirements are met. Additionally, RRM Law offers support in business immigration and provides advice on compliance with Canadian immigration laws. We also assist with credential recognition, help resolve legal challenges, and stay up-to-date with policy changes, ensuring clients are informed about how new regulations may impact their immigration status.
RRM Law delivers immigration and legal services with unmatched professionalism, efficiency, and reliability you can count on.
We can be reached via Ph: (905) 798-3776 or Email: info@rrmlawoffice.com