Canada May Consider Revising Immigration Targets As The Housing Crisis Continues: According to the latest news, Canada may consider revising its immigration targets as it struggles with a growing housing crisis.
Also, Canada aims to welcome new permanent residents, around 465,000 in 2023, 485,000 in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.
The housing minister of Canada, Sean Fraser, highlighted the importance of achieving a balanced approach to the immigration policy.
He acknowledged the need to consider changes while continuing to prioritize high immigration levels.
During an interview, Fraser emphasized the importance of aligning immigration policies with the capacity of communities to absorb newcomers.
It includes considering factors such as housing, healthcare, and infrastructure and adopting a practical approach to address the challenges.
The objective is to manage immigration in a manner that does not strain existing resources and services.
The recognition that temporary immigration programs may need modification, especially in their uncapped nature, shows a readiness to refine immigration mechanisms to serve newcomers and host communities better.
Fraser acknowledged that immigration plays a strong role in Canada’s global economy; he also said that blaming immigration for the housing crisis alone is not right.
In 2022, enterprising immigration targets were introduced to manage labor shortages and fill skill gaps in critical sectors, reflecting an aggressive approach to economic development.
The government of Trudeau has consistently increased its target for permanent residents. In the previous year, international students, temporary workers, and refugees constituted an even larger group, contributing to the record-breaking one million total arrivals.
A survey by Abacus Data last month found that 61% of respondents thought Canada’s immigration target was too high, and 63% believed that the number of immigrants coming to the country negatively impacted housing.
According to David Coletto, the CEO of Abacus Data, the driving force behind this issue is rational concerns rather than xenophobia.
Many people feel that Canada’s growth hasn’t been accompanied by increased infrastructure, causing strain on public opinion towards immigration in general.
Coletto warns against assuming Canada is immune to the same forces that have affected other countries.
So, it is all about Canada may consider revising immigration targets as the housing crisis continues.
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Source:- economictimes.indiatimes.com
