PM Trudeau says Canada to significantly slash immigration numbers: Video

This decision comes amidst growing concerns about housing affordability and the strain on public services.

During a press conference on Parliament Hill, Trudeau acknowledged that his government's previous immigration targets, which aimed to welcome 500,000 new permanent residents annually, had not achieved the desired balance between population growth and resource management.

"In the tumultuous times as we emerged from the pandemic, between addressing labour needs and maintaining population growth, we didn't get the balance right," Trudeau stated. "Today, we're announcing that we will reduce the number of immigrants we bring in over the next three years, which will result in a pause in the population growth over the next two years."

Trudeau's government has faced mounting criticism over its immigration policies, particularly regarding the impact on housing affordability. The rapid population growth has been cited as a contributing factor to the housing crisis in many Canadian cities.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller emphasised that the lower immigration numbers would help address the housing shortage and reflect the changing public opinion on immigration.

The revised targets will see a reduction in the number of new permanent residents to 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027.

This marks a significant decrease from the previous goals and aims to stabilise population growth, allowing the government to make necessary adjustments to healthcare, housing, and social services.