Plans to cut back on new permanent residents spark concerns in northern Ontario

Gurkirat Singh, who lives in Sudbury, Ont. on a work permit, says he worries that policy changes from the federal government that will reduce the number of new permanent residents allowed in Canada over the next few years.

"I spent my time, my money and all that stuff just to get permanent residency in this country," said Singh, who is from India.

"So I don't think that's fair… what they are doing."

On Thursday morning, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced plans to cut the projected number of new permanent residents by 20 per cent in the next year.

The numbers would go from 485,000 new permanent residents this year to 395,000 in 2025, with further cuts to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027.

"Today with this plan, we're proposing a managed migration that … will contribute to a positive future for all Canadians and one where we can serve both Canadians and immigrants better," Miller said.

In a news release, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said the government's new immigration plan will alleviate "pressures on housing, infrastructure and social services so that over the long term we can grow our economic and social prosperity through immigration."

Along with an earlier announcement that Canada would reduce its temporary resident population by 445,000 in 2025, and an additional 445,000 in 2026, the government expects the country's population will decrease by 0.2 per cent over the next two years.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada expects that drop in the population will reduce the housing supply gap by around 670,000 units over the next few years.

Skilled labour shortage in mining, health care

Anthony Lawley, the president and CEO of Sudbury-based immigration consulting firm the Ivey Group, says those numbers are likely accurate, but adds the government needs to do more to get new housing built.

"I think there's other things that the government could have done from a policy perspective to incentivize people to build houses and condo buildings and things like this," he said.

"I think the scapegoat is immigration because it's easy."

The Ivey Group helps skilled workers in industries like mining and forestry emigrate to Canada and connect them with employers in northern Ontario and beyond. 

"The positions that we primarily source for are heavy equipment mechanics, welders, machinists, electricians and millwrights," Lawley said.

"And frankly there's just not enough of them available [in Canada]."

When news broke that Canada would be reducing the number of new permanent residents over the next few years, Lawley says he got calls from employers and workers worried about the changes.

"A lot of questions: 'So just what does this mean for me?'" he said.

But Lawley says his industry contacts have assured him that the government wants to keep accepting permanent residents in the skilled trades and health care, where there are labour shortages.

Noella Rinaldo, the director of community economic development for the City of Timmins, says she worries about the reduced numbers of new permanent residents.

"It's hard to find enough people to be able to fill the positions that we need," said Rinaldo.

Timmins was part of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, which created a path to permanent residency for newcomers who settled into participating northern and rural communities.

The program has since ended, and Rinaldo says the city will need to look at other programs to meet its labour needs – especially in mining and health care.

"The attraction of immigration here is really filling critical labour shortages," she said.

"We need people. Our population is going down and we need to find people to be able to fill the positions across the board."