Canada is planning to set limits on the number of temporary residents it lets in for the first time in its history.
Immigration minister Marc Miller said on Thursday that the number will be reduced over the next three years, with the first cap to be set in September.
It will apply to international students, as well as foreign workers and asylum claimants.
The minister has previously spoken about revising immigration targets due to an affordability and housing crisis.
In his announcement, Mr Miller said that Canada plans to reduce the number of temporary residents to 5% of the population, down from the current 6.2%.
He added that the move is to ensure “sustainable” growth in the number of temporary residents coming into Canada.
In recent years, Mr Miller said Canada has seen a “sharp increase” of temporary residents admitted to the country.
As of 2024, the minister said there are a total of 2.5 million temporary residents in Canada. This is up from nearly one million in 2021, according to figures by national data collection agency Statistics Canada.
The country relies heavily on temporary foreign workers to fill labour shortages, Mr Miller noted, but said “changes are needed to make the system more efficient”.
It also has international obligations to let in those who are fleeing war and political prosecution.
