Following their federal election victory, the Liberal Party of Canada, led by Mark Carney, is preparing to implement a balanced and recalibrated approach to Canada’s immigration policy, with a focus on sustainability, economic growth, and efficiency.
While the Liberals are expected to form a minority government, their election platform outlines several clear priorities and policy adjustments that signal a shift toward stabilizing growth and addressing housing and labour pressures across the country.
Stabilizing Permanent Resident Admissions
The Liberal platform acknowledges that Canada’s immigration levels, while critical for economic and demographic growth, have grown at an unsustainable rate. As a result, the party has committed to stabilizing permanent resident (PR) admissions at below 1% of Canada’s population annually after 2027—a policy that aligns closely with existing targets under the current Immigration Levels Plan:
- 395,000 PRs in 2025
- 380,000 in 2026
- 365,000 in 2027
With Canada’s population projected at 41.5 million in 2025, these targets already meet the proposed threshold.
Reducing Temporary Resident Levels
One of the most significant shifts promised by the Liberals is a reduction in the temporary resident population, which reached 3.02 million (7.25% of the population) in early 2025. The Liberals plan to reduce this to below 5% by the end of 2027, focusing on international students and temporary workers.
This reduction will be driven by:
- Caps on new study permits
- Stricter eligibility for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) and Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWPs)
- A greater emphasis on transitions to permanent residency or natural attrition through permit expiry
Mark Carney has emphasized that caps will remain in place until housing supply expands and the country has adjusted to the surge in immigration during the pandemic.
Boosting Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec
To strengthen francophone minority communities, the Liberals will raise francophone immigration targets outside Quebec to 12% by 2029. This builds on existing goals of 8.5% (2025), 9.5% (2026), and 10% (2027).
Enhancing Economic Immigration Pathways
A key Liberal priority is supporting economic growth by revamping the Global Skills Strategy, which offers expedited work permits for high-skilled international talent. The new plan includes:
- Targeted recruitment of skilled professionals, especially from the United States
- Programs to help high-growth Canadian firms attract foreign talent
- Collaboration with provinces to streamline foreign credential recognition and accelerate the integration of internationally trained professionals
Digital Modernization and System Reforms
To improve service delivery, the Liberals plan to:
- Expand the use of digital tools to reduce processing delays
- Eliminate application backlogs
- Provide legal aid for asylum seekers to ensure timely access to justice
Additionally, they will:
- Increase resources for border security
- Tighten visa controls
- Enforce immigration fraud penalties more aggressively
- Continue respecting Quebec’s jurisdiction over immigration under CUSMA and existing intergovernmental agreements
While the exact legislative roadmap remains to be seen, Carney’s Liberals appear poised to take a measured and multi-pronged approach—balancing immigration’s economic value with infrastructure capacity and public confidence.