In a recent letter to his cabinet, Prime Minister Mark Carney outlined his vision for Canada’s immigration system—one that aims to strike the right balance between welcoming skilled newcomers and managing growth in a sustainable way.
This direction, part of his top seven priorities for the federal government, gives us a good idea of where immigration policy is headed under Carney’s leadership.
Unlike past prime ministers who’ve sent individual letters to each minister, Carney hasn’t confirmed if he’ll do the same. But the overall message is clear: immigration will continue to play a key role in shaping Canada’s future—just more thoughtfully and strategically.
Keeping immigration levels sustainable
One of the main takeaways from the letter is the push to keep immigration numbers at a “sustainable level.” During the election campaign, Carney and the Liberal Party acknowledged that while immigration is crucial for the country, recent record-high levels have added pressure on housing, health care, and other services.
That’s why the government plans to gradually reduce permanent resident admissions to below 1% of Canada’s total population each year, starting in 2027. With Canada expected to reach about 41.5 million people in 2025, that works out to around 415,000 newcomers annually.
Still committed to bringing in top talent
While overall numbers may come down a bit, the focus on attracting the best and brightest from around the world remains strong. The government is especially interested in filling jobs in sectors like technology, health care, and engineering—areas where skilled workers are in high demand.
One of the key tools for this is the Global Skills Strategy (GSS)which helps fast-track work permits for foreign professionals. In some cases, approvals can happen in as little as two weeks. This program is designed to help Canadian companies, especially startups and innovation-driven businesses, hire the global talent they need to grow.
The Liberals are also looking at ways to improve the GSS—such as making it easier for high-growth companies and entrepreneurs to bring in skilled workers, including top professionals from the United States.
Making credential recognition easier
Another major focus is tackling one of the biggest frustrations many newcomers face: getting their international education and work experience recognized in Canada.
Carney’s government says it’s committed to working with provinces and territories to speed up credential recognition, especially in areas with serious labour shortages. This means internationally trained doctors, engineers, IT professionals and others could be able to work in their fields sooner.
At the heart of it, Carney’s message is about balance: keeping Canada open to global talent while making sure the country’s infrastructure can handle growth. It’s also about helping newcomers succeed—not just on paper, but in practice.
