Media Release
Migrant Rights Network
Oct 24, 2024
Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, October 24, 2024 – The Trudeau government continues to scapegoat migrants for the housing and affordability crisis, focusing on numbers of migrants instead of their rights and breaking its commitments to immigration. New permanent residents will be reduced to 365,000 by 2027, adjusting for the increases that responded to short-falls from border closures in 2020 (see background section below). For the first time, temporary immigration level targets are also being set. This announcement today by Prime Minister Trudeau glaringly did not include a single word about the rights and protections migrants need.
Syed Hussan, spokesperson for the Migrant Rights Network, expressed outrage at this announcement, stating: “We are witnessing a disgraceful assault on migrant rights in Canada as this government continues to scapegoat migrants for the housing and affordability crisis. The Liberals, desperate to claw back their sinking poll numbers, had already slashed over 775,000 study and work permits and now are further pandering to racism and xenophobia with these announcements. These Conservative-like policies are a gut-wrenching betrayal of their commitments to migrants, undocumented people, refugees and Canadians alike.”
“The government must abandon this dangerous path of using immigrants for political football, focus on rights instead of just numbers, and end the exploitation and abuse of migrants by ensuring permanent resident status for all.”
“The government’s decision to cut permanent resident levels is a shameful capitulation to rising anti-immigrant sentiment in a desperate bid to regain political favor. These changes will force migrants into temporary or undocumented status, where they will be vulnerable to even greater exploitation and abuse and yet Minister Miller today announced a regularization program with only 50 spots in 2025!” Hussan continued. “Families will be torn apart, the financial burden on our communities will skyrocket, and the Canadian economy will contract. These policies not only fuel dangerous, racist scapegoating, but they will inevitably lead to more violence against marginalized communities.”
In a powerful open letter sent this morning to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, major organizations—including National Right to Housing Network, Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, Unifor, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Oxfam, Climate Action Network, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec, Greenpeace, and National Union of Public and General Employees—warned the government that slashing permanent immigration will force more migrants into temporary and precarious situations, further entrenching their exploitation and worsening conditions for all workers. The letter, signed by nearly every major civil society group in Canada, shows that there is a unified consensus in Canada to expand, not reduce, permanent residency programs, abolish closed work permits and ensure regularization. Read the letter here.
While the Prime Minister focuses on the numbers of migrants and immigrants, he has abandoned his promises to improve rights and protections for these essential workers who pay into the social welfare system without accessing any of the rights. In fact, just today, the parliamentary Finance Standing Committee recommended ending tied work permits and establishing permanent residency for temporary migrants.
Hussan also highlighted the deep injustice of blaming migrants for Canada’s housing and affordability crisis: “The population grew by just 3.9% over two years, yet rents exploded by 20% – it is clear that migrants are not the cause. Instead of addressing corporate profiteering and systemic failures, this government is shamefully deflecting blame onto migrants. This is not just dishonest—it’s deeply harmful and reckless.”
The Migrant Rights Network and its allies are calling on the federal government to immediately reverse this decision and chart a new course that grants equal rights for all migrants. This includes ensuring permanent resident status for everyone, expanding protections for workers, and upholding human rights for all.
Background
| Year | Permanent Residency | Notes |
| 2017 – Actuals | 286,535 | Regular increase of permanent resident status averaging 0.8% of the population. |
| 2018 – Actuals | 321,055 | Regular increase of permanent resident status averaging 0.8% of the population. |
| 2019 – Actuals | 341,175 | Regular increase of permanent resident status averaging 0.8% of the population. |
| 2020 – Actuals | 184,600 | 156,400 shortfall from the intended target of 341,000 |
| 2021 – Actuals | 406,050 | 55,050 increase to catch up on the 2020 shortfall |
| 2022 – Actuals | 437,625 | 76,625 increase to catch up on the 2020 shortfall |
| 2023 – Actuals | 471,815 | ~25,000 increase to catch up on 2020 shortfall |
| 2024 – Targets | 485,000 | Only year of variation from permanent residency trends over the last 10 years. |
| 2025 – Targets | 395,000 | Adjustment down from the 2021-2023 catch-up increases |
| 2026 – Targets | 380,000 | Adjustment down from the 2021-2023 catch-up increases |
| 2027- Targets | 365,000 | Adjustment down from the 2021-2023 catch-up increases |
Interviews are available with housing and immigration experts and migrants and immigrants across Canada.
- Syed Hussan. Spokesperson, Migrant Rights Network. 416-453-3632. hussan@migrantworkersalliance.org.
- Mostafa Henaway. Immigrant Workers Centre, Quebec. 514-659-0106
- Byron Cruz. Sanctuary Health, BC. 604-315-7725.
- Stacey Gomez. Centre for Migrant Worker Rights, Nova Scotia. 902-329-9595.