Statistics Canada has reported that modifications to immigration policy have significantly slowed Canada’s population growth. From January 1 to April 1, 2025, the population rose by just 20,107 individuals, representing a growth rate of 0.0%. This decline in population increase was primarily caused by a decrease in the number of temporary and permanent residents admitted. Stay updated first. Statistics Canada reports that from January 1, 2025, to April 1, 2025, the number of temporary residents in Canada decreased by 61,111. This minor quarterly decline hasn’t happened since the third quarter of 2020, which saw a population drop due to COVID-19 border limitations, matching the decline of the third quarter of 2014. Conversely, between the first quarter of 2001 and the first quarter of 2024, Canada’s population grew at an average rate of 0.3%. Throughout 2024, the federal government of Canada implemented a robust initiative to lower temporary resident numbers, citing rising demands on housing, social services, and other infrastructure as reasons. The following outlines the actions taken by the government that have led to the reduction in the temporary resident population. Several factors may be contributing to the reported slowdown in quarterly population growth by Statistics Canada, including fewer admissions for both temporary and permanent residents. In October 2024, the federal government revealed plans to cut the number of permanent resident (PR) admissions in their 2025-27 Immigration Levels Plan. The target for PR admissions in 2024 was set at 485,000, but the recent plan indicates a reduction to 395,000 for 2025. This year’s plan also set temporary resident targets, aiming for a total of 13,650 admissions for foreign workers and international students. The government has expressed its goal of limiting temporary residents in Canada to 5% of the population by the end of 2026. The first quarter of 2020 marks the sixth successive quarter of a slowdown in population growth since these changes were announced, which includes a cap on study permit applications. Earlier this year, the federal government declared it would limit the processing of study permit applications to a cap of 21,22 for 23, starting from January 216, 22024, to December 202024. The target number of study permits to be issued is even lower at 22024,21, which marks a 22024% reduction compared to the cap set for 2024. The introduction of study permit caps is a new measure aimed at stabilizing immigration, first implemented in 2024. To enforce this cap, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) requirements for the majority of study permits submitted from January 22, 2024, onward. Additionally, there is a moratorium on low-wage Labor Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs). Starting September 26, 2024, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will no longer accept certain Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs). This update pertains to the low-wage category of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and was announced on August 13. Applications with wages below the provincial or territorial minimum or those submitted in a census metropolitan area (CMA) with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher will not be considered. The federal government provides a quarterly update of CMAs and their unemployment rates. Employers will not be able to hire foreign workers through the TFWP without an approved LMIA, and existing TFWP workers will not be able to renew their work permits. Additionally, there will be stricter rules regarding spousal open work permits. Starting in January 2025, the federal government specified that only the spouses of specific international students and foreign workers can apply for an open work permit (OWP). The eligibility for spousal OWPs has been limited to those individuals married to international students enrolled in master’s programs lasting 16 months or more, doctoral programs, and certain professional programs, including nursing, engineering, and law. Moreover, for foreign workers, the spouse can only apply for an OWP if the worker is employed in occupations classified as TEER 0 or 1, or in certain in-demand TEER 2 and 3 roles. Additionally, the foreign worker must possess a valid work permit for at least 16 months when their spouse submits the OWP application. There are also restrictions on eligibility for Post-Graduation Work Permits. In 2024, the IRCC updated the eligibility criteria for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs). Starting November 1, 2024, international student graduates applying for PGWPs must fulfill specific requirements related to their field of study and language proficiency, along with other conditions. If an international student’s study program is not exempt, they need to have completed a program that is connected to a labor shortage area to qualify for a PGWP, provided they applied for their study permit after November 1, 2024. Subscribe to our immigration newsletter.