Canada Reviews Immigration Path as Provinces Seek Greater Role in 2027–2029 Levels Plan

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published June 24, 2026

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Canada’s immigration system is entering a new phase focused on “sustainability,” after federal, provincial and territorial immigration ministers met to discuss the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan. The meeting focused on bringing immigration back to sustainable levels while taking into account regional, rural and northern needs, labour shortages, key economic sectors, and the capacity of communities across the country.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, ministers discussed the federal commitment to stabilize permanent resident admissions at less than 1% of Canada’s total population beyond 2027, while reducing the temporary population to less than 5% of the total population by the end of 2027. This includes a broader effort to manage growth among international students and temporary workers while easing pressure on housing, services and infrastructure.

The discussion follows Canada’s current 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which reduced targets for new temporary resident arrivals and stabilized permanent resident admissions at 380,000 per year from 2026 to 2028. The plan also set new temporary resident arrival targets at 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028.

A key part of the meeting was the role of provinces and territories. Ministers discussed the importance of Provincial Nominee Programs, which allow provinces and territories to select skilled workers based on local labour market needs. Provincial and territorial ministers said programs such as the PNP and the Atlantic Immigration Program are among the most effective tools for addressing regional labour shortages in key sectors.

Provincial and territorial ministers also asked the federal government for more clarity on how PNP targets and allocations are set, saying this information is needed for better policy and program planning. The request reflects a growing debate between national immigration control and the need for provinces to attract the workers they require in health care, construction, services, rural communities and other regional sectors.

For international students and temporary workers already in Canada, the statement included an important signal. Ministers highlighted the need to help some workers and students already in Canada transition to permanent residence, especially when they have skills and experience that match labour market needs, while still keeping overall immigration levels sustainable.

This does not mean Canada is closing the door to immigration. Rather, the next stage appears to be more selective, more regional and more tightly linked to labour market planning. The federal government wants to reduce rapid growth in the temporary population while keeping workers and students who are already contributing to local communities and the economy.

For Arab communities in Canada, this is a major policy story. It affects permanent residence pathways, provincial nomination programs, international students, temporary workers, family planning and settlement services. It also matters to families abroad who are considering immigration to Canada, because the coming years may require a more precise understanding of each province’s needs rather than relying only on broad federal pathways.