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Ministers Meet to Discuss Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan
Federal, provincial and territorial immigration ministers gathered in Ottawa on June 23 to begin shaping Canada’s next multi-year 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan. The Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration centred its discussion on bringing intake back to sustainable levels while still addressing labour shortages in rural, northern and regional communities.
Federal Targets Still on the Table
Ottawa used the meeting to reaffirm two numbers it has been working toward: keeping permanent resident admissions under 1 percent of Canada’s total population beyond 2027, and cutting the temporary resident population to below 5 percent of the population by the end of that year. Ministers agreed that hitting those marks will take continued, careful coordination across both the permanent and temporary streams of the immigration system.
Provinces Push for a Bigger Say in the Numbers
Provincial and territorial ministers used the forum to make the case that their own Provincial Nominee Programs, along with regional tools such as the Atlantic Immigration Program, remain the most direct way to fix local labour shortages, since they let provinces select workers matched to their own economic priorities. They asked the federal government for larger and steadier PNP allocations, more clarity on how those allocations and targets get set, and renewed funding for settlement supports such as language training, which they said has fallen short of what newcomers actually need.
Credential Recognition Gets a Dedicated Task Force
Ministers pointed to progress already made on foreign credential recognition, including reforms in specific occupations, particularly healthcare, and new fair-registration legislation now in place in most provinces and territories. To keep that work moving, they directed officials to set up a joint task force, pairing the Forum of Labour Market Ministers with the FMRI, to tackle barriers across the full immigration journey, from before someone arrives in Canada through to the day they start working in their field.
A Renewed Push on Francophone Immigration
Ministers also reaffirmed Francophone immigration as a shared priority, framing it as a way to strengthen Francophone minority communities outside Quebec. The discussion fed into Canada’s broader commitment to have Francophone permanent residents make up 12 percent of admissions outside Quebec by 2029, with a renewed federal-provincial-territorial action plan in the works alongside the Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie. Quebec, which holds sole authority over its own immigrant selection and integration under the Canada-Quebec Accord, attended in an observer capacity and is not bound by decisions on pan-Canadian initiatives.
What the Ministers Said on 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan
Federal Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the government and its partners are working to restore confidence in the system and pointed to the need to balance sustainability with attracting top global talent. Newfoundland and Labrador’s Lin Paddock, who co-chairs the forum’s provincial-territorial side, said provinces and territories are best placed to shape pathways suited to their own labour markets and welcomed the progress made on the Provincial Nominee Program and credential recognition.
Ministers closed the meeting by committing to keep working together closely on immigration policy in the months ahead, as the 2027 to 2029 levels plan takes shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan?
The 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan is Canada’s upcoming multi-year strategy that will determine annual immigration targets, permanent resident admissions, and temporary resident policies for the next three years.
2. Why are provinces requesting larger Provincial Nominee Program allocations?
Provinces argue that Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow them to address local labour shortages more effectively by selecting immigrants whose skills match regional economic needs.
3. What is Canada’s target for temporary residents by 2027?
The federal government aims to reduce the temporary resident population to below 5% of Canada’s total population by the end of 2027 as part of its long-term immigration strategy.
4. How will foreign credential recognition change?
Federal, provincial, and territorial governments have agreed to establish a joint task force to improve foreign credential recognition, making it easier for internationally trained professionals to enter regulated occupations more quickly.
5. What does the ministers’ meeting mean for future Canadian immigration applicants?
Although no immediate policy changes were announced, the meeting signals that future immigration levels, Provincial Nominee Program allocations, regional immigration pathways, and labour market priorities could evolve as Canada finalizes its 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan.
The latest federal-provincial immigration meeting highlights Canada’s continued effort to balance sustainable population growth with long-term economic and labour market needs. As governments work together on the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, applicants can expect ongoing discussions around regional immigration, Provincial Nominee Programs, foreign credential recognition, and Francophone immigration priorities. While the final targets have yet to be announced, the decisions made over the coming months will help shape Canada’s immigration landscape for years to come.
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