Immigration to Canada

Historical Waves of Immigration and Exclusion

Canada's immigration history is commonly described through several major waves, each shaped by the economic needs and racial prejudices of the era. This was followed by the Great Migration from 1815 to 1850, which saw at least 800,000 arrivals, with 60 percent being British (English and Scottish) and the remainder mostly Irish, many fleeing the Great Famine. This movement boosted Canada's population from about 500,000 in 1812 to 2.5 million by 1851, shifting the demographic balance to a majority Anglophone country. The third wave, promoted aggressively by Interior Minister Clifford Sifton beginning in 1896, was designed to settle the Prairie provinces with farmers and peaked before World War I, bringing over 400,000 migrants in 1912 alone from Eastern and Southern Europe. Throughout these early periods, immigration policy was integrally linked to nation-building but was explicitly exclusionary towards non-European and non-Christian groups. This discrimination was codified in laws like the 1885 Chinese Immigration Act, which imposed a head tax, and the 1908 continuous journey regulation aimed at Indian immigrants. Further exclusion culminated in the 1923 Chinese Immigration Act, which barred Chinese entry entirely until 1947, a policy for which the Canadian government issued a formal apology in 2006.

Post-War Liberalization and the Points System

Immigrants from Britain were still given the highest priority during this period, and efforts at 'Canadianization' targeted those without a British cultural background, though no parallel effort existed to attract Francophone immigrants. Historically, Canadian immigration policy openly favoured immigrants of Caucasian ancestry from the United States, Britain, and Europe, a system the Liberal government of the 1960s moved decisively to dismantle. With the economy expanding but domestic labour mobility insufficient, the government introduced a new points-based system in 1967. Applicants under the 1967 system were assessed on factors like age, education, professional skills, arranged employment, knowledge of English or French, and the presence of relatives in Canada. To qualify for immigration, a score of 50 out of 100 points was required. This objective system removed overt racial bias and became an important element in attracting large numbers of immigrants from non-traditional sources. The subsequent Immigration Act of 1976 formalized this approach, establishing nine admission categories and enshrining the core objectives of family reunification, refugee protection, and economic immigration as official government policy. This legislative change ensured that immigration would be managed through planned levels and clear criteria, moving away from the ad hoc and discriminatory practices of the past.

Contemporary Immigration: The Fifth Wave and Policy Machinery

Immigration to Canada since the 1970s, known as the fifth wave, has been predominantly from Asia, a shift solidified by the 1976 Immigration Act. The current legislative framework is the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), which came into force in 2002 and governs all admissions, refugee protection, and enforcement. A central feature of modern policy is the multi-year Immigration Levels Plan (ILP), which sets targets for permanent resident admissions. The 2026 to 2028 ILP, released in November 2025 as part of Budget 2025, stabilizes permanent resident admissions at 380,000 per year from 2026 through 2028. It also introduces two one-time initiatives to accelerate the transition of 148,000 current non-permanent residents to permanent status over 2026 and 2027, admissions that are incremental to the stated annual targets.

The primary management tool for economic immigrants is the Express Entry system, an online application management system for federal skilled worker, skilled trade, and Canadian experience programs. New Express Entry categories for 2026 will include streams for medical doctors and researchers with Canadian work experience. Alongside federal programs, the 1978 Canada-Quebec Accord grants Quebec significant authority to independently select immigrants who wish to settle in the province, though federal approval on health and security grounds is still required. This unique arrangement allows Quebec to prioritize French-language ability and cultural fit within its immigration stream, reflecting the province's distinct societal goals within the Canadian federation.

Recent Policy Shifts and Managing Temporary Migration

Recent immigration policy has been dominated by efforts to manage the rapid growth of the non-permanent resident (NPR) population, which includes temporary foreign workers and international students. Net inflows of NPRs surged to nearly 800,000 in 2023, driving that year's record total population growth of 3.1 percent and creating pressure on housing and infrastructure. In response, the 2026 to 2028 ILP reiterates the government's commitment to reduce the NPR share of the total population to less than 5 percent by the end of 2027, one year later than originally planned. To achieve this, it significantly lowers arrival targets for new temporary residents to 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in 2027 and 2028, with particular reductions for international students through stricter allocation controls.

The government also anticipates high volumes of permit extensions for individuals already in Canada, which are not counted toward these arrival targets. This recalibration follows a period of dramatic expansion in permanent resident admissions, which increased by nearly 80 percent between 2015 and 2024, from 272,000 to 484,000. A significant proportion of these permanent resident admissions, nearly 48 percent in 2025, represent individuals already in Canada as NPRs changing their status. The Parliamentary Budget Officer projects that with the decline in the NPR population, Canada's total population will remain flat in 2026, with growth picking up only modestly to 0.3 percent in 2027 and stabilizing around 0.8 percent annually in the medium term, below the pre-2015 average of 1.1 percent.

Demographic Impact, Settlement Patterns and Refugee Resettlement

Immigration is the principal driver of Canada's population growth, increasingly compensating for low fertility rates and an aging population. Statistics Canada projects that immigrants will represent between 29.1 percent and 34.0 percent of the population by 2041, up from 23.0 percent in 2021. When combined with second-generation Canadians, those with at least one foreign-born parent could constitute between 49.8 percent and 54.3 percent of the population. The visible minority population is projected to double by 2041, forming the majority in many major urban centres. New immigrants continue to settle predominantly in major urban areas like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, drawn by established ethnic communities and economic opportunities, though provincial nominee programs aim to encourage dispersal to other regions.

Canada also maintains a substantial humanitarian commitment through one of the world's largest refugee resettlement programs, accounting for over 10 percent of annual global refugee resettlements. The country resettled more than 28,000 refugees in 2018 and spent $769 million in 2023 on interim housing and support for newcomers. The 2026 to 2028 ILP shows a shift in refugee composition, reducing targets for privately sponsored refugees from 23,000 in 2025 to 16,000 in 2026, a 30 percent cut, and reducing government-assisted refugees from 15,250 to a lower, unspecified number. Integration challenges persist, including the recognition of foreign credentials and the socioeconomic racialization of some immigrant groups, which can impact long-term economic mobility and quality of life. These challenges highlight the ongoing work required beyond admission to ensure successful settlement.

Economic and Political Debate on Immigration's Role

The economic impact and optimal level of immigration constitute a major and divisive topic in Canadian political discourse. The governing Liberal Party, under Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and later Mark Carney, has advocated for higher immigration levels to increase the overall size of the economy (GDP) and address perceived labour shortages. Their policy stresses the need for controlled flows to allow for the parallel growth of healthcare, housing, and social services, with the Trudeau government announcing targets of 395,000 immigrants for 2025, 380,000 for 2026, and 365,000 for 2027 in its 2024 plan. This position is based on the prediction that higher immigration rates will expand the economic base and support an aging demographic structure.

The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, presents the minority right-wing alternative, arguing that high immigration can decrease living standards (GDP per capita) for the resident population. Critics from this perspective contend that rapid population growth strains infrastructure and public services, and that the labour market cannot accommodate the continued influx without increasing unemployment risk. A 2011 report by the conservative Fraser Institute estimated immigrants cost the federal government up to $23 billion annually, portraying immigration as a large fiscal burden. Economists at banking institutions have described the implications of rapid population growth as unmistakably disruptive, arguing the expansion of the labour force lacks prudent planning.

Furthermore, critics challenge the narrative that mass immigration solves an aging population, arguing it "can do little" without complementary pro-family policies and a focus on raising domestic productivity and living standards. The debate also encompasses the model of immigration itself, with some analysts describing a low-wage-low-productivity model that fails to smoothly transition immigrants into the skilled jobs they were invited to fill. A 2023 Statistics Canada report indicated the longstanding concern over labour shortages had ceased to be a predicament, a major objective of immigration policy, and recommended easing hiring requirements and prioritizing on-the-job training. This ongoing debate reflects the complex balance Canada seeks between demographic renewal, economic growth, and social cohesion, with policy regularly adjusted in response to these competing pressures.

Questions about Immigration to Canada

How many immigrants does Canada plan to accept in 2026?

According to the 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan released in November 2025, Canada aims to admit 380,000 new permanent residents in 2026. This target is set to remain stable at 380,000 per year through 2028. The plan also includes one-time initiatives to transition an additional 148,000 current non-permanent residents to permanent status over 2026 and 2027, which are incremental to the stated annual targets. This represents a stabilization after years of increasing targets, with the previous 2024 to 2026 plan having set a target of 500,000 immigrants per year by 2025.

What is the Express Entry system?

Express Entry is the primary online system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for permanent residence under three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. It is a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System, which scores candidates on factors like age, education, language skills, and work experience. The highest-ranked candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence through regular draws. New categories for 2026 include streams for medical doctors with Canadian work experience, researchers with Canadian work experience, and senior managers, reflecting targeted labour market needs.

Has Canada always had a points-based immigration system?

No, Canada's points-based system is a modern development from the 1960s. For most of its history, Canadian immigration policy openly favoured immigrants of European and Christian backgrounds, with laws like the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923 excluding entire ethnicities. The important change came in 1967 when the Liberal government introduced the points system to remove racial bias and select immigrants based on their potential economic contribution. Applicants were assessed on factors such as language, age, education, and arranged employment, needing 50 out of 100 points to qualify. This reform marked the beginning of Canada's shift toward a more multi-ethnic immigration stream and remains the foundation of today's economic immigration selection.

What role does Quebec play in selecting immigrants?

Quebec has a unique role in immigration selection due to the Canada-Quebec Accord signed on 20 February 1978. This agreement gives Quebec the responsibility and power to independently select immigrants who wish to settle in the province, based on its own criteria and priorities, particularly to preserve its Francophone character. Immigrants selected by Quebec must still obtain federal approval for admission, primarily concerning health and security checks, but the province has significant autonomy in choosing who will become permanent residents within its borders. This allows Quebec to run its own immigration programs with a strong emphasis on French-language proficiency and cultural integration.

Why is Canada reducing its targets for temporary residents?

The Canadian government is reducing targets for new temporary resident arrivals as part of its 2026 to 2028 plan to manage population growth and integration capacity. A key goal is to lower the non-permanent resident share of the total population to less than 5 percent by the end of 2027, down from a peak of 7.6 percent in 2024. This follows a period of record-high net inflows of temporary residents, which surged to nearly 800,000 in 2023 and contributed to intense pressure on housing and public services. The new targets are 385,000 arrivals in 2026 and 370,000 in 2027 and 2028, representing a significant reduction, particularly for international students, to achieve a more sustainable balance between population growth and infrastructure.

What was the Komagata Maru incident?

The Komagata Maru incident was a consequential event in Canada's history of exclusionary immigration policy. They were challenging the 1908 continuous journey regulation, which required immigrants to come to Canada via a direct journey from their country of origin, a rule designed to block Indian immigration as no direct steamship route existed from India at the time. After a two-month legal standoff and stalemate in Vancouver's harbour where passengers were denied provisions, the ship was forced by the Canadian navy to return to India. Upon arrival, many passengers were arrested or killed in a clash with British Indian authorities, making the incident a powerful symbol of the discriminatory policies that preceded Canada's modern, more inclusive immigration system.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.