Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government “made some mistakes” on immigration while outlining the country’s plans to reduce the number of immigrants arriving under its permanent residency program over the next three years.
In YouTube videos posted on Sunday, Trudeau made the remarks in English and French, saying “bad actors, like fake colleges and big chain corporations, have been exploiting our immigration system for their own interests.”
Immigration remains a heated issue across the Western world, with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump vowing to crack down on illegal border crossings upon his return to office. The Canadian government has announced plans to cut immigration via its permanent residency stream by about 20 percent and to impose extra restrictions on employers seeking temporary worker permits.
In the video, Trudeau said, “In the last two years, our population has grown really fast, like baby boom fast,” adding: “So we’re doing something major. We’re reducing the numbers of immigrants that will come to Canada for the next three years.”
Immigration to Canada has risen sharply in recent years, with the country taking in a record 437,539 permanent residents in 2022, government figures showed. According to Canada’s government, “Without a sustained level of immigration, Canada’s population growth could be close to zero within 20 years,” as the country’s birth rate is below replacement level.
However, the level of immigration has become increasingly unpopular. In September, a Focus Canada opinion poll found that 58 percent of Canadians thought immigration was too high, up from 31 percent in 2022.
“There are really bad actors who outright exploit people, who target vulnerable immigrants with promises of jobs, diplomas and easy pathways to citizenship—promises that would never come true.”
Pierre Poilievre, the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party, condemned Trudeau’s remarks, saying the prime minister was blaming “bad actors” for his decisions. He described Trudeau as “a pyromaniac masquerading as a firefighter.”
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Article URL : https://www.newsweek.com/justin-trudeau-admits-immigration-mistakes-canada-changes-policy-1988094