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TL;DR

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday that Canada should maintain lower immigration levels for several more years, arguing that Ottawa has regained control over temporary arrivals and asylum claims.

At a press conference in Red Deer, Alberta, Carney said immigration was too high when his government took office. He also said current levels are still adding pressure on housing.

Carney said the government had "taken back control" after asylum claims fell by one-third, temporary foreign workers by one-half, and foreign students by two-thirds. The report of his remarks did not specify the comparison period for those figures.

Federal data uses different reporting periods and definitions, which makes direct comparisons difficult. Asylum claimants are tracked separately from planned student, worker, and permanent resident admissions.

The federal 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 385,000 new temporary resident arrivals in 2026. That total includes 230,000 temporary workers and 155,000 international students.

Ottawa describes those figures as a 37 percent reduction in new temporary worker arrivals and a 49 percent reduction in new student arrivals from the previous year's targets. Planned temporary arrivals will fall to 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028.

The plan sets permanent resident admissions at 380,000 annually from 2026 through 2028. Economic immigration accounts for 63 percent of planned admissions this year, with health care and skilled trades among the priority fields.

The government wants temporary residents to account for less than 5% of Canada's population by the end of 2027. Ottawa says lower volumes should reduce pressure on housing and public services while preserving immigration pathways for sectors facing labour shortages.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data show that 19,425 new study permit holders and 77,915 new work permit holders arrived between January and May 2026.

Compared with the same period in 2024, that represents 94,235 fewer students and 131,100 fewer workers. The figures count people issued permits during the reporting period rather than everyone already living in Canada with valid status.

The target of 155,000 international students applies only to new arrivals. Ottawa anticipates issuing up to 408,000 study permits in 2026, including 253,000 extensions for current or returning students.

IRCC reports a separate decline in asylum claims. Its latest published data shows 66 percent fewer people submitted claims between January and May 2026 than during the same period in 2024. IRCC cautions that claim totals can change as files are withdrawn, combined, or updated.

In March, Bill C-12 became law, introducing new asylum eligibility rules and processing measures. People excluded under the new rules can still seek a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment before removal.

Carney made his comments after a question about Alberta's referendum, scheduled for October 19. One question asks whether the province should seek greater control over immigration to reduce levels and give Albertans priority for new jobs.

Elections Alberta says the immigration-related results will be advisory and will not bind the provincial government. Other questions concern temporary residents' access to provincially funded benefits, education, and health care. The referendum material says the proposals would not apply to permanent residents.

Carney said Ottawa is now "on top of the numbers" and plans to discuss the next phase of immigration policy with provincial premiers. The existing federal targets extend through 2028.

Carney did not announce a new immigration policy or change existing permit conditions. If you already hold a study or work permit, the lower arrival targets do not automatically cancel your status. Extensions and applications made from inside Canada are also excluded from the headline target for new temporary residents.

Prospective students and workers may face fewer available permits, stricter eligibility rules, or greater competition in capped programs. Permanent residence remains planned at 380,000 admissions annually, but selection will continue to favour economic applicants and priority occupations. Watch for details from federal-provincial talks, especially if your plans depend on a provincial nomination, an employer-supported permit, or admission after 2028.