**Trudeau Announces Cutbacks in Immigration Amid Growing Public Concerns**

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a significant reduction in Canada's immigration targets in an effort to stabilize population growth. This decision, revealed during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, signifies a notable shift for a country renowned for welcoming new arrivals, including economic migrants from developing nations seeking better opportunities.

Canada experienced a substantial population increase of 3.2 percent from 2023 to 2024, the largest annual growth since 1957, bringing the total population to 41 million. Trudeau attributed this surge partly to the influx of immigrants, which he noted had been instrumental in helping the Canadian economy rebound from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by boosting the labor supply. However, he emphasized the need for adjustments, citing the importance of allowing all levels of government time to invest in healthcare, housing, and social services to better accommodate future population growth.

The revised immigration targets for the coming years are significant. Previously, Canada planned to permit 500,000 new permanent residents in both 2025 and 2026. However, these figures have been adjusted to 395,000 for the next year and 380,000 for 2026, with a target of 365,000 set for 2027. This decision is supported by recent data indicating that a majority of Canadians now believe the country accepts too many immigrants. A September survey by the Environics Institute found that 58 percent of Canadians feel there is excessive immigration, a 14 percentage point increase from 2023.

Additionally, a survey by Abacus Data found that half of Canadians perceive immigration as detrimental to the country. Concerns about the impact of immigration are closely linked to worries about affordable housing. Immigration Minister Marc Miller projected that curbing immigration would address the housing supply gap, predicting a reduction of 670,000 homes needed by 2027.

Despite these measures, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has cautioned that reducing immigration could have adverse effects on the workforce, especially given the country's aging population, low fertility rates, and the retirement of the baby boomer generation. They stressed that immigration is the sole source of workforce growth for numerous employers struggling to find qualified employees.

Within the political sphere, Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, whose Conservative Party currently leads in polls over Trudeau's Liberals, characterized the prime minister's move as a frantic attempt to boost his declining popularity amidst internal party rebellion and national dissatisfaction. Poilievre expressed skepticism about Trudeau's ability to fulfill these last-minute promises as Canada's elections approach next year.