MNI BRIEF: Canada Slows Immigration Amid Housing Squeeze

MNI (OTTAWA) - Canada said Wednesday it will further curb immigration after complaints the government is worsening a housing shortage and boosting unemployment, acting after the central bank estimated earlier moves wouldn't match Ottawa's own targets for limiting new entrants. 

"These measures today, according to our statistics and we’ll have to monitor them closely, will meet those targets. Bank of Canada is independent and it can analyze it itself,” Immigration Minister Marc Miller said in response to a question from MNI. The measures include a 10% reduction of student permits to 437,000 in 2025 and limiting work permits for foreign workers’ spouses to those with management or professional occupations.

The government is still looking how to reconcile Canada's record-low birthrate that has made immigration about the only source of growth with slower immigration, Miller said. “We would still need immigrants regardless if we get a massive baby boom in the next 20 years," he said. (See: MNI INTERVIEW: BOC To Keep Cutting As Far As 3%- Ex Staffer)