In early September, the U.S. magazine Compact ran an article with the headline, “How Canada Turned against Immigration.” The headline was wildly overstated. And yet, there has been a change — in policy, rhetoric and public mood — that has coincided with the appointment of Marc Miller as Minster of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship in July of 2023.
This year, Miller imposed a two-year cap on international-student visas, reducing the numbers by roughly 35 percent. His office has pushed through changes to the temporary foreign worker program, and he has suggested that further changes are in the offing. The federal government has also indicated that it is reviewing its immigration target numbers for 2025 and 2026.
In a wide-ranging interview, Miller denied that the government is capitulating to anti-immigrant sentiment. The changes are motivated by a belief in the value of immigration and the need for reform to maintain public support for the system.
Survey data from September 2022 shows a shift in Canadian attitudes towards immigration, prompting the government to reevaluate its approach.