Canada’s population growth has come to a standstill. In the first quarter of the year, only 20,107 people were added, according to new government data. This means the population did not grow at all in percentage terms—unlike the past ten years, where growth averaged 0.3% per quarter.
This marks the slowest quarterly growth since records began in 1946, excluding the pandemic year. The slowdown reflects a major shift in immigration policy and population trends.
In recent years, Canada’s population surged due to a sharp rise in temporary residents, especially foreign students. This increase pushed population growth to levels similar to some of the fastest-growing countries in Africa. But now, new immigration policies and efforts to reduce temporary arrivals have slowed that growth.
Statistics Canada data shows that the number of temporary residents has dropped to around 3 million. That’s 7.1% of the total population—down from a record 7.4% last year. This is the largest recorded decline in temporary residents.
Foreign students made up the biggest share of that drop. Ontario and British Columbia, the provinces with the most international students, also saw the largest population losses. Both provinces recorded their biggest quarterly population declines since 1951.
This shift comes after Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to reduce immigration to more “sustainable levels.” His predecessor, Justin Trudeau, had already started cutting back on new arrivals last year. The government made these moves after post-pandemic immigration overwhelmed the country’s housing, infrastructure, and services.
Despite these changes, asylum claims in Canada continue to rise. The number of claimants reached 470,029 in the latest quarter—a record high. To manage this increase, Carney’s government has introduced a new bill with stricter asylum rules. Lawmakers are expected to debate the proposed legislation this week. The government also maintains limits on foreign students and temporary workers.
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