Extra steps will be taken to control temporary resident levels, including changes to Post-Graduation Work Permit and enforcement. Miller stated that the era of uncapped programs entering this country is quickly coming to an end, and this is a very important transition.
What Changes To The PGWP Are Being Considered?
In June, IRCC sent out surveys to primary stakeholders in the post-secondary education space, seeking feedback for the possible changes to the PGWP.
According to this survey & the Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2024, IRCC is considering aligning the issuance of Post-Graduation Work Permits with labor market requirements. Notably, the department would look to manage access to work permits for students entering professions in shortage while reducing access for graduates from various other programs.
In addition, the survey also revealed that IRCC & ESDC have worked together to map educational programs with specific job titles. To elaborate, IRCC’s survey uses the example of relevant NOCs for carpenters being connected to three programs of study: construction trades, carpentry, and woodworking/ general.
Part Of A Wider Plan
Extra steps will be taken to control temporary resident levels. Earlier this year, IRCC announced the first-ever target for non-permanent resident temporary residents levels to be included in 2024 Immigration Levels Plan. According to this declaration, IRCC would seek to reduce levels of NPRs, with the aim of stabilizing the proportion of these newcomers in the Canadian population to five percent over the subsequent three years. As of last April, NPRs made up close to seven percent of the total population.
As part of this initiative, IRCC has already implemented a two-year cap on foreign/ international students, regulating the number of new post-secondary students to 292,000 this year. This cap will be reconsidered in the year 2025, with a possible adjustment to the international student levels for that year.
Moreover, Minister Miller also indicated his intention to have more ‘domestic draws’ for both federal and provincial permanent residency pathways – essentially reducing the number of TRS in Canada by prioritizing them for PR draws. He intends not to recruit new permanent residents from abroad, which might further exacerbate problems in housing and affordability that have been associated with immigration.
Lastly, Miller stated that collectively, these measures come at a time when Canadians are scrutinizing immigration more than ever: immigration will be a primary issue in the following selection.
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