As Canada inches closer to the 2025 federal election, immigration policy has taken center stage. Both the Liberal and Conservative parties have unveiled their visions for the country’s future—and with immigration emerging as a critical issue, Canadians are paying close attention. From permanent residence targets to temporary foreign workers and international students, here’s how the two major parties plan to shape Canada’s immigration system.
Permanent Residency: Cautious Growth vs. Scaled-Back Intake
The Liberal Party, now under Mark Carney’s leadership, plans to keep permanent residency (PR) numbers stable. Carney emphasizes that Canada must first address the housing crisis before raising immigration limits. Under their plan, PR admissions will remain below 1% of the national population past 2027. The 2025 target of 395,000 newcomers fits this goal—given Canada’s estimated population of 41.5 million, the figures remain consistent with current policies.
By contrast, Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives want to tie immigration numbers directly to housing availability. While they’ve been vague on specifics, their platform hints at lowering PR numbers to reflect past levels under Stephen Harper’s government (247,000 to 281,000 annually). It’s unclear whether this means a return to similar absolute numbers or a proportional adjustment. Their overarching aim is to keep immigration growth below that of housing, jobs, and healthcare infrastructure.
Temporary Residents: Setting Caps and Cracking Down
Both leaders agree—Canada’s temporary resident population is too high. The Liberal platform proposes capping temporary workers and international students at under 5% of Canada’s population by 2027. With over 3 million temporary residents currently in the country (7.27% of the population), this marks a significant shift. Already, measures have been introduced: limits on study permits, PGWP eligibility tightened, and a cut of 150,000 in temporary resident admissions planned for 2026.
Poilievre’s Conservatives promise to go even further. They would sharply reduce the number of temporary foreign workers and students, while introducing stricter integrity measures. Among them is a proposal to mandate criminal background checks for all international student applicants—something not currently required unless flagged by an immigration officer. Additionally, they plan to introduce union pre-approval for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), making it harder for employers to hire temporary foreign workers without union consent. Poilievre has maintained that foreign labour should only be used in rare circumstances, such as agriculture or remote small businesses.
International Students: From Gateway to Gatekeeping
The Liberal Party views international students as a key part of the Canadian economy—but believes the system needs stronger guardrails. The proposed cap would limit student and temporary worker populations, reinforcing policy shifts already underway under former immigration minister Marc Miller. Changes to PGWP eligibility, study permit quotas, and spousal work permits are already being rolled out.
The Conservatives, meanwhile, want to go beyond caps. Their platform includes mandatory police certificates for every study permit application. Although criminal inadmissibility is already grounds for refusal, this policy would make checks standard procedure. It aligns with Poilievre’s broader push for heightened screening and skepticism toward abuse of the immigration system.
Economic Immigration: Liberals Invest, Conservatives Stay Silent
On economic immigration, the Liberal platform outlines ambitious plans. They aim to revamp the Global Skills Strategy, making it easier for startups and growth-stage companies to bring in top talent—especially from the US. They also pledge to work with provinces and territories to accelerate credential recognition for foreign-trained professionals. This move could significantly benefit regulated sectors like healthcare and trades, which currently suffer from inconsistent and slow recognition processes across regions.
The Conservatives’ platform is quiet on economic immigration. However, Poilievre has previously spoken about national credential standardization, particularly in healthcare. His “blue seal” proposal would let doctors and nurses take a single test and become licensed across provinces, allowing for quicker workforce integration.
Refugee and Asylum Policy: Legal Aid vs. Tougher Screening
Recent spikes in asylum claims have brought refugee policy to the fore. Carney has attributed the rise in US-to-Canada crossings to Donald Trump’s border crackdowns. His response? Closer US-Canada cooperation, faster processing, and legal aid for claimants to ensure fair and timely outcomes.
Poilievre’s stance is more hardline. He insists many asylum claims are fraudulent and would cap intake numbers. His plan includes processing claims on a “last-in, first-out” basis—giving newer applicants priority—and implementing exit tracking to identify those overstaying their visas. He stresses support for legitimate refugees but promises to deport those deemed dishonest.
Border Control and Security: Reinforcing the Gate
Both parties pledge to enhance public safety—but their approaches differ. The Liberal platform promises to remove failed refugee claimants swiftly, beef up security screenings, tighten visa regulations, and increase enforcement against immigration fraud. These policies build on existing measures under former immigration minister Marc Miller.
Conservatives, however, take a more militarized view. Their plan includes deploying Canadian forces and helicopters to the border, increasing CBSA authority along the entire border (not just at crossings), and removing foreign nationals convicted of crimes more quickly. They argue that criminal activity by visitors should lead to immediate removal, a policy they believe will deter abuse of Canada’s hospitality.
Francophone Immigration: Liberals Set Targets, Conservatives Offer Support
The Liberal Party has committed to boosting francophone immigration outside Quebec, setting a target of 12% by 2029. This builds on existing targets—8.5% in 2025, rising to 10% by 2027. Carney believes francophone growth outside Quebec is vital to preserve Canada’s bilingual identity.
While the Conservatives support protecting the French language and increasing francophone immigration, their platform lacks specific targets. They’ve offered verbal support but not concrete policy.
Final Notes: Tech Upgrades vs. Population Pushback
Beyond traditional categories, the Liberals promise to modernize the immigration system using digital tools to cut wait times and clear backlogs. They also vow to collaborate more effectively with provinces and territories on settlement, status updates, and enforcement. Their platform reflects continuity with past efforts while promising smoother service delivery.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives reject long-term population expansion ideas like the Century Initiative—which proposes turning cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary into megacities. Instead, they favor balanced, decentralized growth and seem cautious about pushing immigration to extreme highs. Their platform calls for a measured approach—one that focuses on sustainability over sheer numbers.
As election day nears, immigration remains one of the most defining issues. Whether Canadians choose cautious reform or sweeping restriction could shape the country’s demographics, economy, and international identity for decades to come.
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