There is no more electricity newcomers, Mr. Poilievre
The Canada population growth has come to a halt
The population growth in the first quarter of 2025, according to Statistics Canada, was 0.0 percent.
Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press
The Canada population has stopped growing.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s concerns about immigration being “out of hand” are misplaced as the population growth has stagnated.
After a surge in international students and temporary foreign employees post-COVID-19 lockdowns, the government took steps to curb immigration, leading to almost zero net immigration currently.
Mr. Poilievre’s recent statements about the influx of temporary residents are outdated, as the Canada population is no longer growing rapidly.
While there are still issues with the immigration system, the focus should now be on how people are recruited to come to Canada, rather than the quantity of newcomers.
The statistics cited by Mr. Poilievre regarding the number of temporary foreign employees arriving in Canada in 2025 were misinterpreted, as many of them were extensions of work permits.
The government’s immigration plan for 2025 aims to balance the number of people leaving and arriving in the country, with a focus on converting temporary residents into permanent residents.
While there were significant issues in the immigration system in previous years, the current focus should be on addressing these problems rather than exaggerating the growth of newcomers.
The priority should be fixing the labor market assessment system, streamlining the selection of economic immigrants, and addressing other pressing immigration issues.
With the Canada population growth at a standstill, it is crucial to shift the conversation towards solving real immigration challenges rather than sensationalizing outdated statistics.
