Canada Announces Reduction in Intake of Temporary Workers from Nigeria and Other Countries.

By Caroline Ameh

The Canadian government has announced plans to decrease its intake of temporary workers from Nigeria and other foreign nations. Officials revealed this decision on Thursday, signaling a departure from the country’s previously expansive immigration policy.

Under the proposed adjustments, the number of temporary residents in Canada will be limited to no more than five percent of the national population over the next three years. This marks a notable decrease from the current 6.2 percent, which translates to approximately 2.5 million individuals.

The move comes amidst Canada’s substantial population growth driven by high levels of immigration, which has begun to outstrip job creation.

“Canada has witnessed a considerable increase in the volume of temporary residents recently,” stated Immigration Minister Marc Miller during a press briefing. This surge includes international students, foreign workers filling employment gaps, and individuals displaced by conflicts and natural disasters.

Recent government statistics reveal a 3.6 percent drop in job vacancies to 678,500 in the final quarter of 2023, continuing a downward trend from a peak of 983,600 in mid-2022.

“With the labour market tightening, it’s clear that changes are necessary to render the system both more efficient and sustainable,” remarked Minister Miller.

The proposed policy revision will undergo finalization following discussions with provincial governments, some of which have expressed concerns over the strain on housing and public services due to the influx of migrants.

This decision aligns with other recent adjustments, including a cap on new permits for international students and the introduction of visa requirements for certain Mexican travelers.

In conjunction with the reduction in temporary foreign workers, Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault has urged businesses to prioritize hiring refugees. The new guidelines will limit the proportion of temporary foreign workers in companies to 20 percent, down from 30 percent, with exceptions for the healthcare and construction sectors.

Additionally, Miller has directed Canada’s immigration department to review existing temporary labor programs to ensure they align more closely with the country’s labor market needs and to eliminate any program abuses.