Abramovich Immigration Law provides an immigration news summary on critical Canadian immigration updates for the second week of September. Follow our social media channels for more real-time updates and insights.

Immigration Reforms Show Results: 40% Reduction in Temporary Residents

Canada’s immigration strategy is yielding substantial results, with 214,520 fewer international students and temporary workers arriving between January and June 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This dramatic 40% reduction demonstrates the effectiveness of Canada’s comprehensive reforms to create a more sustainable immigration system. The government’s targeted approach includes capping international student permits, strengthening verification processes, and implementing stricter controls on temporary worker programs to prioritize domestic employment while alleviating pressures on housing and essential services.

The data reveals focused efforts across multiple immigration streams, with international student arrivals dropping by 88,617 (65%) and temporary worker arrivals decreasing by 125,903 (34%) in the first half of 2025. These reductions align with Canada’s 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to reduce the temporary resident population to below 5% while maintaining pathways to permanent residency for qualified candidates. The government continues to support transitions for well-integrated temporary residents, with over 100,000 becoming permanent residents during this period through programs like Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs, representing approximately half of all new permanent residents.

TFWP Elimination Poll: Nearly Half of Canadians Support Poilievre’s Proposal Amid Deep Demographic Divides

A recent Abacus Data survey reveals significant national division over the proposed elimination of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), with 44% of Canadians supporting the measure while 30% oppose it. The September 2025 poll highlights pronounced generational, regional, and political fault lines, with younger Canadians (48-50% support among those under 44) and Prairie residents (54% in Alberta) showing the strongest backing for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s proposal to phase out the program.

The survey exposes the issue as a potential political wedge, with 61% of Conservative voters supporting elimination while Liberal voters remain almost evenly split (37% support, 39% oppose). Regional variations show Quebec as the most resistant, with only 34% supporting elimination compared to Alberta’s majority support. As immigration concerns have risen to become a top-five national issue for nearly one-quarter of Canadians, this polarizing topic intersects broader questions of economic fairness, workforce stability, and national identity that could significantly impact the Carney government’s policy agenda.

Canada’s Asylum Crisis Deepens: Over 57,000 Claims in First Half of 2025

Canada’s asylum system faces unprecedented pressure as the country received 57,440 asylum claims in the first half of 2025, putting it on track for approximately 115,000 claims by year-end. This surge has created a substantial backlog of 291,975 pending cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), dramatically extending wait times for asylum seekers. The top five countries of origin—India (9,770), Mexico (7,410), Haiti (6,320), Colombia (5,980), and Nigeria (5,210)—reflect ongoing global instability and targeted violence pushing vulnerable populations to seek protection in Canada.

Government response includes significant policy changes, with the introduction of the Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID) in March 2025 and the proposed Bill C-2, which would tighten eligibility requirements for asylum seekers. The legislation, still under parliamentary review, would make those who entered Canada after June 2020 but filed claims more than one year later ineligible. Meanwhile, municipal services in Toronto and Montreal strain under pressure, with officials reporting critical shortages in housing, healthcare, education, and legal aid services as provincial leaders press Ottawa for increased funding to address these systemic challenges.

Economic Downturn: Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta Face Significant Employment Decline 

Canada’s three largest provinces experienced notable employment setbacks in August 2025, with Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta recording the most substantial workforce reductions. Ontario saw a decrease of 26,000 jobs (-0.3%), bringing the total decline to 66,000 (-0.8%) since February 2025, despite a slight reduction in the unemployment rate to 7.7%. Southern Ontario has been particularly affected by economic uncertainty stemming from tariff threats on automotive exports, with Windsor, Oshawa, and Toronto reporting the country’s highest unemployment rates among major metropolitan areas.

British Columbia and Alberta both reported consecutive monthly employment declines, with drops of 16,000 (-0.5%) and 14,000 (-0.6%), respectively. Alberta’s unemployment rate rose to 8.4%, reaching its highest level since 2017 outside of the pandemic period, driven by significant losses in the manufacturing and retail sectors. Meanwhile, New Brunswick, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador also experienced workforce contractions, while Quebec maintained stable employment levels despite an increase in job seekers that pushed its unemployment rate to 6.0%.

Critical Privacy Failures in $68M Asylum System Overhaul Expose Refugee Data to Risk

Three federal agencies failed to complete mandatory privacy impact assessments during the implementation of a $68-million asylum system modernization project, potentially compromising sensitive refugee data. The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the Canada Border Services Agency bypassed critical privacy safeguards when digitizing Canada’s refugee system, despite Treasury Board directives requiring these assessments to be completed “prior to launching” such initiatives.

Privacy experts warn that this oversight creates significant vulnerabilities for asylum seekers whose information may be exposed to unauthorized access. The project, which was unexpectedly terminated in 2024 when it was only 64% complete, implemented substantial changes to data handling without proper risk evaluation. Internal documents reveal departmental confusion over responsibility for privacy protections, with agencies essentially playing “hot potato” with these crucial security measures while vulnerable refugee data remains inadequately protected.

Immigration impact: Housing Construction Crisis Deepens as Starts Plummet Across Major Canadian Cities

Canada’s housing construction sector is experiencing an unprecedented downturn, with the Greater Toronto Area reporting a staggering 49% decrease in housing starts since 2024, while Toronto proper faces a 65% decline, representing 10,000 fewer homes. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Housing Shadow Minister Scott Aitchison attribute this crisis to Liberal policies, citing research from IRCC that found immigration accounted for 21% of housing price increases in larger municipalities with populations exceeding 100,000.

The construction industry faces severe economic consequences, with the Residential Construction Council of Ontario warning of thousands of ongoing layoffs. The Canadian Homebuilders Association reports that 35% of surveyed builders have already begun workforce reductions. Government-imposed costs remain a significant barrier, with taxes comprising approximately one-third of new home prices in Ontario. Conservatives propose eliminating federal sales tax on homes under $1.3M, tying infrastructure funding to increased housing permits, cutting building taxes by 50%, and removing capital gains tax on housing reinvestments to address what they describe as a “housing hell” affecting builders, buyers, and sellers alike.

Sense of Belonging and Future Optimism Are Key Factors in Immigrant Retention, New Canadian Research Reveals

A new study by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) reveals that fostering optimism and belonging significantly impacts immigrant retention in Canada. According to the report, which surveyed nearly 5,000 immigrants, a mere 1% increase in optimism about the future boosts the likelihood of permanent residency by 28%. In contrast, a similar increase in sense of belonging raises it by 25%. These findings come at a critical time as Canada faces declining birth rates and increasing immigrant departures.

The research, supported by the University of Toronto, provides crucial insights for policymakers seeking to retain skilled immigrants. While housing affordability and economic concerns remain significant challenges, the study demonstrates that emotional and social connections are more powerful retention factors. “Services that give credible hope of a better tomorrow and those that help immigrants feel a strong sense of Canadian identity are proven to drive retention,” stated ICC CEO Daniel Bernhard, emphasizing that targeted investments in belonging and future optimism will ensure immigrants choose to build their futures in Canada.

Abramovich Immigration Law is your trusted partner in navigating the Canadian immigration process. Whether you are seeking permanent residency, work permits, student visas, or family sponsorship, our dedicated team of legal professionals will meticulously handle your case with the attention to detail it deserves. Contact Abramovich Immigration Law today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward realizing your Canadian dream.