Immigration ministers from the federal, provincial, and territorial governments met in Ottawa on June 23, 2026, to set the frame for 2027–2029. The Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration tied the next levels plan to housing and infrastructure, not only to a head count. A private-sector version of that argument is in the RBC report on a steadier immigration strategy.
The cap they discussed
Federal co-chair Lena Metlege Diab led the session. The ministers discussed holding permanent-resident admissions under 1 percent of the population, so cities can plan housing and transit against a number that does not jump. That is a smaller plan than the high-growth years. How Ottawa wants people already here to fill jobs in the meantime is in temporary workers already in Canada.
Temporary residents
Ministers agreed on a target to bring the temporary-resident share under 5 percent of the population by the end of 2027. The stated reason is rent and a check on whether a temporary program is filling a real vacancy. Provinces said they would support the cut if health care and construction were not emptied of the workers those sectors still hire from abroad. Founders facing the closed federal business programs are in doing business in Canada.
What the provinces asked for
- More say over who is nominated, matched to a regional skill gap.
- Faster files for nursing and the trades.
- Settlement funding that moves with the federal target, not a year behind it.
- A rural and northern share that is not only a big-city plan.
- Shared data on whether nominees are still in the job a year later.
What they left for later
The co-chairs described a system that can change with the economy and still be predictable enough for a city to build against. One tool they named is a path from temporary status to permanent residence for people already working. The ministers said they would meet again later in the year to check the 2027–2029 numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2027–2029 plan trying to do?
Match admissions to housing, infrastructure, and public services, rather than to a growth target on its own.
What is the temporary-resident target?
Under 5 percent of the population by the end of 2027.
Why does the nominee program matter here?
Provinces use it to pick people for the jobs their own labour markets are short of.
