Canada’s immigration system is facing a growing identity crisis. On one hand, the government says it wants to attract top global talent. On the other, it’s cutting immigration targets just when Canada needs skilled professionals the most.
Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, believes this contradiction could prove costly. With the federal government reducing permanent resident targets over the next three years, Bernhard is calling for a bold rethink. His argument is clear Canada should stop seeing immigration as a charity and start treating it as a national development strategy.
Immigration Caps May Worsen Canada’s Biggest Problems
Canada plans to welcome fewer newcomers in the coming years:
| Year | Permanent Resident Target |
| 2025 | 395,000 |
| 2026 | 380,000 |
| 2027 | 365,000 |
While that may seem “sustainable” on paper, Bernhard warns it could deepen real-world crises in:
- Health care
- Housing
- Public infrastructure
- Innovation and tech
These sectors are already stretched thin. Reducing skilled immigration now, he says, sends the wrong message and limits the country’s ability to find long-term solutions.
Health Care Needs More Than Just Doctors
Canada spends more per capita on health care than Japan, yet Japanese citizens live longer. Bernhard believes the issue isn’t just who provides care, but who designs and runs the systems. He says Canada should bring in:
- Nurses and doctors trained internationally
- Hospital administrators with experience from top-performing health systems
- Policy experts who’ve managed lean, effective operations abroad
While Ontario recently started recognizing American medical credentials, over 20,000 internationally trained nurseswithin the province are still sitting on the sidelines, held back by outdated processes.
Housing Shortages Can’t Be Solved Without Skilled Workers
As immigration critics focus on population growth, Bernhard flips the argument. Canada doesn’t have too many people it has too few of the right ones.
He highlights some alarming numbers:
- 85,000 construction workers needed in the next decade
- 130,000 residential builders set to retire by 2033
- Canada admits 75% fewer construction-skilled immigrants today than in the 1980s
Countries like Sweden are already using advanced, factory-built housing systems to cut costs and timelines. Instead of just partnering with Swedish firms, Bernhard says Canada should recruit their engineers and builders directly.
Transit Projects Demand Global Expertise
Public transportation in Canada is notoriously expensive and slow. A University of Toronto study shows that countries like:
- Turkey
- Italy
- South Korea
Complete transit projects at a fraction of Canada’s costs, sometimes just one-tenth per kilometre.
Bernhard argues Canada should look beyond its borders to recruit the experts who’ve already delivered these projects efficiently. Whether they’re civil servants or engineers, these professionals bring valuable experience that could save Canadian taxpayers billions.
Canada Immigration System Needs a Strategic Shift
At the heart of Bernhard’s message is a call for a mindset change. Canada must stop framing immigration as a generous offer and start seeing it as a vital investment.
He argues that immigration is as important as:
- Education
- Innovation
- Infrastructure funding
Rather than impose arbitrary limits, he believes the Canada immigration system should actively seek out those who’ve already solved the problems the country is struggling with today.
These include:
- Health system reformers
- Civil engineers with international project experience
- Affordable housing specialists
- Policy-makers who’ve led successful change abroad
The Future of Canada Immigration System Depends on Talent-Driven Growth
Canada’s future depends not just on the number of immigrants it admits, but on who it brings in. The current path of reducing immigration targets might feel cautious, but it risks leaving critical labour shortages unfilled and transformative knowledge untapped.
The Canada immigration system needs to move from limits to leverage. From caps to opportunity. And from managing people to recruiting problem-solvers. Now is the time to open doors, not close them. For more updates, insights, and expert guidance on Canada’s immigration pathways, follow ImmigCanada—your trusted source for real-time immigration news.
Leave a Reply