Latest news with #Carney
Economic Times
37 minutes ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Canada's population growth slows as immigration rules tighten
Live Events Cut international student permits by 35% starting September 2024 Set further 10% decrease in student permits for 2025 Require language tests for post-graduation work permits (CLB 7 for university grads, CLB 5 for college grads) Limit post-graduation work permits to in-demand fields only End work-permit eligibility for spouses of bachelor's and college students — keep it only for spouses of master's, PhD students, and select high-skilled workers Cap number of temporary foreign workers in low-wage jobs and reduce their maximum stays Implement a 'Strong Borders Act' tightening asylum rules — stricter eligibility, faster removals, stronger border controls Aim to reduce temporary residents to 5% of the population by 2026, with declining target numbers for 2025–2027 Align permanent resident targets to 395,000 in 2025, then gradually reduce Increase intelligence-sharing and cooperation with U.S. border enforcement Address public concern over rapid post-pandemic population growth and pressure on housing and public services Canada's population barely grew in the first quarter of this year as tighter immigration policies slowed the number of new arrivals, Statistics Canada data showed. The country added just 20,107 people, a near-zero percentage increase, compared with an average quarterly rise of 0.3% over the past the pandemic period, this was Canada's weakest quarterly growth rate since comparable records began in 1946. Population increases had previously been fuelled by a surge in temporary residents — especially foreign students — following the Minister Mark Carney, who has promised to cut immigration to 'sustainable levels,' welcomed the data. His predecessor, Justin Trudeau, began curbing new arrivals last year after rapid growth strained the country's housing, healthcare, and other public residents fell to about 3 million, or 7.1% of the population, down from a peak of 7.4% last year. Foreign students saw the biggest drop, with Ontario and British Columbia recording their steepest quarterly population declines since 1951.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)At the same time, asylum claims continued to rise for the 13th consecutive quarter, reaching a record 470,029 people. Carney's government introduced a bill to tighten asylum rules and is already restricting the number of international students and foreign workers. Legislators will debate the new law on immigration plan seeks to hold overall population growth flat before returning to more typical rates. Even with these measures, migration accounted for all net growth last quarter as deaths outnumbered births by 5, government must now balance its goals. 'We want to attract the best talent in the world to help build our economy,' Carney said after winning his April election. But as public support for immigration declines, officials face increasing pressure to ensure future arrivals match the country's capacity and economic needs. Canada has introduced a series of tightened immigration measures in 2024–2025. These include caps on international student and temporary worker permits, tougher spouse‑permit rules, language requirements, and new asylum restrictions under the 'Strong Borders Act.' The goal: reduce temporary residents to 5% of the population, ease pressure on housing and services, and preserve system integrity.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘We cannot waste any time': Anand promises ‘action' and reform in foreign affairs
OTTAWA – Faced with escalating conflict in the Middle East, a collapsing global trade system and a department struggling to reform itself, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says she relishes the job of helping Canada navigate a turbulent world. In a wide-ranging interview Thursday with The Canadian Press, Anand said her experiences in both politics and academia can help her streamline Canada's approach to global issues, allowing it to pursue its interests without losing sight of its values. 'How do you ensure, when you have these large departments, that you're actually able to execute? That is the heart of government. It's the hardest thing to do,' Anand said. 'I enjoy difficult responsibilities.' She cited her time as defence minister, when she pushed the Canadian Armed Forces to address sexual misconduct and organized donations of military supplies to Ukraine's front line. Previously, as procurement minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, she pushed one of Ottawa's largest and most unwieldy departments to deliver vaccines across the country within days. Anand spoke of 'how hard it was to say, like, we gotta buy this stuff today.' 'That's kind of the same frame that I'm bringing to foreign affairs and it's super exciting,' she added. Anand said her job involves listening closely to what the foreign service says, even if she doesn't always follow its guidance. 'You have to think independently, taking into account the advice that you receive, but also ensuring that you're discharging your obligations to the Canadian public,' she said. 'I welcome the advice that my officials provide, but at the end of the day, the decisions that I make are based on an independent judgment about what is best for our country in terms of our diplomatic relationships and our foreign policy.' Much of her job, she said, involves supporting Prime Minister Mark Carney's quest to make Canada less dependent on the U.S. for trade and defence. 'We are considering every option to strengthen our collaboration with reliable trading partners and allies around the world,' she said. 'My role as foreign minister is to stand up for Canada in that process and to ensure that we are also standing up for peace, the safety of civilians and the respect for international law.' Carney has set the tone for much of Canada's foreign policy and Anand is accompanying the prime minister on a diplomatic trip to Europe next week. Canada will sign an agreement Monday in Brussels with the European Union that largely focuses on defence procurement. Carney and Anand will then head to the NATO summit in the Netherlands, where they hope to use new spending pledges from Canada and allies to keep the United States committed to collective defence. Carney's approach to foreign policy features a major tilt toward Europe and might include more outreach in Asia and Africa ahead of summits he is set to attend this fall on both continents. While his government is heeding allies' calls for a steep increase in defence spending, it's also bucking an international trend by promising not to cut foreign aid. 'We are deeply committed to multilateralism over unilateralism, to global co-operation over increased protectionism,' Anand said. 'We must showcase Canada's values in terms of peace, safety of civilians, and respect for international law. But we're at a time where we also need to strategically advance our economic interests here at home, and to ensure that we have defence and security arrangements in place for the protection of our own country.' She said her ministerial background in defence, procurement, transport and the Treasury Board — which oversees all other departments' spending — gives her a unique perspective on how governments can actually follow through on their promises. At the recent G7 summit in Alberta, she had a front-row seat as Canada's closest peers drafted statements on topics ranging from artificial intelligence to transnational repression. The summit allowed her to meet face-to-face with both representatives of Ottawa's traditional allies and officials from emerging nations with increasing clout — including her Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The Carney government is moving to restore diplomatic relations with India — a controversial move, given the recent history between Ottawa and New Delhi. In 2023 and 2024, former prime minister Justin Trudeau and the RCMP said there was evidence linking agents of the Indian government to the murder of Canadian Sikh separatist activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., in June 2023. Last October, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said the police force had evidence linking Indian government officials to other crimes in Canada, including extortion, coercion and homicide. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service identified India as one of the main drivers of foreign interference in a report it released this week. Anand said Ottawa is trying to restore parts of 'a long-standing relationship that has been put on hold for the last couple of years,' while respecting the law and institutions like the RCMP. 'The global strategic environment is very volatile and we need to carefully ensure that we are respecting the foundations of our democracy,' she said. Anand was born and raised in Nova Scotia by parents who immigrated from India. As a lawyer and professor in Toronto, she focused on the field of corporate governance — on how companies can reform the way they operate. Global Affairs Canada itself is under heavy pressure to change the way it works. The department launched a reform plan in February 2024 that included an admission that it can be 'slow to react or not focused enough' when major crises erupt, and that its staffing policies aren't keeping up with its growing responsibilities and tighter budgets. Things have only grown more complex since then, with Washington cutting back on foreign aid and moving closer to a revanchist Russia, while China pitches more trade with Canada and other countries. Canada has meanwhile promised to appoint new ambassadors across Africa and to open new embassies in Fiji and Benin, while somehow containing spending across government. Canada's critics have a history of claiming it's all talk when it comes to international relations. Trudeau was frequently criticized for raising human rights issues and inserting environmental policies in trade deals while failing to meet his government's defence spending targets or supply allies with liquefied natural gas. Foreign diplomats and departmental staff describe Anand as cautious, attentive and focused on results. While she's taking some time to get thoroughly briefed, she wants to deliver a lot — and soon. 'We have so much work to do and we cannot waste any time doing it,' she said. 'I am action-oriented myself and the prime minister knows this about me. And that's why we will make a good team on the foreign affairs front.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Parliament set to rise today, with MPs to vote on controversial major projects bill
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Mark Carney's major projects and internal trade bill will be voted on today before the House of Commons rises until September. A closure motion the government passed to limit debate says the House won't adjourn today until debate wraps up on Bill C-5 and it clears the chamber. The Liberal government's controversial legislation, which would let cabinet quickly grant federal approvals for big industrial projects like mines, ports and pipelines, sailed through committee in the early hours of Thursday with support from the Conservatives. Indigenous and environmental groups and some opposition MPs and senators have criticized the government for rushing a bill through Parliament that gives cabinet such sweeping powers. The legislation was amended Thursday to withdraw the power it gave cabinet to sidestep the Indian Act after weeks of criticism from First Nations leaders. As Canada continues to grapple with U.S. tariffs, Carney on Thursday called C-5 called the 'core' of Canada's domestic economic response. A Senate programming motion has the upper chamber wrapping up its examination of Bill C-5 by June 27. — With files from Kyle Duggan and Alessia Passafiume This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Parliament set to rise today, with MPs to vote on controversial major projects bill
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney's major projects and internal trade bill will be voted on today before the House of Commons rises until September. A closure motion the government passed to limit debate says the House won't adjourn today until debate wraps up on Bill C-5 and it clears the chamber. The Liberal government's controversial legislation, which would let cabinet quickly grant federal approvals for big industrial projects like mines, ports and pipelines, sailed through committee in the early hours of Thursday with support from the Conservatives. Indigenous and environmental groups and some opposition MPs and senators have criticized the government for rushing a bill through Parliament that gives cabinet such sweeping powers. The legislation was amended Thursday to withdraw the power it gave cabinet to sidestep the Indian Act after weeks of criticism from First Nations leaders. As Canada continues to grapple with U.S. tariffs, Carney on Thursday called C-5 called the 'core' of Canada's domestic economic response. A Senate programming motion has the upper chamber wrapping up its examination of Bill C-5 by June 27. — With files from Kyle Duggan and Alessia Passafiume This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Canadian tariffs on US steel and aluminum could rise depending on trade talks, Carney says
He added: 'In parallel, we must reinforce our strength at home – and safeguard Canadian workers and businesses from the unjust U.S. tariffs. That's why today we are announcing Canada will be introducing a series of countermeasures to protect Canadian steel and aluminum workers and producers. 'First, Canada will adjust its existing counter-tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum products on July 21 to levels consistent with progress made in the broader trading agreement with the United States.' Carney said Trump's trade war is running the risk of a global recession. Advertisement 'The world is in the middle of a trade war and several wars, actual wars, including wars that can have quite significant implications for commodity prices and global growth,' said Carney, who led the central banks of both Canada and the United Kingdom. Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum as well as 25% tariffs on autos. Trump is also charging a 10% tax on imports from most countries, though he could raise rates on July 9, after the 90-day negotiating period set by him would expire. Canada and Mexico face separate tariffs of as much as 25% that Trump put into place under the auspices of stopping fentanyl smuggling, through some products are still protected under the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement signed during Trump's first term. Advertisement Canada is the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian dollars ($2.6 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. 'We need to stabilize the trading relationship with the United States. We need to have ready access to U.S. markets,' Carney said. Trump announced with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that they had signed a trade framework Monday that was previously announced in May. The trade framework included quotas to protect against some tariffs, but the 10% baseline would largely remain as the Trump administration is banking on tariff revenues to help cover the cost of its income tax cuts. Carney didn't say if he would sign a deal with the U.S. if any tariffs remain in place on Canada. 'This a negotiation, and it is better for the Americans, and of course for Canada, to have true free trade between our countries, particularly in the steel, aluminum and auto sectors,' he said.
