Trends indicate a decrease in Canadian immigration

Canada’s permanent resident arrivals continued to decrease for the second month in a row in March, following a high in January. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), immigration dropped 11% in March, with 34,785 newcomers compared to 39,090 in February and 47,745 in January. This pattern echoes early 2023, which still ended with record immigration. Despite lower numbers this quarter compared to 2023, projections still suggest 486,480 new residents this year, a 3.1% increase from last year. This aligns with Canada’s 2024-2026 Immigration Plan, aiming for 485,000 newcomers in 2024, 500,000 in 2025 and 2026.