The abolition of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) has left many skilled workers uncertain about their future.
Canada, once known for its openness to immigrants, is now taking a more restrictive approach. The end of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) and reduced admission targets indicate a tightening of immigration policy at both provincial and federal levels.
This change follows increased pressure on housing, public services, and infrastructure, as well as shifting public opinion. According to AFP, it represents a departure from decades of consensus that held that strong immigration was vital for economic growth and demographic stability.
The Quebec government’s decision to end the PEQ has surprised many skilled workers and international students already in the labor market. The program provided expedited access to permanent residency for those with work experience or a diploma from Quebec.
Ending the program reflects a shift in policy. Temporary immigration is no longer viewed as a route to permanent settlement. Authorities now prefer a more restrictive and selective approach, moving away from encouraging long-term investment by migrants.
Several experts warn that this decision reduces predictability and sends mixed messages to workers recruited to address labor shortages.
A broad reduction in immigration levels
At the federal level, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government is continuing the policy shift started under Justin Trudeau, acknowledging that Canada admitted too many newcomers after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new budget confirms this shift. Ottawa plans to admit 380,000 new permanent residents in 2026, down from 395,000 in 2025 and significantly below the 500,000 target for 2024.
Reductions are even greater for temporary residents. New permits are expected to drop to 385,000 in 2026, compared to 673,650 this year, nearly a 50 percent decrease. Visas for international students are also being significantly reduced, which is expected to have major economic consequences for universities and local economies.
These policy changes are already having measurable effects. Canada’s national statistics agency reported a 0.2 percent population decline in the third quarter of 2025, bringing the total to 41.57 million. This is the first decrease since 2020, largely due to the departure of international students.
This decline highlights a paradox. While Canada faces rapid population aging and ongoing labor shortages, it is restricting access for migrants who contribute directly to the economy.
A shifting political and social consensus
According to Catherine Xardez, an immigration expert at the University of Montreal, these decisions indicate a decline in the long-standing idea of “Canadian exceptionalism” in immigration policy.
“The consensus has clearly fractured,” she notes, emphasizing that Canada’s system was designed for permanent immigration—not for the large-scale influx of temporary residents seen in recent years.
Changing public opinion is also shaping this transformation. A survey by the Environics Institute found that 56 percent of Canadians now believe the country accepts too many migrants, up from 27 percent in 2022. This significant shift is increasingly influencing political decisions.
Despite the stricter policies, several migrant advocacy organizations reject the idea that Canadian society has fundamentally turned against immigration.
Gauri Sreenivasan, co-executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, states that there has been “no fundamental change in Canadian values,” which have traditionally supported the welcoming of newcomers. However, she criticizes politicians for exploiting a global climate of anxiety, where immigrants are blamed for structural issues such as housing shortages and strained healthcare systems, AFP reported.
She emphasizes that Canada’s future growth relies on immigration and warns against normalizing what she describes as “toxic and xenophobic rhetoric.”
A model to be rethought
Canada now faces the challenge of balancing public concerns with economic and demographic needs. The current tightening of immigration policy raises questions about consistency, especially regarding migrants who are already present, trained, and employed.
By redefining its immigration priorities, Canada risks reducing its international appeal and moving away from a model that has long supported its prosperity. It remains to be seen whether this transition will create a more balanced system or mark a lasting retreat from Canada’s role as a land of opportunity.
Source: AFP
