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In a significant policy shift, Canada has announced a reduction in its immigration targets, a move that aims to slow down the country's population growth over the next two years. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that the number of permanent residents allowed into Canada will decrease from a previously set target of 500,000 in 2025 to 395,000, marking a 21% reduction. Trudeau acknowledged that his government 'didn't get the balance quite right' when it increased immigration levels post-pandemic to address labor shortages. This decision comes amid growing public concern regarding the impact of rising immigration on housing and social services. The announcement follows earlier reductions in the targets for international students and temporary foreign workers. On Thursday, Trudeau and Immigration Minister Marc Miller outlined their plan to set a new target of 365,000 new permanent residents by 2027. Trudeau emphasized that this reduction is intended to pause population growth in Canada, allowing provinces the necessary time to enhance their healthcare systems and housing availability. He stated that 'Canadians are justifiably proud' of their immigration system, which has played a crucial role in strengthening the economy and fostering diverse communities. Trudeau further explained, 'Our immigration system has always been responsible and it has always been flexible. ' He noted that the government is taking these steps due to the challenging circumstances following the pandemic, where the balance between addressing labor needs and managing population growth was not achieved. According to federal data, immigration accounted for approximately 97% of Canada’s population growth last year. However, the country is also facing an increase in unemployment, which has risen to 6. 5%, with youth unemployment exceeding 14%. This policy change represents a departure from Canada’s long-standing open immigration approach, which has relied on newcomers to meet population targets and fill labor shortages. Since Trudeau's election in 2015, the government has raised the annual target for permanent residents from 272,000 to 485,000 this year, with the most significant increase occurring in 2021 following the Covid-19 pandemic. Critics have pointed out that the government has increased immigration without adequately enhancing services or housing construction, leading to warnings from economists about the strain on housing and public services like healthcare. A recent poll conducted by the Environics Institute revealed that 58% of Canadians now believe that immigration levels are too high, indicating a significant shift in public opinion. The institute noted that this change suggests that Canadians' views on immigration have transitioned from being generally acceptable to increasingly problematic. Advocacy groups, such as the Migrant Rights Network, have criticized the cuts to immigration targets, arguing that migrants are being unfairly blamed for the affordability crisis in Canada. They stated, 'Migrants are not responsible for Canada’s housing crisis, lack of jobs, or inadequate healthcare or other public services. ' Instead, they attribute these issues to decades of federal and provincial policies that have underfunded and privatized public services.