Carney Reinforces Immigration Goals in New Mandate Letter to Ministers

Mark Carney, Canada’s new Prime Minister, has highlighted immigration reform as one of the top seven cabinet priorities, according to a new mandate letter sent to his ministers.

The letter outlines two key immigration goals:

1. Stabilizing immigration levels to ensure they are sustainable
2. Attracting top global talent to help strengthen Canada’s economy

Focus on Sustainability

Carney’s government plans to keep annual permanent resident admissions below 1% of Canada’s population beyond 2027 to reduce pressure on housing and public services.

According to Canada’s 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, targets are already aligned with this goal:

• 2025: 395,000 PR admissions
• 2026: 380,000
• 2027: 365,000

Focus on Global Talent

The mandate also prioritizes updating the Global Skills Strategy (GSS) to help Canadian businesses bring in skilled professionals quickly—especially in critical sectors.

Key points include:

• Faster work permit processing (as quick as 2 weeks)
• Support for high-growth companies and entrepreneurs
• Attracting skilled workers from the U.S.
• Faster recognition of foreign credentials to integrate newcomers into the workforce

It’s unclear whether individual mandate letters will be issued to each minister, as done by previous governments. However, the new directive clearly sets the tone for a balanced and talent-focused immigration approach under Carney’s leadership.