A country known for welcoming newcomers has reversed policy as immigration becomes increasingly a partisan issue
Canada sees large drop in population amid international students crackdown
Standing in Canada’s House of Commons in 2023, the then-prime minister, Justin Trudeau, gave an impassioned speech on the value of welcoming newcomers.
“Canadians know that immigration is one of our greatest assets. It helps us compete,” he said. “If we want to boost our economic success significantly, we need to boost immigration.”
A year later, however, as public views soured on what had long been a bedrock of Canada’s economic growth toolbox, Trudeau pledged to cut the number of international students coming to the country and made changes to a controversial program that relied on migrant workers for agricultural jobs and the fast-food industry.
