Immigration becomes key battleground in final days of Canada's 2025 election campaign

With Canada heading to the polls on April 28, immigration policy has taken center stage in the federal election debate, shaping the final arguments made by the country’s leading political parties. Both Liberal Party leader Mark Carney and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre have placed immigration reform high on their campaign agendas, proposing significant changes that reflect diverging priorities.

The issue gained momentum over the past year as public discourse intensified around housing shortages, strain on public services, and labor market demands. According to a recent Angus Reid poll, a majority of Canadians believe immigration targets should be reduced, citing affordability and service pressure as primary concerns.

In majority of interviews, campaign rallies, and policy documents released in recent weeks, both leaders have outlined their respective positions. Mark Carney, during a CBC interview earlier at a campaign event in Toronto, emphasized the need to “stabilize” immigration until housing supply expands. Poilievre, speaking at a town hall in Calgary and again during a rally in Vaughan on April 10, has linked immigration levels directly to homebuilding capacity and vowed to return to what he calls “sustainable” rates last seen under the Harper government.

These policy proposals, detailed in both parties’ official 2025 election platforms, include reforms across key areas—permanent resident targets, temporary foreign workers, international students, economic immigration, refugee intake, and border security. As the election draws near, immigration has become one of the most closely watched issues among voters, newcomers, and business leaders across the country.
Permanent Resident Admissions
Liberal Party led by Mark Carney:
The Liberal platform aims to stabilize annual permanent resident (PR) admissions at less than 1% of Canada's population beyond 2027. This aligns with the current Immigration Levels Plan, which sets a PR target of 395,000 in 2025, representing approximately 0.95% of the projected population of 41.5 million. Carney emphasized that immigration caps will remain until housing capacity expands.

Conservative Party led by Pierre Poilievre:
The Conservative platform proposes limiting permanent immigration to levels similar to those under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, which ranged between 247,000 and 281,000 annually. Poilievre has suggested tying immigration levels to housing availability, stating in a January 2024 press conference that immigration should be linked to homebuilding.
Temporary Foreign Workers and International Students
Liberal Party:
The Liberals propose capping the total number of temporary workers and international students to less than 5% of Canada's population by the end of 2027. As of January 1, 2025, Canada's temporary resident population was estimated at 3.02 million, or 7.27% of the total population. Measures include introducing targets for temporary residents in the Immigration Levels Plan, capping study permit applications, and restricting eligibility for Post-Graduation Work Permits and spousal open work permits.

Conservative Party:
The Conservatives aim to "restore integrity to the system by cracking down on fraud and dramatically reducing the number of temporary foreign workers and foreign students,” said Poilievre. While exact numbers are not specified, the platform includes requiring union pre-approval for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) and mandatory criminal background checks for student visa applicants.
Economic Immigration
Liberal Party:
The Liberals plan to revitalize the Global Skills Strategy to attract high-skilled workers and streamline the recognition of foreign credentials in collaboration with provinces and territories. The plan includes a commitment to increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec, targeting 8.5% of total admissions in 2025, rising to 10% by 2027.

Conservative Party:
While the Conservative platform does not specifically address economic immigration, Poilievre has previously advocated for simplifying foreign credential recognition. In October 2024, he proposed a national licensing standard for the healthcare sector, allowing immigrant doctors and nurses to take a test, get licensed, and work.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Liberal Party:
The Liberal platform states that they will provide legal aid for asylum seekers and refugees to ensure claimants receive advice and representation, facilitating quicker case resolutions. Carney has attributed the influx of asylum seekers from the US to President Donald Trump's crackdown on migrants, emphasizing the need for Canada and the US to collaborate more closely.

Conservative Party:
Poilievre has expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of some asylum claims, proposing to process refugee claims on a "last-in, first-out" basis to expedite decisions and manage backlogs. The party also plans to implement departure tracking to monitor visa overstays.
Border Security and General Safety
Liberal Party:
The Liberals pledge to enhance border security by increasing resources for security screenings, identifying and removing inadmissible individuals quickly, tightening visa requirements, and stepping up enforcement against immigration fraud.

Conservative Party:
Poilievre has proposed a six-point plan to bolster border security, including adding Canadian forces to the border, deploying military helicopters and surveillance, increasing border agents, and extending Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) powers along the entire border.
Francophone Immigration
Liberal Party:
Carney has advocated for boosting Francophone immigration outside Quebec, proposing a 12% target by 2029. This represents an increase from the most recent Levels Plan, which calls for 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, and 10% in 2027.

Conservative Party:
While Poilievre has expressed support for increasing Francophone immigration and preserving the French language in Canada, the 2025 election platform does not specify any targets.
Other Aspects
Liberal Party:
The Liberal platform includes leveraging digital service tools to reduce processing times and eliminate backlogs, enhancing cooperation between federal, provincial, and territorial authorities on immigration issues, and continuing to respect responsible immigration levels with the Government of Quebec to protect the French language and culture.

Conservative Party:
The Conservative platform rejects the Century Initiative's plan to significantly increase Canada's population, arguing that such growth would strain housing, healthcare, and infrastructure. The party emphasizes spreading the benefits of immigration across Canada through programs like the Atlantic Immigration Program and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.