Canada’s housing crisis cannot be resolved without the assistance of new immigrants who bring their skills to the country, according to Immigration Minister Marc Miller. Miller stated that the federal government is focused on making housing more affordable and bringing in skilled workers needed to address the demand for more homes. He emphasized that without these skilled workers from outside Canada, it would be impossible to meet the current demand for housing. When asked if he would consider reducing immigration targets in response to a report on immigrants contributing to housing demand, Miller stated that people who come to Canada are resourceful and can acquire homes when they bring capital. He questioned the implications of slashing immigration targets, including potential negative consequences for family reunification and the mental health and well-being of families already in the country. Miller noted that around 60% of new immigrants are economic migrants, many of whom possess the necessary skills required for housing construction. Family reunification visas account for about 20% of migrants, while the rest are refugees and asylum seekers. With regards to labour shortages, Miller’s office has emphasized that fulfilling the shortages is a priority and that strategies like Express Entry and the Immigration Levels Plan, which largely consist of economic migrants, will help address the ongoing labour shortage, particularly in the housing sector. The federal government increased its immigration targets in November 2022, and Miller has indicated that these targets may need to be further increased. The construction industry currently faces a shortage of tens of thousands of workers, and this issue may worsen due to upcoming retirements. Additionally, Canada is significantly behind in building the homes needed to achieve housing affordability goals by the end of the decade. The job vacancy rate in construction is at a record high, resulting in increased building costs and reduced productivity. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. predicts a need for 3.5 million more homes by 2030 than what is currently projected to be built. The number of new homes being constructed has declined, with only 260,000 projected for 2022 compared to just over 271,000 in 2021. In response to the shortage of skilled trades workers, the government has launched a separate entry stream for newcomers with work experience in skilled trades. This initiative aims to address the shortage and support the construction sector in finding and retaining the workers it needs. However, there are concerns about ensuring that these workers actually end up in the construction sector and can navigate certification processes across the country. Overall, addressing the housing crisis in Canada requires the contribution of skilled immigrants and strategies to meet the demand for housing construction.
National Minister declares: Canada’s housing shortage necessitates increased immigration
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