In certain instances—not across the board—there exists a potential pathway to citizenship. However, meticulous planning and readiness are imperative at every level.”

The count of temporary residents in Canada has now surpassed the 1.8 million Indigenous people recorded in the 2021 census.

Recently, Miller and federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser expressed apprehension about the substantial rise in temporary visas issued in recent years, particularly amid the housing crisis.

The spotlight has primarily been on study visas, addressing the challenges of accommodating a growing number of international students and their susceptibility to fraudulent activities.

The surge in temporary residents is largely attributed to individuals holding work visas rather than international students.

Miller highlighted that the influx of workers in the country aims to meet the demands of a burgeoning labor shortage.

Following a CIBC Capital Markets report revealing potential underestimation of non-permanent residents in Canada, Statistics Canada modified its counting method.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation relies on census data for its household formation forecast, which is widely used in planning across the country. CIBC economist Benjamin Tal emphasized the impact of starting with an inaccurately low baseline on the planning process.

The updated Statistics Canada estimate encompasses family members residing with permit holders and considers individuals in the process of renewing expired visas.

Tal described the newly released figures as “extraordinary” and asserted that the surge is unsustainable with the current supply of affordable housing.

In terms of actual numbers, the population growth over the past year is more than twice the increase witnessed in 1957 during the peak of the baby boom and the Hungarian refugee crisis.

This report by The Canadian Press was initially published on September 27, 2023.

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