Pierre Poilievre urges the Liberals to drastically cut immigration, citing concerns over border security, housing, and Canada’s strained public systems.
Poilievre Escalates Immigration Debate
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Tuesday called for “severe limits” on Canada’s population growth, asserting that surging immigration under Liberal governments has overwhelmed infrastructure, strained public services, and contributed to border insecurity. Speaking at a press conference in the House of Commons, Poilievre said the population increase has triggered a cascade of social and economic issues.
Press Conference Sparks Controversy
In his remarks, Poilievre blamed the Liberal government for what he described as “out of control” growth. “The population has been growing out of control, our border has been left wide open,” he said. “This has caused the free flow of drugs, illegal migration, human trafficking and much worse.” Poilievre did not offer specifics on what “severe limits” would entail and declined to take follow-up questions from reporters.
Record Growth Cited as Cause for Alarm
Statistics Canada reported that Canada’s population surged by nearly 9% between 2021 and 2024, reaching 41 million—the fastest growth in more than six decades. While much of this increase came from immigration, analysts point to existing housing shortages, healthcare wait times, and public transit strain as factors fueling political pressure to slow population expansion.
Liberal Strategy Focuses on Gradual Reductions
In response to public concern, the federal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney has maintained previously set immigration targets, aiming to reduce permanent resident admissions from 500,000 in 2025 to 365,000 by 2027. The number of temporary residents is also expected to fall to 5% of the population by the end of 2026. Carney’s cabinet mandate letters emphasize the need to return immigration “to sustainable levels.”
Conservatives Push for Harper-Era Numbers
The Conservative platform, consistent with Poilievre’s stance, has proposed cutting immigration to levels similar to those under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. During Harper’s tenure from 2006 to 2016, Canada admitted between 240,000 and 285,000 permanent residents annually. However, Poilievre has yet to clarify whether these proposed cuts would be absolute or proportionate to today’s higher population baseline.
Political Implications and Policy Uncertainty
While Poilievre’s comments reflect a growing segment of public sentiment concerned about rapid change, his refusal to elaborate on concrete policy has drawn criticism from opponents and left policy experts uncertain. The Conservative leader’s remarks may shape the coming electoral narrative, particularly among voters facing high living costs, housing shortages, and infrastructure bottlenecks linked to population pressures.
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