TORONTO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Canada will incorporate planning for housing, healthcare and other services into its a immigration strategy, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said on Tuesday, after posting its biggest population jump in almost seven decades.
Statistics Canada has said the population grew by 2.9% in the 12 months to July 1, 2023, to more than 40 million.
"We need to better align immigration programs systems and services with Canada's labor market," Miller told reporters.
Canada's government is facing pressure to address concerns about targeting annual immigration at around 500,000 permanent residents by 2025 given the backdrop of an affordable housing crisis and escalating living costs.
One key to the new strategy is to accelerate processing services for international student permits at institutions with better housing, services and other supports, the ministry said.
Persons:
Marc Miller, Miller, we've, Wa, Steve Scherer, Sandra Maler
Organizations:
TORONTO, Immigration, Statistics Canada, Wa Lone, Thomson
Locations:
Canada