National immigration cuts coming, but impact in N.L. could be softer, minister says

Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller says the number of jobs-based immigration spots allocated for Newfoundland and Labrador could certainly decrease in 2025, despite some sharp objections from the provincial government.

But the national pullback may not have as large an impact on the province as perceived. 

In late October, Miller announced Canada would be cutting the number of new permanent residents it takes in from 485,000 to 395,000 in 2025.

That number will get slashed further in 2026 to 380,000 and again in 2027 to 365,000.

"Everyone has to take a haircut, but we want to make sure that we're doing this in the right way to make sure that the federal government is assuming the role that Canadians are telling us to assume," Miller told Radio-Canada in an interview Thursday.

Newfoundland and Labrador has been allocated more than 3,000 jobs-based immigration spots annually by the federal government, reflected in the province's population growth over that last 14 consecutive quarters.

The province says it needs to maintain that level or even increase it.

"Our economic prosperity relies on economic immigration," provincial Immigration Minister Sarah Stoodley said in an interview on Oct. 24.

Miller applauds the province for maintaining growth, but isn't positive the jobs-based immigration cuts will really make an impact on Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Historically, Newfoundland has not fully used those spots," he said. 

Still, Miller's stance may soften slightly. He said he wants to work with the province to figure out its needs.

"We can, perhaps, even see growth. But that's something that will have to be negotiated with them and not publicly," he said.

"The current levels plan has a significant cut to the provincial nominee program. It is not a foregone conclusion that that means that fewer people will come into Newfoundland and Labrador."

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey criticized the federal move on Tuesday, shortly after delivering a state of the province speech. 

Furey called on Ottawa to reconsider its sweeping cut. 

Miller said he has a good working relationship with Furey and his cabinet. 

"[There's] no reason to believe that we can't make this work for Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly in taking a more surgical approach," he said.

"We're asking them to work with us, and I have every indication that we can actually work something out with Newfoundland."

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