Canadian immigration declined by 18.4% in February from the previous month, marking a 13.8% drop in new permanent residents for the year to date compared to the same period last year. Despite a 28% increase in January compared to December, this year's trend shows reduced immigration. The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals that Canada welcomed fewer new permanent residents in January and February than in the same months of 2023. If this trend continues, it will result in 520,260 new permanent residents in 2024, which is still 10.3% higher than last year's record of 471,550. This would also exceed Ottawa's target of 485,000 new permanent residents set out in its Immigration Levels Plan for 2023–2025.
