Canada Needs Immigration Reform—Not Less Immigration, but Better Immigration

by Maj (ret’d) CORNELIU, CHISU, CD, PMSC FEC, CET, P.Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East For generations, immigration has been one of Canada's greatest strengths. It has fueled economic growth, enriched our culture, and helped build one of the world's most successful multicultural societies. As a nation of immigrants, Canada has benefited immensely from welcoming talented people seeking freedom, opportunity, and a better life. However, acknowledging these successes does not mean ignoring the growing challenges facing our immigration system. Today, Canada needs immigration reform—not because immigration is the problem, but because our current policies are failing both newcomers and Canadians. The numbers tell part of the story. In recent years, Canada has admitted record numbers of permanent residents while also experiencing an unprecedented increase in temporary foreign workers, international students, and asylum claimants. Together, these groups have placed enormous pressure on housing, healthcare, education, transportation, and public services. The result is visible across the country. Housing affordability has deteriorated dramatically. Young Canadians increasingly struggle to purchase their first home or even find affordable rental accommodation. Emergency rooms remain overcrowded. Family physicians are in short supply. Public transit systems operate beyond capacity. Schools struggle to accommodate rapidly growing enrolment. These problems are not caused by immigrants. They are caused by governments that have failed to coordinate immigration targets with infrastructure planning. Immigration policy cannot exist in isolation. Each additional resident requires housing, hospitals, schools, roads, utilities, and employment opportunities. Without careful planning, even the best immigration program becomes unsustainable. Canada should continue welcoming newcomers, but admissions must reflect the country's capacity to integrate them successfully. Another area requiring reform is economic immigration. Canada faces serious labour shortages in healthcare, skilled trades, engineering, information technology, construction, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing. Immigration should focus primarily on filling these shortages rather than simply increasing overall population numbers. Credential recognition also requires urgent attention. Thousands of internationally trained physicians, nurses, engineers, and skilled professionals arrive in Canada each year only to discover that their qualifications are not recognized. Many end up driving taxis, delivering food, or working in jobs far below their skill levels. This represents an enormous waste of human talent. Provincial governments, regulatory bodies, and educational institutions must work together to accelerate credential assessment while maintaining professional standards. Temporary immigration programs also deserve closer scrutiny. International students have become an important source of revenue for many colleges and universities. Unfortunately, some private institutions have exploited the system by recruiting students with unrealistic expectations while providing inadequate education and support. Similarly, temporary foreign worker programs should remain focused on genuine labour shortages rather than becoming substitutes for investments in Canadian workers or productivity improvements. Border integrity must also remain a priority. Canada has both a humanitarian obligation and a sovereign responsibility to maintain secure borders. Genuine refugees fleeing persecution deserve protection. At the same time, asylum systems must be efficient enough to distinguish legitimate claims from those without merit. Lengthy processing delays undermine public confidence while creating uncertainty for applicants themselves. Integration is equally important. Successful immigration does not end when newcomers receive permanent residence. Language training, employment assistance, civic education, and community support help immigrants succeed while strengthening social cohesion. Integration is a two-way process that benefits both newcomers and Canadian society. Canada's official languages should remain central to this effort. Knowledge of English or French significantly improves employment prospects, social participation, and long-term success. Immigration should also support Canada's broader national interests. Population growth alone cannot solve Canada's economic challenges. Productivity, innovation, infrastructure investment, educational excellence, and responsible fiscal management remain equally important. Immigration should complement these policies rather than substitute for them. Regional immigration deserves renewed emphasis as well. Many smaller communities across Canada need workers and population growth, while the largest metropolitan areas struggle with congestion and housing shortages. Better incentives could encourage newcomers to settle in regions where opportunities exist and infrastructure has greater capacity. Finally, transparency is essential. Canadians deserve honest discussions about immigration policy free from ideological extremes. One extreme portrays any criticism of current policies as anti-immigrant. The other unfairly blames immigrants for every social and economic challenge. Neither position serves Canada well. Most Canadians continue to support immigration. They simply want an immigration system that is fair, orderly, economically beneficial, and sustainable. That goal should unite Canadians across political lines. A modern immigration strategy should include realistic admission targets, stronger border management, faster credential recognition, improved settlement services, coordinated infrastructure planning, and regular public reporting on outcomes. Success should be measured not only by the number of newcomers admitted but also by their ability to find employment, secure housing, access healthcare, and build prosperous lives. Canada has long demonstrated that diversity and national unity can coexist. Maintaining that success requires thoughtful leadership rather than political slogans. Immigration has helped build Canada into one of the world's most admired democracies. With sensible reforms, it can continue to strengthen our economy, enrich our society, and secure our future. The challenge before policymakers is not whether Canada should welcome newcomers. It is ensuring that our immigration system serves both those who choose Canada and the Canadians who have already made this country their home. That balance is neither anti-immigrant nor anti-growth. It is simply good public policy.