Conservative Proposal to Connect Immigration Levels to Homes Built ‘Mysterious,’ Says Immigration Minister

Then-crown-indigenous relations minister Marc Miller, now immigration minister, speaks during a news conference in Ottawa on June 28, 2023. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Immigration Minister Marc Miller has criticized what he called Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s “mysterious” proposal to link future immigration numbers with the construction of new homes in Canada.

Recently, Canada’s immigration system has been under examination due to the surge in newcomers contributing to population growth and exerting stress on the housing sector. The immigration strategy unveiled in November last year indicated that by 2025, Canada aims to admit 500,000 immigrants annually.

Responding to reporters at a Jan. 16 press conference in New Brunswick, Mr. Miller emphasized the necessity of having the capacity to accommodate people coming to the country. He referenced a strategic review conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) six months ago, which highlighted the importance of this issue.

The results of the IRCC review, detailed in an Oct. 31 report, commit to incorporating plans for housing, health care, and infrastructure, as well as other vital services, into the strategy for setting immigration levels in Canada, through close cooperation with provincial, territorial, and municipal authorities.

Speaking at a Jan. 12 press conference in Winnipeg, Mr. Poilievre said, “Conservatives will get back to an approach of immigration that invites a number of people that we can house, employ, and care for in our health care system.”

He noted that the number of homes being built is historically low relative to Canada’s growing population.

“Obviously, you need to build homes if you’re going to bring in people and right now, we’re not building enough homes,” he said.

“We built fewer homes last year than we built in 1972, 50 years ago, when our population was about half of what it is now. We need to make a link between the number of homes built and the number of people we invite as new Canadians.”

Mr. Miller noted that 50 percent of permanent residents are already in the country and presumably have housing.

He stressed that while housing is crucial for affordability and availability of the affordable housing stock, a detailed and practical plan is necessary for implementation, which he believes the Conservatives lack.

“It takes a plan. Mr. Poilievre, with all due respect, and in slogans, in implementation, I think it lacks support,” he said.

“So, I expect a plan, but it takes serious leadership. And this isn’t serious, what’s being [proposed].”

On Jan. 11, The Canadian Press disclosed internal documents from 2022 revealing that top government officials were cautioned that a significant rise in immigration might impact the availability of housing and services.

Mr. Miller and former immigration minister Sean Fraser issued a collective statement on Jan. 12, justifying the increase in immigration quotas by stating that it was necessary to prevent economic contraction following the COVID-19 pandemic.