--- title: "Canada urged to cut temporary residents and improve tracking" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/canada-urged-to-cut-temporary-residents-and-improve-tracking" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/canada-urged-to-cut-temporary-residents-and-improve-tracking" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/canada-urged-to-cut-temporary-residents-and-improve-tracking.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/canada-urged-to-cut-temporary-residents-and-improve-tracking" category: "Politics" published: "2026-08-30T12:46:14.701Z" source_reported: "2026-08-30T10:00:43.000Z" updated: "2026-08-30T12:46:14.701Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-30T14:45:11.270905+00:00" --- # Canada urged to cut temporary residents and improve tracking *An expert panel recommends reducing the temporary resident population and enhancing data collection on departures.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. One outlet provided a full report; 18 others provided digests, limiting corroboration. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. The report clearly separates facts from comment and provides specific figures and dates. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is measured and proportionate to the story's content. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Canada needs to reduce the number of temporary residents and improve data on their departures, stated Parisa Mahboubi, chair of the C.D. Howe Institute’s immigration targets council. - As of June 30, Canada had 632,000 study permit holders and 1.5 million temporary work permit holders. - The government's objective is to decrease the temporary resident population to below five per cent of the total population by the end of 2027. - Michelle Rempel Garner argued that immigration levels should align with Canada's capacity to provide jobs, housing, and healthcare. Canada should implement further reductions in its temporary resident population and develop more effective methods for tracking individuals who leave the country, according to Parisa Mahboubi, chair of the C.D. Howe Institute’s immigration targets council. This council is preparing a submission for the government's annual immigration levels consultation. Mahboubi stated that Canada is currently operating without clear data on visa renewals and the number of non-permanent residents with expired permits who depart the country. She indicated that assumptions are made about people leaving when their status expires, rather than having concrete data. As of June 30, there were 632,000 study permit holders and 1.5 million temporary work permit holders. The government's stated goal is to reduce the temporary resident population to less than five per cent of the total population by the end of 2027, a level that was exceeded in October 2024 when it reached over seven per cent. Michelle Rempel Garner, the Conservative immigration critic, commented that immigration levels, encompassing both temporary and permanent residents, should be adjusted to match Canada's capacity to offer jobs, housing, and healthcare. She suggested that current immigration levels are not fair to newcomers seeking a better life or to Canadians already facing unemployment. The government has also revised its targets for new permanent residents. The former Liberal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had planned for 500,000 new permanent residents in both 2025 and 2026. This target was later reduced to 395,000 for 2025 and 380,000 for 2026. Mahboubi noted that these figures do not account for one-time programs that could grant status to approximately 148,000 individuals between 2026 and 2027, including protected persons and skilled workers. Rempel Garner also raised concerns about a perceived two-tiered justice system, where non-citizens may receive reduced sentences to avoid immigration consequences. She cited lawyers who have indicated this practice is common. A 2019 review by the University of Saskatchewan College of Law examined 40 cases with sentences under six months, finding that in 19 of these instances, immigration consequences influenced the sentence reduction, often by a small margin. ## Disagreements in reporting The reports do not present any factual disagreements. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated reports printed below mention the government's goal to reduce the temporary resident population to less than five per cent of the total population by the end of 2027. No right-rated outlet ran this story. ## Who covered it Shares of the 19 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 58% (11) - Centre: 42% (8) - Right: 0% (0) 2 of 21 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-30T14:45:11.270905+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 10 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-30T15:15:08.247Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Reports from outlets rated left led on the call for further cuts to temporary residents and improved tracking of departures. They highlighted Parisa Mahboubi's statement that Canada is "flying in the dark" regarding data on non-permanent residents. These reports also included Michelle Rempel Garner's criticism that immigration levels should be tailored to Canada's ability to provide jobs, housing, and healthcare, and her assertion that current levels are unfair to both newcomers and unemployed Canadians. The reduction in permanent resident targets from 500,000 to 395,000 for 2025 and 380,000 for 2026 was also noted. The left-rated reports mentioned Rempel Garner's concerns about a "two-tiered justice system" and cited the University of Saskatchewan College of Law review of cases where immigration consequences influenced sentencing. ### Centre - Reports from outlets rated centre also focused on the recommendation to reduce temporary residents and enhance tracking of those leaving the country, citing Parisa Mahboubi. They noted the current numbers of study and work permit holders and the government's goal to reduce the temporary resident population to under five per cent of the total population by 2027. These reports included Michelle Rempel Garner's comments on aligning immigration levels with Canada's capacity for jobs, housing, and healthcare. The revised permanent resident targets for 2025 and 2026 were also mentioned, as were Rempel Garner's remarks on the justice system and the University of Saskatchewan study on sentencing. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 8 - unknown: 4 - veryHigh: 9 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Narcity](https://narcity.com/immigration-system-not-yet-under-control-experts) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/politics/federal/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents/article_c5a6aadd-8521-57e7-afe5-11af5db1a4a4.html) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/national-news/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents-12722522) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Airdrie City View](https://airdriecityview.com/national-news/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents-12722522) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/national-news/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents-12722522) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [City News](https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/08/30/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Thorold Today](https://thoroldtoday.ca/national-news/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents-12722522) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Battlefords NOW](https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/08/30/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [meadowlakeNOW](https://meadowlakenow.com/2026/08/30/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Bowen Island Undercurrent](https://bowenislandundercurrent.com/national-news/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents-12722524) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/national/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents-12722522) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/national-news/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents-12722522) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [CFJC Today Kamloops](https://cfjctoday.com/2026/08/30/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [InnisfilToday.ca](https://innisfiltoday.ca/national-news/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents-12722522) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Loonie Politics](https://looniepolitics.com/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2026/08/30/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Bradford Today](https://bradfordtoday.ca/national-news/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents-12722522) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Timmins Today](https://timminstoday.com/national-news/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents-12722522) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Ckpg Today](https://ckpgtoday.ca/2026/08/30/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/canada/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents/article_e11be7e0-e43a-5457-93ba-2fe4a3c08d46.html) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/canada/2026/08/30/immigration-board-asks-feds-to-better-track-temporary-residents) — Immigration board asks feds to better track temporary residents ## Questions **What is the main recommendation regarding temporary residents in Canada?** The main recommendation is that Canada needs to make further cuts to the number of temporary residents and generate better tracking data for when they leave the country. This call comes from Parisa Mahboubi, chair of the C.D. Howe Institute’s immigration targets council. **How many temporary residents are currently in Canada?** As of June 30, there were 632,000 study permit holders and 1.5 million temporary work permit holders in Canada. The temporary resident population was estimated to be around 2.5 million people, or about 6.2 per cent of the total population, as of last spring. **What is the government's target for temporary residents?** The government's goal is to reduce the temporary resident population to less than five per cent of the total population by the end of 2027. At its peak in October 2024, the temporary resident population represented more than seven per cent of the total population. **What concerns have been raised about the justice system and immigration?** Concerns have been raised about a potential 'two-tiered justice system' where non-citizens might receive lighter sentences to avoid immigration consequences. A 2019 review examined cases where immigration factors influenced sentence reductions, with 19 out of 40 cases showing this influence. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/canada-urged-to-cut-temporary-residents-and-improve-tracking. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Canada urged to cut temporary residents and improve tracking", https://mediabias.news/politics/canada-urged-to-cut-temporary-residents-and-improve-tracking