Canada’s population drop reflects souring of attitudes to immigration

Canada's population experienced a rare contraction in the third quarter of this year, marking the largest drop in over five decades. This decline, revealed by Statistics Canada, is primarily attributed to a decrease in international students following government efforts to reduce study permits. The shift comes after a period of rapid population growth fueled by increased immigration to address labor shortages post-pandemic. The current government, led by Mark Carney, has been actively dismantling the previous administration's immigration policies, citing concerns about an "overheated" system. Public opinion on immigration has become increasingly divided, influencing the government's decision to curb the number of newcomers. These policy changes are now demonstrably impacting Canada's population figures.

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