In a year-end interview with OMNI News and CityNews on Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said we need to “be very careful about how we talk about immigration.”
This comes after growing concern across Canada has Ottawa pressured to crack down on immigration to ease pressure on housing and the cost of living crisis.
“I don’t like the fact that people are setting immigration against housing because that’s not the full story, but there are specific problems that have cropped up in the past couple of years that we are directly leaning in to address.”
Trudeau said “there’s lots more to do” to tackle the housing affordability crisis that continues to grip Canadians across the country, noting the government started acting in 2017 to reverse years of inaction under the Conservatives, also addressing a “massive spike” in temporary immigration.
“We are increasing our immigration levels to 500,000 a year, which is responsible and fine. It’s the temporary immigrants that have spiked massively over the past couple of years that is putting so much pressure on the whole system.”
Ottawa has been facing calls to curb the number of immigrants Canada welcomes each year to limit their impact on the housing market, but Trudeau stressed that his government is taking action to “both better support and to keep those numbers at manageable levels,” when it comes to three specific categories: irregular asylum seekers, temporary foreign workers, and international students.
“If people come even to a great school, a real school, they cannot just be unleased on to the community to try and find a rental home, a rental property. That’s what’s driving up the prices for them and for everyone.”
The prime minister said Canada needs “to be bringing people into this country to continue the incredible diversity and economic success that immigrants bring,” adding that Canadian multiculturalism should serve as model even when it comes to complex international issues like the conflict in the Middle East.
“We are a country that does diversity better than just about any other place in the world, and the level of grief and anger and mistrust and even hate that we are seeing amongst Canadians is not helping in finding a resolution over there, because if we can’t figure out how to start talking together and working things out, then who else will around the world.”
As the war between Israel and Hamas rages on, Trudeau reiterated Ottawa’s position in favour of a humanitarian pause, which can lead to a ceasefire and to a future where an Israeli and a Palestinian state can live side by side in peace, without any Hamas involvement.
But the war in the Middle East wasn’t the only issue to dominate the foreign affairs agenda this year. Trudeau also spoke about his decision in September to come forward with allegations against the Indian government, who might be linked to the murder of a Sikh activist in Surrey, British Columbia.
The claims opened a rift in the relations between Canada and India that eventually saw New Delhi unilaterally revoke protections for 41 Canadian diplomats – a move Trudeau called “a real mistake.”
“We let the Indian government know right away that they needed to take this seriously. Unfortunately, they didn’t.”
Meanwhile, back at home, polls show the Liberal government and the Prime Minister are increasingly less popular with Canadians, leading to questions swirling about potential early elections and Trudeau’s own future – questions which he answered stating there is too much at stake now to give up.
“I couldn’t be the person I am and walk away from this fight right now, because what I owe Canadians, but mostly what I owe my kids in fighting every day for a better future, means that I am here to stand with Canadians and fight for them every day.”
