Trump Critiques Canada’s Immigration Policies
President Donald Trump has openly criticized Canada, suggesting that its immigration policies and unemployment rate are leading to the country’s decline. In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed his concerns about Canadian immigration, especially as recent Canadian government data indicates a negative change in public sentiment regarding the issue.
“Canada is destroying itself by allowing millions and millions of people into the Country, essentially unchecked and unvetted, and who are causing problems that will soon be too big to handle,” Trump stated.
“It is a Liberal takeover that will end very badly. Already showing up in their numbers. Big unemployment,” he added.
These comments come as tensions rise between the U.S. and Canada, exacerbated by a trade war involving tariffs that impact billions of dollars worth of exports and imports.
As for employment, Canada’s unemployment rate remained at 6.4% as of August, which was the same as the previous month, according to Trading Economics.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has noted a decline in favorable public opinion regarding immigration over recent years. In their Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2026, data indicated that in November 2025, 47% of Canadians felt there were too many immigrants, down from 54% the year before, yet a significant rise from just 22% in March 2023.
While many Canadians acknowledge the advantages of immigration—especially in meeting job market demands due to an aging population—they are also increasingly worried about the pressure on the nation’s infrastructure.
“Many Canadians continue to understand the benefits of immigration, including its role in meeting labor demands with an aging population,” the binder noted.
“At the same time, many Canadians are concerned about Canada’s capacity to absorb newcomers, particularly in housing and infrastructure, the economy and jobs, as well as health care, education, and other social services,” it continued.
Statistics Canada reported that fewer than 400,000 people immigrated to Canada in 2025. There’s no data available regarding illegal immigration during this time.
According to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), 23,160 individuals were removed from Canada in 2025 due to departure, exclusion, and deportation orders.
In an effort to manage resources and address these concerns, the IRCC has unveiled the Immigration Levels Plan for 2026-2028, which aims to stabilize the number of permanent resident admissions at 380,000 each year through 2028 while also reducing the temporary population.
“To support a return to sustainable immigration levels, the Government is committed to reducing Canada’s temporary population to less than 5% of the total population by the end of 2027,” the IRCC stated.
Statistics Canada revealed that by July 1, non-permanent residents made up 6.7% of the total population, indicating a decrease of 154,614 non-permanent residents compared to the previous year.
