Canada’s population drop reflects souring of attitudes to immigration

A country known for welcoming newcomers has reversed policy as immigration becomes increasingly a partisan issue

• Canada sees large drop in population amid international students crackdown

Standing in Canada’s House of Commons in 2023, the then-prime minister, Justin Trudeau, gave an impassioned speech on the value of welcoming newcomers.

“Canadians know that immigration is one of our greatest assets. It helps us compete,” he said. “If we want to boost our economic success significantly, we need to boost immigration.”