Hub Podcasts How Canada broke its immigration system
Nov 11, 2025
Tony Keller, a veteran columnist and author of "Borderline Chaos," dives into the dramatic shifts in Canada's immigration policy. He highlights how Canada once celebrated immigration but has recently faced chaos, explaining pressures from various sectors to increase numbers post-pandemic. Keller details the rise in temporary residents and the economic impacts of low-wage immigration. He also critiques the polarized framing of the immigration debate and emphasizes the need for a practical and balanced approach to restore public trust in the system.
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Consensus Built On Perceived Control
- Canada maintained a long bipartisan consensus on relatively high immigration because the system felt stable and well managed.
- That perception collapsed once immigration visibly appeared out of control after the pandemic surge.
Canada's Immigration Rate Was Already High
- Canada long had higher immigration rates than the U.S., often double or triple, even before recent increases.
- The post-2020 spike made Canada's rate surge dramatically relative to historical norms.
Everyone Urged Rapid Increases
- Post-pandemic policy choices and pressure from provinces, business groups and education sectors drove a rapid rise in inflows.
- A broad coalition told government Canada needed more people to fill perceived labour shortages.
