The Current Canada is scaling back immigration. What will that mean?
Nov 7, 2025
Gregor Robertson, Federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, discusses the government's reduced housing budget and its impact on affordability. Mikhail Skudarud, an economics professor, analyzes the implications of scaling back immigration targets, questioning whether it will truly alleviate housing pressures. Immigration lawyer Warda Shazadi Meehan highlights the legal and humanitarian concerns of lowering refugee intake, warning of negative international signals. They all explore the complex relationship between immigration, housing, and labor markets in Canada.
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Federal Budget Focuses On Affordable Housing
- The federal budget prioritizes affordable, non-market housing and community infrastructure as the main lever to fix long-term shortages.
- Gregor Robertson frames the spending as the largest single federal affordable-housing investment and part of a multi-year push.
Key Measures Deferred But Infrastructure Included
- Some promised measures (like tax incentives for multi-unit construction) were held back to be developed outside this budget cycle.
- The budget pairs direct housing funds with $51 billion for community infrastructure to unlock housing supply.
Affordable Housing Viewed As Long-Term Fix
- The government sees affordable and non-market housing as the priority response to market downturns and developer concerns.
- Robertson argues the long-term crisis stems from decades of underinvestment, not short-term condo market shifts.