Canada is set to reduce its intake of temporary foreign workers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said.

The PM announced this in a terse statement posted on his X handle on Wednesday.

According to Trudeau, companies would have to prove reasons they can’t hire Canadian workers first before they’ll be allowed to hire foreigners.

He wrote: “We’re going to have fewer temporary foreign workers in Canada.

“We’re bringing in stricter rules for companies to prove why they can’t hire Canadian workers first.”

The adjustment comes in the wake of Canada experiencing substantial population growth driven by high levels of immigration, which has begun to outstrip job creation.

This surge includes international students, foreign workers filling employment gaps, and individuals displaced by conflicts and natural disasters.

The policy aims to balance the need for skilled labor with efforts to protect Canadian job opportunities, as the country grapples with post-pandemic economic recovery and labor market challenges. (The Nation)