---
title: "Great People, Greater Canada: A Talent First Immigration Strategy for Canada"
description: "The world's most innovative companies compete for top talent. It's time Canada competed the same way for immigrants."
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author: "Martin Basiri"
published: "2025-02-03T20:50:00.000Z"
canonical: "https://www.buildcanada.com/memos/talent-first-immigration"
---

# Great People, Greater Canada: A Talent First Immigration Strategy for Canada

## Key Messages

1. The world's most innovative companies compete for top talent. It's time Canada competed the same way for immigrants.
2. Great immigrants become great Canadians. If we want our country to continue to prosper, we need to change how we select newcomers.
3. When great people choose Canada, we all benefit. A doctor who moves here treats your family. An engineer who builds here helps Canadian companies to scale and compete globally. An entrepreneur who starts a business here creates jobs in our communities.

## The Goal

Companies work hard to attract, recruit and retain the best talent in the world. We should treat immigration to Canada the same way.

‍

## Summary

In 1967 Canada introduced a points-based immigration system. It was the first genuinely meritocratic immigration system ever implemented. It didn’t care about a newcomer’s ethnicity or religion but only looked at whether they would be an asset to Canada. It worked. Since then immigration has been one of our country’s greatest strengths and our points-based system has been copied around the world by other countries trying to achieve the same outcome. 

In recent years, however, we have let this system languish and moved away from trying to recruit high skilled immigrants. Instead we have prioritized fragile temporary work arrangements, refugee resettlement, asylum seekers, and special humanitarian open work permits to serve political ends. This has led to worsening outcomes and a breakdown in public trust in the immigration system. 

If we want to continue to welcome newcomers and create the most prosperous country for those that live here today as well as those that will live here tomorrow, we must adopt a new modernized immigration system that prioritizes growth, and prosperity and returns to the meritocratic values that made Canadian immigration renowned. 

Canada’s immigration system needs a bold overhaul. Other nations have already started to take these steps with aggressive policies to attract the best possible immigrants. The world is becoming more competitive. We need to start thinking about bringing in talent, not providing residency as a form of charity.

‍

## Current Problem

Canada used to have an immigration system that was the envy of the world. We brought in talented people that were able to become productive Canadians and meaningfully contribute to our country but we have lost our way:

- Recent political changes to immigration to accept larger numbers of refugees, push humanitarian open work permits for people with no relevant skills, and prioritise French speaking over skills has led to declining productivity metrics and eroded trust in the system.
- Non-permanent residents who don’t meet the careful selection criteria of the points system have grown from 3% of our population from before the pandemic to 6.5% in 2023[1](https://thoughtleadership.rbc.com/how-a-lowering-the-number-of-non-permanent-residents-will-impact-canadas-economy/).
- Humanitarian open work permits for those without relevant skills or the ability to support themselves have grown to over 400,000. 
- The number of asylum seeker claims has exploded from 16,058 in 2015 to almost 160,000 in just the first 11 months of 2024; a 10-fold increase[2](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/asylum-claims/asylum-claims-2024.html). This is more than 50 times the rate of population growth and there is now a backlog of more than 260,000 claims waiting to be processed[3](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-refugee-claims-acceptance-rate-1.7424323). At the same time, the acceptance rates for asylum claims are going up[4](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-28-0001/2018001/article/00013-eng.htm). The abuse of this system is a crisis.
- The growing unskilled immigrant population is unable to meaningfully contribute to our economy leading to serious economic hardship for these groups and creating a severe strain on our services.
- This is happening while the best talent, who would be a great asset to the country and benefit from becoming Canadian, experience processing backlogs and outdated methods that are costly, ineffective, and burdensome. At the same time, political struggles with the provinces have damaged Canada’s reputation among international students and eroded trust in Canada as a destination for top talent globally. 

‍

## Why This Matters

Bringing more people to our country and offering them the opportunity to build a better life for themselves and their family is a core Canadian value. But, our first job must be to create the most stable and prosperous country possible. It is essential that we invite people to become Canadians in a way that will create wealth for all, both existing residents and newcomers. This ultimately means recruiting the right people. We must return to a truly meritocratic system that brings in highly skilled immigrants regardless of ethnicity, religion or other political factors. Great immigrants make great Canadians.

‍

## What Needs to be Done

We are proposing a comprehensive set of reforms to modernize Canada’s immigration system:

1. **Stop treating immigration as a way to score political points**

- Make the primary mandate for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to attract, recruit, integrate and retain the best possible talent focussed on building up the Canadian economy while maximizing the income of newcomers.
- Establish mechanisms for politicians to determine some degree of humanitarian immigration (in particular refugees) but create strict budget systems and cap the total at 5% of all immigration.
- Implement a minimum 10-year timeline between asylum claims and permanent residency to prevent bad actors from using asylum status as a fast track to permanent residency.
- Putting a temporary two-year stop to all low-wage temporary foreign worker programs. Ask employers to instead hire and up skill current people in Canada to reduce unemployment rates. 

2. **Create a system that recruits the best possible talent**

- Improve the points system to prioritize GDP impact, taking greater consideration of health, age, sector, desired location of living in Canada, education and long-term economic benefits.

  - Data shows that Canadian graduates make significantly more than other groups of immigrants[5](https://thepienews.com/canada-international-grads-earning-more-than-other-immigrants/) so we should add up to 80 points for study in Canada.
  - Proof of ability to work effectively should be rewarded. This includes adding 50 points for people in Canada who earned more than $100K in income in the prior year and 25 points for those who earned more than $60K. 
  - Under the current points-based system we already give out more points for higher education. We should take what they study as well as which institutions they attended into consideration to prioritize degrees with the most economic impact.

- In our current system, a graduate from the worst-ranked university in the world is treated the same as one from the best. Let’s fast-track graduates of the 50 best universities as well as Masters and PhD graduates of the top 10 universities in Canada in areas of STEM and Healthcare.

- Currently spouses and dependents are considered under the same permanent residency application. They should be considered on their own merits instead.

- Expand the Start-up Visa program to grant immediate residency for entrepreneurs with $1M+ in committed capital from both Canadian and foreign investors using performance-based reviews to maintain status.

3. **Reform and modernize our talent pipeline**

- Increase stringency and streamline decisions for asylum claims. Declare all current asylum seeker claims void and have them reapply under the new rubric.
- Significantly reduce headcount and cost, while increasing response times and effectiveness for applicants by developing AI-driven tools to accelerate application processing.
- Make immigration target a variable number based on economic factors from previous years

‍

## Implementation Plan

If implemented appropriately we will be able to rapidly transform our immigration system:

- **Laws to Change:** Amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Sections 11, 12, 20), the Citizenship Act (Section 5), and the Budget Implementation Act to align with proposed reforms.
- **Metrics for Success:** Track progress through job creation, regional GDP growth, reduced processing times, and increased retention rates of skilled immigrants.
- **Accountability Tools:** Create public-facing dashboards showing key immigration metrics, conduct regular audits of new systems, and ensure transparent reviews by an independent oversight committee.
- **Timing:** Full deployment of revised policies and initial AI screening systems within one year.

‍

## Common Questions

- **Why are humanitarian cases being capped at 5%?**

  - **Answer:** Humanitarian efforts are important but we must balance them with economic priorities. The cap ensures resources focus on maximizing Canada’s prosperity while still providing clear, fair guidelines for emergencies.

- **Won’t AI tools introduce bias into the process?**

  - **Answer:** Bias is a legitimate concern, our AI systems will be subject to strict oversight and regular audits. Transparency measures, such as public reporting and independent reviews, will ensure fairness and consistency across applications.

‍

## Conclusion

Human talent is the most important resource in the world. Companies know this and exert huge amounts of energy to make sure they recruit the best people possible. Our country should do the same. We had the best immigration system in the world. In the last decade we squandered it. But, if we act decisively we can return to a system that works and transform immigration into a powerful engine for national prosperity. Let’s lead the world with a system that works for every Canadian and welcomes newcomers that can make a positive impact on our society by creating a better life here.

## Appendix

### 1. Laws and Sections Requiring Amendment

- Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)

  - Section 3 (Objectives):

    - Add a new objective emphasizing that economic prosperity and high-skilled talent recruitment are top priorities.

  - Section 11 (Visas and Other Documents):

    - Update rules so that low-wage temporary foreign worker permits are halted for two years.
    - Insert new criteria for “fast-track” visas for high-value talent and Start-up Visa applicants with significant funding.

  - Section 12 (Selection of Permanent Residents):

    - Limit humanitarian admissions to 5% of all permanent resident admissions.
    - Require that spouses/dependents be evaluated on their own merits under the points system.
    - Introduce changes to the points system to include extra points for Canadian education, high incomes earned in Canada, and priority fields of study (STEM, healthcare).

  - Section 20 (Becoming a Permanent Resident):

    - Impose a minimum 10-year wait for asylum seekers before they can apply for permanent resident status.
    - Clarify that new asylum rules apply immediately, requiring current claimants to reapply.

- Citizenship Act

  - Section 5 (Grant of Citizenship):

    - Align citizenship eligibility timelines with the new 10-year wait for asylum-based permanent residents.
    - Ensure no “fast-track” citizenship programs override the new economic-priority rules unless specifically authorized.

- Budget Implementation Act

  - Create or amend sections that:

    - Set a clear budget limit for humanitarian admissions (capped at 5% of total immigration).
    - Establish funding and resources for AI-driven application processing.
    - Authorize cost-saving measures from reducing low-skilled temporary work programs.

- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)

  - Points System (various sections under Part 6 – Federal Skilled Workers):

    - Amend definitions to include extra points for:

      - Canadian degrees (up to 80 points).
      - Past income in Canada (50 points for earning over $100,000, 25 points for earning over $60,000).
      - Field of study (STEM, healthcare, or degrees from top 50 global universities).

    - Remove or revise sections awarding points to spouses/dependents without separate merit evaluation.

  - Temporary Foreign Worker Provisions (Part 11):

    - Insert a two-year pause on low-wage temporary foreign worker streams.
    - Encourage employers to hire and train existing residents in Canada.

### 2. Exact Terms for Deletion or Modification

- IRPA Section 12

  - Delete or modify any mention of unlimited humanitarian admissions.
  - Add a phrase such as: “The total number of permanent residents admitted under humanitarian and compassionate grounds or as refugees shall not exceed 5% of total permanent resident admissions per calendar year.”

- IRPA Section 20

  - Insert “No person who has made an asylum claim shall be granted permanent resident status until ten years have elapsed since their initial claim, except by special act of Parliament.”

- IRPR (Points System sections)

  - Remove references that automatically bundle spouse/dependent points with the principal applicant.
  - Replace them with a clause stating: “Spouses and dependents must meet the point threshold based on their individual skills, education, and work experience to qualify for permanent residence.”

- Budget Implementation Act

  - Add wording such as: “Funding appropriated for immigration under humanitarian and compassionate grounds shall be capped at a maximum of 5% of total immigration-related expenditures, unless increased by a specific vote of Parliament.”

### 3. Proposed New Language (Sample Amendments)

- IRPA Section 3(1)(h.1) (new objective)\
  “to prioritize the recruitment and retention of highly skilled individuals, with a focus on promoting Canada’s economic growth and global competitiveness.”
- IRPA Section 12(4) (cap on humanitarian admissions)\
  “The Minister shall ensure that admissions on humanitarian grounds do not exceed five percent of the total permanent resident admissions in any given calendar year, unless otherwise authorized by an Act of Parliament.”
- IRPA Section 20(2.1) (10-year timeline for asylum claims)\
  “An individual who has made a claim for refugee protection or asylum shall not be eligible for permanent resident status until at least ten years have passed since the date of that claim, unless a special statutory exemption is granted by Parliament.”
- IRPR – New Subsection for Points System\
  “Points for Canadian education shall be increased to a maximum of 80 points for completed degrees or diplomas, and additional points shall be awarded for high annual earnings in Canada (50 points for earnings above $100,000; 25 points for earnings above $60,000) in the year prior to application.”
- Budget Implementation Act – New Provision\
  “The total appropriation for humanitarian admissions shall be capped at 5% of overall immigration funding. Any increase to this limit requires explicit parliamentary approval.”

### 4. Structure for New Legislation (If Needed)

- “Economic Growth through Skilled Immigration Act” (Optional)

  - Could consolidate all reforms into one statute.
  - Outline the new points system, the 10-year asylum rule, and the 5% humanitarian cap in a single place.
  - Cross-reference IRPA and other Acts for consistency.

### 5. Provincial-Federal Interactions

- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

  - Provinces have agreements with the federal government to nominate immigrants. The new rules must clarify how the 5% humanitarian limit and new points rules affect provincial streams.
  - Federal authorities must coordinate with provinces to ensure their nominee programs align with the new “high-skill” focus.

- Local Workforce Training

  - A two-year pause on low-wage foreign worker permits will push employers to train or hire existing residents. Provinces, which often manage job training, need extra support and funding to make these programs effective.

- Asylum Claim Coordination

  - Provincial social services often cover housing, healthcare, and legal aid for asylum seekers. Changing timelines and requiring reapplications will affect provincial budgets and services, so federal-provincial cost-sharing agreements may need updates.

## Supporters

[Tobi Lutke](https://x.com/tobi), [Wayne Pommen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-pommen-8844021/), [Michael Litt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaellitt/), [Brice Scheschuk](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brice-scheschuk-cpa-ca-095721a/), Edward Kholodenko, [Aidan Tracey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidantracey/)

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