PM Carney Says Canada Has “Taken Back Control” of Immigration, Points to Sharp Drops in Key Numbers
Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters in Red Deer, Alberta, on July 29, 2026, that his government has “taken back control” of immigration, according to a report by The Canadian Press. The comments came at a press conference where Carney was asked about Alberta’s upcoming referendum, which will ask residents how the province should approach immigration.
Carney said immigration levels were “far too high” when his government took office, arguing that Canada had lost control over the number of foreign students and temporary workers entering the country. He cited specific figures to support that claim, saying the flow of asylum seekers entering Canada is now down by a third, temporary foreign worker levels are down by half, and the number of foreign students is down by two thirds compared to previous levels.
Despite pointing to these declines, Carney said overall immigration levels are still putting pressure on housing, and suggested there is a reasonable case for what he called “a few more years of restraint.” He said Canada is now “on top of the numbers,” and that this creates an opportunity for the federal government and provincial premiers to discuss next steps together.
The remarks arrive as Alberta prepares for a referendum asking residents how the province wants to handle immigration policy, a vote that has put pressure on federal officials to address the topic directly and explain what changes have already taken place under current immigration policy.
It’s worth noting these figures were shared by the Prime Minister during a press conference rather than published as standalone government data, so anyone following this story should watch for corresponding updates on IRCC’s official reporting pages if they want to see the underlying numbers verified independently over time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Carney say about immigration on July 29, 2026?
Carney said his government has “taken back control” of immigration, citing declines in asylum claims, temporary foreign workers, and foreign students since his government took office. He made these comments at a press conference in Red Deer, Alberta.
By how much has Canada’s immigration numbers actually dropped, according to Carney?
Carney stated that asylum seeker arrivals are down by a third, temporary foreign worker levels are down by half, and foreign student numbers are down by two thirds, though these figures were shared verbally at a press conference rather than published as a standalone government dataset at the time of the report.
Why is Alberta holding a referendum on immigration?
According to the report, Alberta is preparing a referendum asking residents how the province wants to handle immigration. Carney’s comments came in direct response to a question about this upcoming vote.
Does this statement mean Canada is planning further immigration restrictions?
Carney suggested there is a case for “a few more years of restraint” due to ongoing housing pressure, and said there is now an opportunity for the federal government and provincial premiers to discuss next steps. No specific new policy changes were announced in this statement.
Where can I find official Government of Canada immigration data instead of statements made at press conferences?
IRCC publishes official immigration levels, admissions data, and program updates directly on canada.ca. Checking these official pages is the most reliable way to see verified figures rather than relying solely on statements made during interviews or press conferences.