CBC: How immigration cuts are affecting newcomers, businesses and communities on P.E.I.

When Liam Ang moved to Prince Edward Island in 2023, he was excited to start his studies at UPEI. He also hoped to one day make the Island his new home.

Now, the third-year student is considering leaving the country after graduation.

Ang, who is originally from Malaysia, said the many recent changes to Canada's immigration policies make it hard to navigate and plan for the future.

The federal government has made sweeping changes to Canada's immigration system as the country's population continues to grow, reaching more than 41.5 million in October. Immigration has been a major factor in this growth, as concerns rise over so many people needing things like housing and health care.

As part of a new immigration plan, Ottawa has cut the projected number of new permanent residents to 395,000 this year, an 18.5 per cent reduction from 2024. The target will drop further to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027, as the federal government aims for a 0.2 per cent population decline over the next two years.

P.E.I. has definitely been affected. The federal government has slashed the Island's nominee allocation for 2025 under the Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program by half, reducing it to 1,025.