A neutral, sourced comparison of the Liberal and Conservative positions on immigration levels, temporary residents and enforcement, with the sources and what we could not verify.
Immigration is one of the few areas where federal party positions directly change what applicants can expect: how many people are admitted, which streams stay open, and how temporary residents are treated. Two dates make this a useful moment to compare. The next Immigration Levels Plan (2027–2029) is due to be tabled by November 1, and the new Express Entry rules take effect on November 3. On October 22, the Conservatives set out what they want to see in the plan.
This article is information, not an endorsement of any party. ITC iLand does not support or oppose any political party. Every position below is attributed to a party's own published statements, to official government documents, or to news reports of them, which are labelled "reported".
The starting point: what the current plan says
The Liberal government's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan is the baseline both sides argue from.
- Permanent residents: 380,000 a year in each of 2026, 2027 and 2028.
- 2026 split: about 239,800 economic, 84,000 family, and 49,300 refugees and protected persons.
- New temporary residents: a target of 385,000 arrivals in 2026 and 370,000 in each of 2027 and 2028.
- Students: new student arrivals fall from 305,000 to 155,000 in 2026.
- Population share: the government has reported a goal of temporary residents below 5% of the population by the end of 2027.
Liberals vs Conservatives at a glance
The table summarizes the two parties' stated positions. Where a cell says we found no number or detail, that means it is missing from the party's published material we could find, not that the party has no view.
| Topic | Liberals (government) | Conservatives (opposition) |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent resident levels | Stabilize at 380,000 a year for 2026–2028. Reported 2025 platform: less than 1% of the population beyond 2027. | Reduce. Reported October 22: levels must go "way down, not up", with no alternative number given. Reported 2025 position: Harper-era levels and housing, jobs and health care capacity. |
| Temporary foreign workers | Reduce arrivals; 60,000 new Temporary Foreign Worker Program arrivals targeted for 2026, plus 170,000 under the International Mobility Program. | Abolish the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, stop issuing new permits, and keep a separate agricultural program. A wind-down of up to five years in ultra-low-unemployment regions. |
| International students | New arrivals cut from 305,000 to 155,000 in 2026. | Reduce further ("end the abuse" of the international student program, per conservative.ca). No numeric target found. |
| Role of provinces | Provinces and territories nominate under the Provincial Nominee Program and set their own priorities within federal levels. | Reported: set levels jointly with provinces. |
| Enforcement and tracking | Reported 2025 platform: remove failed claimants after due process; more security screening. | Reported October 22: exit tracking that matches expired permits to confirmed departures; faster removals of overstayers. |
| Economic immigration | Economic category about 64% of admissions by 2027; Express Entry changes from November 3. | No detailed economic-stream platform found. Reported October 22: unemployed and underemployed Canadians should be first in line for jobs. |
Where the two main parties differ
The current Liberal plan holds permanent levels steady, cuts temporary arrivals and weights admissions toward economic immigration. The Conservatives' stated aim is to match immigration to housing, health care and jobs, with levels coming down further until those catch up. The differences are in how far, how fast, and who sets the numbers.
The other federal parties
The NDP, the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party also have immigration positions, but we have not yet verified their current platforms against primary sources (the NDP chose a new leader in March 2026). Rather than summarize them from secondary reports, this guide leaves them out for now and will add them once they are checked.
What this means if you are planning to apply
Party positions matter, but the rules that apply to your file are the ones in force on the day you apply. A few practical points:
If you are deciding whether to apply now or wait, a conversation about your own profile is worth more than any party platform.
- The 2027–2029 Levels Plan and the November 3 Express Entry changes are the next concrete signals, not campaign promises.
- An opposition proposal does not change any program. Only the government of the day can.
- Policy has been moving toward fewer temporary arrivals under both parties, so plan around the rules as they are now rather than waiting for a change.
- Processing times and invitation scores are estimates and can change; nothing here guarantees any outcome.
- Our program pages explain the main pathways.
Sources and what we could not verify
IRCC levels plan figures: Canada.ca, verified October 27, 2026. Conservative positions: conservative.ca (immigration and temporary foreign worker pages) and press reports of the October 22, 2026 press conference by immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner and MP Brad Redekopp. Liberal 2025 platform commitments and the October 22 Conservative positions: news reports and summaries, not the platform or a party document, which is why those lines say "reported". Party leaders and platforms change; we will update this article when the 2027–2029 plan is tabled. The cover image is an AI-generated editorial illustration, not a photograph. The two leaders did not pose together for it. Showing their likenesses does not imply that either leader or party endorses ITC iLand.
