Alberta Minister Raises Concerns Over Federal Immigration Policy and Provincial Pressures

Edmonton, August 15, 2025 – Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, Joseph Schow, has voiced concerns about the federal government’s handling of immigration, saying provinces are bearing the brunt of population growth without sufficient input in national target-setting.

In a statement released Friday, Schow said Canada is on pace to welcome more than one million new temporary and permanent immigrants in 2025, in addition to nearly three million temporary residents already in the country. He argued that federal immigration targets are often determined without fully considering the needs of provinces, which are responsible for services such as health care, housing, and education.

The minister also pointed to estimates suggesting up to 500,000 people without legal immigration status are living in Canada, contending that this number is not reflected in official figures. “These illegal migrants must be taken into account, as every province is feeling the pressure of Ottawa’s mismanagement of the immigration system,” Schow said.

Alberta has recorded the fastest population growth among provinces for two consecutive years. Between July 2023 and June 2024, the province’s population grew by 4.36 percent, driven largely by international migration. According to government figures, 71.2 percent of Alberta’s absolute population increase came from international migration during that period, with 145,395 newcomers arriving from abroad.

The province also attracted 43,750 people from other parts of Canada, giving Alberta the highest level of interprovincial migration in the country. Only New Brunswick and Nova Scotia also saw gains, while other provinces recorded losses.

Schow said the rapid pace of growth is putting pressure on housing, employment, health care, and other services. He urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to follow through on earlier remarks that “the system isn’t working” and to implement measures that ensure immigration levels are “sustainable” for provinces.