Cold temperatures did not deter several hundred protesters—many of them newcomers, international students and immigration lawyers—from gathering on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill on January 10. Organized by the Coalition for Fair Immigration Levels, the demonstration decried the federal government’s decision to cut overall permanent-resident admissions to 380,000 for 2026 and to keep multiple immigration pilots on ice, including the Parents and Grandparents Program and the Start-Up Visa. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-10/ca/protesters-converge-on-parliament-hill-over-canadas-lower-immigration-targets-and-program-pauses/))
Speakers argued that abrupt reductions create uncertainty for families and employers alike. Student groups warned that caps on study-permit applications could strand graduates hoping to transition to permanent residence via the Canadian Experience Class, while business associations voiced concern that tighter numbers will aggravate skills shortages in tech and construction. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-10/ca/protesters-converge-on-parliament-hill-over-canadas-lower-immigration-targets-and-program-pauses/))
![Hundreds Rally on Parliament Hill Against Lower Immigration Targets and Program Pauses]()
A petition signed by 35,000 people was delivered to Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s office, calling for transparent selection criteria and predictable Express Entry schedules. IRCC responded that “periods of consolidation” are necessary after record inflows in 2023-24 and stressed that category-based draws for health-care and STEM workers will continue. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-10/ca/protesters-converge-on-parliament-hill-over-canadas-lower-immigration-targets-and-program-pauses/))
For those trying to understand how the new targets may affect their own plans, VisaHQ provides real-time guidance on Canadian visa and permit options, personalized document checklists and filing support—all in one streamlined platform—helping applicants stay ahead of policy shifts. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/canada/.
For global-mobility teams, the protest highlights policy volatility. Companies are reviewing assignment timelines, exploring remote-work alternatives and monitoring ministerial instructions that could tighten intake further. Stakeholders have until February to submit feedback during public consultations on the forthcoming Recognized Institutions Framework.
Speakers argued that abrupt reductions create uncertainty for families and employers alike. Student groups warned that caps on study-permit applications could strand graduates hoping to transition to permanent residence via the Canadian Experience Class, while business associations voiced concern that tighter numbers will aggravate skills shortages in tech and construction. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-10/ca/protesters-converge-on-parliament-hill-over-canadas-lower-immigration-targets-and-program-pauses/))
A petition signed by 35,000 people was delivered to Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s office, calling for transparent selection criteria and predictable Express Entry schedules. IRCC responded that “periods of consolidation” are necessary after record inflows in 2023-24 and stressed that category-based draws for health-care and STEM workers will continue. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-10/ca/protesters-converge-on-parliament-hill-over-canadas-lower-immigration-targets-and-program-pauses/))
For those trying to understand how the new targets may affect their own plans, VisaHQ provides real-time guidance on Canadian visa and permit options, personalized document checklists and filing support—all in one streamlined platform—helping applicants stay ahead of policy shifts. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/canada/.
For global-mobility teams, the protest highlights policy volatility. Companies are reviewing assignment timelines, exploring remote-work alternatives and monitoring ministerial instructions that could tighten intake further. Stakeholders have until February to submit feedback during public consultations on the forthcoming Recognized Institutions Framework.
