Canada is at a crossroads. With demographic shifts, labour shortages, and rising global competition, our immigration system must do more than welcome newcomers—it must strategically link people, skills, and opportunity. The federal government’s 2025 Immigration Levels Plan represents an important step in shaping this future, but its success will depend on how well it aligns with the real needs of our economy.

At Western Community College (WCC), a dynamic, outcomes-driven post-secondary institution based in Surrey, British Columbia, we see every day how immigration and education are deeply connected to Canada’s prosperity. Our student body reflects the diversity and ambition of this country: international students, new Canadians, and local learners all working toward meaningful careers in healthcare, skilled trades, technology, aviation, and early childhood education. These are the very fields where labour shortages threaten economic stability and growth.

The education economy equips the workforce of tomorrow. The international students we train are not simply temporary residents. They are potential permanent residents, future taxpayers, homeowners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. If we fail to provide clear, consistent, and equitable pathways from study to work to permanent residency, we risk losing this talent to competing nations who are eager to welcome them.

Building an opportunity economy

WCC is part of Surrey’s Health & Technology District, a hub of innovation adjacent to Surrey Memorial Hospital. Our location—and our mission—make us a test case for what an “opportunity economy” looks like. We connect education directly to industry, shaping curriculum around employer demand and ensuring graduates are career-ready. For example, we are preparing to open Surrey’s first dedicated student housing tower, built by a private post-secondary institution, to ease the housing crunch and support learners. We are also advancing hybrid and digital learning models, ensuring education reaches students across Canada and the globe.

This integration of education, workforce development, and immigration policy is where Canada can gain a competitive advantage. By tying immigration to real labour gaps in healthcare, technology, aviation, and childcare, we ensure that newcomers succeed—and that Canada’s economy remains resilient.

Policy shifts that matter

To achieve this, Canada’s immigration policy must evolve in several critical ways.

First, we must reinforce pathways from study to permanent residency. International students who invest in Canadian education deserve clarity and consistency in their ability to stay and work. This is particularly important in regulated, high-demand professions such as healthcare and early childhood education, where shortages are acute.

Second, we need balanced temporary resident targets that recognize the difference between outcomes-driven institutions and those that are not aligned with labour market needs. Institutions like WCC that deliver accredited, skills-based training are essential partners in workforce development and should not be penalized by broad-brush restrictions.

Third, the federal government should expand Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility to regulated programs at designated private institutions. Currently, international students in programs like Health Care Assistant, Medical Laboratory Assistant, and Aircraft Maintenance Engineering face restrictions that prevent them from transitioning into the workforce—even though these are precisely the roles Canada urgently needs to fill. This policy gap disadvantages both students and the Canadian economy.

Fourth, investment in settlement and integration supports must keep pace with demand. Wraparound services such as housing, language training, mental health supports, and job readiness programs are essential, particularly in fast-growing cities like Surrey, which will soon be British Columbia’s largest city.

Finally, federal–provincial alignment is overdue. Canada needs a coordinated roadmap that identifies priority fields—healthcare, skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, aviation—and ensures that education, immigration, and labour market policies are working in tandem. Regular consultation with public and private post-secondary institutions, alongside industry, is vital to achieving this.

Immigration as economic strategy

It is time to view immigration not only as a social policy, but as an economic strategy. Every international student who studies here is an investment in our future. They pay tuition, rent apartments, buy groceries, and contribute to the vibrancy of local communities. More importantly, they bring skills, cultural diversity, and long-term potential to Canada’s labour force.

Consider healthcare: without internationally trained professionals, Canada will struggle to staff hospitals, clinics, and care homes. Consider aviation: without trained Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, airlines cannot operate at capacity. Consider childcare: without qualified early childhood educators, families cannot fully participate in the workforce. Immigration policy that ignores these realities risks slowing our economic growth and reducing our global competitiveness.

The path forward

At Western Community College, we are ready to be part of the solution. We bring data, insights, and a deep understanding of regional labour needs. We have built strong partnerships with employers, community organizations, and government agencies. We have the infrastructure—campuses across B.C., student housing, digital learning platforms—to scale our impact.

But we need federal policy that recognizes the role of institutions like ours in building Canada’s future economy. We need a system that treats international students as future Canadians, not temporary placeholders. We need immigration levels and pathways that align with workforce realities, not just political pressures.

Canada’s prosperity depends on people. By investing in education, aligning immigration policy with labour market demand, and supporting newcomers as they build their lives here, we can secure a stronger, more inclusive economy for generations to come.

The 2025 Immigration Levels Plan is an opportunity to get this right. Let’s seize it.