Policy Briefs

As geopolitical competition intensifies and climate change reshapes the North, Arctic security must go beyond defence capabilities alone. Our latest policy brief positions immigration as a strategic tool to strengthen sovereignty, economic resilience, and long-term stability in Canada’s Arctic. This brief highlights how place-based immigration, Indigenous partnership, and targeted workforce strategies can reinforce northern capacity and national security.

The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan marks a shift from the expansionary approach that characterized much of the previous decade toward a more controlled and selective admissions framework. Relative to the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, the new plan extends and deepens furthers reductions in overall admissions, particularly within temporary resident categories, signaling a policy emphasis on stabilization.

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In May 2025, the Government of Alberta introduced the Alberta Next Panel, a province-wide consultation initiative positioned as a roadmap for Alberta’s future. While presented as a public engagement effort, the panel has prompted concern among immigrant-serving organizations, human rights advocates, and community leaders. Observers have noted that the panel’s messaging and survey framing carry an “Alberta-first” tone, which may inadvertently place undue scrutiny on immigrants in relation to economic and social challenges.

Newcomers face unique emotional challenges that aren’t fully addressed by current mental health or immigration policies. This policy brief highlights the urgent need to institutionalize emotional wellness services as part of settlement supports. It calls for culturally sensitive, preventive, and accessible approaches tailored to newcomers’ experiences, bridging the gap between immigration and mental health systems.