July 23, 2025
RED FM News Desk
Alberta’s Immigration Minister, Joseph Schow, has voiced concerns regarding the federal government’s plan to accept thousands of parents and grandparents of immigrants already residing in Canada this year.
Schow acknowledged the importance of family reunification but cautioned that provincial healthcare systems lack the necessary capacity and could become overwhelmed.
This year, Ottawa intends to approve over 24,000 parents and grandparents of newcomers before reducing its targets for the subsequent two years. Schow asserts that provinces should have more authority over immigration targets and that overall immigration should be capped at no more than half a million people annually.
He further stated that Alberta and other provinces should have greater involvement in determining which immigrants they accept.
In response, the office of Federal Immigration Minister Lena Diab affirmed the government’s commitment to reuniting as many families as possible, emphasizing the social, cultural, and economic benefits of this immigration stream.
Schow’s comments come as a provincial panel currently touring Alberta gathers input from citizens on various topics, including whether some newcomers should be entitled to social services like healthcare.
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