Not the right time: B.C. business community reacts to new Canada immigration targets [Video]

Reaction in B.C. is pouring in on the announcement that Canada will reduce the number of new permanent residents to the country by 21 per cent by next year.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced the initiative on Thursday, which is part of a major series of changes to immigration targets that Trudeau says aims to freeze population growth.

Jasroop Gosal, Surrey Board of Trade’s interim spokesperson and policy and research manager, said they are disappointed this change has happened.

“Last year, we, our business community, we were given numbers of 500,000 over the next couple of years and businesses, they prepared for that eventuality,” he told Global News.

“And now to have government come and change their immigration policy one year later, not even one year later, it is really interfering with their ability to plan for growth and stability.”

Gosal said that immigrants come to Canada …