Canada’s population is projected to remain flat or decline modestly in 2026 under the federal government’s 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which cut new temporary resident arrivals sharply to 385,000 from 674,000 in 2025 while stabilizing permanent resident targets at 380,000 annually. The Parliamentary Budget Officer attributes expected zero growth primarily to large net outflows of non-permanent residents as study and work permits expire, continuing the trend that produced Canada’s first annual population decline on record in 2025. Natural increase remains negligible, leaving net international migration as the decisive factor. Official targets also aim to reduce the non-permanent resident share of the total population below 5 percent by the end of 2027, reinforcing the policy-driven slowdown in overall demographic growth through the calendar year.