INC Data Lab • Benchmark-Driven Stability Model

Canada Permanent Resident Absorption Index

Canada Immigration Absorption Index estimating the annual permanent resident level Canada, each province, and major census metropolitan areas may be able to absorb under current macroeconomic conditions after accounting for system strain, newcomer contribution, and the latest monthly labour momentum.

Last updated: May 8, 2026

National Pressure Ratio

National stabilizing Total PR threshold
237,409
MoM change: -2,462

Annual PR level Canada can absorb under current conditions after applying the April 2026 labour-market update.

National TR-to-PR threshold
143,515

Subset of the total threshold data.

0.02.0x
1.60x

Federal target of 380,000 is about 1.60 times the current stabilizing threshold.

National Snapshot

Federal PR Target
380,000
Balanced Macro Score
72
Newcomer Contribution Score
70
Final Absorption Score
71

The monthly labour-momentum adjustment is applied after the baseline model so that a higher unemployment rate directly reduces the current-month threshold and a lower unemployment rate increases it. Formula: Monthly Labour Momentum Factor = 1 - (unemployment MoM change × 0.035), bounded between 0.85 and 1.15.

Provincial Full Detailed Table

Includes total PR and TR-to-PR thresholds, MoM change, ranges, per-1,000 rate, scores, unemployment inputs, pressure drivers, and positive contributors.

RankProvinceThresholdMoM ChangeMoM %Low RangeHigh RangePer 1,000Macro ScoreContribution ScoreFinal ScoreApril UnemploymentUnemployment MoMPrimary Pressure DriverMain Positive Contributor
Canada National237,409-2,462-1.03%212,782262,0365.84
72
70
71
6.9%+0.2 ppNational weighted averageWorking-age and labour-market contribution
1Ontario93,206+577+0.62%83,885102,5275.90
71
74
72
7.5%-0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainImmigrant retention
2Quebec50,230-1,722-3.32%45,20755,2535.64
73
67
72
6.2%+0.8 ppWage weaknessWorking-age newcomers
3British Columbia34,174-211-0.61%30,75737,5926.10
74
70
73
6.8%+0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainImmigrant retention
4Alberta33,738-1,042-3.00%30,36437,1126.69
78
72
77
7.0%+0.5 ppHealthcare/service strainWorking-age newcomers
5Manitoba7,663+158+2.10%6,8978,4295.21
68
60
66
5.0%-0.6 ppHealthcare/service strainWorking-age newcomers
6Saskatchewan7,563-162-2.10%6,8078,3196.10
78
58
73
5.6%+0.6 ppHealthcare/service strainWorking-age newcomers
7Nova Scotia4,208+44+1.05%3,3665,0493.93
39
58
44
6.3%-0.3 ppHealthcare/service strainWorking-age newcomers
8New Brunswick3,944-51-1.27%3,3524,5354.70
64
54
61
7.2%+0.2 ppHealthcare/service strainWorking-age newcomers
9Newfoundland and Labrador2,098-37-1.75%1,6792,5183.89
39
48
41
10.0%+0.5 ppLabour market strainWorking-age newcomers
10Prince Edward Island585-15-2.45%4687023.34
39
46
41
8.0%+0.7 ppHealthcare/service strainWorking-age newcomers
Canada National143,515-1,477-1.02%128,721158,3093.53
72
70
71
6.9%+0.2 ppNational weighted averageWorking-age and labour-market contribution
1Ontario57,788+358+0.62%52,00963,5663.66
71
74
72
7.5%-0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainImmigrant retention
2Quebec30,138-1,033-3.32%27,12433,1523.39
73
67
72
6.2%+0.8 ppWage weaknessWorking-age newcomers
3British Columbia21,188-131-0.61%19,06923,3073.78
74
70
73
6.8%+0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainImmigrant retention
4Alberta20,918-646-3.00%18,82623,0094.15
78
72
77
7.0%+0.5 ppHealthcare/service strainWorking-age newcomers
5Manitoba4,157+86+2.10%3,7414,5732.83
68
60
66
5.0%-0.6 ppHealthcare/service strainWorking-age newcomers
6Saskatchewan3,918-84-2.10%3,5264,3093.16
78
58
73
5.6%+0.6 ppHealthcare/service strainWorking-age newcomers
7Nova Scotia2,232+23+1.05%1,7862,6792.09
39
58
44
6.3%-0.3 ppHealthcare/service strainWorking-age newcomers
8New Brunswick1,972-25-1.27%1,6762,2682.35
64
54
61
7.2%+0.2 ppHealthcare/service strainWorking-age newcomers
9Newfoundland and Labrador955-17-1.75%7641,1461.77
39
48
41
10.0%+0.5 ppLabour market strainWorking-age newcomers
10Prince Edward Island250-6-2.45%2003001.43
39
46
41
8.0%+0.7 ppHealthcare/service strainWorking-age newcomers

CMA Full Detailed Table

Includes all 41 CMAs with total PR and TR-to-PR thresholds, MoM change, local score components, unemployment inputs, pressure driver, and data confidence.

RankCMAProvinceThresholdMoM ChangeMoM %Low RangeHigh RangePer 1,000Local ScoreContribution SignalLabourHousingAffordabilityPopulationApril UnemploymentUnemployment MoMPrimary Pressure DriverConfidence
1TorontoOntario29,120-125-0.43%24,75233,4884.76
64
High contribution signal
57
64
91
65
8.2%+0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
2MontréalQuebec17,213-1,588-8.45%14,63119,7954.46
64
Moderate contribution signal
81
70
68
65
7.1%+0.5 ppWage weaknessHigh
3VancouverBritish Columbia14,823-294-1.94%13,34116,3055.50
77
Moderate contribution signal
89
80
81
62
6.5%+0.3 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
4Ottawa–GatineauOntario7,629-33-0.43%6,8668,3925.40
78
Moderate contribution signal
90
72
91
66
6.3%+0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
5CalgaryAlberta7,304+15+0.21%6,2098,4004.69
49
Moderate contribution signal
82
86
84
83
6.7%0.0 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
6EdmontonAlberta5,873-410-6.53%4,6987,0474.25
44
Moderate contribution signal
75
84
84
82
7.1%+0.6 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
7QuébecQuebec4,096-105-2.50%3,6874,5065.42
78
Moderate contribution signal
100
80
68
65
3.3%+0.7 ppWage weaknessModerate
8HamiltonOntario3,615-44-1.20%3,2543,9774.96
70
Moderate contribution signal
83
50
91
66
6.7%+0.2 ppHousing shortageModerate
9WinnipegManitoba3,582+39+1.10%3,2243,9404.43
68
Moderate contribution signal
95
62
64
62
5.9%-0.2 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
10Kitchener–Cambridge–WaterlooOntario2,818-41-1.45%2,3963,2414.70
64
Moderate contribution signal
43
62
91
66
9.0%+0.4 ppLabour market strainModerate
11LondonOntario2,520-15-0.60%2,1422,8984.67
62
Moderate contribution signal
39
54
91
66
9.2%+0.1 ppLabour market strainModerate
12WindsorOntario1,972+29+1.50%1,6772,2684.83
64
Moderate contribution signal
59
62
91
66
8.1%-0.4 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
13VictoriaBritish Columbia1,951+20+1.05%1,7562,1465.13
75
Moderate contribution signal
97
66
81
62
4.3%-0.3 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
14St. Catharines–NiagaraOntario1,812+35+1.96%1,5412,0844.23
49
Moderate contribution signal
95
44
91
66
6.0%-0.5 ppHousing shortageModerate
15SaskatoonSaskatchewan1,675-20-1.18%1,5081,8435.34
79
Low contribution signal
96
86
70
71
5.6%+0.4 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
16HalifaxNova Scotia1,615+8+0.50%1,2921,9383.50
44
Low contribution signal
96
56
60
69
6.0%-0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
17OshawaOntario1,583-30-1.88%1,2661,8993.87
44
Moderate contribution signal
52
42
91
66
8.5%+0.6 ppHousing shortageModerate
18ReginaSaskatchewan1,253+12+0.96%1,1281,3795.29
78
Low contribution signal
96
84
70
71
5.8%-0.2 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
19SherbrookeQuebec1,106-4-0.35%9961,2175.30
75
Moderate contribution signal
100
72
68
65
4.4%+0.1 ppWage weaknessModerate
20KelownaBritish Columbia924-56-5.71%7851,0634.38
61
Moderate contribution signal
62
44
81
62
8.0%+1.0 ppHousing shortageModerate
21Greater SudburyOntario870-2-0.23%7839575.30
78
Moderate contribution signal
95
68
91
66
6.0%+0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
22KingstonOntario840+5+0.63%7569245.19
74
Moderate contribution signal
95
56
91
66
6.0%-0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
23SaguenayQuebec826-3-0.42%7439095.74
79
Moderate contribution signal
100
84
68
65
3.3%+0.1 ppWage weaknessModerate
24BarrieOntario812-19-2.31%6499743.85
44
Moderate contribution signal
39
38
91
66
9.2%+0.7 ppHousing shortageModerate
25Trois-RivièresQuebec804-9-1.05%7248855.45
76
Moderate contribution signal
100
76
68
65
4.8%+0.3 ppWage weaknessModerate
26St. John'sNewfoundland and Labrador779+4+0.49%6628963.74
49
Low contribution signal
80
82
77
52
6.7%-0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
27Abbotsford–MissionBritish Columbia682-19-2.69%5468183.74
44
Moderate contribution signal
89
36
81
62
6.5%+0.8 ppHousing shortageModerate
28GuelphOntario651-7-1.05%5537494.11
49
Moderate contribution signal
81
40
91
66
6.8%+0.3 ppHousing shortageModerate
29Thunder BayOntario614-2-0.26%5536755.51
80
Moderate contribution signal
95
76
91
66
5.5%+0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
30BrantfordOntario608+13+2.17%5166994.24
49
Moderate contribution signal
95
40
91
66
5.7%-0.6 ppHousing shortageModerate
31LethbridgeAlberta561+7+1.22%4776454.73
49
Moderate contribution signal
95
86
84
82
5.7%-0.3 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
32MonctonNew Brunswick546-39-6.73%4376553.30
44
Low contribution signal
69
52
74
69
7.4%+0.6 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
33PeterboroughOntario501-5-0.97%4016013.91
44
Moderate contribution signal
95
36
91
66
5.7%+0.3 ppHousing shortageModerate
34KamloopsBritish Columbia499-15-2.89%4495494.82
72
Moderate contribution signal
97
56
81
62
4.9%+0.8 ppHousing shortageModerate
35NanaimoBritish Columbia483-26-5.07%4115564.36
60
Moderate contribution signal
50
48
81
62
8.7%+0.8 ppHousing shortageModerate
36Belleville–Quinte WestOntario466+43+10.04%3965364.34
49
Moderate contribution signal
85
42
91
66
6.6%-1.3 ppHousing shortageLow
37Saint JohnNew Brunswick426-3-0.62%3624903.52
49
Low contribution signal
94
54
74
69
5.4%+0.2 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
38Red DeerAlberta425+2+0.56%3614894.46
49
Moderate contribution signal
91
82
84
82
6.2%-0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
39DrummondvilleQuebec417-71-14.61%3554804.58
64
Moderate contribution signal
77
76
68
65
7.3%+1.6 ppWage weaknessLow
40FrederictonNew Brunswick378+6+1.50%3214343.60
49
Low contribution signal
94
60
74
69
5.7%-0.4 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
41ChilliwackBritish Columbia369-15-4.01%2954423.69
44
Moderate contribution signal
76
38
81
62
7.2%+1.2 ppHousing shortageModerate
1TorontoOntario18,055-77-0.43%15,34620,7632.95
64
High contribution signal
57
64
91
65
8.2%+0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
2MontréalQuebec10,406-960-8.45%8,84511,9662.70
64
Moderate contribution signal
81
70
68
65
7.1%+0.5 ppWage weaknessHigh
3VancouverBritish Columbia9,190-182-1.94%8,27110,1093.41
77
Moderate contribution signal
89
80
81
62
6.5%+0.3 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
4Ottawa–GatineauOntario4,730-20-0.43%4,2575,2033.35
78
Moderate contribution signal
90
72
91
66
6.3%+0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
5CalgaryAlberta4,529+9+0.21%3,8495,2082.91
49
Moderate contribution signal
82
86
84
83
6.7%0.0 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
6EdmontonAlberta3,641-254-6.53%2,9134,3692.63
44
Moderate contribution signal
75
84
84
82
7.1%+0.6 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
7QuébecQuebec2,458-63-2.50%2,2122,7043.25
78
Moderate contribution signal
100
80
68
65
3.3%+0.7 ppWage weaknessModerate
8HamiltonOntario2,242-27-1.20%2,0172,4663.08
70
Moderate contribution signal
83
50
91
66
6.7%+0.2 ppHousing shortageModerate
9WinnipegManitoba1,943+21+1.10%1,7492,1382.40
68
Moderate contribution signal
95
62
64
62
5.9%-0.2 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
10Kitchener–Cambridge–WaterlooOntario1,747-26-1.45%1,4852,0102.91
64
Moderate contribution signal
43
62
91
66
9.0%+0.4 ppLabour market strainModerate
11LondonOntario1,563-9-0.60%1,3281,7972.90
62
Moderate contribution signal
39
54
91
66
9.2%+0.1 ppLabour market strainModerate
12WindsorOntario1,223+18+1.50%1,0391,4063.00
64
Moderate contribution signal
59
62
91
66
8.1%-0.4 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
13VictoriaBritish Columbia1,210+13+1.05%1,0891,3313.18
75
Moderate contribution signal
97
66
81
62
4.3%-0.3 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
14St. Catharines–NiagaraOntario1,124+22+1.96%9551,2922.62
49
Moderate contribution signal
95
44
91
66
6.0%-0.5 ppHousing shortageModerate
15OshawaOntario981-19-1.88%7851,1782.40
44
Moderate contribution signal
52
42
91
66
8.5%+0.6 ppHousing shortageModerate
16SaskatoonSaskatchewan868-10-1.18%7819542.77
79
Low contribution signal
96
86
70
71
5.6%+0.4 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
17HalifaxNova Scotia857+4+0.50%6851,0281.85
44
Low contribution signal
96
56
60
69
6.0%-0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
18SherbrookeQuebec664-2-0.35%5977303.18
75
Moderate contribution signal
100
72
68
65
4.4%+0.1 ppWage weaknessModerate
19ReginaSaskatchewan649+6+0.96%5847142.74
78
Low contribution signal
96
84
70
71
5.8%-0.2 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
20KelownaBritish Columbia573-35-5.71%4876592.71
61
Moderate contribution signal
62
44
81
62
8.0%+1.0 ppHousing shortageModerate
21Greater SudburyOntario539-1-0.23%4855933.29
78
Moderate contribution signal
95
68
91
66
6.0%+0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
22KingstonOntario521+3+0.63%4685733.22
74
Moderate contribution signal
95
56
91
66
6.0%-0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
23BarrieOntario503-12-2.31%4036042.39
44
Moderate contribution signal
39
38
91
66
9.2%+0.7 ppHousing shortageModerate
24SaguenayQuebec496-2-0.42%4465453.44
79
Moderate contribution signal
100
84
68
65
3.3%+0.1 ppWage weaknessModerate
25Trois-RivièresQuebec483-5-1.05%4345313.27
76
Moderate contribution signal
100
76
68
65
4.8%+0.3 ppWage weaknessModerate
26Abbotsford–MissionBritish Columbia423-12-2.69%3385072.32
44
Moderate contribution signal
89
36
81
62
6.5%+0.8 ppHousing shortageModerate
27GuelphOntario404-4-1.05%3434642.55
49
Moderate contribution signal
81
40
91
66
6.8%+0.3 ppHousing shortageModerate
28Thunder BayOntario381-1-0.26%3434193.41
80
Moderate contribution signal
95
76
91
66
5.5%+0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
29BrantfordOntario377+8+2.17%3204332.63
49
Moderate contribution signal
95
40
91
66
5.7%-0.6 ppHousing shortageModerate
30St. John'sNewfoundland and Labrador354+2+0.49%3014081.70
49
Low contribution signal
80
82
77
52
6.7%-0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainHigh
31LethbridgeAlberta348+4+1.22%2964002.93
49
Moderate contribution signal
95
86
84
82
5.7%-0.3 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
32PeterboroughOntario311-3-0.97%2483732.42
44
Moderate contribution signal
95
36
91
66
5.7%+0.3 ppHousing shortageModerate
33KamloopsBritish Columbia309-9-2.89%2783402.99
72
Moderate contribution signal
97
56
81
62
4.9%+0.8 ppHousing shortageModerate
34NanaimoBritish Columbia300-16-5.07%2553452.70
60
Moderate contribution signal
50
48
81
62
8.7%+0.8 ppHousing shortageModerate
35Belleville–Quinte WestOntario289+26+10.04%2463322.69
49
Moderate contribution signal
85
42
91
66
6.6%-1.3 ppHousing shortageLow
36MonctonNew Brunswick273-20-6.73%2183281.65
44
Low contribution signal
69
52
74
69
7.4%+0.6 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
37Red DeerAlberta263+1+0.56%2243032.76
49
Moderate contribution signal
91
82
84
82
6.2%-0.1 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
38DrummondvilleQuebec250-43-14.61%2132882.75
64
Moderate contribution signal
77
76
68
65
7.3%+1.6 ppWage weaknessLow
39ChilliwackBritish Columbia228-10-4.01%1832742.29
44
Moderate contribution signal
76
38
81
62
7.2%+1.2 ppHousing shortageModerate
40Saint JohnNew Brunswick213-1-0.62%1812451.76
49
Low contribution signal
94
54
74
69
5.4%+0.2 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate
41FrederictonNew Brunswick189+3+1.50%1602171.80
49
Low contribution signal
94
60
74
69
5.7%-0.4 ppHealthcare/service strainModerate

Reader Labels

Estimated Stabilizing PR Level

Annual PR level Canada can absorb under current conditions after accounting for both system strain and newcomer contributions.

Pressure Ratio

Federal target divided by the stabilizing PR level. Above 1.0 means the target is higher than the stabilizing threshold.

Newcomer Contribution Score

Measures immigration’s net positive contribution by separating outside-Canada PR arrivals from TR-to-PR conversions, so existing temporary residents are not double counted as entirely new economic activity.

Monthly Labour Momentum

A current-month adjustment based on the latest Statistics Canada unemployment-rate movement. Rising unemployment lowers the current threshold; falling unemployment raises it.

Core Formulas

Province Threshold = Population × Base PR Rate × Macro Capacity Factor × Newcomer Contribution Factor × Retention Factor × Housing Expansion Factor × Monthly Labour Momentum Factor Province Macro Score = 20% Labour + 25% Housing + 20% Affordability + 15% Population + 10% Wages + 10% Services CMA Local Score = 30% Housing + 25% Affordability + 20% Labour + 10% Services + 10% Population + 5% Wages, with hard caps for severe local strain Monthly Labour Momentum Factor = 1 - (Unemployment MoM Change × 0.035), bounded between 0.85 and 1.15 TR-to-PR Share (%) = 25 + (Retention Rate × 0.25) + (Canadian Experience Share × 0.15) + (Labour Shortage Alignment × 0.10), capped between 25% and 62% TR-to-PR Threshold = Overall Stabilizing PR Threshold × (TR-to-PR Share ÷ 100) Planning Range = Threshold × parent uncertainty band: 90%–110% when score is 65+, 85%–115% when score is 45–64, and 80%–120% when score is below 45

Official Data Sources

Limitations And Citation

The model is an independent benchmark model, not an official government target, forecast, allocation, or policy recommendation. It does not distinguish between all permanent resident classes in the main threshold table and uses scoring formulas and planning ranges rather than statistical confidence intervals.

Suggested citation: Immigration News Canada. (2026). Canada Immigration Absorption Index: Full Detailed May 2026 Update. INC Data Lab. Retrieved from immigrationnewscanada.ca/canada-immigration-absorption-index/.