Immigration Minister Mark Miller announced today, Thursday, that Canada will set targets for the first time for the number of new arrivals from temporary residents to the country.

The federal government plans to reduce the number of temporary residents to five percent of the population over the next three years, down from the current rate of 6.2 percent, with the first targets to be set in September.

Canada is witnessing a sharp increase in the number of temporary residents arriving each year, with Miller having said in the past that the country has become "addicted" to temporary workers.

Miller said at a press conference: "Changes are needed to make the system more efficient and more sustainable."

He added: "There must be an honest conversation about what increasing international immigration means for Canada and as we plan for the future."

Miller said he will hold a meeting of provincial and territorial ministers and federal ministers in May to discuss how levels will be set.

"Provinces and territories know their labor needs and unique capacities and need to take responsibility for the people they bring in as well."

Miller also asked his ministry to review current programs that bring in temporary residents to better align them with labor needs and eliminate abuse in the system.

The government is also moving to reduce the number of workers entering Canada in certain sectors starting May 1.

Labor Minister Randy Poissonault said that companies currently allowed to have up to 30 percent of their workforce coming through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program will see this percentage reduced to 20 percent.

The health care and construction sectors will be exempt from the change.

Poissonault said the government is also asking employers to consider asylum seekers who have valid work permits for open jobs before being able to apply for temporary foreign workers.