Canada’s population fell for a third consecutive quarter to start 2026, dropping by 55,025 people between January and April to an estimated 41,417,056, according to Statistics Canada. The decline – driven by a 20.2 per cent year-over-year drop in permanent immigration, a sharp pullback in non-permanent residents, and more deaths than births for the first time outside of winter’s usual seasonal dip – marks the latest sign of a structural shift that is already reshaping how some HR leaders plan for talent.
