TORONTO — Canada is closing its doors to more visitors and temporary residents by approving fewer visas and turning away more people who reach its borders with official documents, according to government data obtained by Reuters.

The spike in rejections of foreign travellers comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government, trailing in polls ahead of an election expected in 2025, tries to lower the numbers of temporary residents — and possibly permanent immigrants.

Migrants have been blamed for the shortage and high prices of housing.

Canadians have prided themselves on embracing newcomers, but polls show a growing number say Canada is admitting too many immigrants. That stance is filtering down to border and immigration officers, observers say.

In July, Canada refused entry to 5,853 foreign travellers, who were "allowed to leave", as Canada puts it, and who include students, workers and tourists, the most since at least January 2019, according to border agency data that has not been previously reported.

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