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Metro Vancouver’s tight rental market is undergoing extra pressure from a tide of temporary residents, particularly international students and foreign workers.

Statistics Canada data reveals the number of temporary residents in Canada, known as “non-permanent residents,” has doubled in more than a decade, coming close to one million — with roughly 140,000 residing in Metro Vancouver.

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Since temporary residents are much more likely to choose rental housing over home ownership, B.C. housing supply specialists say the influx is adding intensity to the over-heated rental market.

Census figures released Wednesday showed the City of Vancouver has one of the highest portions of renters in Canada, at 53 per cent, compared to a national average of 30 per cent.

Federal Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen is scheduled on Nov. 1 to release Ottawa’s new immigration target, which the Liberals recently increased to 300,000 per year.