Canada to Increase Annual Immigration Admissions to 350,000 by 2021

Canada is the world’s second largest country in the world, area-wise, Russia being the first one. In the North American continent, Canada is the largest country area-wise. In 2016, as per the census of the country, the population was about 35,121, 728 and as per 2019 estimates the population of Canada was 37.41 million.

As per the 2016 Census, 22% of the populations were immigrants, out of which 60% of these were from Asia with people from China and India being of the highest proportions. In this decade, amongst all the G7 countries, Canada has been the largest attractor of immigrants. The population of the country is continuing to grow at a rapid pace – both natural and immigrants. In 2018, the federal government of the country announced that the annual immigration is expected to increase to 3,50,000 in 2021. Though the plan is to progressively increase to touch this figure by 2021, the plan has been laid down and announced on 31st October 2018 by Immigration minister Ahmed Hussen. This figure of 3, 50,000 is about 1% of the population of the country while it was only 3, 10,000 in 2018 – making it 40,000 more than 2018.

Key features as per the new Immigration plans: –

The target figure for 2021 was announced as part of a plan that covers three years and involves a multi-year immigration program.

The need for this kind of increased figures was attributed to critical shortage of workers in the labor industry.

The new plan was introduced as part of economic programs that are ongoing in the country currently to tackle the issue of lack of skilled workers in major industries all throughout the country. the objective was to provide assistance to the business community in Canada and boost the economy.

The labor shortage in Canada is deepening – while in 2018 it was looking bad, in 2019 it is looking even bleaker so much so that businesses in the country are not accepting new orders, contracts and clients because they cannot fulfil new orders. The condition apparently seems to be quite bad in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. As per the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the country had almost 430, 000 jobs lying idle and vacant in the third quarter of 2018. Hence in order to strengthen the economy, the country wishes to fulfil some shortage via inviting more immigrants. The plan aims to make Canada competitive and hence portray it as a hospitable and convivial destination so that it is able to attract the best and the most talented skills from the world over. The government also responded to different groups and advocates working towards immigration and economic betterment of the country. Based on increasing demands from such groups to substantially increase the number of immigrants, the government has come up with this multi-year plan.

The government also realized the need to facilitate the immigrants with all possible and good quality settlement related services to make the program more attractive and viable for immigration. In this context, housing, settlement related issues and the need to integrate the newcomers with the existing inhabitants of the country has been realized to be of key importance.

The settlement sector has been on the target of the present government and it had announced increased funding by 30% in the sector earlier. However, if the aim is to increase the number of immigrants to 3,50,000 by 2021, the government is planning to increase the funding in this sector furthermore.

The other aspect that the government took care and addressed when it announced the multi-year plan was the existing immigration system of the country. In order to mobilize such a phenomenal number by 2021, it has been realized that the immigration system of the country should be efficient and capable enough to handle such large numbers, process applications and carry out paperwork at a fast-paced and capable manner and hence necessary steps are underway for the same.

The government also realizes that the existing community of Canada has to be open and acceptable towards the incoming population of immigrants and that there is a healthy two-ways process of faster absorption and partnerships in place so that the process is productive and constructive.

The UNHCR (United Nations Commissioner for Refugees) has called out to all nations across the world to provide assistance to immigrants who are fleeing their country due to continuous wars and subjected to persecution on their homelands. As per records available about 68.5 million people left their countries in 2018 due to incessant wars, turmoil and violence – the highest till date. Currently Canada accepts about 43,000 people each year under the humanitarian grounds and sponsorship programs. The government plans to take this number up to 51,700 by the year 2021 while for 2019 the number is at 46,450 and plans to keep increasing the number so that more can be done for refugees and people affected by violence and war across the world. On this front, the minister pointed out that the government is now encouraging the individual citizens of the country to sponsor refugees under the export program to other countries in the world. UK has already followed on the footsteps of Canada while Ireland and Germany are expected to follow soon.

Canada is also concerned about the status of women and girl refuges and has plans to admit about 1000 such women and girls from across the world into Canada till 2021.

The major sector however where the government plans to increase the new admissions is the Economic Programs allocating about 72% new admissions to this sector. Through the Express Entry system Canada is targeting about 88,800 admissions in 2021 where immigrants can enter under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canada Experience Class. The Provincial Nominee Program is also expected to increase to 71,200 by 2021.

The Family Class has been given the smallest increase. From 88,500 newcomers under this program in 2019, it is estimated to go up to 91,000 in 2020 and the same number in 2021.

This blog is quite exhaustive in terms of the information pertaining to Canada’s plan to increase its admission of annual immigration. For more information related to immigration to Canada you can call our experts on +17787723666 or write to us on info@101migration.com.