Posted on March 18 2020

Canada’s grand immigration plan reveals a great future

By
Anshul Singhal
, Editor

Updated July 25 2023

Canada immigration never ceases to amaze with its plans to welcome more immigrants into the country. Now, Canada has announced on March 12, 2020, its plan to welcome over one million new permanent residents in the next 3 years.

The target was revealed in the 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan of the Federal government. Canada is moving ahead with its immigrant-friendly approach. It is gradually increasing its immigration levels. The timebound but definite plan will give stakeholders the time to plan as needed to support a larger population.

The increase in the immigrant population has been clearly seen for years now. From 320,000 newcomers in 2018, the immigrant population increased to 341,000 in 2019. In 2020, Canada is yet again targeting the admission of 341,000 immigrants. Canada PR immigration is not showing any signs of going down!

Canada’s aim for 2021 is to welcome an additional 351,000 immigrants. The country has already set a target of 361,000 immigrants in 2022. The plan is so effective that it apparently gives the country the scope to invite up to 390,000 immigrants in 2022.

This is the first time such information about the immigration plan has been made available in public. Hence, there is a lot of significance attached to it. This announcement follows the practice of multi-year immigration level plans that was reintroduced in 2017. Before that, the first attempt at it had been disrupted by the recession.

The multi-year plans help stakeholders forecast the steps necessary to support the economic and social integration of new immigrants. Urban planners are a typical example of the beneficiaries of these plans.

Canada has always been appreciative of the role of immigrants in their economic and social scenes. High levels of immigrant influx will help the country reduce the effects of negative factors. These factors include fiscal pressures, low birthrate, and an aging population.

It’s estimated that 9 million Canadians will reach retirement age in another decade. This scenario puts Canada in a position to depend largely on immigrants. Immigrants will help maintain a robust economy and workforce.

The relevance of the economic class

58% of the newcomers in Canada come under the economic class. They arrive through programs like Express Entry programs, Quebec’s programs, and Provincial Nominee Programs. There are other federal streams too such as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP). The economic class of immigrants contribute the most to the country’s growth. In this class, the country’s target is expected to rise by nearly 10,000 immigrants annually.

In 2022, the Canadian government is targeting an increase in PNP admissions by 20%. The country is only planning to invite more immigrants through various pilot programs. The aim is to welcome 5,200 immigrants under pilots like Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot and Agri-Food Immigration Pilot. The number of immigrants taken in under these pilots is expected to nearly double by 2022.

The AIP targets are kept stable by the Canadian government at 5,000 immigrants. The AIP is also set to become a permanent program.

The immigrant intake levels of Quebec’s program are yet to be determined for 2021 and 2022. The federal government will consult with Quebec considering the major immigration system reforms the province is currently taking up.

Besides these, 26% of immigrants will be accepted under the family class. 16% constituting the remaining immigrants will be admitted on humanitarian grounds. For the next 3 years, the immigration levels target is set at 91,000 new immigrants. The humanitarian and compassionate stream of immigrants will hence register the least growth.

Observing Canada’s immigration levels

Canada’s immigration levels have touched historical standards with 300,000 immigrants. The high levels are also attained on a per-capita basis. The country is now welcoming 0.9% of its population in immigrants. Comparing it with the US can help assess its enormity. The US recently welcomed an average of 1 million immigrants annually. But it only makes up 0.3% of its population.

By Canada’s per capita intake, at the peak of its intake, it welcomed 401,000 immigrants which were 5.3% of its population. The same rate in today’s terms would be an intake of 2 million immigrants.

Canada supports its high standards of living with an increase in immigration levels. The country’s aging population is threatening to weaken its labor force. The rising fiscal costs on healthcare will put an adverse effect on its economic growth. With young immigrants coming into Canada, there will be a steady supply of workers and consumers and hence taxpayers.

With the kind of announcement made by Canadian authorities today, there will be a boost in immigration effectively facilitated. Eventually, this could break the threshold of 400,000 new immigrants. The country is ready to welcome nearly 3.5 million immigrants this decade. This is a big jump from 2.8 million immigrants in the period of 2010-2019.

A summary of 2020-2022 immigration levels plan

	2020	2021	2022
Federal High Skilled	91,800	91,150	91,550
Federal Business	750	750	750
Economic Pilots	5,200	7,150	9,500
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program	5,000	5,000	5,000
Provincial/Territorial Nominee Program	67,800	71,300	73,000
Quebec Skilled Workers and Business	25,250	To be determined	To be determined
Total Economic	195,800	203,050	212,050
Spouses, Partners and Children	70,000	70,000	70,000
Parents and Grandparents	21,000	21,000	21,000
Total Family	91,000	91,000	91,000
Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad	18,000	20,000	20,500
Resettled Refugees - Government-Assisted	10,700	10,950	11,450
Resettled Refugees - Privately Sponsored	20,000	20,000	20,000
Resettled Refugees - Blended Visa Office-Referred	1,000	1,000	1,000
Total Refugees and Protected Persons	49,700	51,950	52,950
Total Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other	4,500	5,000	5,000
Overall Planned Permanent Resident Admissions	341,000	351,000	361,000