After the covid-19 pandemic, the Canadian government has set the high immigration level plan for the coming years. As travel to Canada is still limited, and there are also some travel restrictions that are being followed, but at the same time, the country is expecting to raise the immigration targets for this year. Despite the travel ban, and lockdowns in the country, the Canadian government is trying its best to raise immigration levels. Certain reports also suggest that the Canadian immigration minister is not going to lower down the immigration targets for this year.
Before imposing the lockdown in the country, the Canadian government and the respective immigration department had announced to welcome and house more than one million immigrants in the country before 2022. After the closure of Canada’s border, the new number of permanent residents in the country fell about 64%.
The immigration minister’s office has held discussions with various business sectors, labour departments and various organizations, to keep a detailed look at the demand for immigrants in the country. This would help to fill the labour gap and shortages of skilled workers in the country. In the past, Canada has invited immigrants from all over the world to fill the labour shortages in the country and also to fill the population gap in Canada. Whereas, the immigration minister has also stated that, the country will gradually increase the immigration levels, in order to support the Canadian economy.
Immigration targets
As the travel restrictions have been imposed again, these sanctions are somehow blocking the flow of new immigrants to Canada. Whereas, the government had planned to welcome 341,000 new immigrants to Canada in 2020. Consequently, only 128,186 immigrants were able to enter Canada. The Covid-19 disrupted the immigration targets of 2020, and therefore Canada will try its best to invite more and more number of immigrants to the country. If Canada pursues the previous immigration plans, still Canada will not be able to reach the target of this year, the report by an economist suggests. Whereas, the pause in the immigration sector has wedged good impacts in the housing sector of Canada. The vacancy rate for the apartments in Toronto is more than 2%, it has happened for the first time in the 10 years, the reports suggest.
The immigration minister is also expected to announce the new immigration targets soon. This will be the second immigration plan for this year. Whereas the immigration minister is also waiting for a mandate letter from the Prime Minister of Canada. Whereas, the Canadian Prime Minister will further define the immigration levels for the country in the coming year.