Canada takes measures to meet immigration target of 1.2 million immigrants by 2022

In the first quarter of 2020t the Federal government of Canada ad announced in its immigration plans to invite 1.2 million immigrants by 2023. To meet these immigration targets, the government planned to focus on economic programs. It increased the quota of provincial nominee programs from 61,000 to 67,800 for this year. In order to achieve this target, the Canada immigration authorities have announced some decisions which you should know if you are planning to migrate to Canada.

 The country is very well aware that immigrants are crucial for rebuilding the economy. According to Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration in Canada, “Immigration is essential to getting us through the pandemic, but also to our short-term economic recovery and our long-term economic growth…. As we look to recovery, newcomers create jobs not just by giving our businesses the skills they need to thrive, but also by starting businesses themselves. Our plan will help to address some of our most acute labor shortages and to grow our population to keep Canada competitive on the world stage.”

Focus on economic programs

Under the new immigration plans announced recently, 60 percent of immigrants will be welcomed under the economic class programs, this will include the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class, the Start-up Visa and Self-Employed Persons program. This is in keeping with Canada’s tradition of giving priority to skilled workers and their families. It also intends to encourage entrepreneurs to set up business in Canada.

Priority to family sponsorship programs

Citizens and permanent residents in Canada can sponsor their spouse and dependent children for immigration. The focus on reuniting families has led to 80,000 places being reserved for family sponsorship under the new immigration plan.

The government has also increased sponsorship numbers under the Parent and Grandparent program (PGP).

The high immigration targets if 2021-23 is an indication of Canada’s desire to get skilled candidates to contribute to the economic and social development of Canada.

Here’s a snapshot of the Canada immigration levels plan:

Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023

Immigrant Category	Sub Category / Immigration program	2021	2022	2023
	New Canada PR visa holders overall target	401,000	411,000	421,000
Economic	Federal High Skilled	108,500	110,500	113,750
	Federal Business	1,000	1,000	1,000
	Economic Pilots: Agri-Food Pilot; Caregivers; Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot	8,500	10,000	10,250
	Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program	6,000	6,250	6,500
	PNP	80,800	81,500	83,000
	Total Economic	232,500	241,500	249,500
Family	Partners, Spouses, and Children	80,000	80,000	81,000
	Parents and Grandparents	23,500	23,500	23,500
	Total Family	103,500	103,500	104,500
Refugees and Protected Persons	Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad	23,500	24,500	25,000
	Resettled Refugees – Assisted by govt.	12,500	12,500	12,500
	Resettled Refugees – Private sponsorship	22,500	22,500	22,500
	Resettled Refugees – Blended Visa Office-Referred	1,000	1,000	1,000
	Total Refugees & Protected Persons	59,500	60,500	61,000
Humanitarian and Other	Total Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other	5,500	5,500	6,000
New admissions under French-speaking immigration				4.4% of total new immigrants welcomed outside Quebec

Table info courtesy www.canada.ca

Immigrants to help in economic growth

The country has a history of welcoming immigrants to fill immediate job openings, but its immigration laws are also geared to aid the country's long-term economic progress. Immigrants who come to the country amid economic downturns are expected to contribute to the country's future economic growth.

 The country's labor force will grow as more immigrants arrive, and one approach to enhance the economy is to use the labor force more productively. In light of this, it makes more sense to welcome immigrants during difficult economic times.

Even while newcomers may find it difficult to find work that matches their qualifications at first, with the country's baby boomers ready to retire in a few years, local firms will be fighting for skilled foreigners. Immigrants will benefit from increased job prospects and pay as a result of this.

Immigrants will contribute to the economy by creating a demand for products and services once they arrive in the country. The government is doing everything it can to keep the immigration flow moving by holding frequent immigration draws. It also assists Canadian businesses in obtaining temporary foreign workers.

In a bid to keep the economy going, the Canadian government has decided to continue processing visas in the Temporary Foreign Worker program (TFWP) stream and help Canadian employers during the time of this pandemic.

In the aim to meet its immigration targets and get around the travel restrictions imposed due to the pandemic that prevents immigrants coming from outside the country, the IRCC has been issuing invitations to candidates already in the country. This has led to more of candidates belonging to the PNP and the CEC categories getting invitations in 2021.

The government has invited 361,000 immigrants in 2021 and is most likely to achieve its target of 401,000 immigrants for 2021.

https://youtu.be/F6HuDW0L73w

 Meeting the target for 2022

In order to meet its immigration target of 411,000 candidates for 2022, the government has introduced a slew of measures:

The IRCC has virtually processed additional application categories in order to return visa application processing rates to pre-pandemic levels.

It has shifted its focus to providing numerous immigration services remotely (E.g., online citizenship ceremonies).

By 2023, the Canadian government hopes to see a 4.4 percent increase in French-speaking immigrants outside of Quebec.

More airports are being built in Canada, and by the end of November 2021, the country will have 18 international airports. This will undoubtedly assist in attracting more new immigrants to Canada.

New immigration priorities

 In order to meet its immigration target the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau issued a total of 38 mandate letters, one for each of the Cabinet ministers.

Mandate letters, which are open to the public, outline the obligations that each minister will be required to fulfil, as well as the obstacles that they will face in their roles. The mandate letters define the expectations that the Canadian Prime Minister has of each of the Ministers, as well as providing Canadians with a clear picture of how the government expects to carry out its program.  According to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship's mandate letter, more newcomers are needed in all regions of Canada. Newcomers who will help Canada's economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

As per the mandate letter by PM Justin Trudeau, certain commitments are to be achieved as part of Canada’s new immigration priorities.

New Canada Immigration Priorities for 2022

As per the mandate Canada’s immigration priorities for 2022 include:

• Continue to welcome newcomers into Canada, as outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan for 2021-2023.
• To accommodate for delays caused by COVID-19, the processing time for Canada visa applications has been reduced.
• Working to improve family reunification through – [1] the introduction of electronic family reunification applications, and [2] the implementation of a program that grants Canada temporary resident status to spouses and children living abroad while their Canada PR visa application is being processed.
• To make the process of applying for Canadian citizenship free for PR visa holders who had met all of the conditions.
• Creating a Trusted Employer program for Canadian businesses that hire temporary foreign labor.
• Improving the Global Talent pipeline by [1] making permit renewals easier, [2] maintaining the two-week processing period, and [3] providing an employer hotline.
• Working with provinces, territories, and other regulatory agencies to improve the recognition of international credentials.
• Building on the Canadian government's existing pilot initiatives.
• Continue to collaborate with the Quebec government on an ambitious national strategy to boost Francophone immigration in Canada, as well as immigrants' French language skills in Quebec.
• Through the government Express Entry system, international students and temporary foreign employees will have more opportunities to become permanent residents of Canada.
• The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot is being expanded upon.
• Assuring that Canadian immigration better helps medium- and small-sized communities that require more immigrants to flourish socially and economically.
• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Expansion (RNIP).
• Making the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) a permanent program.

The details of the mandate reveal Canada’s commitment to meet its immigration target and acknowledge role of immigrants in tis economic growth.