Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marco Mendicino, has tabled the 2020‒2022 Immigration Levels Plan in the Canadian House of Commons.
The proposed plan is based on the solid economic foundation of the previous levels plan and continues to grow the number of permanent residents admitted to Canada each year, from 341,000 in 2020 to 351,000 in 2021 and 361,000 in 2022.
“Our immigration system benefits all Canadians by strengthening the middle class, keeping families together and building strong and inclusive communities,” said Mendicino. “This increase in immigration levels supports a system that will help Canadian business create good middle-class jobs and grow the economy while ensuring Canada continues to meet its humanitarian obligations around the world.”
With this plan, the Government will implement a number of key commitments:
– Responsibly grow Canada’s population;
– Take the steps to make the Atlantic Immigration Pilot a permanent program to continue supporting economic growth in Atlantic Canada, with 5,000 admissions;
– Create a new stream to provide a safe haven for human rights advocates, journalists and humanitarian workers at risk abroad;
– Facilitate the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot and the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot, to address specific labour market shortages;
– Support family reunification through sustained high admissions; and
– Reduce application processing times and improve service delivery and client services at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
The government will also continue with its plans implement to increase Francophone immigration outside of Quebec, while supporting the successful integration and retention of French-speaking newcomers and strengthening Francophone communities.
With increased space for the Provincial Nominee Program, an Atlantic Immigration Program, and the Agri-Food and Rural and Northern Immigration Pilots, the levels plan directly addresses labour market needs across Canada to ensure businesses can get the talent they need, where they need it.
Article published 13th March 2020