Canada announces multi-year levels plan

Canada will look to welcome an increased number of immigrants over the next few years, after the government announced the new multi-year immigration levels plan for 2019-2021.

The new plan builds on the strong economic foundation laid out in last year’s levels plan and continues to responsibly grow the number of permanent residents Canada welcomes annually to 330,800 in 2019, 341,000 in 2020 and 350,000—nearing 1 percent of Canada’s population—in 2021.

The country’s Immigration Minister, Ahmed Hussen, highlighted the importance of economic immigration in spurring innovation domestically. That’s why the government’s immigration plan remains focused on attracting the best and brightest from around the world with the majority of the increase in 2021 allotted to high-skilled economic immigration. A total of 72 per cent of additional admissions are allocated to economic programs in 2021.

“The new multi-year immigration levels plan supports Canadian employers and businesses by ensuring they have the skilled labour they need to spur innovation and help to keep our country at the forefront of the global economy,” he said. “Building on the strong foundation set out last year and continuing to increase economic immigration will help Canada stay competitive and attract talent from around the world.”

Newcomers are helping Canadian companies succeed and grow in the expanding information and communications technology sector, where one third of employees are immigrants.

Immigration has been identified as a central pillar of Canada’s future economic success. In addition to spurring economic growth, immigration is deemed to be a major asset in helping address the challenges the country faces with an ageing population, and play a crucial role in keeping it at the forefront of the global economy.

Article published 1st November 2018