Canada Immigration - What to expect in 2021?

Immigrants wishing to move to Canada can hope to do so in the next year in the light of the huge immigration targets announced by the Canadian government.

Canada is planning to welcome 1,233,000 new permanent residents over the next three years to help propel an economic recovery after the negative impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Apart from this, immigrants are required to offset the effect of an aging population and a low birth rate. Here are more details:

Year	Immigrants
2021	401,000
2022	411,000
2023	421,000

The target figures indicate that Canada will be focusing in high immigration targets— more than 400,000 new permanent residents in the next three years in spite of the pandemic.

These targets have been set with a view to propel the economic growth of the country.

The immigration targets for 2021-23 is set to welcome 60 percent of the immigrants under the economic class program which will include the Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.

Canada has set such huge immigration targets to make up for the drop in the number of permanent resident admissions due to the travel restrictions for COVID-19. 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). It aims to welcome 24,000 immigrants every year until 2023 under this program.

Higher targets to welcome refugees and asylum seekers

Canada is planning to welcome more refugees and asylum seekers in the next three years with a target of 60,000 persons every year which is a bold move in these times.

Canadian immigration is expected to go back to pre-pandemic levels in 2021 and the immigration targets announced by the government is proof of its intention to welcome more immigrants to the country to help rebuild its economy.