Canada targets higher immigration despite COVID-19

October 2020 is important for Canadian immigration. Two upcoming major events expected to be held this month might shape Canadian immigration for years to come.

The first will be a new mandate letter, to be written to Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Containing Canada’s new immigration policies, the mandate letter is expected to be released sometime soon.

This will be the second mandate letter by the Canadian Prime Minister in 2020. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the immigration agenda of the Canadian government – announced on March 12 through the 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan – have been affected to a certain extent.

The COVID-19 situation has led to the delay in the launch of the new municipal program for Canada. The waiving off of the Canadian citizenship application fees has also been put on hold.

With the new session of the Canadian Parliament commencing on September 23 with the “speech from the throne”, the mandate letter will, in all probability, be made publicly available in the month of October.

Moreover, in another rare occurrence, the federal government of Canada is expected to announce its Immigration Levels Plan for the second time around in the same year. Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023, outlining the new Canadian permanent residence targets over the upcoming three years, is to be announced by October 30.

As affirmed by Marco Mendicino on several occasions, Canada has remained committed to immigration throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Even in the COVID-19 scenario, 32 Express Entry draws have been held so far in 2020. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [IRCC] has issued a total of 82,850 Invitations to Apply [ITAs] in 2020, a record as compared to the ITAs issued by the same time in previous years.

Immigration is crucial for Canada. As per the supporting facts and figures by IRCC, “Faced with an aging population and declining fertility rates, as well as labour and economic challenges, the Canadian labour force and population growth will depend even more on immigration. In fact, immigration accounts for 100% of Canada's labour force growth, and immigrants will represent up to 30% of Canada’s population by 2036, compared with 20.7% in 2011.”

With its reliance on immigration for sustaining the economy, Canada is aiming at high immigration levels despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

As per reports, Marco Mendicino will not be scaling back the government immigration targets in the next three-year levels plan, to be presented soon before the Canadian Parliament.

In order to gauge the current demand for immigration, Mendicino’s office has entered into consultations with several business, labor as well as settlement organizations.

Historically, over the years Canada has leveraged immigration successfully for filling gaps in the labour market and helping in the population growth.

Previously, Mendicino has categorically stated that immigration will remain “an enduring value” in the post-coronavirus scenario in Canada.

As per the 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan announced on March 12 – a week before the imposition of the COVID-19 special measures in Canada – the overall immigration target was set at 341,000 newcomers to be welcomed in 2020. Of these, while 91,800 were to be Federal High Skilled, another 67,800 were to be inducted through Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program [PNP].

An allocation of 25,250 spaces was set aside for Quebec Skilled Workers and Business.

With the new immigration levels to be announced shortly, there is much speculation as to the adjustments, if any, that might be made by the Canadian government in their immigration targets for the next three years.

In view of the commitment of the Canadian government to immigration, the immigration level targets for the next three years are expected to be set at a higher level of immigration as well.

As per IRCC’s 2019 Annual Report to the Parliament on Immigration, “Canada’s future economic success will depend, in part, on an immigration system that helps ensure that people with the right skills are in the right place, at the right time, to meet evolving labour market needs. ….. Immigration has strengthened, and will continue to strengthen Canada as it helps to keep our country globally competitive by promoting innovation and economic growth through its support of diverse and inclusive communities.”

If you are looking to Work, Study, Invest, Visit, or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No. 1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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