Canada views immigration, cultural diversity as strength, says its immigration minister

The Canadian government’s mission is that their country has been for long and will continue to be a land of immigration. After the semi-autonomous federal Dominion of Canada was formed in 1867, over 17 million immigrants are said to have relocated to this North American country. Ahmad Hussen, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, was quoted by Gulf News as telling it during his first-ever visit to the UAE recently that Canada has been viewing immigration and cultural diversity as its strength. When asked how Canada looks at immigration as benefiting it, Hussen said immigration was an essential foundation on which Canada rests, as it battles concerns of low birth rate, an ageing population, and scarcity of skilled workers. He said that they discuss immigration with academics, business bodies and ordinary Canadians. The government also asks provinces how many immigrants they would need. Hussen, who himself is also a Somalian refugee, said that the leading role in immigration policy is played by the government, which is well-thought-out and the public lends its support as they know the numbers welcomed into the country are based on their inputs and also on the premise that it is in best interests of Canada. According to Statistics Canada, since the 1950s, the rate of growth of immigration to Canada has been steadily rising ever year. Owing to this, Canada’s population has remained stable, despite its lower birth rates. Statistics Canada said that the National Household Survey put the number of foreign-born Canadians at 6,775,700 in 2011, which is about 20.6 percent of the total population of the country. If you are intending to migrate to Canada, get in touch with Y-Axis, a well-known immigration consultancy company, to apply for a visa.