Canada to boost immigration processes to fill labour shortages

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OTTAWA— The government of Canada has announced its 2022‒2024 Immigration Levels Plan. The plan aims to continue welcoming immigrants at a rate of about 1% of Canada’s population, including 431,645 permanent residents in 2022, 447,055 in 2023, and 451,000 in 2024.

The levels plan is a projection of how many permanent residents will be admitted to Canada, and it sets targets and ranges for overall admissions immigration categories. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Minister must table the Levels Plan in Parliament each year. The levels plan takes into account extensive engagement with provincial and territorial representatives, as well as public opinion research and stakeholder consultations.

“The 2022–2024 Immigration Levels Plan will help cement Canada’s place among the world’s top destinations for talent, creating a strong foundation for post-pandemic economic growth while reuniting family members with their loved ones and fulfilling Canada’s humanitarian commitments,” saidSean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

According to Fraser, “It will also increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec, while supporting the successful integration of French-speaking newcomers and strengthening Francophone communities across the country. As part of our Francophone Immigration Strategy, we’re working to reach a target of 4.4% of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec by 2023.”

To support these increased levels, the Government of Canada recently announced a plan to modernize Canada’s immigration system to fuel economic recovery and improve client experience, which will help address key challenges faced by our clients, such as reducing inventories and creating the predictable processing times that our clients expect and deserve.

“This plan also recognizes the importance of family reunification and helps maintain the 12 month processing standard for spouses and children,” saidFraser.

Highlights of the plan include:

·         overall admissions amounting to 1.14% of the Canadian population by 2024.

·         a long-term focus on economic growth, with nearly 60% of admissions in the Economic Class.

·         help for vulnerable populations, like the special measures for granting permanent residence to refugee claimants working in health care during the pandemic.

·         support for global crises by providing a safe haven through humanitarian immigration to those facing persecution.

·         talent retention of those already in Canada by granting permanent status to temporary residents accepted through the time limited pathways for essential workers launched in spring 2021.