Nov 18, 2017 – Ottawa’s ambitious plan to welcome nearly 1 million new Canada immigrants over the next three years has attracted support from across the country.
Key stakeholders say the three-year plan to boost annual numbers to 340,000 or more by 2020 will give the Canadian economy the crucial momentum it needs to continue growing.
At the same time, the managed increases are designed not to overwhelm those tasked with integrating new immigrants.
There were many calls for immigration levels to increase further than the levels announced by Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen. But the gradual increases show Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada knows it has to carefully balance the numbers against the integration capacity.
The managed increases are designed to allow Canada’s integration capacity to grow with the number of new immigrants being welcomed.
Canada’s 3-Year Immigration Plan
| Immigration category | Category | 2018 – Target | 2019 – Target | 2020 – Target |
| Economic | Federal High Skilled | 74,900 | 81,400 | 85,800 |
| Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program | 1,000 | 2,000 | 4,000 | |
| Caregivers | 17,000 | 14,000 | 5,000 | |
| Federal Business | 700 | 700 | 700 | |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 55,000 | 61,000 | 67,800 | |
| Quebec Skilled Workers and Business | 28,900 | 32,500 | 32,500 | |
| Total Economic | 177,500 | 191,600 | 195,800 | |
| Family | Spouses, Partners, and Children | 66,000 | 68,000 | 70,000 |
| Parents and Grandparents | 20,000 | 20,500 | 21,000 | |
| Total Family | 86,000 | 88,500 | 91,000 | |
| Refugees and Protected Persons | Protected Persons in Canada & Dependents Abroad | 16,000 | 16,500 | 17,000 |
| Resettled Refugees – Government Assisted | 7,500 | 8,500 | 10,000 | |
| Resettled Refugees – Blended Visa Office Referred | 1,500 | 1,650 | 1,700 | |
| Resettled Refugees – Privately Sponsored | 18,000 | 19,000 | 20,000 | |
| Total Refugees and Protected Persons | 43,000 | 45,650 | 48,700 | |
| Humanitarian and Other | Total Humanitarian & Other | 3,500 | 4,250 | 4,500 |
| Overall Planned Permanent Admissions | 310,000 | 330,000 | 340,000 | |
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Here is what the many supporters of the plan had to say:
“The province supports the introduction of multi-year levels plans to provide more predictability to the immigration system and inform program planning. Significant variation in year-to-year immigration levels can dramatically impact the requirement for provincial year-to-year resources. A longer-term outlook would help in planning for appropriate service levels and use of resources. Ontario supports growth in immigration levels, particularly in economic immigration categories to support the growing economy.”
Laura Albanese, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Ontario
“The multi-year plan is something that we (provincial counterparts) have pushed for. For decades the federal government has relied on setting targets each year. This plan is very consistent with the goals of my government and my personal goals as the immigration minister. We want to see growth in all immigration. It’s the direction the country needs and more specifically the direction Nova Scotia needs.”
Lena Diab, Minister of Immigration, Nova Scotia
“This is an important step in the right direction, which reaffirms Canada’s belief in immigration and citizenship as a principle which has helped to build, and which will continue to build, the country.”
Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul, co-chairs of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship
“This announcement is a long-term investment in the health of our francophone minority communities, who will benefit from this increase in immigration levels. It’s a new step in the right direction in order to meet federal francophone immigration objectives. This plan, which takes into account the economic contribution of immigration, will encourage growth and job creation, and create business ties between Canada and the rest of the world. This commitment is at the height of Canada’s reputation as being a welcoming place built around unified communities who celebrate diversity.”
Florence Ngenzebuhoro, Director-General, Centre francophone de Toronto
“We welcome this announcement from the federal government. Immigrant professionals bring innovation, international connections and new business perspectives to this country and its labour market. This increase in immigrant talent will drive growth and help foster a more competitive economy, as well as benefiting wider society.
Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council
“We, probably in the world, have one of the best immigration programs not only in terms of our selection processes but also in terms of our settlement and integration programs where we work with immigrants.”
Debbie Douglas, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
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