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What happened? The Federal Government of Canada intends to accept almost 432,000 immigrants this year as part of a three-year plan to fill critical gaps in the labor market and support economic recovery after the pandemic.
The annual immigration levels plan, presented in Parliament on February 14, assumes that Canada will accept 431,645 permanent residents in 2022, followed by approximately 447,000 in 2023 and 451,000 in 2024.
Quote. Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said the pandemic showed how important the immigrants are for Canada's success, as newcomers occupy many front-line positions.
"When I talk to restaurants, machine shops, healthcare providers, or almost any other business, I see ads in the windows saying they need help," Fraser says.
"By launching the most ambitious immigration plan in Canada's history, we are going to provide the Canadian economy with the necessary workers," he adds.
Opinion. Goldy Hyder, President & CEO of the Business Council of Canada, said that the number of vacancies in the country is close to an all-time high, and immigration will be a key factor in the recovery after the pandemic. He welcomed the government's immigration goals but said the plan should be backed up by increased immigration processing capacity and support for new arrivals.
"To help achieve these new goals, we call on the government to expand the processing capabilities of the immigration system by adding new processing centers, updating outdated IT systems, and increasing the staff of relevant services. The growth of the workforce should also be accompanied by increased investment in utilities, housing, and infrastructure," Hyder said in a statement.
Source: The Globe and Mail
