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| Toronto, Canada |
The Liberal government of Canada plans on welcoming up to 305,000 new permanent residents this year — the highest projected immigration level in decades, and around a seven percent increase on the 2015 plan, according to the Canada Immigration News monitored by The Immigrant.
The government provided details in its
2016 Immigration Levels Plan, which was published on Tuesday, March 8. The
increase in immigration numbers will be primarily through family sponsorship
and refugee settlement programs, though more than half of all newcomers will
arrive through economic immigration programs. The target mark of 160,600 people
in economic programs is in line with admissions through those programs over
recent years, even if the target itself is slightly lower than last year.
The numbers of refugees to be accepted
in 2016 will be around double the number that was targeted for 2015. Canada’s
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC, formerly known as
CIC), John McCallum, has stated that his department aims to speed up processing
times for family class immigration, economic immigrants and refugee claimants
by applying the lessons it learned from bringing 25,000 Syrian refugees to
Canada over recent months.
Growing the country
The 2016 plan marks an increase of about
20,000 in the total number of new permanent residents to be admitted, relative
to 2015. Indeed, the 2015 plan also saw an increase of 20,000 over the previous
year. Consequently, the 2016 target is about 40,000 higher than that for 2014.
Minister McCallum said the plan is
grounded in Canada’s tradition of being a welcoming and generous country. “We
will be able to welcome more people to Canada,” he said at a news conference in
Brampton, Ontario.
“It [the plan] outlines a significant
shift in immigration policy towards reuniting more families, building our
economy and upholding Canada’s humanitarian traditions to resettle refugees and
offer protection to those in need.”
The plan calls for between 280,000 and
305,000 permanent residents to be allowed into Canada in 2016. Calling it
the country’s highest targeted number of new immigrants in modern times,
McCallum said the government’s goal is to “bring in immigrants who wish to
build a better Canada.”
The plan is supposed to be tabled
each November for the following year, but the one for 2016 was delayed by
the general election and change of government around that time last
year.
Breaking down the numbers
Immigrants to Canada arrive through one
of three broad categories: Economic, Family Class, and Refugee and
Humanitarian.
Immigration Category
|
2016 Target
|
2015 Target
|
Percentage Difference, 2015 to 2016
|
Economic Total
|
160,600
|
181,300
|
-11.4%
|
Family Total
|
80,000
|
68,000
|
+17.6%
|
Refugee and Humanitarian
|
59,400
|
29,900
|
+98.6%
|
Overall
|
300,000
|
279,200
|
+7.4%
|
Economic immigration to Canada
Economic immigration supports Canada’s
long-term economic growth while improving global competitiveness and
strengthening communities across the country. Experienced professionals,
tradespersons, businesspersons, and caregivers make up the bulk of all new
immigrants to Canada. In making the decision to develop their careers in
Canada, these newcomers help to create jobs and growth in new and existing
industries.
Canada is seeking to attract workers who
will succeed in the Canadian labour market and integrate smoothly into Canadian
society. Economic immigration, which is based on an individual’s skills and
experience, presents an opportunity for foreign workers and their families to
come to Canada through a variety of programs. Of the immigrants to be selected
for permanent residence in Canada in 2016, between 151,200 and 162,400 are
expected to be economic immigrants.
Economic Immigration Program
|
2016 Levels Plan Target
|
Federal Economic – High Skilled*
|
58,400
|
Federal Economic – Caregivers
|
22,000
|
Federal Economic – Business
|
800
|
Provincial Nominee Program
|
47,800
|
Quebec Skilled Worker
|
26,200
|
Quebec Business
|
5,400
|
Overall
|
160,600
|
Reuniting more families in Canada
Immigration Minister John McCallum
stated that a “significant shift” in the federal government’s immigration
policy was aimed at reuniting more families in Canada.
The government says it will increase
admissions for sponsored spouses, partners and dependents, and help reduce
application-processing times by allocating additional resources and improving
methods used within the department. Under the Family Class programs, the
government aims to welcome 60,000 sponsored spouses, partners and children, as
well as 20,000 parents and grandparents, by the end of the year.
McCallum said that family reunification
backlogs will be reduced as more individuals are admitted to the country. IRCC
is doubling the number of sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents
that it will accept for processing to 10,000 a year. A total of 20,000
admissions are planned under the Parent and Grandparent Program, and by the end
of 2016 it is expected that the backlog inventory will be reduced by
approximately 15 percent.
Family Class
|
2016 Levels Plan Target
|
Spouses, Partners and Children
|
60,000
|
Parents and Grandparents
|
20,000
|
Overall
|
80,000
|
Canada, a safe haven
In the short time the Liberal government
has been in office, its signature move on the immigration file has been with
respect to the increased and expedited settlement of refugees, particularly
those fleeing the war in Syria. Though the government recently met its target
to welcome 25,000 such persons by the end of February, 2016, it plans on
welcoming additional numbers of refugees over the course of the year.
Minister McCallum has urged Canadians to
welcome the new refugees with “open arms” and help them find homes, jobs and
adjust to their new lives in Canada. By and large, the Canadian public has
received the refugees positively.
The refugee settlement program is
divided into those who arrive with government assistance and those who are
sponsored privately, as well as a smaller number who arrive via a program that
blends the two. Further, protected persons already in Canada and their
families’ abroad, as well as individuals applying for permanent residence on
humanitarian and compassionate grounds, come under this broad category.
Immigration Program
|
2016 Levels Plan Target
|
Government-Assisted Refugees
|
24,600
|
Privately Sponsored Refugees
|
17,800
|
Blended Visa Office Referred
|
2,400
|
Protected Persons in Canada and
Dependants Abroad
|
11,000
|
Humanitarian and Other
|
3,600
|
Overall
|
59,400
|
A renewed focus for growth
Canadian Attorney David Cohen described
the development that “after a decade of immigration plans that were becoming
increasingly focused on short-term labour market outcomes, it is refreshing to
see a new government think more long term, with a vision to grow the country in
a sustainable and harmonious fashion. While all stakeholders might prefer a
slight change here or there, broadly speaking this is an immigration levels
plan that promotes diversity and growth.”
“I am especially pleased to see an
increased focus on family reunification, an area that has required extra
attention for some time. And while the economic targets are marginally lower
than last year — particularly for the programs conducted through Express Entry
— candidates through these programs should take heart that the inventory of
applications that existed prior to 2015 has been reduced over the course of the
past year. This should allow the government to process a large number of
applications made through Express Entry, while also bringing those individuals
to Canada more quickly.”
Culled from: The Immigrant, USA
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