On 14th February the Canadian Government announced its Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024. Canada will welcome 432000 new immigrants in 2022 rather than inviting 411000 immigrants according to its initial plan. Canada will invite the following number of new immigrant’s landings from 2022- to 2024
- 2022- 4,31,645 Permanent residents invited
- 2023- 4,47,055 Permanent residents invited
- 2024- 4,51,000 Permanent residents invited
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser explained “This levels plan is a balance of needs for our country and our international obligations. It focuses on attracting skilled workers who will contribute to the economy of Canada and tackle the labor shortage while recognizing the importance of family reunification and helping the world’s most vulnerable populations through refugee resettlement. Our focus remains on supporting our economic resurgence through increased retention of newcomers in regions with real economic, labor, and demographic challenges. I’m proud of what the government of Canada has achieved thus far, and I want to wait to see how newcomers will continue to make Canada a top destination of choice.” source (CIC news)
Canada will invite 56% of new immigrants in 2022 under economic class pathways like PNP, Express Entry, and the Temporary to Permanent Residence which was also available in 2021.
This year the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is aiming to invite 83500 immigrants through PNP. It has also reduced immigration’s admissions through Express Entry to half but again it’s aiming to return to 111,500 immigrants through Express Entry System by 2024.
The levels plan is aiming to convey to IRCC to reduce admissions through Express Entry System on a temporary basis. This step is being taken to admit more immigrants under the TR2PR program. IRCC has planned to invite 40000 immigrants in 2022 whereas 32000 immigrants by 2023 through the TR2PR program.
On a biweekly basis, the IRCC is processing Express Entry system applications. Since the pandemic has started, the majority of Canada’s provinces have started inviting immigrants through PNP draws.
A total of 80000 immigrants will be invited under the Spouses, Partners, and Children Program. Out of which 25000 applicants are eligible to move to Canada under the Parents and Grandparents Program. IRCC has increased its admission spots by 1500 through PGP.
And rest is 20% off admission, that is 40,000 refugees. There is an increase of 5% points, unlike the previous levels plan. It is aiming to accommodate 40,000 Afghan refugees in the coming years. The greater number of refugees coming to Canada will result in less intake of economic and family class immigration. Moreover, the Canadian Government tends to decrease the number of refugees and humanitarian intake and significantly increase economic and family class immigrants in 2023 and 2024.
The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, states that the Canadian Government is obliged to declare its Immigration plan before November 1 every year. But the Canadian Government was not able to make the announcement of the level plan last year because of elections going on in September.
The procedure of Canada’s immigration system is guided by the levels plan. It states the number of immigrants who will be welcomed by the Canadian Government under various territorial, federal, and provincial programs. Then the provinces of Canada are obliged to design operations on the basis of the plan to invite, accommodate and retain new immigrants in Canada.
Canada welcomed 25,000 immigrants every year till 2015. By 2016, it started to welcome 3,00,000 immigrants every year. By 2019, the target was targeted to 3,40,000 immigrants but because of the pandemic, the immigration level decreased to 2,00,000 in 2020 because of COVID-19.
In October 2020, the Canadian Government made an announcement that they will welcome more than 4,00,000 immigrants every year to assist the economic recovery post-COVID-19 crises. This was the maximum number of immigrants invited by the Government of Canada in its history.
But last year, Canada again made a new record by inviting 4,05,000 immigrants for Canadian Permanent Residency.
- In 2021, 62 out of 100 new immigrants moved to Canada through Economic Class streams like the PNP, Quebec’s stream, and Express Entry System.
- Whereas 20 out of 100 new immigrants will be welcomed under family class through Parents and Grandparents Programs and the Spouses, Partners and Children Program.
- And the rest of 15 out of 100 immigrants will be welcomed under Refugee and Humanitarian programs.
- “All Other Immigration” will consider all the rest applicants.
Canada is targeting to incorporate more immigrants to assist the Canadian economic growth. Canada has an older population and a lower birth rate. That is why it requires more immigrants to assist its existing workforce. Also, it requires more funds to assist their social service causes like education and better health care facilities. Canada also works for reuniting families, giving humanitarian assistance to refugees.
Inviting immigrants has become more important post-pandemic. The Canadian Government is running under fiscal deficits because of more expenses amidst pandemics. Also, the Canadian economy is also facing a lack of labor force because of factors like an aging population, covid restrictions, fewer immigrants entering the country.
Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2024 to be announced on November 1st, 2022
The scenario seems to get repeated as the Canadian Government is holding elections again this year. Moreover, the Canadian Government is obliged to present its second immigrant levels plan by November 1st, 2022.
