The Access to Information Request from IRCC helps us know about IRCC’s stakeholders for immigration plan consultations. ATIP demonstrated that it increased the number of stakeholders for consultations to develop the Immigration Levels Plan for 2024 to 2026.
Between July 10 and August 4, 2023, the ATIP displays IRCC’s invitations to 4,780 stakeholders to participate in an online poll. This was an attempt to comprehend the effect of enhancing the number of new immigrants in Canada. This implies a rise of more than 2,867 who received invitations in 2022.
Last year, 633 stakeholders took part in a digital survey that inquired about the participants’ opinions on their feelings about existing immigration levels and where they could make improvements. This is done along with consultations with different provincial and territorial governments.
Stakeholders whom IRCC consults for immigration targets include non-profit organizations, businesses, settlement services providers, and several others.
These stakeholders are often affected by the outcomes of the Canadian immigration levels. This is because they often assist new immigrants in integrating into the country and accessing settlement services. They can assist them in beginning their new life in Canada, along with helping employers who seek to recruit new workers.
According to the department, it requires knowing the stakeholders’ viewpoints to assess the balance of the number of newcomers and the process to support them. IRCC also looks forward to understanding the labor force requirements in-depth and the things it can do to assist the Canadian economy. This includes measures such as enhancing the Express Entry system and provincial immigration programs.
IRCC also confirms that these expanded consultations are a part of the government’s holistic approach. Moreover, the department seeks this approach as part of the strategic immigration plan.
Know the IRCC’s stakeholders for immigration plan consultations
The three respondent categories include charitable organizations, non-profit and governmental organizations, which witnessed a response rate of 30 percent. This turns out to be the highest for any type of organization. Meanwhile, there was a response rate of 17 percent of respond rate in business and settlement and resettlement firms.
All the organizations align directly with the new immigrants in Canada and carry out different viewpoints on the newcomer experience in Canada. They also have different perspectives on the influence of new immigrants on the Canadian economy.
The report claims that a majority of stakeholders shared their opinions about immigration targets. They believed the immigration levels for 2024 and 2025 were far too high. Their viewpoints are concerning the previous immigration targets of 2023 and 2024. These consultations led to the IRCC’s decision to stabilize the immigration targets. The department implemented this measure when they revealed the plan for 2024 to 2026.
Immigration Levels Plan
IRPA requests IRCC to officially release its immigration levels plan every year for the following year and the next two years. The 2024 immigration target by IRCC is to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents for economic-class programs, family-class sponsorships, and refugee and humanitarian classes.
2025 and 2026 will follow an immigration target of 500,000. The idea behind this is to maintain the same target for two years, reducing the housing shortage in Canada and the rising cost of living.
However, there needs to be a balance between Canada’s current requirements for skilled newcomers and those fit to fill the labor gaps in chief industries. These include healthcare, construction, tech, and agriculture. The ATIP confirms that 9 out of 10 stakeholders felt that the primary reason behind welcoming skilled newcomers in Canada was to combat the labor force needs.
Increased economic immigration
In addition, 62 percent of respondents confirmed if IRCC seeks to enhance immigration targets, they must welcome more economic-class immigrants. They must reduce inviting immigrants through family class sponsorship and refugee or humanitarian class pathways.
They also imply that emphasizing regional efforts would assist labor market requirements in small to medium-sized communities.
Furthermore, they encouraged the launch of category-based Express Entry draws for particular characteristics. This even includes occupations as a tool for assisting Canada’s labor force and economic needs. On the other hand, a few respondents also expressed concern about confronting the gap for lower-skilled occupations, ineligible for Express Entry. They even felt the need for more PR pathways for Canada’s temporary workers as well as international students.
The existing challenges
Canada is presently needed to cope with the affordable housing shortage influencing the new immigrants’ potential to find a place to reside. The same report further claimed that 96 percent of respondents claimed that the country must invest in housing for sustainable immigration.
Stakeholders also demonstrated their concern regarding investments in healthcare services. These services are facing challenges due to the rising population. This is besides an ever-growing aging population in ardent need of healthcare facilities. In nearly six years, nine million Canadians will meet the retirement age.
Concerning this, stakeholders brought attention to foreign credential recognition as an area of concern. This indeed needs increased assistance for the settlement and integration of new immigrants, along with development in career and employment being the priorities. Healthcare occupations must be licensed, and new immigrants must gain accreditation through the province where they plan to reside. However, this process would consume some time.
As a result, the Canadian government declared an investment of $86 million in funding 15 organizations to fast-track the procedure for healthcare professionals with international education.
Lastly, stakeholders raised their concern over the need for better accessible public transit in non-metropolitan centers. These areas needed investment. Moreover, most new immigrants don’t have access to a vehicle, making it nearly impossible for them to travel to jobs, healthcare, and settlement services.
If you seek to begin the Canadian immigration process, you can access all relevant details through Make Home Canada’s immigration consultants. Write to us at [email protected]
