Canada To Maintain High Immigration Levels

02 Nov 2010

Talking about the annual immigration plan, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced that the Government of Canada will continue to maintain high immigration levels to help sustain the economic recovery.

Highlights of the 2011 immigration plan include a higher range of admissions for spouses and children in the family category. Within the economic category, the 2011 plan balances projected admissions between federally and provincially selected workers to meet Canada’s national and regional labour market needs.

He said, “Canada’s post-recession economy demands a high level of legal immigration to keep our work force strong,” and added, “At the same time, we are maintaining our commitment to family reunification and refugees.”

In 2011, Canada is estimated to welcome 240,000 - 265,000 new permanent residents, out of which 60 percent of immigrants is estimated will come through economic streams.

Like many other countries with ageing populations and low birth rates, in the not too distant future Canada will not have enough people to keep our work force growing. It is estimated that without immigration, the size of Canada work force of new entrants to labour force continues to come from within Canada. And, within the next five years, all of Canada’s labour force growth comes from immigration.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program remains a significant portion of the economic category. The program admits a range of workers, including technicians, skilled tradespersons, managers and professionals, who help to supplement the Canadian-born work force.

On 1st November each year, the annual immigration plan is tabled in Parliament in Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s annual report.