Baseline of 300,000 New Immigrants to Canada Established

Levels of immigration to Canada will not dip below 300,000 new arrivals per year, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen, has confirmed. The period of July 2015 to July 2016 saw a historic high of 320,932 new arrivals to Canada. The target for 2017 has been set at 300,000, a figure Hussen called “the baseline for admissions going forward.”

“Although we don’t know what next year’s levels will be, I can tell you they will not be below 300,000,” he said, adding that, “Notably the 2017 300,000 landings plan increased the share of economic admissions from the previous year. This is a reflection of our commitment to the idea that immigration continues to be a key ingredient to our economic future as a country.”

Speaking at a conference on June 10, 2017, Hussen reaffirmed his department’s commitment to welcoming newcomers, and removing obstacles to citizenship for permanent residents. “We want more permanent residents — in fact, we want all permanent residents, if possible — to become Canadians,” he emphasized.

He also highlighted several recent innovations within his department, intended to improve both the economic integration of new immigrants, and the reuniting of families in Canada.

Innovating for economic success

Recently-introduced initiatives such as the Global Skills Strategy, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project (AIPP), and changes to the federal Express Entry system have been designed to ensure that Canada’s immigration levels not only remain consistent, but that newcomers to Canada can integrate successfully into the Canadian labour market and communities.

In late 2016, a target of 300,000 new arrivals was announced for 2017, and the Minister has committed to maintaining this target as the new baseline for immigration in the future. In its 2017 Immigration Levels Plan, the government increased the share of economic immigrants within the target of 300,000 by more than 22 percent compared to 2016. The new baseline, coupled with an increased target for economic immigration, may bode well for a future of continued large draw sizes within the Express Entry system.

So far in 2017, record-high Express Entry draw sizes have been seen. By April 19, the number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued so far in 2017 had exceeded those issued over the whole year of 2016.

“Quite frankly we need to fill the skills shortages that exist in Canada,” Hussen said. “And by allowing highly-skilled immigrants to come to Canada and share with us their skills and their talents, we allow them to also help us create more jobs for Canadians, and more prosperity for all of us.”

Among other features, the Global Skills Strategy introduces a two-week processing time standard for certain work permits for foreign workers in high-growth companies and sectors. This is enabled by the Global Talent Stream, introduced on June 12, which establishes a framework for employers to collaborate with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to successfully recruit highly-skilled workers in key occupations, and expedite their arrival in Canada.

Hussen also highlighted the early popularity of the AIPP, a new employer-driven program designed to attract and retain immigrants in the four provinces of Atlantic Canada. By putting employers at the heart of the program, Hussen explained, more skilled immigrants will have the resources they need to successfully build a new life in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador.

“The lessons we learn from Atlantic Canada will allow us to transfer those lessons to the rest of the country and there’s no reason why we can’t use those lessons in other parts of the country that face demographic and labour market challenges,” Hussen explained.

Family reunification remains a priority

In addition to emphasizing the need for successful economic integration of immigrants to Canada, the Minister also reiterated his department’s commitment to family reunification.

“As we do these innovative programs, we still have the strong commitment that we have to reuniting families,” Hussen said. “We know that when families are able to reunite and stay together, it improves their integration into Canadian society, their economic outcomes, and their ability to contribute to our communities, and our great country.”

Measures which are already in place include introducing additional points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) for candidates in the Express Entry pool with a sibling in Canada, cutting processing times and simplifying the application process for spousal and common-law partner sponsorship, and doubling the intake cap for parent and grandparent sponsorship applications from 5,000 to 10,000.

Removing obstacles to citizenship

Hussen also touched on Bill C-6, the pending legislation that proposes changes to the Citizenship Act. If enacted, Bill C-6, which is currently awaiting royal assent after being passed by the Canadian Senate on May 3, would reduce the residency requirement for permanent residents, from four out of six years to three out five years. It would also count a portion of the time an applicant spent in Canada on temporary status — such as on a work or study permit — towards this residency requirement. Bill C-6 is the current government’s response to Bill C-24, introduced by the previous Conservative government in 2014.

“C-24 put deliberate barriers and obstacles for permanent residents on their way to citizenship. We believe those barriers were problematic towards permanent residents,” Hussen stated.

“We’re confident that C-6 will receive royal assent in the very near future,” he continued.

“I am extremely encouraged by the Minister's words and attitude towards the welcoming of new Canadians,” says Attorney David Cohen. “Acknowledging that highly-skilled foreign talent will enrich our economy and society is the first step towards building a stronger country.

“The innovative developments we have seen so far from this department, as led by Minister Hussen and his predecessor John McCallum, are a heartening sign of benefits to come. I look forward to seeing how these initiatives improve the immigration and integration process for many newcomers and families.”