Photo Source: CIC Facebook
The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, recently unveiled the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, a strategic initiative aimed at bolstering Canada’s economy while addressing the challenges posed by an aging population and critical labor shortages in crucial sectors such as healthcare, transportation, and home construction. Immigration is deemed essential in driving Canada’s economy and propelling its future growth, providing the necessary momentum to fuel innovation, expand the economy, and lend support to local businesses and communities.
The 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan is meticulously crafted to support economic growth while concurrently managing the pressures exerted on housing, healthcare, and infrastructure, thereby ensuring a stable and sustainable population growth. The plan outlines the government’s commitment to maintain the target of admitting 485,000 permanent residents in 2024, before eventually increasing this number to 500,000 by 2025. From 2026 onwards, the government aims to stabilize the number of permanent residents at 500,000, allowing adequate time for their successful integration into the labor market. Furthermore, the government plans to recalibrate the number of temporary resident admissions over the next year to ensure the sustainability of this aspect of the immigration system.
The Government of Canada will continue its collaborative efforts with provinces, territories, employers, stakeholders, and Indigenous peoples to adeptly navigate the realities of immigration-driven population growth. This commitment is further underscored by “An Immigration System for Canada’s Future,” a comprehensive report that delineates a clear path for fortifying the immigration system to the benefit of newcomers, businesses, and communities alike.
Key highlights of the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan include:
- A continued focus on economic growth, with over 60% of permanent resident admissions dedicated to the economic class by 2025.
- A commitment to uphold Canada’s humanitarian tradition by responding to humanitarian and geopolitical crises globally.
- New ambitious Francophone immigration targets to bolster Francophone communities outside of Quebec, with targets set at 6% of total immigration in 2024, 7% in 2025, and 8% in 2026.
- Through immigration, Canada aims to keep families united, attract the necessary skills and talent for business growth, and uphold its humanitarian tradition, thereby ensuring that the country continues to thrive on the strength and diversity brought about by newcomers.
