Canada experienced a significant increase in permanent residents, foreign workers and international students. The country’s economic program was revamped, affecting the refugee class and family programs. More significant changes are expected in the coming decade, owing to the country’s pressing need for immigrants.
Canada is projected to receive over 3 million immigrants in the coming decade owing to low birth rates and the aging population. The country has a low population growth form births, at one percent per year, which is a paltry 20% against that from immigration, which stands at 80%. It is projected that the country will, in the next decade, have nearly zero natural increase, thus become 100% reliant on immigration for population growth.
Canada requires its population to keep growing to help maintain the country’s high quality of life. The state must increase its target levels for newcomers from 350,000 in 2021 to 400,000 every year in the next ten years to help achieve a population growth of one percent and above.
Canada will likely invite over 3.5 million immigrants in the coming decade, which would mark a 25% increment from the previous decade.
Local actors to play a more significant role in immigrants’ selection
In the past twenty years, the Canadian government has realized that employers and provinces have a thorough understanding of the labor requirements in the local market. As a result, the federal government has assigned them a more significant role in the selection process.
It is highly likely that the selection authority will be further delegated
At present, around 40,000 principle applicants (Pas) in a year are selected by Canadian provinces. This figure can increase to 50,000 should the government adjust the immigration levels to meet the expectations.
Canadian municipalities continue to play a significant role in the system of immigration since the country’s constitution designates the role as a shared function between the federal and provincial governments. The country has a complex immigration system, which makes it hard for municipalities to get significant control of the system.
The federal government and the provinces control over 80% of economic class pathways in the country. This is expected to change in the future owing to the soon to be introduced federal Municipal Nominee Program (MNP) and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream, which has been in existence.