Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marco Mendicino has announced that the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan will help the Canadian economy recover in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a press release, Mr Mendicino described the new Immigration Levels Plan as a pathway for significant increases in immigration numbers in the next three years, which will drive future growth and create new jobs for Canadian residents in an effort to speed up Canada’s post-pandemic economic recovery.
He hailed the contribution of immigrants to the well-being of communities and across all sectors of the Canadian economy, and brought special attention to the healthcare system and the tech and agricultural industries, which rely on immigrants to create more jobs for Canadians.
Under the new Plan, economic growth has been prioritized, with 60 per cent of all Canadian admissions coming from the Economic Class.
Moreover, an increase in the number of newcomers – at a rate of about 1 per cent of the population of Canada – is set to make up for the shortfall in Canadian immigration due to border closures enforced by the pandemic.
The increased number of Canadian immigrants will be critical to filling crucial labour market gaps left by a lack of adequately skilled local workers and is essential to getting Canada’s economy back on track after a severe hit inflicted by the worldwide spread of the coronavirus.
Under the new plan, Canada will welcome more than 400,000 immigrants every year for the next three years, which will help cement Canada’s place as a top destination for global talent, reunite families and create a strong foundation for the country’s economy to thrive in the coming years.
