AHMED Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, on Wednesday announced the new multi-year immigration levels plan for 2019-2021: the number of permanent residents to Canada will number 330,800 in 2019, 341,000 in 2020 and 350,000—nearing 1 percent of Canada’s population—in 2021.
Hussen said this new immigration plan will benefit all Canadians because immigrants contribute to Canada’s economic growth and help keep Canada competitive in a global economy. The new plan builds on the strong economic foundation laid out in last year’s levels plan and continues to grow responsibly the number of permanent residents Canada welcomes responsibly.
He highlighted the importance of economic immigration in spurring innovation domestically. That’s why the government’s immigration plan remains focused on attracting the best and brightest from around the world with the majority of the increase in 2021 allotted to high-skilled economic immigration. Newcomers are helping Canadian companies succeed and grow in the expanding information and communications technology sector, where one third of employees are immigrants.
Hussen noted that Canada has welcomed generations of immigrants who have brought their talents to, and are an integral part of, local communities across the country. Immigration is a central pillar of Canada’s future economic success. In addition to spurring economic growth, immigration helps address the challenges our country faces with an ageing population, and plays a crucial role in keeping our country at the forefront of the global economy.
With first-hand stories, the Immigration Matters project shows Canadians how communities across the country benefit directly from immigration.