Canada is set to maintain its immigration targets, with plans to admit 485,000 new immigrants in 2024, mirroring the numbers from 2023. However, there is a commitment to increase the intake to 500,000 by the year 2025.
During the unveiling of the immigration plans for 2024-2026, Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that immigration levels will be capped at 500,000 starting from 2026.
India, being the largest source of immigration and students for Canada, will be the primary beneficiary of these immigration levels. They are expected to receive a significant portion of the newcomers, with a record-breaking 281,135 individuals under the economic category and 114,000 under the family category.
In the previous year, more than 118,000 Indians became Canadian permanent residents, accounting for a quarter of all 437,120 newcomers to Canada.
These new immigration targets are anticipated to contribute to an annual population growth of 1.3 percent, helping Canada's population surpass the 40-million mark, even as the nation grapples with a severe housing shortage.
The government, led by Justin Trudeau, remains committed to high immigration levels despite public opinion polls indicating opposition to the plan due to housing challenges.
Marc Miller expressed, "Canada will continue to welcome newcomers and ensure that they are supported in their new lives." However, he acknowledged that the decision to cap immigration at 500,000 is driven by the need to consider housing, infrastructure planning, and sustainable population growth more thoroughly.
Through this approach, the Minister highlighted that they are striving to strike a balanced approach that fosters economic growth for Canada.
In 2024, Canada is poised to welcome a record number of 76,115 new refugees, as it continues its commitment to assisting individuals from over 80 countries.
Notably, over 5.2 million applications for permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship from around the world were processed in the previous year.
(With Agency Inputs)
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