Canada has released details on a plan to welcome over 1.4 million new permanent residents between 2024 and 2026.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released the details in a notice published on its website on Wednesday.
According to the notice, Canada aims to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024, 500,000 in 2025 and plateau at 500,000 in 2026.
The Government of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026 follows the trajectory of the 2023-2025 Plan.
The Plan for 2024-2026 prioritizes economic growth, and supports family reunification, while responding to humanitarian crises and recognizing the rapid growth in immigration in recent years.
According to IRCC, immigrants have an important role to play in the labour market of Canada, growing the nation’s economy now and into the future and helping to ensure Canada has the skills needed to meet key goals.
Some of the key goals highlighted are supporting sustainability initiatives to transition to a green (net-zero) and digital economy, and so that labour force gaps in critical sectors are not a barrier to the success and expansion of Canadian businesses.
Some of the critical sectors highlighted are health, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), trades, transportation and agriculture.
“For the Family Class, having family support is important for newcomers’ well-being and social adaptation, and it also provides an economic benefit.
“Spouses and partners often join the workforce and help supplement household income, and parents and grandparents often provide childcare, enabling their sponsors to enter or remain in the workforce.
“Canada has a strong and proud tradition of offering protection to those in need and the Government’s dedication to fulfilling humanitarian commitments continues.
“Welcoming newcomers is not just about the admissions targets set, but must also take into account supports and services required by newcomers and Canadians alike, including housing and healthcare.
“Coordination, collaboration, communication and partnerships are instrumental to welcoming newcomers, and ensuring that appropriate supports are in place to help them achieve positive outcomes.
“In line with this, to inform this plan, IRCC has undertaken early efforts to establish a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to admissions planning in order to promote integrated planning and coordination across levels of government and with partners and stakeholders,” the notice reads.