In a multi-year approach to immigration, Canada is planning to bring 310,000 newcomers in 2018 with increases every year touching the one million mark by 2020.
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen revealed these details while tabling the targets for economic migrants, refugees and family members in the House of Commons Wednesday.
The number of economic migrants, family reunifications and refugees will climb to 310,000 in 2018, up from 300,000 this year. That number will rise to 330,000 in 2019 then 340,000 in 2020. This is the biggest influx of immigrants since the World War.
Describing it as “the most ambitious immigration levels in recent history” the minister, who came to Canada as a refugee from Somalia, says according to experts the multi-layer plan will allow for better preparation and integration.
Out of this year’s total, the economic class will amount to 58 per cent while the family and humanitarian categories will be 28 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.
While more and more countries are closing doors for immigration, Canada is allowing it because it helps the nation to meet labour market needs and skilled shortage challenges while helping to address demographic challenges. In 1971 there were 6.6 people of working age for each senior but by 2012 that ratio had gone to 4.2 to 1 and projections show it will be at 2 to 1 by 2036, when almost 100 per cent of population growth will be a result of immigration.
He said immigration drives innovation and strengthens the economy, rejecting some claims that newcomers drain Canada’s resources and become a burden on society. Answering a question about the cost of resettling by the CBC, the minister said this year the government has spent $700 million outside of Quebec while the cost in the French-speaking province amounted to $350 million.
Last time the Canadian government introduced a multi-year immigration plan was from 1982 to 1984 but it was quickly scrapped after the country was hit by a recession
According to Toronto Star, an immigration expert says the last time the Canadian government introduced a multi-year immigration plan was from 1982 to 1984 but it was quickly scrapped after the country was hit by a recession.
The opposition Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel said there are serious concerns about the targets for 2018. Chief among them is Canada’s ability to settle and integrate the new arrivals, especially given the influx of people crossing the Canada-U.S. border over the winter, spring and summer.
She also said the new refugees who were supposed to be on their own after one year are still getting government funds to survive becoming a strain on state finances and one year is too short for them to be resettled successfully as they come from war zones, saddled with many social, cultural and other problems.
“It’s about people, not numbers. The Liberal government must present a plan that brings Canada’s immigration system back to order by stopping illegal immigration, and ensuring integration into Canada through language proficiency, mental health support plans and employability,” she said.
Minister Hussen said Canada’s private refugee sponsorship program has been a great success and many countries like Brazil, Ireland, Australia and Germany are interested in adopting that system. He said he is going to UK soon to advise the British government on such a program.
