Canada has announced plans to accept more than 1.2 million new immigrants over the next three years.
This was disclosed to journalists on Friday in Ottawa by the Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino. According to the Minister, the COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected some sectors, which is why Canada wants to fill gaps in its labor market and boost the economy.
Mendicino admitted that his country needs more workers, adding that, “immigration is the way to get there”.
“Before the pandemic, our government’s goal to drive the economy forward through immigration was ambitious. Now it’s simply vital,” he said.
Ottawa, the capital of Canada, has projected 232,500 newcomers from the economic class of immigrants in 2021. The state will receive 103,500 family members of people already in Canada, 59,500 refugees, and other protected persons.
At least, 5,500 people will be accepted on humanitarian grounds. Robert Falconer, an immigration and refugee policy researcher at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy, has reacted to the target.
“Canada announced new immigration targets today for 2021-2023. If they hit them, it will be the highest years on record since 1911”, he tweeted.