As the pandemic continues but with the hope of a vaccine, Canada is planning to boost the number of immigrants in 2021 and for years following. This is in large part to help Canada recover economically from the pandemic. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada has continued to process applications, but the pandemic has produced a host of issues that has resulted in fewer immigrants. To make up for this, Canada’s 2021‒2023 Immigration Levels Plan has a goal of bringing immigrants to its shores at a rate of about 1 percent of the population per year. In 2021, that means about 401,000 immigrants to Canada. The following years could see immigration totals that are even higher. All of this is likely tied to whether the pandemic can be brought under control with the vaccines, but there are bound to be more immigrants in the years to come.
The last time Canada had a number of immigrants over 400,000 was 1913. The next three years could be over that amount.
A focus of this immigration plan will be on economic growth, with many skilled workers immigrating to Canada. About 60 percent of immigrants will come through the Economic Class of managers, professionals, and skilled tradespeople. The Economic Mobility Pathways Project will also help refugees come to Canada. Canada also accepts immigrants based on family and humanitarian grounds.
Canada will be a top country for immigration in 2021, and this could provide a path to permanent residence for many.