The Liberal government of Canada plans on welcoming up to 305,000 new permanent residents this year — the highest projected immigration level in recent years, and about seven percent increase on the 2015 plan.

GROWING THE COUNTRY

The 2016 plan marks an increase of about 20,000 in the total number of new permanent residents to be admitted, relative to 2015. Indeed, the 2015 plan also saw an increase of 20,000 over the previous year. Consequently, the 2016 target is about 40,000 higher than that for 2014.

Minister McCallum said the plan is grounded in Canada’s tradition of being a welcoming and generous country. “We will be able to welcome more people to Canada,” he said at a news conference in Brampton, Ontario.

The plan calls for between 280,000 and 305,000 permanent residents to be allowed into Canada in 2016. Calling it the country’s highest targeted number of new immigrants in modern times, McCallum said the government’s goal is to “bring in immigrants who wish to build a better Canada.”

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS

Immigrants to Canada arrive through one of three broad categories: Economic, Family Class, and Refugee and Humanitarian.

ECONOMIC IMMIGRATION TO CANADA

Economic immigration supports Canada’s long-term economic growth while improving global competitiveness and strengthening communities across the country. Experienced professionals, tradespersons, businesspersons, and caregivers make up the bulk of all new immigrants to Canada. In making the decision to develop their careers in Canada, these newcomers help to create jobs and growth in new and existing industries.

Canada is seeking to attract workers who will succeed in the Canadian labour market and integrate smoothly into Canadian society. Economic immigration, which is based on an individual’s skills and experience, presents an opportunity for foreign workers and their families to come to Canada through a variety of programs. Of the immigrants to be selected for permanent residence in Canada in 2016, between 151,200 and 162,400 are expected to be economic immigrants.

2016 LEVELS PLAN TARGET

FEDERAL ECONOMIC – HIGH SKILLED*

58,400

FEDERAL ECONOMIC – CAREGIVERS

22,000

FEDERAL ECONOMIC – BUSINESS

800

PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM

47,800

QUEBEC SKILLED WORKER

26,200

QUEBEC BUSINESS

5,400

OVERALL

160,600

REUNITING MORE FAMILIES IN CANADA

Immigration Minister John McCallum stated that a “significant shift” in the federal government’s immigration policy was aimed at reuniting more families in Canada.

The government says it will increase admissions for sponsored spouses, partners and dependents, and help reduce application processing times by allocating additional resources and improving methods used within the department. Under the Family Class programs, the government aims to welcome 60,000 sponsored spouses, partners and children, as well as 20,000 parents and grandparents, by the end of the year.

McCallum said that family reunification backlogs will be reduced as more individuals are admitted to the country. IRCC is doubling the number of sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents that it will accept for processing to 10,000 a year. A total of 20,000 admissions are planned under the Parent and Grandparent Program, and by the end of 2016 it is expected that the backlog inventory will be reduced by approximately 15 percent.

SPOUSES, PARTNERS AND CHILDREN

60,000

PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS

20,000

OVERALL

80,000

REFUGEE, CANADA-A SAFE HAVEN

In the short time the Liberal government has been in office, its signature move on the immigration file has been with respect to the increased and expedited settlement of refugees, particularly those fleeing the war in Syria. Though the government recently met its target to welcome 25,000 such persons by the end of February, 2016, it plans on welcoming additional numbers of refugees over the course of the year.

Minister McCallum has urged Canadians to welcome the new refugees with “open arms” and help them find homes, jobs and adjust to their new lives in Canada. By and large, the Canadian public has received the refugees positively.

The refugee settlement program is divided into those who arrive with government assistance and those who are sponsored privately, as well as a smaller number who arrive via a program that blends the two. Further, protected persons already in Canada and their families abroad, as well as individuals applying for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, come under this broad category.

GOVERNMENT-ASSISTED REFUGEES

24,600

PRIVATELY SPONSORED REFUGEES

17,800

BLENDED VISA OFFICE REFERRED

2,400

PROTECTED PERSONS IN CANADA AND DEPENDANTS ABROAD

11,000

HUMANITARIAN AND OTHER

3,600

OVERALL

59,400