Last Week, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Honourable Sean Fraser, tabled Canada’s 2022 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration. As per the report, the government announced that its target for 2025 was to admit 500,000 new permanent residents.
| Year 2023 | Year 2024 | Year 2025 |
| 465,000 | 485,000 | 500,000 |
Based on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) statistics, last year Canada accepted over 405,000 permanent residents- so far the highest number recorded in a single year. On the same year, IRCC approved 415,817 work permits and 445,776 study permits.
According to the report, this is the government’s response to the country’s labour market shortage which is hurting Canadian businesses.
The immigration Levels plan will include :
- A long term focus on economic growth, with just over 60% of admissions in the economic class by 2025
- Enhanced Express Entry features system to welcome newcomers with the required skills and qualifications in sectors facing acute labour shortages such as health care, manufacturing, building trades and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
- To increase partnerships with some regions and provinces to address local labour market needs through the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
- Faster family reunification
- To ensure 4.4% of newcomers outside Quebec are Francophone
- Expansion of Economic Mobility pathways Pilot to support global crises by providing safe haven to those facing persecution
IRCC highlighted the importance of regional economic programs like the Provincial Nominee Program to sustain growth of the country. They will continue to streamline and digitalize the immigration system to further expedite processing and give users the experience they expect and deserve.
Other Immigration news:
Starting November 15, 2022 to December 31, 2023, international students who are in Canada and who have off-campus work authorization on their study permit will not be restricted by the 20-hour-per-week rule. Foreign nationals who have already submitted a study permit application, as of Oct 7, 2022, will also be able to benefit from this temporary change, provided their application is approved.
On Nov 16, 2022, IRCC will be switching to the 2021 Version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). This means that
- The current NOC 2016 skill type and skill structure (NOC 0, A, B, C and D) will be replaced with a 6-category system representing the training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) needed to work in an occupation
- 4 digit occupation codes will become 5-digit codes
- IRCC will update the eligibility criteria for all programs that use the NOC
The following programs below will be affected with this change as these programs will have updated eligibility requirements:
- Express Entry – Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Atlantic Immigration Program
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Caregiver Pilot Programs
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
- Agri-Food Pilot
- Out of Status Construction Workers
- International Mobility Program
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program
If you have questions regarding the above article, you may contact Marjorie at [email protected]
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
A word of caution: You should not act or rely on the information provided in this column. It is not a legal advice. To ensure your interests are protected, retain, or formally seek advice from a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in good standing of CICC. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RCIC’s.
