2018 Canadian Immigration Report Summarized
Canada’s hunger for skilled foreign workers has led to a major boost in how many visas will be issued over the next three years, according to the updated Canadian immigration plan revealed on October 31, 2018. Ahmed Hussen, who is the Canadian immigration minister, announced that the national government will allow as many as 330,800 individuals to permanently relocate to Canada during 2019. The goals for Canadian immigration will rise to 341,000 in 2020 and reach 350,000 during 2021. By comparison, the government’s target for new Canadian permanent residents was 310,000 in 2018, a year in which Canada’s population soared to a record 37 million people. According to Statistics Canada, 80% of the country's population growth between 2017 and 2018 resulted from Canadian immigration.
The 2018 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration also reveals that a total of 286,479 foreign nationals were approved for Canadian immigration in 2017, with 56% of these new permanent residents moving to Canada through economic immigration programs (including 65,417 authorized for Express Entry). Broken down by categories, 159,262 skilled foreign workers and their immediate family members were approved to live and work in Canada as permanent residents through economic immigration programs during 2017; another 82,470 people arrived through family unification programs; and 44,747 individuals were authorized for Canadian immigration through refugee, humanitarian, and compassion programs.
Of the 159,262 economic immigrants and their immediate family members moving to Canada in 2017, 49,724 received Canadian PR visas through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP); 29,451 were granted permanent residency via the Quebec Selected Workers (QSW) or Business programs; 22,550 were admitted through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP); 22,253 immigrants arrived through the Caregiver Program; and 1,875 immigrated through the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Another 32,740 temporary foreign workers and international students who had already been living in Canada were granted permanent residency under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program which seeks to retain talented foreign nationals who can contribute to the economy.
The top destinations for new immigrants relocating to Canada in 2017 through various Canadian visa programs included Ontario (111,925) Quebec (52,388), Alberta (42,094), British Columbia (38,443), Manitoba (14,700), and Saskatchewan (14,680). A significant number of Canadian newcomers also settled in Nova Scotia (4,514), New Brunswick (3,649), Prince Edward Island (2,348), and Newfoundland & Labrador (1,171) during 2017, while 238 new immigrants moved to Northwest Territory, 225 went to Yukon Territory, and 40 relocated to Nunavut. Around 66% of the skilled foreign workers moving to Canada during 2017 settled in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, while 34% of economic immigrants relocated to other Canadian provinces that year.
According to the 2018 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, 61% of the 286,479 new permanent residents moving to Canada in 2017 came from the following top 10 countries of origin: #1 India, #2 Philippines, #3 China, #4 Syria, #5 United States, #6 Pakistan, #7 France, #8 Nigeria, #9 United Kingdom (and its overseas territories), and #10 Iraq. The other 39% of people immigrating to Canada as permanent residents in 2017 arrived from a variety of countries around the globe.
Canadian Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, who is himself an immigrant, declared in the report, “Thanks in great part to the newcomers we have welcomed throughout our history, Canada has developed into the strong and vibrant country we all enjoy. Immigrants and their descendants have made immeasurable contributions to Canada, and our future success depends on continuing to ensure they are welcomed and well-integrated.”
Canadian employment is at its highest level in 40 years and with the Canada's government planning to welcome 330,800 new permanent residents in 2019, this is a great time to immigrate to Canada. To learn more, click here!
