In the challenging year of 2020, Canada welcomed 184,370 immigrants which is the second-lowest number in history. It may seem way less than the set target of 341,000 which was planned by immigration minister Marco Mendicino in March last year but compared with other developed countries, this is still a huge success for the Canadian immigration system.
Canada has been welcoming more than 300,000 immigrants each year after 2015 except in 2020. This is the second-lowest number of immigrants recorded after 174,000 in 1998. Canada also reached its peak of immigrants number about more than 400,000 back in 1912.
Cana has been implementing the travel restrictions due to worse travel conditions. It has announced for the 7th time in a row the new travel restrictions. The country will have a travel ban until February 21, 2021. The government issued a new order to the council stating that travel restrictions that have been in place since March were being extended at regular intervals.
Canadian provinces, territories, and IRCC have been trying their level best to process the immigration applications in as much as high numbers as possible. The best example is the number of “Express Entry Draws” which are being held at a normal rate as ever (about twice a month). Foreign students have also been entertained (Alberta started an open work permit program for graduates) in terms of extending their stays in Canada. A new program has also been set up for the farmers to own farms in Canada. New Brunswick province is also still holding online immigration events for candidates around the world. International students have been allowed to travel to Canada if their DLI fulfills the required SOPs. Parents and grandparents category for sponsorship and visa was held too.
The immigration department is also struggling hard to meet its target of receiving more than 400,000 immigrants in 2021 as planned. This seems on the other hand impossible while pandemic and travel restrictions are not yet over. According to some experts, the number may reach more than 200,000 immigrants by the end of the year. The unemployment rate was at 9.4 percent, the highest since August when unemployment was at 10.2 percent. Job losses were highly concentrated in Ontario and Quebec. Employment also fell in Newfoundland and Labrador but rose in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Employment held steady in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick.
On October 30, 2020, the Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, tabled the 2021‒2023 “Immigration Levels Plan” that will allow 401,000 immigrants in 2021, 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023. According to him, a country’s economy can’t get better without immigrants.
The 2021-2023 Immigration Level Plan aims to welcome about 60% of the economic class (PR and work visas) of all immigrants. There were 64% fewer permanent residents in August 2020 than in August 2019. The candidate was unable to travel to Canada before his immigration documents expired due to travel restrictions and other barriers related to the coronavirus.
The immigration plan of 2021 to 2023 details
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| project admissions – Targets | 401,000 | 411,000 | 421,000 |
| project admissions – Ranges | HIGH LOW | HIGH LOW | HIGH LOW |
| Federal economic, Provincial nominees | 153600 208,500 | 167,500 213,900 | 173,500 217,500 |
| Refugees, Protected, humanitarian and compassionate | 43,500 68000 | 47,000 68,0000 | 49,000 70,500 |
| Family reunification | 76000 105,000 | 74000 105,000 | 74000 106,000 |