The Liberal government has come out with an array of proposed liberal immigration policies which were to be put in place during the three-year ‘Golden Period’ ending in 2021.
Canada’s goal of ensuring admission to more than a million (10 lakh) new Permanent Residents (PRs) into its territory by the end of 2021 has not only sparked a global hullabaloo, but its ‘mammoth’ PR immigration programme in one go has also sent several governments and countries in a tizzy.
All countries have turned their attention towards Canada over its proposed move to induct one million Permanent Residents in next three years.
In fact, the proposed three-year migration target has set Canada apart on the global stage, particularly at a time when several countries, including its neighbour --- the USA — were resorting to ultra-restrictive policies wherein they were turning even skilled workers away.
So, in such a situation, Canada’s liberal and friendly stance was bound to upset the cart of such countries and also to raise many an eyebrow.
Interestingly, Canada sees and foresees increasing migration as its productive population. The Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen, has fairly tried to justify his country’s move by saying “growing immigration levels, particularly in the economic class, will help us sustain our labour force, support economic growth and spur innovation”.
In fact, his department’s annual report submitted to the Parliament last year had even exhorted the US to follow Canada’s example by enhancing migration with an objective to raise country’s ‘economic health’.
The projected figures indicate that Canada’s latest three year immigration level plan will ensure immigration of 3,50,000 new Permanent Residents by the end 2021--- nearly 1 per cent of Canada’s population.
This level, Canadian government feels, must be reached by year 2030. Figures indicated that about 60 per cent of all new PRs expected this year were scheduled to arrive through four main economic immigration programmes --- the three Federal High Skilled programs managed by Canada’s Express Entry system, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.
Canada had introduced its Express Entry system tailored to favour young, highly qualified, English proficient immigrants armed with skilled work experience. This kind of education and skill sets were considered to be the perfect ingredients for attaining success and contributing towards economy of Canada --- where a majority of native population was ageing.
The annual IRCC resport observed an unprecedented levels of global displacement in 2017. So, the government has announced that its three-year plan will accommodate more refugees looking to start new lives. Canada has set an overall admission target for refugees and protected persons at 46,450 for 2019 and it will swell to 51,700 in year 2021.
“Many countries may reduce immigration, Canada is likely to increase it,” foresees Toronto-based Para Legal expert Deepinder Singh Loomba.
