IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen, has announced the federal government’s immigration projections over the next three years.

What does the change mean? Immigration targets are set to increase from 310,000 this year to 340,000 in 2020.

  • Implementation time frame: 2018-20.
  • Visas/permits affected: Permanent residency.
  • Who is affected: Foreign nationals seeking Canadian residency under employment-based, family-based and humanitarian programs.
  • Business impact: Economic-based immigration is set to increase 13 percent from 2017 to 2020.

Background: The Canadian government has committed $440 million to its three-year plan. Below are targets for economic migration programs.

Program 2018 2019 2020
FSW, FST, CEC 74,900 81,400 85,800
Provincial Nominee Programs 55,000 61,000 67,800
Quebec Skilled Worker Program and Quebec Business Program 28,900 32,500 32,500
Atlantic Pilot Program 1,000 2,000 4,000
Business 700 700 700
Caregivers 17,000 14,000 5,000

The plan also calls for increases to family-based immigration with 2020 targets of 70,000 for spouses and children and 21,000 for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and foreign residents.

BAL Analysis: The three-year plan is consistent with earlier comments by Hussen that 300,000 is the “new normal” for the country’s immigration goals and confirms Canada’s commitment to increasing economic and family-based immigration. The increase in economic migration programs is good news for companies seeking to bring high-skilled foreign workers to Canada.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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