Canada to Admit 500,000 Immigrants Each Year

Though Canada will admit 485,000 new immigrants in 2024 like in 2023, it plans to raise the numbers to 500,000 by 2025. Unveiling immigration plans for 2024-26, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said on 8 Nov that immigration levels would be capped at 500,000 from 2025. From India, this move will majorly benefit Panjabis who are the biggest migrant group to Canada. Last year, over 118,000 Indians took up Canadian permanent residency (PR), accounting for a quarter of all 437,120 newcomers to Canada. With Canada’s depleted embassy staff in India, it needs to be seen how Canada fulfills its goal. On the other hand, according to a study conducted by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and the Conference Board of Canada, some immigrants are leaving the country for opportunities elsewhere. The number of immigrants who left Canada were 60,000 in 2017 and 67,000 in 2019. Though their number is around 1%, it shows a shift in how Canada is perceived by thoseoutside and those inside the country. Factors that influence onward migration include economic integration, a sense of belonging, racism, homeownership or a lack thereof, and economic opportunities in other countries, the study revealed. Since Canada needs a stable workforce, immigrants leaving the country will create a shortfall and lead to greater immigration. Meanwhile, an Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) release outlined its policy position on caste-based discrimination last week. Ontario is Canada’s most populous province. This has received mixed reactions by the Indo-Canadians with some groups welcoming it and others accusing it of fostering bias against minorities in the country.