Record numbers expected in 2009

by Gareth McConnell

A further 240,000−265,000 new permanent residents are expected to move to Canada next year. The number has been boosted by the increase in the number of provincial nominees to 26,000 and a slight increase in economic migrants (156,000). The numbers of economic migrants coming to live in Canada will be boosted by the Action Plan for Faster Immigration, introduced by Jason Kenney, minister for citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism Canada (CIMC), earlier in 2008. This new set of regulations were intended to increase the speed with which people can be accepted by Canada immigration under the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

When the new action plan was introduced, Kenney announced, “We expect new federal skilled worker applicants, including those with arranged employment, to receive a decision within six to twelve months compared with up to six years under the old system.” In response to a build up of unprocessed application, a Provincial Nominations Program was also introduced, through which a nominee could receive priority processing for their application. Following these reforms, Kenney went to work to produce the Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration. The report was intended to re-align immigration policy with labour market needs and stated, ‘Efforts to meet economic needs must go hand in hand with the goal of building Canada as a nation and integrating newcomers into the social and cultural life of the country.’