Canada on target to allow 300,000 migrants into the country by 2017
The Canadian government has announced that it will allow
3,00,000 immigrants into the country in 2017.
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This is the same number as in 2016 even though an expert
panel has recommended to raise immigration levels.
John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and
Citizenship, on Monday tabled the immigration proposal for 2017 in the
Parliament.
“The 2017 levels plan will put Canada in a strong position
for the future and support our overall economic and social development as a
country,” Mr. McCallum said.
A government statement said the 2017 levels are “a
thoughtful, responsible approach that takes into consideration Canada’s need
for more immigrants while balancing our fiscal responsibilities.”
The majority of new refugees will be Syrian, in accordance
with the government's commitment to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end
of February, and thousands more over the year. It is also intending to triple
the number of privately sponsored refugees to 18,000 in 2016.
Canada's government has reportedly pledged to keep to its
target of accepting 300,000 immigrants over the next year, with the total
number above the average of 259,542 immigrants admitted between 2011 to 2015.
Canada has an ageing population and it is thought that an
influx of arrivals would help build economic growth in the country. If the
government achieves its target, it will be the first time Canada has resettled
more than 300,000 new permanent residents in a single year since 1913.
The target number of immigrants from 2011 to 2015 was
2,60,000, but swelled to 3,00,000 this year because of what Mr. McCallum called
the “special circumstances” of the Syrian refugee crisis.
There has been much debate over the targeted immigration
number at a time when Canada struggles with high unemployment.
The 2017 target boosts entries for those in the economic
class — skilled workers, business people and care-givers — to 1,72,500 from
1,60,600.
In the family class, the number of sponsored spouses,
partners, children, parents and grandparents will climb to 84,000 from 80,000.
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