Canada has a rich history of welcoming immigrants. As it is with history, the nature of immigration has changed over the decades, and now most of the immigrants come not from western Europe, but from Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Central and South America.
In 2009, between 240,000 to 265,000 new immigrants would be welcomed in Canada, even though the federal immigration minister, Jason Kenney has indicated the numbers might go down depending on the severity of the current recession.
About 60 percent of this year’s immigrants would come under the economic category (skilled) while the rest would be allowed under family and humanitarian categories.
