Canada to Keep High Immigration Level for 2011

The Canadian government will keep its immigration intake at the current high level. And the government, once again, recognized that without immigration the labour force will shrink, and productivity might be at risk.

Canada’s Minister of Citizenship & Immigration Jason Kenney told the parliament that in 2011 the country will bring in between 240,000 and 265,000 new immigrants, most of whom will come through the various economic immigrant programs.

Kenney told parliament that with ageing population and low birth rate, “in the not too distant future Canada will not have enough people to keep” its work force growing. And within the next five years, he says, the entire labour force growth will come through immigration.

60% Through Economy Class

Of the quarter-million plus immigrants, between 150,000 and160,000 will come through the so-called economy class which includes all those applying under Skilled Immigrant, Business Class or the Canadian Experience Class. And they are roughly divided between the Federal and Provincial Intake systems.

The number includes the spouses and dependents of the applicants as well.

Between 60,000 and 65,000 people will come through the family class that includes spousal, children, parents and grand parents sponsorship, and the rest includes refugees.

Canada has one of the largest immigration programs in the world, and last year some government officials openly mused about cutting down on immigration levels as the unemployment rose because of recession.

The Canadian economy has since then seen somewhat a slow growth since then. Read the full article on the Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration on the Annual Immigration Report for 2011.

Related articles

• Canada holds immigration levels steady (theglobeandmail.com)
• Feds hold line on immigration for 2011 (canada.com)
• Canada to increase ‘intake of skilled immigrants’ (globalnation.inquirer.net)