Canada Seeks to Admit 1 Million New Immigrants By 2021

Canada is seeking to give permanent residency to more than one million immigrants in the next three years, the country's Parliament has announced. 

This number represents about one percent of the country’s population. In 2017, Canada welcomed over 286,000 permanent residents and expects the number to hit 350,000 this year.

The country also plans to welcome at least 360,000 new immigrants in 2020 and a further 370,000 in 2021.

“Thanks in great part to the newcomers we have welcomed throughout our history, Canada has developed into the strong and vibrant country we all enjoy,” Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) Ahmed Hussen tells CNN.

Hussen, who is an immigrant from Somalia, says the recruitment of immigrants will help compensate the country's aging population and dwindling birth rate while increasing its labor force.

While other Western nations such as the United States are adopting more restrictive immigration policies, Canada appears to take a friendly stance towards new residents.

In November, Hussen said a majority of the new immigrants would be accepted under economic programs which aim at addressing skills shortages and gaps in the labor market. The Minister said several regions across Canada are experiencing a shortage of workers.

“In certain regions the hunger for workers is huge,” Hussen says.

“This plan is making us very competitive in the global market. It enables us to continue to be competitive, it enables us to continue to present Canada as a welcoming country and to position us to continue to be (a leader) in skills attraction.”