Canada is welcoming a record number of immigrants in 2023, making it the highest number of immigrants ever accepted in a year. With the new changes set for 2023, the Canadian immigration process is becoming easier and faster, bringing new opportunities for those who want to immigrate to Canada. The country’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister is aiming to bring in more newcomers in all parts of Canada, and the new immigration plan is part of the country’s strategy to fill the shortage of target immigrants and recover quickly from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, released Canada’s 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan, embracing immigration as a strategy to help businesses find workers and attract skills required in key sectors, including health care, skilled trades, manufacturing, and technology, to manage the social and economic challenges Canada will face in the decades ahead. The plan outlines ambitious targets, including 465,000 permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025.

The plan brings an increased focus on attracting newcomers to different regions of the country, including small towns and rural communities. With a long-term focus on economic growth, the plan aims to have just over 60% of admissions in the economic class by 2025. New features in the Express Entry system will welcome newcomers with the required skills and qualifications in sectors facing acute labour shortages, such as health care, manufacturing, building trades, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). There will be increases in regional programs to address targeted local labour market needs, through the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.

In addition, the plan focuses on reuniting more families faster, ensuring that at least 4.4% of new permanent residents outside Quebec are Francophone, and supporting global crises by providing a safe haven to those facing persecution, including by expanding the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot.

The plan helps cement Canada’s place among the world’s top destinations for talent, creating a strong foundation for continued economic growth while also reuniting family members with their loved ones and fulfilling Canada’s humanitarian commitments.

One of the significant changes for 2023 is the improvement of online processing and submission of requirements. Applicants will be allowed to submit some documents online using more immigration business lines, making the application process more efficient. Additionally, the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system will be known as TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) in 2023. It will focus more on the applicant’s training, formal education, work experience, and responsibilities associated.

Canada Immigration is also introducing two new online portals: one for temporary resident visa application and one for permanent residency applications. Plus, the country is identifying and implementing programs to regularize the status of undocumented workers in Canada. These changes will make the immigration process more accessible and faster for those who want to immigrate to Canada.

The Canadian economy has experienced one of the fastest recoveries from COVID-19 among advanced economies. However, the country is now facing critical labour market shortages, causing uncertainty for Canadian businesses and workers. Canada’s immigration system accounts for almost 100% of the country’s labour force growth, and by 2032, it’s projected to account for 100% of its population growth. Canada’s aging population means that the worker-to-retiree ratio is expected to shift from 7 to 1 fifty years ago to 2 to 1 by 2035.

Regional economic immigration programs, like the Provincial Nominee Program, are increasingly important to the sustainable growth of Canada. This year’s plan outlines year-over-year growth so that the country can continue to

Over the past year, Canada has made improvements to address key challenges faced by those using the immigration system. The country is continuing to streamline and digitalize its immigration system to further expedite processing and give users the experience they expect and deserve. This plan helps cement Canada’s place among the world’s top destinations for talent, creating a strong foundation for continued economic growth while also reuniting family members with their loved ones and fulfilling Canada’s humanitarian commitments. The Canada Building Trades Unions are pleased with the announcement to increase immigration levels in Canada. Historically, it has been through immigration that Canada has been able to grow its workforce, fill union halls and build the country’s infrastructure. Increased economic immigration is an important step to addressing labour availability across the country. Canada’s immigration system accounts for almost 100% of the country’s labour force growth, and by 2032, it’s projected to account for 100% of its population growth. Canada’s aging population means that the worker-to-retiree ratio is expected to shift from 7 to 1 fifty years ago to 2 to 1 by 2035. During the 2021 Census, nearly 1 in 4 people counted were or had been a landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada, the highest proportion since Confederation and the largest proportion among G7 countries. The levels plan takes into account extensive engagement with provincial and territorial representatives, as well as public opinion research and stakeholder consultations. The Action Plan for Official Languages – 2018-2023: Investing in Our Future provided nearly $500 million over five years in support of official languages, including $40.8 million for Francophone immigration initiatives.

Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024 aims to welcome almost 432,000 new immigrants this year, including 447,055 in 2023, and 451,000 in 2024. It’s an excellent opportunity for international students, temporary foreign workers, and anyone looking to start a new life in Canada.