In a recent announcement, Canada has outlined its Immigration Levels Plan for the years 2024 to 2026, maintaining its current immigration targets. While the numbers remain consistent with previous years, the plan introduces some notable updates that shape the future of Canadian immigration. Let’s delve into the details of this plan, its breakdown by class, and the government’s rationale for keeping the targets unchanged.

Steady Immigration Targets

Canada’s immigration plan is consistent. In 2024, they’ll welcome 485,000 new immigrants, the same as the previous year. The exciting part is in 2025 and 2026 when they plan to welcome 500,000 immigrants each year, showing their dedication to being diverse and inclusive. It’s an open invitation to join Canada’s vibrant future.

Breakdown by Immigration Class

The Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026 provides a breakdown of immigration targets by class, which plays a crucial role in shaping the nation’s demographic landscape.

Economic Class: In 2024, approximately 281,135 immigrants (58% of the annual target) will be admitted under this category. By 2026, this number is expected to rise to 301,250 immigrants, constituting 60% of the annual target. This class is vital for Canada’s economic growth and workforce development.
Family Class: The family class targets 114,000 immigrants in 2024, representing 24% of all admissions. This number will increase slightly to 118,000 immigrants by 2026, maintaining its 24% share. Family reunification remains an essential aspect of Canada’s immigration policy.
Humanitarian Class: In 2024, the target for humanitarian admissions will be 89,865 immigrants, making up about 19% of all admissions. This includes refugees, protected persons, and individuals admitted for humanitarian or compassionate reasons. By 2026, the target will decrease to 80,832 immigrants, constituting 16% of all admissions.

Express Entry & Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Targets

Express Entry, the streamlined immigration system for skilled workers, is set to admit 110,700 permanent residents in 2024, increasing to 117,500 immigrants in each of 2025 and 2026. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) will also see growth, with targets of 110,000 immigrants in 2024, rising to 120,000 in 2025 and remaining steady in 2026. These programs are instrumental in attracting skilled individuals to Canada.

The Spousal, Partner, and Children sponsorship class is projected to admit 82,000 immigrants in 2024, increasing slightly to 84,000 in 2025 and 2026. The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) will target 32,000 immigrants in 2024, followed by 34,000 immigrants in each of 2025 and 2026, reflecting Canada’s commitment to family reunification.

Reasons for Unchanged Targets

The Canadian government has chosen to maintain these immigration targets in order to strike a balance between supporting economic growth and addressing the challenges in areas like housing, healthcare, and infrastructure. This approach is designed to ensure responsible, sustainable, and stable population growth.

Starting in 2026, the government intends to stabilize permanent resident levels at 500,000, allowing time for successful integration while continuing to bolster Canada’s labor market. The government also plans to recalibrate the number of temporary resident admissions to ensure the sustainability of the immigration system as a whole.

A New Immigration Strategy

This comes after Canada introduced a new plan called “An Immigration System for Canada’s Future” to update its immigration system. The plan has three main goals: making newcomers feel more welcome, matching immigration with job needs, and creating a well-organized growth plan.

The immigration strategy of Canada began to shift toward its current form in the late 1980s. Prior to this, the government rarely planned for future immigration and generally set immigration targets based on the economy of the day.

Despite challenges related to affordability and housing, high immigration levels remain crucial due to the shortage of skilled labor and the aging workforce. Newcomers play a significant role in Canada’s population growth and fill critical job vacancies.