As Canada continues to grow and expand its demographics, many questions remain about its current immigration policy. In this article, you will learn about some of the major aspects of this issue, including the Asylum program, provincial nominee programs, and the varying levels of immigration.Need help with your immigration case in Brampton? Contact our team of expert Immigration lawyer in Brampton today for a consultation.
Changing demographics
Canada is a net immigration country, meaning it accepts more immigrants per capita than other countries. It also places a premium on human capital. Immigrants are more likely to have university degrees than native-born Canadians. Consequently, Canadians have a more positive view of immigrants and are less inclined to view them as stealing jobs. However, patterns of social inclusion will remain a challenge for a diverse society.
For the past decade, immigration averaged 250,000 permanent residents a year. Although that number has increased, it is still below the levels seen during the early 20th century. There are still systemic barriers to labour market integration. Those obstacles include a high proportion of recent highly skilled newcomers who are unable to find employment commensurate with their education.
The recession hit manufacturing hard. Newcomers in particular were among the hardest hit. Nonetheless, Canada's economic performance in the past few years has improved. This has helped to increase the number of immigrants arriving in Canada.
Changing immigration levels
Canada's immigration levels are currently at a record high. More than 10 million people have immigrated to the country. They have added more than 3 million housing units, 6 million motor vehicles, and paved hundreds of thousands of hectares of Canada's best farmland. This has created a major impact on the environment.
The largest source of new immigrants in recent years is Asia. These people have accounted for 62.0% of all immigrants since 2016. Other top sources of immigrants are Europe and Africa.
Immigrants contribute to Canada's cultural and ethnic diversity. Immigration legislation in the 1960s laid the groundwork for multiculturalism. The government encourages immigrants to settle in areas with a cultural appeal. In fact, 9 out of 10 recent immigrants lived in 41 census metropolitan areas (CMAs) in Canada in 2021.
The Canadian public views immigration positively. A recent poll found that seventy-nine percent of respondents believe that immigration policy should be based on the needs of the country. However, challenges remain with skill utilization.
Provincial nominee program
The Provincial Nominee Program is one of the easiest ways to secure Canadian permanent residence. However, it is important to know the rules before you apply.
This is because eligibility criteria differ from province to province. While some PNPs prioritize candidates with specific skills, other programs require a certain level of connection with the province.
A provincial nominee program (PNP) is a set of immigration programs operated by individual Canadian provinces. These programs are designed to meet the needs of local economies and labor markets. They are a great alternative to the Canadian Federal Skilled Worker visa.
Each of these provinces has its own selection criteria, based on the economic and labour market conditions in their area. Some PNPs prioritize candidates with specific skills and experience. Others prefer applicants with family connections in the province.
Provincial nominee programs are organized in such a way that they attract workers with a high likelihood of staying in the province. In order to be considered, candidates must show they have the skills and ability to contribute to the economy of the province and their own community.
Asylum
Refugees and asylum are two aspects of immigration that have been important in Canada's history. The country has been involved in three major refugee movements in the 20th century.
Today, immigrants are selected to be resettled in Canada to meet the country's humanitarian and economic needs. In 2016, 218,430 new refugees were admitted to the country as permanent residents. These figures represent a record.
There are four main categories of permanent residency in Canada. These include economic, family reunification, humanitarian and refugee. Some of these categories may be temporary, such as work permits or study permits.
Economic immigrants are selected through the Provincial Nominee Program or the federal high-skilled worker programs. Over one-third of economic immigrants come through these channels.
The Canadian government emphasizes education and language skills in its selection process. Asian immigrants comprise a significant portion of recent immigration. This is largely due to the emphasis on skills and education.
Recent immigrants also have a high proportion of low-income, especially university-educated immigrants. Many of these people struggle to find employment that is commensurate with their education.