Canada recently reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Canadian health, employment, and economy amid the coronavirus pandemic. The plan, Supporting Canadians and Fighting Covid-19: Fall Economic Statement, 2020, was released on November 30, 2020. In the plan, the government appreciates immigrants’ role in enhancing and driving the Canadian economy and contributing to half of the average GDP growth from 2016 to 2019.
It is inarguable that immigration has been the backbone of population growth and labor force in Canada. However, only 143470 permanent residents made it to Canada during the first nine months of 2020. This was relatively low compared to the 375175 permanent residents who arrived in 2019. Besides, new temporary permits issued by August 2020 lower by 35 percent compared to those issued within the same period in 2019. The permits encompass student and work visas, which have helped Canada meet its labor demands, economic stability, and population growth.
Regardless of the pandemic crisis, Canada is dedicated to enhancing the number of temporary and permanent immigrants in 2020. The immigration department is still welcoming new arrivals, particularly those with valuable skills to enhance the Canadian economy. If the government does not channel enough efforts towards immigration, Canada’s population is bound to decline. In less than a year, the potential population growth rate will decline to about 1 percent annually.
So What Benefits Does Canada Realize By Welcoming More Immigrants Into The Country?
Population Growth
The number of women able and willing to have children is relatively low in Canada. As such, the Canadian government will increase and maintain its population by welcoming more newcomers into the country.
