Budget 2023 outlines priorities for citizenship applicants, visitors, Francophones and asylum seekers

In anticipation of welcoming 500,000 new permanent residents by the year 2025, Canada is budgeting $1.6 billion over six years and $315 million ongoing.

In addition, Budget 2023 includes an extra $50 million for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to address immigration backlogs.

In a bid to build a “stronger immigration system” Canada has outlined four priorities, namely: Francophone immigration, citizenship applications, visitors, and asylum seekers.

Read more: How to Immigrate to Canada as a Refugee or Asylum Seeker

French immigration

As part of Canada’s plan to support the French language, $123.2 million has been allocated to support Francophone immigration.

The funds are partially allocated for Canadian employers to recruit French-speaking foreign workers, as well as increased settlement support for these newcomers once they arrive in Canada.

Improving citizenship applications

With the doors open to 1.4 million immigrants over the next three years comes the need for what the government is calling a “safe and efficient” immigration system.

Currently, Canada uses name-based searches for screening citizenship applicants, rather than biometric tools.

Watch the tabling of Canada’s Budget 2023.

A number of groups called on Canada to support workers in the budget

Leading up to the announcement, key Canadian industry players called on the government to address labour shortages by supporting skilled worker immigration.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, for example, asked for the government to help businesses “deal with the shortage of labour by simplifying immigration processes, incentivizing investment in automation and introducing fiscal measures to bring more seniors in the workforce.”

The Canadian Manufacturing Coalition also spoke up, calling for Canada to support the industry by attracting the workers it needs through increased and targeted immigration, and enhancing training supports.

Canadian Chartered Professional accountants said Canada should: “Improve service delivery within Canada’s immigration system to help address labour market needs by speeding up the application process, cutting backlogs and doing more to ensure the success of newcomers after arrival.”

Canada is expecting to welcome record-breaking numbers of immigrants each year for the next three years. The country’s labour shortage is a key driver in promoting high levels of immigration.

Of the 1.4 million new permanent residents expected over the next three years, the majority are slated to come through economic streams such as Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).