Canada to announce new immigration levels plan for 2024-2026

The immigration levels plan is the most important announcement of the year in Canadian immigration. It outlines Canada’s immigration priorities over the next three years.

Ahead of the immigration levels plan announcement, Canada’s immigration minister, Marc Miller, announced Canada’s plan for the immigration system on October 31 at 1:15 p.m. Eastern Time. The minister broadcasted the announcement live from the nation’s capital city, Ottawa.

Watch the live announcement here:

Key points from the Immigration Strategy

The Immigration System for Canada’s Future proposes a number of changes to Canada’s immigration system, including:

1. Adaptive Response to Global Crises: A system designed to swiftly and equitably address mounting global humanitarian crises.
2. Francophone Immigration Policy: Aimed at bolstering Francophone minority communities while amplifying the demographic weight of French linguistic minority communities in Canada.
3. Enhanced International Student Program: Collaboration with provinces and territories to establish a Recognized Institutions Framework for faster processing of study permits in high-standard post-secondary institutions.
4. Integrated Services: Incorporating housing, healthcare, and infrastructure planning into immigration level planning in partnership with provinces, territories, and municipalities.
5. Newcomer Advisory Body: Forming an advisory council of immigrants experienced in the immigration process to enhance policy improvements and service delivery.
6. Chief International Talent Officer: A position focused on aligning immigration programs with labour market needs and sector-specific strategies.
7. User-Friendly Website: Improving accessibility for applicants seeking information.

These changes aim to tailor the immigration system to the needs of Canada’s labour market and economy. Minister Miller stressed that these changes will be implemented through collaborative efforts across government departments while prioritizing the safety and integrity of the immigration system.

“Hearing from stakeholders and newcomers provided important insight into how we can develop a stronger and more integrated immigration system in Canada,” Miller said in the media release.

“With these measures, we aim to build a system that is easier to navigate, with an inclusive and coordinated plan that aligns our immigration programs and policies with the needs of the country. As we move forward, the people who come to Canada will continue to be at the heart of our work, whether they wish to work, study, or call this place their home.”

Will Canada change Express Entry points in 2024?

In response to whether Canada would change the immigration points system, referring to Express Entry. The immigration minister said that increasing the points is one option that Canada may explore among “6 or 7” other options.

This suggests that changing the points system again could be a possibility in the future. Canada has historically changed Express Entry points for a number of initiatives including promoting Francophone immigration. Now, Express Entry candidates with French ability can get even more points compared to those who only know English.

Improvements in digitization to improve immigrant experience

Canada is developing a new state-of-the-art operating platform, Digital Platform Modernization to maximize efficiency and allow Canada to better meet the demand across all lines of IRCC business.

These digitization efforts aim to:

• reduce wait times and improve processing standards
• remove barriers for refugees
• strengthen partnerships with employers and education institutions while addressing fraud
• improve communication and ensure a human-centric approach
• make applications more user-friendly
• advance reconciliation with Indigenous people with a new citizenship guide that will better reflect the history of systemic racism in Canada

In addition, Canada aims to align immigration better with labour market needs.

Will Canada reduce immigration in 2024?

In the previous levels plan, Canada set out to welcome 485,000 in 2024, increasing to 500,000 immigrants by 2025.

But, it seems due to affordability and housing concerns, public support for immigration has fallen over the past year, according to an Environics Institute survey published on Monday, October 30.

The survey of about 2,000 people said Canadians are significantly more likely than a year ago to say there is “too much immigration.” In a dramatic reversal of a decades-long trend, 44 percent either strongly or somewhat agreed to the statement, “There is too much immigration to Canada,” which is up from 27 percent observed last year. The share of people who disagreed with the statement fell to 51 percent from 69 percent.

However, despite Canadians’ concerns about raising immigration, there has been no corresponding change in how Canadians feel about immigrants themselves, the report says.

Canadians are much more likely to say that newcomers make their own communities a better place than a worse one. The research shows that although Canadians have concerns about the country’s ability to welcome large numbers of newcomers, researchers are not seeing a rise in xenophobia or hostility to immigrants themselves.

Lisa Lalande, CEO of Century Initiative,an organization that advocates for responsible population growth, says the data calls for proactive economic planning, astute integration policies, and investment in areas such as housing.

“Immigration makes us a more prosperous, diverse, resilient, and influential country – but only if we do the work to grow well,” Lalande said in a media release.

Following the release of the study, Minister Miller reiterated the sentiment in a tweet, saying that: “Canadians have open hearts but are asking us, all levels of government, to plan better.”

This is an important read. Canadians have open hearts but are asking us, all levels of government, to plan better. I believe we can get this right! #cdnpoli Canadians are questioning immigration targets, but that doesn’t mean they’re anti-immigrant | https://t.co/qFFO3iTixB

— Marc Miller ᐅᑭᒫᐃᐧᐅᓃᐸᐄᐧᐤᐃᔨᐣ (@MarcMillerVM) October 30, 2023

Although earlier this year, Minister Miller said he did not see immigration levels going down any time soon, the shift in public opinion could be putting pressure on either keeping targets the same or even lowering them.

Despite this, Miller maintains the importance of immigration for addressing Canada’s demographic challenges.

Immigrants contribute to Canada’s economy

Canada’s population growth is significantly propelled by immigration, with more than 8.3 million individuals—almost a quarter (23 percent) of the population—being landed immigrants or permanent residents in 2021, marking the highest proportion since Confederation. This figure stands as the most substantial among the G7 nations, showcasing Canada’s allure as a preferred destination for newcomers seeking to build their lives.

And despite some concerns within the public, immigration is still beneficial for Canada. The demographic makeup of Canada is rapidly changing, with the proportion of the population within the working age bracket diminishing. Five decades ago, there were about seven workers for each senior citizen. Today, the current ratio has declined to roughly three workers per senior, and projections suggest this ratio could decrease to a mere two workers for each senior in the near future. This aging workforce has widespread implications, notably contributing to chronic labour shortages across various sectors, impacting the nation’s economy.

Nearly two-thirds of recent immigrants fall within the core working age range, spanning from 25 to 54 years old. Their influx into the workforce has been instrumental in reinvigorating and sustaining Canada’s population growth.

These statistics highlight the pivotal role of immigration in Canada’s population growth, its influence on the nation’s demographic composition, and the evolving dynamics of its labour force. The data underscores the significance of immigration not just as a numerical contributor but as an economic catalyst shaping Canada’s future.

If you’re interested in moving to Canada but not sure which program you may be eligible for, check your eligibility for more than 20 Canadian immigration programs by taking Moving2Canada’s free Canada Immigration Quiz.