Maple News reports that Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino, has reaffirmed the federal government’s strong commitment to immigration despite the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a recent interview aired on the Canadian program The Agenda, Mendicino discussed how Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is adapting to ensure the immigration system remains operational and forward-looking during the pandemic. Key topics included the ambitious Immigration Levels Plan 2021–2023, digital citizenship services, and efforts to attract newcomers to smaller communities.
Mendicino emphasized that rather than scaling back, Canada is increasing its immigration targets to attract more than 400,000 newcomers each year through 2023—the most ambitious levels in Canadian history. He explained that immigration is not only vital for population growth but essential for filling critical labor shortages and driving post-pandemic economic recovery.
Despite international travel restrictions and operational hurdles caused by COVID-19, Mendicino expressed confidence in these targets. He pointed to IRCC’s innovation during the crisis, citing a focus on transitioning current temporary foreign workers and international students into permanent residents as a practical strategy to meet targets while minimizing reliance on overseas applicants.
On citizenship, Mendicino discussed Canada’s move toward a more digital, streamlined process. A new online portal for citizenship applications is already active, and virtual citizenship ceremonies are ongoing—a first globally, according to the minister. These changes are part of Mendicino’s broader vision to shift Canada’s immigration processes to be fully digital and contactless.
The minister also addressed the government’s 2019 promise to eliminate citizenship application fees. While delays have occurred—likely due to pandemic-related priorities—he reaffirmed his intention to reduce financial barriers for newcomers and indicated more updates are on the way.
Another key initiative highlighted was the forthcoming Municipal Nominee Program (MNP), aimed at helping smaller Canadian communities attract and retain immigrants. Mendicino referenced successful regional programs such as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot as blueprints. The government is currently consulting with provincial and local stakeholders to shape the new program.
Through these multifaceted efforts, Mendicino said Canada remains committed to leveraging immigration as a strategic tool for inclusive growth during and beyond the pandemic. Maple News will continue to track developments on these policies as they evolve.