Maple News reports that Canada’s immigration numbers took a significant hit in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the country welcoming just over 184,000 permanent residents—well below its original target of 341,000. This marked the lowest immigration level since 1998, triggered by travel restrictions and border closures beginning in March 2020. Despite this national decline, the overall distribution of newcomers among provinces remained relatively consistent.
Ontario retained its lead as the top destination, welcoming approximately 83,000 immigrants—about 45% of the national total—mirroring its share from 2019. British Columbia held second place with nearly 30,000 newcomers, accounting for 15% of Canada’s intake. Quebec rose to third, surpassing Alberta, by welcoming over 25,000 immigrants, with its share increasing to 14%. The province’s higher intake under family and refugee classes helped temper declines seen in economic immigration categories.
Alberta saw its share fall modestly to 12.4%, while Manitoba and Saskatchewan experienced declines to 4.7% and 4% respectively. Atlantic Canada—comprising Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador—also saw a slight drop to 4.7% of national immigration.
Looking ahead to 2021, the federal government set an ambitious immigration target of 401,000 new permanent residents. In a strong signal toward achieving this goal, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a record-breaking Express Entry draw in February, inviting 27,332 candidates—all under the Canadian Experience Class. Approximately 90% of those invited were already living in Canada.
Government strategies are increasingly focused on transitioning temporary residents—such as international students, workers, and asylum seekers—to permanent residency during the pandemic. This internal shift can help offset short-term reductions in newcomers from abroad, especially as countries await the loosening of travel restrictions.
Ontario and British Columbia are expected to recover immigration levels quickly, supported by large temporary resident populations and robust Express Entry and provincial nominee programs. Alberta may see a moderate uptick despite scaling back its nominee program while it manages economic recovery.
Smaller provinces like Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and those in Atlantic Canada may also bounce back, albeit with more uncertainty. They rely more heavily on provincial nominee programs (PNPs), which have been disrupted by reduced overseas immigration. However, these provinces are well-positioned to benefit from IRCC’s focus on in-Canada transitions, particularly given their sizable populations of international students and temporary workers.
Quebec aims to meet its 2021 target of 44,500 newcomers by leveraging its strong family class numbers and programs like the Quebec Experience Program. Programs aiding frontline workers, such as the recently introduced “guardian angels” immigration pathway for asylum seekers in healthcare, are also expected to contribute.
IRCC has emphasized that current in-country immigration strategies are temporary adaptations. Officials remain committed to restoring international immigration once global conditions improve. For now, individuals outside Canada are encouraged to continue submitting applications and await the reopening of borders for future opportunities.