Maple News reports that the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically disrupted Canada’s immigration system in 2020, causing admissions to stall and prompting a shift in policy priorities. According to a newly released study by the Conference Board of Canada, the country saw a 56% drop in permanent resident admissions between March and December 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. This decline was most pronounced in the Refugee and Family Class categories, with decreases of 72% and 63% respectively—particularly severe during the early months of the health crisis.
As the pandemic progressed, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) pivoted strategies to adapt to the evolving global landscape. Canada initially limited its Express Entry invitations to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates—those already living and working in the country. These applicants were seen as less impacted by border closures and travel restrictions. By late 2020, the scope of invitations expanded to include candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, signaling an effort to restore broader program balances.
One key trend identified in the report is the increasing portion of newcomers with prior Canadian experience. In 2020, 10% more newly approved permanent residents had temporary work or study experience in Canada than in 2019. This suggests a growing emphasis on domestic talent pipelines to support immigration goals amid global uncertainty.
The report also highlights an uneven geographic impact of pandemic-era immigration policies. Most newcomers admitted under the CEC and PNP programs resided in Ontario and British Columbia, marginalizing provinces outside the larger immigration hubs. This contributed to a disproportional decline in immigration across the rest of the country.
Temporary foreign worker admissions also declined by 33% in 2020, but the agriculture sector benefited from swift federal interventions. Measures to streamline entry processes for essential farmworkers minimized disruptions, resulting in a relatively modest 8% decline in agricultural worker arrivals. This highlights the strategic importance of maintaining labor supply chains critical to Canada’s food security.
Looking ahead, the Conference Board of Canada sees immigration as key to the country’s economic recovery and long-term demographic stability. Their projections suggest that increasing immigration levels over the next four years could boost Canada’s GDP growth by 44%, add $50 billion in public revenue, and significantly shore up the ratio of working-age individuals to retirees—a pressing concern given Canada’s aging population.
The report also lays out four strategic recommendations to build resilience within the immigration system. These include increasing flexibility in selection programs, investing in digital processing infrastructure, enhancing support for regional immigration, and ensuring that immigration targets align with labor market demands and long-term growth objectives.
As global mobility ramps up in the post-pandemic world, Canada appears poised to reassert itself as a top destination for immigrants—provided it adapts thoughtfully and inclusively to the lessons of 2020.