Maple News reports that Sean Fraser, Canada’s new Minister of Immigration, is open to increasing immigration levels to address critical labour shortages and support economic recovery. In recent interviews marking his entry into the role, Fraser emphasized both the potential and the challenges the country’s immigration system faces in a post-pandemic environment.
Fraser told Bloomberg that while Canada is pursuing record-high immigration targets, he is prepared to raise those levels even further if the demand from businesses and communities continues. The country currently has ambitious immigration goals: welcoming 401,000 newcomers in 2021, followed by 411,000 in 2022 and 421,000 in 2023. These figures form the most aggressive Immigration Levels Plan in Canadian history.
“I’m very much open to higher levels,” said Fraser, noting that Canada’s chronic labour shortages—exacerbated by reduced inflows of immigrants during the pandemic—could necessitate even more newcomers to support various sectors.
The next formal Immigration Levels Plan covering 2022 to 2024 is expected to be announced by February 14, 2022. That update may include revised numbers, depending on economic indicators and stakeholder feedback.
Meanwhile, Canada is rapidly progressing toward its 2021 immigration goal. According to data obtained by Bloomberg from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), 46,315 new permanent residents landed in October alone—surpassing the previous month’s record of 45,000. These figures represent the highest monthly landing numbers since modern record-keeping began in 1980.
However, most of the recent landings have come from individuals already residing in Canada, such as international graduates and temporary workers transitioning to permanent residence. Overseas immigration remains below historic levels due to ongoing global travel disruptions and backlogs. This shift explains why Canada’s overall population growth has remained sluggish. Statistics Canada reported a population increase of just 0.5% last year—the slowest pace since World War I.
These developments come at a pivotal time as the federal government aims to revitalize the economy, strengthen the labour market, and address demographic imbalances. Minister Fraser’s openness to expanding immigration underscores the vital role newcomers play in sustaining Canada’s economic vitality.
Maple News will continue to follow updates as the federal immigration levels plan for 2022–2024 is finalized and other policy shifts unfold.