Maple News reports that Canada continues to make strong progress toward fulfilling its ambitious immigration targets for 2021, landing 22,425 new permanent residents in March alone. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), over 70,000 newcomers arrived in the country during the first quarter of the year, marking a significant rebound after steep declines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This pace keeps Canada on track to meet its goal of admitting 401,000 new immigrants in 2021—a historic benchmark that matches the country’s all-time high set in 1913. The target is part of the 2021–2023 Immigration Levels Plan, introduced in October 2020 by Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino. The plan aims to offset the economic impacts of the pandemic and drive long-term growth by welcoming more newcomers across economic, family, and humanitarian immigration streams.
In 2020, Canada admitted only 184,000 immigrants due to global travel restrictions and processing slowdowns. That figure was well below the 341,000 newcomers recorded in 2019. The current recovery underscores IRCC’s determination to make up for last year’s dip and push forward with a bold, recovery-focused immigration strategy.
Given ongoing international travel restrictions, Canada has shifted its focus toward transitioning temporary residents already in the country to permanent resident status. One of the key tools in this strategy is the Express Entry system, which prioritizes candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)—both of which primarily involve individuals who are already working or studying in Canada.
The majority of successful Express Entry applicants in 2021 so far have been CEC candidates. This focus not only supports public health measures but also aligns with Canada’s economic priorities, as nearly 60% of all permanent residents admitted annually are part of the economic class.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, Canada has demonstrated adaptability and resilience, leveraging its immigration system to respond to both short-term recovery needs and long-term demographic challenges. The strong Q1 figures suggest that, barring major disruptions, IRCC is well-positioned to meet and potentially exceed its 2021 immigration goal.
This strategy highlights Canada’s commitment to using immigration as a cornerstone for economic growth and innovation in a post-pandemic world.