Maple News reports that Canada is launching a new humanitarian permanent residence program aimed at welcoming up to 11,000 individuals from Colombia, Haiti, and Venezuela. The announcement was made on October 10 by Immigration Minister Marc Miller and is part of Canada’s broader commitment to support vulnerable populations in the Americas.
This new immigration pathway is set to begin in fall 2023 and will be open to eligible foreign nationals currently residing in Central America, South America, or the Caribbean. To qualify, applicants must have extended family connections in Canada, such as a child, grandchild, spouse, common-law partner, parent, grandparent, or sibling who is either a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), those granted permanent residency through this program will benefit from support services prior to their arrival. These services include employment skills assessments and connections to local settlement organizations, helping them transition more smoothly into Canadian society.
This initiative is a continuation of Canada’s earlier pledge to welcome 15,000 migrants from the Western Hemisphere through both humanitarian and economic immigration channels. It is designed as a stable and safe alternative to irregular migration, which has become a pressing issue in the region due to rising displacement and economic instability.
The program also complements Canada’s broader immigration efforts, including the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), which helps skilled refugees and displaced individuals immigrate through existing economic pathways. IRCC is actively working with non-governmental organizations to expand the reach and impact of this pilot.
In addition to the 11,000 permanent residence spaces, Canada is also welcoming 4,000 new temporary foreign workers from the Americas, many of whom have already arrived. These combined efforts reflect Canada’s deepening humanitarian role and its strategy to create inclusive migration policies that respond to global needs.
Maple News will continue to provide updates as IRCC releases more information about eligibility criteria and the application process ahead of the pathway’s official launch.