Maple News reports that Canada is well on track to reach its 2021 immigration target, despite the ongoing global health crisis. According to Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, the country admitted 26,600 new permanent residents in January — a 10% increase over the same month in 2020, just before nationwide lockdowns began.
In comments made during a video interview, Mendicino stated that, with February admissions added, Canada was nearly 40% ahead of the pace required to meet its goal of welcoming 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021.
A major factor driving this progress was the historic Express Entry draw held on February 13, which invited 27,332 Canadian Experience Class candidates to apply for permanent residency. This draw, unprecedented in size, saw about five times the usual number of invitations issued and targeted individuals already living in Canada—approximately 90% of the invitees were residents at the time.
This strategy aligns with the federal government’s pivot toward prioritizing candidates who are already in the country, as border closures due to COVID-19 remain largely in effect for non-essential travel. The travel restrictions, imposed in March 2020, led to a dramatic decline in new permanent residents—just 184,370 were admitted in 2020, down from 341,175 the year prior.
The drop in immigration also brought Canada’s population growth to a virtual halt, highlighting the significant role newcomers play in the country’s demographic and economic vitality. On average, immigrants account for approximately 80% of Canada’s population growth.
To counteract the 2020 shortfall, the federal government raised its immigration goals for the next three years, starting with 401,000 in 2021 and aiming for 421,000 new permanent residents by 2023. Officials say they remain confident that these targets are within reach, largely due to the innovative focus on domestic applicants and the flexibility built into Canada’s immigration system.
As of now, the government has yet to provide a timeline for lifting travel restrictions. Entry continues to be limited to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, their immediate families, essential workers, and certain international students.
With an adaptive and ambitious approach, Canada is showing that even in the midst of a global pandemic, it remains committed to immigration as a key pillar of its growth strategy.