According to Maple News, Canada’s ambitious goal of welcoming 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021—its highest annual immigration target ever—is not only realistic but well within reach, thanks to adaptive strategies focused on domestic candidates and expedited immigration processes.
A pivotal moment came on February 13, when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a record-breaking 27,332 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence in a single Express Entry draw. This unprecedented move, six times larger than previous highs, sent a clear signal: Canada intends to meet, if not exceed, its 2021 intake target. Notably, the required Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was just 75—by far the lowest in Express Entry history—highlighting a strong pivot to candidates already living in Canada.
IRCC explained that approximately 90% of these invitees belonged to the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), meaning they were already in the country and less disrupted by pandemic-related travel restrictions. “These aspiring Canadians are already established here, possess valuable skills, and are giving back to their communities,” said Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino. Their faster integration into the workforce strengthens Canada’s post-pandemic recovery efforts.
To meet the 401,000 figure, IRCC plans to rely heavily on the economic class, which accounts for around 60% of the overall levels plan. Many of these candidates are already present in Canada under temporary status and can be transitioned more swiftly to permanent residence. Another key component includes the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP), and Quebec’s immigration targets. Provinces like Ontario and British Columbia have begun increasing their draw sizes to support the federal push.
In the first few months of 2021 alone, IRCC had issued close to 38,000 ITAs—already far ahead of the same time last year. If this momentum continues with bi-weekly draws issuing at least 5,000 invitations, the Express Entry target of admitting over 108,500 people this year is achievable.
Family class immigration, targeting around 103,500 new arrivals, remains equally vital. Immediate family members are largely exempt from travel restrictions, and IRCC has proven its ability to accelerate spousal application processing—demonstrated by a late-2020 surge of handling 6,000 applications a month. Meanwhile, refugee and humanitarian class targets, set at 66,000, pose a greater challenge due to overseas travel hurdles. However, the government might reallocate this shortfall towards other categories or create new pathways for in-Canada refugees, especially those on the frontlines during the pandemic.
Looking ahead, opportunities remain open for skilled workers abroad as well. Though the current emphasis is on domestic applicants, Maple News reports that IRCC continues to accept overseas applications and is likely to resume broader draws without notice. Candidates outside Canada are encouraged to apply promptly to avoid delays when invitations reopen.
Despite the obstacles posed by COVID-19, Canada’s track record of overcoming immigration challenges—like resettling 25,000 Syrian refugees in just 100 days—suggests that the 2021 target, while ambitious, is not unprecedented. With proactive policy shifts and continued collaboration between federal and provincial governments, Canada’s immigration goals are well within grasp.