BY: Michelle Liew
Canada set a record when it granted nearly 400,000 individuals’ permanent resident status in the country in 2021. This is the second time Canada has reached that number since its inception in 1897.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed the matter in a press release.
“To support Canada’s post-pandemic recovery and chart a more prosperous future, the Canadian government has set a target to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents by 2021, as part of the Immigration Level Plan 2021–2023.
“The Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser today (yesterday) announced that Canada has achieved its target and welcomes more than 401,000 new permanent residents by 2021 thus surpassing previous records since 1913.”
The goal was set by the authorities before the pandemic began.
The original goal was to welcome nearly 341,000 new residents by 2020, yet Canada was only able to reach 184,000 new residents following border closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Authorities however redoubled efforts to reach the target and helped people to come to Canada and brought in a new target figure of 401,000 new immigrants.
“This historic achievement is very important in facing various pandemic challenges. Starting from border closures and delayed global migration due to Covid-19.
“However, IRCC staff will process half a million applications in 2021 to achieve that goal,” the statement added.
