Immigration Ministers Hope Immigration Will Drive Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery
As Canada slowly begins to reopen and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s immigration ministers are looking towards the future in hopes of getting immigration back on track.
According to CIC News, Canada’s federal and provincial immigration ministers recently held a virtual meeting with the goal of discussing the impact the pandemic has had on immigration and how newcomers can help support Canada’s economic recovery.
By the end of the meeting, the ministers agreed to push forward with a “strong immigration system.”
The hope is that increased immigration post-pandemic will help fill labour shortages and aide in Canada’s economy bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Else Was Discussed
Besides discussing the coronavirus impact, the ministers also spoke about mapping out immigration levels and regional economic immigration.
Because, while the COVID-19 travel restrictions are currently blocking most immigration pathways, the ministers’ long-term goal is to increase levels once the border reopens.
This includes the possibility of approving the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Strategic Plan for Immigration 2020-2023. If approved, this plan would allow the ministers to formally outline their immigration priorities for the next three years.
The ministers also agreed to work together on developing a new Municipal Nominee Program that would help attract foreign workers to smaller towns and cities.
International students were also named as a crucial component of driving long-term economic and demographic growth and recovery through immigration.
Even while the travel restrictions have been in place over the past 4 months, Canada has remained committed to maintaining some level of immigration during the pandemic by allowing exemptions to the travel restrictions for:
- Temporary foreign workers
- Family members of permanent residents and citizens
- IEC Visa holders
- Certain refugees
The only condition is that those travelling to Canada must not show symptoms of COVID-19, and must also present a credible quarantine plan and self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival.
Express Entry draws are also continuing to take place, and 29,900 work permits were issued during the month of April alone. This includes new work permits issued to those who are eligible to work in Canada through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) or the International Mobility Program (IMP).
The next ministers’ meeting is expected to take place this fall before Canada’s new immigration targets are announced for 2021 to 2023.
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Arghavan Gerami
Arghavan Gerami is the Founder and Senior Counsel at Gerami Law Professional Corporation ('PC'), a full-service immigration law firm in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 2011, Ms. Gerami has focused her practice on immigration and refugee litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Gerami worked at the Ministry of Attorney General and the Department of Justice and had the privilege of serving the Honourable Mr. Justice M. Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal on immigration and administrative law appeals. Ms. Gerami contributes to the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ms. Gerami has also published numerous journal articles and presented at various immigration and refugee law conferences and events across Canada.