300,000 Immigrants to enter Canada in 2017

Canada to let 300,000 Immigrants enter country in 2017

The Guardian
Monday 31st October 2016

• On Monday, a decision was made by Canada that they would let 300,000 immigrants into their country in 2017.
• This plan was created with hope that the increase of their population would boost their economic growth.
• Canada has a population of 35 million people.

Canadian Immigration Minister, John McCallum

The government said they are establishing 300,000 as a new baseline for the admission of permanent residents. Whilst a majority of individuals who are allowed into the country will be selected as economic immigrants.

The target (which was previously introduced in 2016) hasn't changed. However, in comparison to previous years, from 2011 to 2015, 259,542 immigrants were admitted into the country. This is above average.

John McCallum told reporters: 

"I do believe it is true that more immigrants for Canada would be a good policy for demographic reasons." 

Similar to many developed countries, Canada has an ageing population. This creates a challenge over time for economic growth.

The Canadian Government have said:

• The amount of immigrants admitted under the economic category will increase to 172,500 from 160,000.
• The amount of refugees will decrease from 40,000 to 55,800.

What Do I Think About This Article?

In my opinion, this is a good approach that Canada has taken to help boost their economic growth. Not only would it be beneficial for the government but also for the immigrants as they are given a opportunity in a developed country where they can pursue their careers and dreams. However, in heavy populated cities such as Toronto, it may be hard to accommodate them as it would require building more homes, supply more necessities such as toiletries and food into Supermarkets and creating more jobs for them so that they can have an income and earn a living for themselves.

Additionally, welcoming a large amount of immigrants into Canada would expand diversity and culture, which enables all citizens to learn about different cultures through food and clothing.