New program launches are under discussion of Canadian government for temporary residents

Chances of International students, foreign workers, and asylum seekers who are already in Canada have increased to get permanent residence application approval.

Canada has planned to offer more routes for permanent residence to abroad residents who are staying with a temporary resident visa.

With the announcement of 400,000 immigration application approvals in the coming three years, Immigration minister Mr. Marco Mendicino told Bloomberg. that the federal government will make an announcement on this soon.

Why such changes are needed?

Mr. Mendicino said “it is important for Canada to identify how it can accelerate pathways to permanent residence for international students, temporary foreign workers, and asylum seekers already in the country. This is necessary to alleviate the economic challenges Canada is currently facing in part due to lower immigration levels caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

During the lockdown and closure of the international border have affected the immigration streams of Canada and because of that Canada’s immigration levels have slowed population, labour force, and economic growth.

Applications of permanent and temporary residents both have dropped this year which is noticeable from the statistical report. The report shows that in 2019 more than 190,000 temporary residents entered the country yet the first half of 2020 has seen that number decrease to 18,221. Permanent resident numbers are down 60 per cent year-over-year according to government data from August.

The target of Canada to settle the fall short of 2020 immigration

From the pace of immigration application approvals, it is visible that 200,000 or so permanent residents will get approval this year but that is too less than the 341,000 it targeted prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Canada’s population is slower than other countries and such a pandemic negatively affected the growth. This year the population growth has been affected by 0.1% in the second quarter. Canada’s population usually grows by over one per cent per year.

The immigration minister told Bloomberg that, “Making temporary residents permanent will address Canada’s short-term needs to respond to coronavirus. It will help address Canada’s long-term demographic challenges, which include an aging population and low birth rate” He added.

Such statements declare that more gaps in the labour market will be created with the older population retirements. Because of the low birth rate, Canada will need the help of immigration streams to overcome the population growth issues and need to ensure that open positions in the labour force are filled.

“The government will look at the foreign talent that is already in Canada in order to find the asylum seekers, students, and workers who have the skills that align with essential services in the economy,” Mr. Mendicino told Bloomberg.

“Students from other countries are ‘particularly attractive’ as potential counter forces to the effects of an aging population. Because of this, the government is making it easier for them to work in Canada.” He added.

To justify the statement Mr. Mendicino explained with an example that,

“Canada is allowing online study at a Canadian designated learning institution between May 2020 and April 2021 to count towards future Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility. The PGWP is coveted among international students because it enables them to gain the Canadian work experience they often need to be eligible for a range of economic class immigration programs.”

These programs include Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and the Quebec Experience Program.

Canada has also recently opened up its borders to students who are enrolled in classes at post-secondary that have coronavirus readiness plans.