New study suggests at least 40 per cent increase in annual immigration intake by 2025

A new independent study urged Canadian government to boost its immigration levels at least forty per cent, or by 110,000 spots, annually over the next seventeen years to help Canadian economy grow at a steady rate.

The study "Renewing Immigration: Towards a Convergence and Consolidation of Canada's Immigration Policies and Systems" by Conference Board of Canada (CBC) says that Ottawa will have to increase its number of immigrants from the existing 250,000 to 360,000 annually by 2025 to meet long-term domestic labor market needs and to remain competitive in the global search for talent.

The study basically examines the convergence of Canada's "temporary" and "permanent" systems and outlines a number of measures that should be taken to ensure a healthy long-term domestic labor market.

Although, the study recognizes the convergence of Canada’s permanent and temporary immigration systems as positive steps but points out that rapid expansion in temporary foreign worker stream in recent years does not meet long-term objectives of Canadian economy. The study seems the growing shortage in the labor market will grow even more if dependent on foreign workers.

In 2006, for the first time, Canada's temporary foreign workers outnumbered the permanent residents admitted through the "skilled immigrant" and "economic" classifications. Last year, Canada admitted 475,965 migrants, but more than half of them were temporary workers and international students.

But CBC’s study found that the convergence of Canada’s permanent and temporary immigration systems is providing a more flexible and adaptive approach to immigration, which would better address the needs of business, provinces and migrants themselves. Major improvements to Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program, as well as the increasing use of mechanisms driven by employer-and regional-demand for skilled workers, particularly the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP); the newly created Canadian Experience Class; and improvements to the International Student Program, the Off-Campus Work Permit Program, and the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program demonstrate the convergence between the temporary and permanent systems.

The study also provides a number of recommendations that should be done to meet the country’s economic needs through immigration, including more options for temporary foreign workers to become permanent residents. It also suggests addressing the growing importance of skills-based migration to meet labor market needs and increasing refugee intakes to maintain a well-balanced immigration system. The study further emphasizes an increase in settlement and integration services, especially in urban areas, and linking immigration programs and practices to other major government policies and strategies.

In addition, the study says that Canada needs to address the issue of transparency in its immigration system in terms of selection criteria, wages, and the availability of social benefits and healthcare to immigrants.