Canada to maintain immigration target in 2009

Despite global economic slowdown, Canadian Immigration department has not lowered the numbers of Immigrant flow as was anticipated. Having met with his provincial and territorial counterparts to study the demand for immigration in regional labour markets, Hon’ble Canadian Immigration Minister Kenney has announced that the need for immigration remains strong in Canada. Immigration levels for 2009 will therefore not be reduced. Canada would be maintaining a target of approximately 250,000 new Permanent Residents in 2009.
Lt. Col. Sandhu (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director, WWICS Group opined that Labour market need is the determining factor because of which the Canadian government had not reduced the immigration levels despite the recession that has hit almost every country. Col. Sandhu said that although Canada was also facing problem of unemployment due to economic stringency, still the Canadian government had decided not to reduce the migration numbers during the year 2009 and would fill up vacancies of 250,000 new permanent residents. This he said has been endorsed by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Col Sandhu disclosed that the Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney had recently announced no reduction in the immigration numbers in 2009 and the country would continue to offer the jobs to the people it needs the most.
It is worth mentioning that Kenney had stated “Canada is facing a long-term labour shortage so the government is not going to turn off the immigration tap only to have to turn it back on later.” He had disclosed that Canada’s two states British Columbia and Alberlta alone need an additional 600,000 foreign workers over the next five years. The minister said that Canadian population and labor force growth rely heavily on migration. Thus there is urgent need of 1100,000 foreign workers in that country. The Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper had under recession period, expressed his views, “We have no plans in Canada, nor are we under any pressure to reduce immigration in any way during the recession.”
In view of the increasing shortage of work force, the WWICS Group chairman pointed out that “There continues to be acute labour market shortage in certain business, industries and certain regions and this could be met with labour force through migration. The unemployed could be absorbed in as many as 38 qualifying occupations under the Federal Skilled Worker category of immigration. Potential applicants who are qualified for either of these programs under current work experience requirements are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible to avoid being subject to new government requirements.