ANALYSIS: Here is a glimpse of what we can expect from Canada’s immigration system after a tumultuous year.
The year 2020 was the year of the coronavirus pandemic, which continues to have a huge effect on the immigration system in Canada.
After accepting 341,000 new immigrants in 2019, Canada continued to welcome elevated levels of new immigrants at the start of last year, but when COVID-19 erupted as a global issue in March 2020, the immigration system was fully revamped.
Since March 18th, Canada’s COVID-19 travel restrictions have been in place, restricting the number of foreign nationals who are currently eligible to access the country. The Express Entry scheme, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) and other modes of processing of immigration, however, continue to operate.
The fluid nature of the coronavirus epidemic means that much of what we can expect from the immigration system in Canada in 2021 remains unclear. But, there are certainties in place that, in 2021 and beyond, would help both Canada and future newcomers.
Until the pandemic is over, Canada’s immigration system will not return to normal. Fortunately, thanks to the emergence and acceptance of many vaccines, the end of the pandemic is in reach. In December, Canada started the largest vaccination program in its history and intends to vaccinate all those who want to be inoculated with COVID-19 by September 2021. One part of restoring the country and its immigration system to normal would be to vaccinate Canada’s citizens. The other aspect is to ensure the freedom of the virus for the global population and foreign nationals traveling to Canada.
Canada’s travel restrictions during 2020 offer an indication of what COVID-19 policies it will continue to enforce even as the coronavirus outbreak continues to subside. For instance, to help restrict the spread of the virus, Canada may continue to enforce its 14-day quarantine law as well as the requirement to obtain a negative COVID-19 test before traveling to Canada.
It is necessary to stress that Canada’s resounding dedication to accepting refugees, temporary foreign employees, and international students has not been compromised by the crisis. In fact, due to the crisis, Canada has doubled this pledge. Canada plans to accept over 400,000 new immigrants each year, which is the highest amount in its history, under its new 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Programme.
Although it is hard to believe that Canada will be able to achieve this aim in 2021 as the pandemic continues, the higher goals enable the federal and provincial governments of Canada to continue to keep immigration drawings and process applications. Even if Canada is unable to physically accept as many new immigrants as it wants in 2021, the reason for this is that it can provide them with the necessary.
Any time in January, we could get a better picture of the course of Canada’s immigration system. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada is set to provide new mandate letters to his cabinet members. The pandemic has postponed this, but it is likely that the letters will eventually be unveiled this month.
The IRCC has confirmed that the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) lottery for the 2020 intake will take place in early 2021, most likely this month, another bit of assurance. In order to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada, up to 10,000 applicants will be invited to send sponsorship applications.
The IRCC will open the 2021 PGP intake window sometime later this year, and will hold another lottery to invite up to 30,000 applicants to sponsor their parents and grandparents.
It is realistic to conclude that in 2021, the IRCC and the provinces and territories of Canada will aim to normalize the immigration system to the best of their ability.
Tags : Canada Immigration, Immigration, PNP, PR Process