Canada has announced plans to accept more than 1.2 million new immigrants over the next three years.
Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino made the disclosure to journalists on Friday in Ottawa.
The government explained that Canada wants to fill gaps in its labour market and boost the economy.
The sectors were seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Canada will accept 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, 411,000 in 2022 and 421,000 in 2023.
Mendicino admitted that his country needs more workers, adding that, “immigration is the way to get there”.
“Before the pandemic, our government’s goal to drive the economy forward through immigration was ambitious. Now it’s simply vital,” he said.
Ottawa, the capital of Canada, has projected 232,500 newcomers from the economic class of immigrants in 2021.
The state will receive 103,500 family members of people already in Canada, 59,500 refugees and other protected persons.
At least, 5,500 people will be accepted on humanitarian grounds.
Robert Falconer, immigration and refugee policy researcher at the University of Calgary School of Public Policy, has reacted to the target.
“Canada announced new immigration targets today for 2021-2023. If they hit them, it will be the highest years on record since 1911”, he tweeted.
