The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global migration patterns, generally, and on Canadian immigration laws specifically, can’t be overstated. Canada is a country whose population growth is dependent on immigration, and the plans announced in October 2020 by Canadian Minister of Immigration Marco Mendicino underscored the Liberal government’s commitment to immigration.

Mendicino announced that Canada aims to bring in more than 400,000 new permanent residents each year over 2021-2023: 401,000 in 2021; 411,000 in 2022; and, 421,000 in 2023. Most of these immigrants will be in the economic class. For 2021, the breakdown is as follows:

• 232,000 immigrants in the economic class

• 103,500 in the family class

• 59,500 refugees and protected persons

• 5,500 on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Since then, additional initiatives have been announced and we have seen a massive Express Entry draw allowing immigrants with a significantly lower CRS score to apply for permanent residence.

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