The Canadian government has been busy this year. In 2021, while they were reimposing lockdowns and introducing vaccine mandates, they simultaneously gave citizenship to over 401,000 immigrants.
“To support Canada’s post-pandemic recovery and chart a more prosperous future, the Government of Canada set a target of welcoming 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, as part of the 2021–2023 Immigration Levels Plan,” a new release from the Canadian government reads.
“The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced that Canada has reached its target and welcomed more than 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021. Surpassing the previous record from 1913, this is the most newcomers in a year in Canadian history.”
Today we hit a historic record as we surpassed our 2021 Levels Immigration Plan goal. We welcomed over 401,000 new permanent residents to Canada in 2021, the largest number in a single year in Canadian history.
Learn more: https://t.co/skUD564joF pic.twitter.com/Oe7AfshEVC
— IRCC (@CitImmCanada) December 23, 2021
You heard that right! While Canadians were distracted by the media and government’s campaign of fear and misinformation regarding the Delta and Omicron COVID variants, they were busy breaking records in the background.
The 401,000 figure the government selected is significant, as it is exactly 1,000 more than the previous record set in 1913 of 400,000. Put simply, their goal was not arbitrary. They wanted to break the record for all-time immigration to Canada, and they succeeded.
Moreover, this isn’t even the absolute limit for immigration that has been set. In late 2020, the government set new goals for the coming years, saying they hoped to receive an additional 411,000 immigrants in 2022 and 421,000 in 2023 — over 1.2 million over three years.
The key to both short-term economic recovery and long-term prosperity is immigration. And that’s exactly why Canada’s Immigration Plan, which we unveil today, lays out a bold vision to support 🇨🇦 success. https://t.co/bLqTZRlOnG
— Marco Mendicino (@marcomendicino) October 30, 2020
Again, this is despite the lockdowns, vaccine mandates, etc., which the government has imposed on its citizens.
Indeed, the virus is so dangerous that over a million new permanent residents can come into our country over a brief period.
The origin of the immigrants is significant, too. While in 1913, nearly every immigrant would have been of European descent, based on 2019 data, it can be assumed that the vast majority of new immigrants came from India, China, the Philippines, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
“Last year, we set an ambitious goal. Today, we achieved it,” bragged Sean Fraser, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship. “This is a historic moment for our country, as we welcome the highest number of newcomers in one year in our history.
Yesterday in Toronto, we welcomed a flight of 350 privately sponsored Afghan refugees to Canada. These refugees will travel to their new communities in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan, joining over 6,000 Afghans who have arrived in Canada so far.
— IRCC (@CitImmCanada) December 22, 2021
“… Canada is built on immigration, and we will continue to welcome the immigrants that Canada needs to succeed,” Fraser continues. “I can’t wait to see the incredible contributions that our 401,000 new neighbours make in communities across the country.”
