Blue Bird Blog

Canada’s population reaches 40 million people thanks to immigration

Canada’s population has surpassed 40 million people.
Statistics Canada has a “population clock”, which estimates Canada’s population in real time based on a number of factors like recent trends for births, deaths, and migration data. The clock hit 40 million today just before 3 pm on Friday June 16.

“This is an exciting milestone for Canada. It is a strong signal that Canada remains a dynamic and welcoming country, full of potential” said chief statistician Anil Arora in a media statement.

Canada’s population growth rate currently stands at 2.7 per cent, which is the highest annual growth rate since 1957, when Canada was experiencing its post-war baby boom.

Canada’s population reached 30 million in 1997 and could reach 50 million as early as 2043 if the current trends continue, according to Statistics Canada.

Last year, Canada’s population increased by a record of 1.05 million people. Statistics Canada reported that 96 per cent of that increase was due to international (permanent and temporary) migration.

In 2022, Canada welcomed 437,180 immigrants into the country, reflecting Canada’s high immigration targets.

Immigration Levels Plan

Immigration is one of the main way the country deals with its demographic challenges. Canada has an aging population, and the natural birth rate is not high enough to grow the population itself. As a result, Canada needs immigrants to help maintain and grow the country’s workforce.

Immigration accounts for almost 100% of Canada’s labor force growth. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, by 2023, immigrants are projected to be about 30% of Canada’s population.

Under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan, Canada plans to welcome over 460,000 new immigrants each year. Canada’s immigration goals are to strengthen the economy, reunite families and help refugees.

In 2023, Canada’s newcomer target is 465,000 new permanent residents. This goal will increase to 485,000 in 2024 and 500,000 in 2024.

Economic immigration is the biggest category under this plan, followed by family class immigration, demonstrating Canada’s commitment to reuniting families. The final category is the humanitarian and refugee category, which is to remain above 70,000 annually over the next three years.

Source: cicnews.com

Canada

February 2025: State of the Express Entry pool

After a January that saw Express Entry draws return to some semblance of normalcy, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has already held two draws in the month of February.
January saw the issuance of 5,821 Invitations to Apply (ITAs): candidates includes those in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and those in enhanced Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Last month was also the first month since June of 2024 that the immigration department did not hold an Express Entry draw for candidates with French-language proficiency.

A ten-year review: How Express Entry shaped immigration in Canada

Jan 31, 2025 marks the ten-year anniversary of Canada’s first Express Entry draw.

Since then, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued over 800,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residency (PR) through the Express Entry system.

Canada launches new immigration pathway for French speakers

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has launched the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) immigration pathway.
This new immigration pathway was first announced in March of 2024, with further details revealed in December of last year.
Under this program, newcomers with an intermediate level of French ability—and who have an offer of employment in priority occupations sought by a community outside of Quebec—can be nominated and receive Canadian permanent residence (PR).

New Brunswick begins reopening immigration programs

New Brunswick will finally begin opening its immigration streams, after a period of adjustment following notice from the federal government that the province would only be given 2,750 immigrant nomination spaces this year.
The 2,750 spaces will be split up between the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program NBPNP (1,500) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) (1,250).
In a press release on February 5, Jean-Claude D’Amours, acting Minister of Post-Secondary Education for the province, stated that the significant reduction in allocations for 2025 has forced the province “to make difficult decisions."

How can my foreign employees legally work in Canada?

To avoid running afoul of Canadian authorities, you should ensure that any foreign employees you require to work in Canada are legally authorized to do so.

You have three main options:

- Work permit exemptions;

- The International Mobility Program (IMP); and

- The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

These industries have the highest retention rates for work permit holders who become permanent residents

The healthcare and social assistance sectors had the highest retention rates of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) who become permanent residents, according to a new report by Statistics Canada.

The study by Stats Can found that the retention rate—the percentage of TFWs who remained working in the same sector after having received permanent residency (PR)—varied dramatically across sectors.