Blue Bird Blog

Today, June 20, is World Refugee Day. It is a day recognized around the globe that celebrates the success of refugees in their new lives.

More importantly, it also recognizes how much must be done to offer support and a high quality of life to people who have fled their homes, often in traumatic circumstances. World Refugee Day has a theme each year. The 2023 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says the theme is “Hope away from home.” This is meant to promote the inclusivity of refugees in their new countries.

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.

Thousands of newcomers move to Canada each year.
In 2022, the country welcomed 437,180 immigrants – and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expects to welcome up to 500,000 new permanent residents from around the world by 2025.
If you are considering moving to Canada, now is a good time to learn about the immigration process. Deciding to move to Canada may be exciting, but the move itself requires careful planning and preparation. To make your transition as smooth as possible, here are five tips on important steps to take before beginning the immigration process.

The Bank of Canada (BoC) has raised interest rates to their highest level since 2001.
The overnight lending rate is now 4.75%, which is 25 basis points higher than it was at the previous increase in January this year. The BoC started raising rates in July 2022 when it went from 1.5 % to 2.5%. This means that over one year, the rate has increased by 3.25 percentage points. The current rate hike comes as something of a surprise to many as BoC Governor Tiff Macklem had said previously that the BoC would try to avoid further increases.

June 15, 2023, Ottawa – Francophone immigration is at the heart of the Government of Canada's priorities. The country has always been a forerunner in its initiatives to welcome as many French-speaking nationals as possible, by implementing innovative initiatives to foster the contribution of newcomers to minority communities and thus maintain the social fabric of our country.