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

Visitors no longer allowed to apply for work permits from within Canada

As of August 28, temporary residents in Canada on a visitor visa are no longer permitted to apply for a job-supported work permit from within Canada.
The temporary policy allowing visitors to apply for these work permits was introduced in August 2020 to assist some visitors in Canada who were unable to return home because of border closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic—with the further aim of aiding employers to fill key labour gaps, by allowing some visitors who met certain conditions to apply for an job-supported work permit from inside Canada.

Is it worth applying for Express Entry after you turn 35?

Prospective Canadian immigrants are sometimes discouraged from applying for Express Entry after they turn 35 years of age.
This is largely due to points lost on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
The Express Entry application management system uses the CRS to rank and order eligible Express Entry candidates based on their human capital factors before they can receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The average cost of buying a home in Canada’s largest cities

Housing has become a key issue for Canadians in 2024, with much attention given to the impact that changing interest rates, population increases, natural emigration patterns, and other factors have had on housing costs.
After compiling a guide on rental costs across Canada in 2024, CIC News has prepared the following guide on the costs of buying a home in Canada, considering the largest cities and population centers in each of the country’s provinces.

Quebec announces suspension of LMIA processing for some low-wage temporary foreign workers

Starting September 3rd, the processing of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) to applicants in Montréal will be suspended for job offers with hourly wages below $27.47 CAD (the Quebec median hourly wage). This measure is expected to be in place for the next six months and has been approved by the federal government of Canada.

Canada implements policies to increase affordability of housing and groceries

A new Leger poll conducted for OMNI news, illustrated the effect of an increasing cost of living on newcomers in Canada. According to the study, 83% of the 1522 newcomers surveyed felt that affordability issues were making settling in Canada more difficult.

Simultaneously, a recent study by Statistics Canada found that more than a third of newcomers who recently arrived in the country were in renting situations where they needed to spend more than a third of their pre-tax income on rent.

On February 6th the federal government announced new policies to help increase affordability for Canadians, and those living in Canada. Similar affordability policies were instituted by the government last year.

5 challenges newcomers face in Canada and how to deal with them

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 aims to welcome over 460,000 new immigrants each year, which is the highest level in Canadian history.
Upon arrival, newcomers must settle into their new homes and may experience some challenges adjusting to Canada and their new lives in the country.