IRCC Minister Transition Binder 2023: 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan

Issue

• The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), section 94, requires that the Minister of Immigration table the Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, including the Immigration Levels Plan (Levels Plan) for the following year, by November 1, or within 30 sitting days if a House of Parliament is not sitting on November 1.
• The Levels Plan is a rolling three-year plan that sets firm permanent resident targets and ranges (upper and lower limits) for the first year and notional for the outer two years, as well as the number for each immigration category.

State of Play

• [Redacted]. While the current 2023-2025 Levels Plan was approved in 2022, [Redacted]
• In accordance with the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI), IRCC is currently undertaking multilateral and bilateral consultations with provinces and territories (PTs) on levels projections and to discuss various permanent resident programs implicated in the Levels Plan.
• As per the Canada-Québec Accord (the Accord), Quebec is responsible for establishing economic immigration programs, as well as for the selection of immigrants under its programs and of resettled refugees. In addition, Quebec is currently holding public consultations on their proposed multi-year immigration plan for 2024-2027. [REDACTION]. Quebec will table its annual 2024 immigration plan to the National Assembly, by November 1.
• Each year IRCC conducts an online survey on immigration levels across the country. The survey is already underway and will close August 4, 2023. Organizations surveyed include NGOs, settlement/resettlement organizations, educational institutions, economic development organizations, industry/sector councils, regional or municipal government, academia and Indigenous organizations.
• [Redacted]. This year, IRCC is further expanding its engagement within the federal government to better align mandates to mutually support priorities and initiatives across government. This work is expected to continue in future years.
• In order to maintain public support for Canada’s immigration policy, IRCC is working to better understand the intersection between immigration and critical domestic systems – from housing to healthcare and education – to support development of and communications surrounding the Levels Plan. In recent months, there has been increased media attention on growing immigration levels and its impact on healthcare shortages, housing accessibility and affordability as well as settlement capacity for newcomers. This concern was further reinforced by the Bank of Canada, in its latest rate hike, noting the strong population growth’s effect on housing prices as one of the factors feeding into inflation.
• [Redacted]

Key Messages

• Immigration is fundamental to the development of Canada’s economy, society and culture. To create a stronger nation benefiting both newcomers and Canadians, Canada is one of the few countries with a managed immigration program directed toward newcomers ultimately becoming full citizens.
• Increasing immigration will help bolster Canada’s place among the world’s top destinations for talent, while reuniting family members with their loved ones and fulfilling Canada’s humanitarian commitments.
• The Levels Plan sets out a path for responsible increases to immigration targets to support economic growth and address labour market shortages. Over half of all planned permanent resident admissions are dedicated to the economic class.

Next Steps

• You will be briefed on the 2024-2026 Levels Plan to seek your direction on key priorities, and present options and considerations for the next Levels Plan.
• [Redacted]

Background

• Canada is experiencing historic levels of immigration driven population growth. In 2022, Canada saw its population grow by over 1 million people, for the first time in history with permanent and temporary migration responsible for 95% of the increase.
• In 2022, Canada welcomed more than 437,00 new permanent residents and achieved a historical milestone by reaching a 4.4% target in Francophone immigration to communities outside Quebec.
• Under its current 2023-2025 Levels Plan, Canada is looking to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.
• The Levels Plan is a statement of public policy and is a key tool to communicate the Government’s immigration priorities to partners (including PTs), stakeholders, and the public.
• Through the annual Levels Plan, the Government of Canada determines funding for IRCC and its partners – for application processing and security screening, while supplementing funding for settlement programming – and allows IRCC’s partners to plan for demand from newcomers.
• Delivering the 2024-2026 Levels Plan is a part of the December 2021 mandate letter commitment to “continue to bring newcomers to Canada to drive economic growth and recovery”.
• Levels planning is informed by a significant engagement with PTs, broad consultations with diverse stakeholders, including settlement service providers, employers and employer associations, as well as collaborative planning with other governmental departments and agencies, such as Public Safety Canada, Canada Boarder Services Agency, Global Affairs Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
• Levels planning is also informed by operational realities (e.g., processing, inventory, financial and human resources) and by system capacity, research and evidence.