<p><strong>Ottawa, March 2, 2012 </strong>— Canada continued to welcome a high number of immigrants in 2011, according to <a href="http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/facts2011-preliminary/index.asp">preliminary data</a> released by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (<abbr>CIC</abbr>) today.</p>
<p>Canada welcomed 248,660 permanent residents in 2011, well within the Government’s planning range of 240,000 to 265,000 new permanent residents for the year and consistent with the average of about a quarter of a million immigrants admitted to Canada annually since 2006 – the highest sustained level of immigration in Canadian history. </p>
<p>“Canada’s per-capita immigration rate remains one of the highest in the world,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “Immigration has always been a sustaining feature of Canada’s history and continues to play an important role in building our country.”</p>
<p>In 2011, Canada welcomed 156,077 economic immigrants and 56,419 family class immigrants.</p>
<p><strong>For further information (media only), please contact:</strong></p>
<p>Candice Malcolm<br />
Minister’s Office<br />
Citizenship and Immigration Canada<br>
613-954-1064 </p>
<p>Media Relations <br />
Communications Branch <br />
Citizenship and Immigration Canada<br />
613-952-1650<br />
<a href="mailto:CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca">CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca</a></p>
<p class="boilerplate">Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (<abbr>CIC</abbr>) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.</p>
