May 16, 2014—Toronto, ON—Today, on behalf of Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, the Minister for Multiculturalism Jason Kenney and the Minister of Veterans Affairs Julian Fantino highlighted the high levels of immigration to Canada from Italy. The number of permanent residents and students welcomed to Canada from Italy in 2013 was more than twice the number admitted to Canada in 2005.
Last year, 823 individuals from Italy became Canadian permanent residents, an increase of nearly 140 percent from 2005. In addition, 421 foreign students from Italy entered Canada in 2013, a 90 percent increase from 2005.
Italian immigration to Canada is once again increasing following a significant period of decline between 1967 and 2005.
The high number of new permanent residents includes newcomers coming to Canada from Italy as economic immigrants, which has almost tripled over the past 10 years. Last year, Canada admitted 500 people from Italy in the economic class, an increase of nearly 200 percent since 2003.
Italian-Canadian immigration in the family class increased significantly as well with 294 new permanent residents in 2013—the highest number in almost 20 years.
Hundreds of Italians continue to make the journey to Canada every year to help us build our country and our economy and, in many cases, to settle permanently and become Canadians.
Alexis Pavlich
Minister's Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064
Alexandra Fortier
Minister's Office—Minister Kenney
819-994-2482
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) 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.