The number of immigrants admitted to Canada plummeted last year due to the impact of the Communist Chinese Virus Pneumonia (COVID-19) outbreak and border closures. To make up for last year’s decline in immigration and to speed up the achievement of this year’s immigration intake target, Ottawa has significantly relaxed the criteria for permanent residence status for in-country immigrants.
According to the Globe and Mail, last weekend, the Immigration Department invited 27,332 people to apply for permanent residence in the fast track, more than six times the number of people normally invited in previous years. In the past, the Immigration Bureau drew lots every few weeks, with only about 3,000 to 5,000 applicants each Time. After the invitees submitted their applications, they received their status within 6 months.
Some people were happy because of this. Many immigration lawyers are busy contacting clients all weekend. Some lawyers said that many people who are over 40 and have only a bachelor’s degree or even a lower level of Education have something to look forward to as a result. These people have been working and living in Canada for years paying taxes, have no problems with the language, are fully acclimated to Canadian Life, and are in fact fully eligible to apply.
Lowering the requirements to attract questions
In order to issue a large number of invitations, the Immigration Bureau last Saturday (February 13) in the lottery, the previous minimum requirement of 400 points was significantly reduced to only 75 points, which means that basically almost all candidates are eligible to apply. This operation of the Immigration Bureau stunned many people.
According to the Globe and Mail, Mikal Skuterud, a professor of economics at the University of Waterloo, believes that this is akin to a university dramatically lowering its entrance score requirements in order to expand its enrollment. The government is doing this to show that they just want to rush to meet this year’s immigration target.
Skuterud questioned, now the domestic economy and employment environment due to the impact of the Epidemic is very difficult, this situation so hastily absorb a large number of immigrants, the timing is somewhat wrong.
Data show that as of January this year, the country nearly 2 million people unemployed. Skudrud said, during the recession, immigrants looking for work, more difficult than the economy in normal times employment. With Ottawa lowering its standards so sharply, it will be even harder for immigrants to find employment.
There are also concerns about the future fast-track lottery, whether the standards will still be so low, or whether other immigration class goals will be added. Some immigration lawyers are concerned that the fast track immigration lane is fast becoming a lottery, and such a drastic reduction in standards makes it appear that this government is too eager to achieve its immigration goals.
Other attorneys say that the fast track domestic lottery pool will be depleted and the lottery will have to be geared toward overseas talent pools in the future. In addition, the provincial immigration nomination programs that share the domestic talent pool with the Fast Track will also be left with no one to nominate.
For example, the province of Asia is already planning to tighten the provincial nomination program, and intends to open it only to those who are already working in the province. This round of operations by Ottawa will empty their talent pool and will only be available for nominations from overseas.
Immigrant population dropped to a new low in 1998 last year due to the epidemic
Immigration revealed that 90% of the invitees are already living in Canada, a move that shows that Viking is giving priority to in-country resident immigrants. Last year, due to the epidemic and the border closure, the annual intake of immigrants was only 184,000, far short of the target of 341,000 immigrants, the lowest since 1998. This year, Ottawa’s immigrant intake target is 401,000. To make up for last year’s shortfall, Ottawa will significantly increase its immigrant intake target for the next three years.
The Fast Track is a Canadian experience-based immigration category that requires applicants to have at least one year of Canadian work experience, with an overall score based on a combination of English or French language proficiency, age, education and work experience requirements. A minimum score is set for each lottery, typically a minimum of 400, and invitees are usually young people under 30 years of age with a comparable level of language proficiency, education and Canadian work experience.
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