In recent years, the Canadian government has welcomed many immigrants into the country. However, COVID-19 has slowed the flow of new arrivals because of travel restrictions and border closures.
The initial plan was for Canada to welcome 341,000 new permanent residents in 2020, 351,000 in 2021, and 361,000 in 2022. However, the targets have been amended. On October 30, 2020, the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan was announced and the Government aims to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023.
The upcoming presidential election in the United States could be another factor that will influence immigration in Canada.
After Donald Trump became president in 2017, he imposed immigration restrictions. Meanwhile Canada eased restrictions to make it easier for people to immigrate. In a similar vein, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, has been more welcoming of refugees than the United States.
Trump has made it tough for people to arrive in America by implementing travel bans on certain countries. The USA also started to crack down on temporary visas. Without a visa, students and skilled workers from other countries are unable to migrate or stay in America.
On the other hand, the Canadian government has not issued travel bans or restrictions on visas. As a consequence, more people are coming into Canada because it is easier to do so.
With more individuals entering Canada, some industries have seen more growth than other cities in America. For instance, the tech sector has benefited by the influx of skilled workers arriving in Toronto.
If Joe Biden were to win the election, it is likely he might change certain aspects related to immigration. Trump has created many changes, so reversing the current policies in place will take a lot of time and effort.
Approximately 60,000 individuals have sought asylum in Canada from America since Trump became president in 2017. In fact, many have crossed at unofficial border points. This is because the American government is cracking down on temporary visas and making it tougher for individuals to remain in the country.
Canada wants to renegotiate the Safe Third Country Agreement, which requires claimants to request refugee protection in the first safe country they arrive in with some exceptions. Depending on the election results, the number of people wanting to cross the border into Canada from the U.S. might decrease drastically.