Canada is taking active precautionary measures to prevent the further spread of novel corona virus by closing its borders for foreign nationals and raising awareness on the virus. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also expressed his concerns over this pandemic, and has been in an isolation for quite a few days after his wife tested positive for Covid-19.

However, as the issues around corona virus seem to be escalating rapidly, Canada also announced its 2020-2022 immigration level plan to welcome up to 390,000 immigrants. This means that Canada is all set to welcome more than one million newcomers in the upcoming years. In 2018, 320,000 migrants moved to Canada, whereas in 2019, the number got increased to 3,41,000. Now, again Canada is aiming to welcome additional 3,41,000 immigrants in 2020.

Canada plans to welcome 351,000 permanent residents in 2021, and 361,000 in 2022. Going by the plan, Canada could welcome up to 3,90,000 immigrants by 2022.

The pandemic is hitting Canada’s economy, just like other countries. The virus outbreak has severely disrupted economic activity of the country, despite Canada’s strong fiscal position. Tourism and hospitality sectors have been hit the worst.

Canada’s 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan and the COVID Crisis

The corona virus outbreak has gripped the world, and it’s quite natural that Canada’s decision to welcome more than one million of additional immigrants by 2022 is overshadowed by the turmoil the virus has created.

Though Covid-19 has created a crisis like situation in Canada, it is important to understand how the decision to boost Canada immigration is a vital decision to boost the country’s economy in the coming years.

2020 will be a damage control year for Canada as the economies of many sectors have set to contract due to the virus outbreak. Considering the current social and economic criteria, it wouldn’t be wrong to say increasing the flow of skilled migration will definitely boost the Canadian economy.

While Canada welcomes skilled overseas professionals to fill jobs across a number of occupations in multiple sectors, its immigration strategies are largely centered on economic growth and development. This means, when a newcomer arrives in Canada via Canada PR Visa, he/she is expected to be a valuable contributor of Canada’s economy.

The primary reason for this is that over nine million of baby boomers are heading into retirement in 2020. Over more than five million Canadians will turn 65 or older this year, therefore, Canada is relying on immigration to increase its labor force.

Having a strong labor force is what Canada needs at the moment to grow its economy, and this is only possible through immigration.

Hence, it makes a lot of sense for Canada to encourage migration even amid the economic slowdown. Though, immigrants who will arrive in Canada in 2020 might have to face certain hurdles in finding a job that aligns with their skills, education, and work experience. But soon everything will work out with employers looking for more workers in occupations left by the baby boomers.