CANADA will be accepting 300,000 permanent new residents to their country this year, with skilled Filipino workers and students among their prime targets.
Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship John McCallum said during his visit to the Philippines their quota for the year is the highest over the past several years and that a big portion of it will be given to Filipinos.
“This is the highest number of projected immigrant admissions put forth by the government of Canada in modern times. It reflects our deep belief that immigration is critical to our country’s future,” McCallum said.
In the Philippines McCallum added that they are targeting Filipinos who can immediately be part of Canada’s labor force, along with those who want to pursue their education in their country.
McCallum said their government will reduce restrictions for most jobs in their country to attract more immigrants. He said, they will remove the requirement which specifies that “no Canadian can do the job that you are applying for” for many of the work categories to make it easier for foreigners wanting to work in their country.
As for students, McCallum said their government believes it is a sector that can provide valuable contributions to Canada and would be good Canadian citizens if they choose to reside in their country completely.
He said their government is now approaching Filipino students and encouraging them to enroll in Canadian universities with the promise that they have a good chance of staying in their country long term.
“We want to attract the best and the brightest people from around the world to come and help Canada become a better place,” McCallum said.
He added: “Canadians have become open to immigrants. We do not have any political party in Canada that is anti-immigrants, the way certain European countries do. I think on balance or a combination of reasons, we are more open to new comers.”
According to McCallum, Canadians have seen the positive impact of having a multi-cultural society in their country.
Currently, there are more than 700,000 Filipinos living in Canada and that last year alone, close to 51,000 Filipinos moved to the country.
Moreover, in the last 11 years, Filipinos, along with the Chinese and the Indians, are the fastest-growing ethnic groups in Canada.
Projections have it that by 2031, 27 percent of Canada’s population will be composed of individuals born in a foreign country and that 65 percent of them will be coming from Asia and Africa.
McCallum’s foray to the Philippines comes after the May visit of British Columbia Premier Christy Clark, who opened its trade and investment representative office in the country.
McCallum described the Filipino community in Canada as a group that has made its mark in across different fields and in key regions across their country.