No cut to Canadian visa numbers announced
April 30 2009 by Ranjan Chakraborty
The Canadian Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister, Jason Kenney, says there will not be a cut to Canadian immigration numbers in 2009.
This come as a relief to many immigration advocates and immigrant families living and working in Canada amid fears that the immigration department would follow through on suggestions that immigration numbers should be cut in response to the global recession.
Minister Kenney announced that having visited regional offices and reviewed the situation, he has concluded that the need for Canadian immigration is still very strong and that he would not, therefore, be cutting 2009 immigration quotas.
The decision has been made despite job losses among Canadian citizens and responds to calls from experts who claimed that immigration was vital for the country’s future economic competitiveness.
Immigration remains the major driver of labour market growth and, indeed, population growth.
Kenney stated, “Canada is facing a long-term labour shortage so the government is not going to turn off the immigration tap only to have to turn it back on later.”
The decision will see the quota for new permanent residents remain at 250,000.
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