According to data from Statistics Canada, currently 71% of Canada's population growth relies on immigration, and by 2040, Canada's population growth will be entirely dependent on immigration. In this context, fully embracing immigration has become the most immediate solution to Canada's population issues. Of course, Canada is not blindly attracting talent.
The first step is to stabilize the existing immigrant community.
Last year, Canada increased the annual quota for parent/grandparent reunification immigration to 10,000; the annual quota for spousal reunification immigration was raised to 64,000, simplifying the application process and reducing the approval time to within 12 months; starting from October 24, 2017, the age limit for accompanying children was adjusted from under 19 years to unmarried children under 22 years, and children aged 22 and above who are unable to care for themselves due to physical or mental reasons and have been financially dependent on their parents.
These measures by Canada have better facilitated the integration of immigrants into Canadian society.
The second step focuses on attracting international students to immigrate to Canada.
Why does Canada favor international students? Because they have received quality education in Canada, possess good language skills, and understand Canadian culture.
The younger immigrant population seems to be a powerful engine for Canada's economic development. It not only addresses the population issue but also injects intelligence, technology, and creativity into the Canadian economy.
Therefore, Canada offers many advantages to international students who wish to immigrate. After the implementation of the new scoring framework for the "fast-track immigration" pathway, in 2017, a total of 86,023 applicants were invited to apply for permanent residency, a significant increase compared to 33,782 in 2016 and 31,063 in 2015.
However, even though international students represent some of the most skilled talents, attracting economic immigrants with skills, high education, or entrepreneurial capabilities remains Canada's primary goal.
According to Canada's immigration plan from 2018 to 2020, the quotas for economic immigrants during these three years were 177,500, 191,600, and 195,800 respectively. Compared to 172,500 in 2017, there has been a significant increase.
Moreover, Quebec's immigration plan for 2017-2019 also clearly stated that by the end of 2019, the proportion of economic immigrants would be increased to 63%, with the proportion of adults who can speak French in the Quebec skilled worker category stabilized at 85%, and over 70% of applicants in high-demand training fields among Quebec skilled worker applicants.
It is certain that economic immigrants will become the largest beneficiaries of Canada's lenient immigration policies, providing support and significant impact on the demand of the Canadian labor market, economic growth, and addressing the aging population in Canada.
What I am about to discuss may cause some anxiety among those interested in investment immigration.
The third step is to gradually eliminate the "one-step permanent residency" benefits for investment immigrants.
Investment immigration is divided into two types: one involves direct capital investment without the need for entrepreneurship; the other involves participating in management and investing a certain amount of capital, which falls under entrepreneurial immigration.
Obtaining a Permanent Resident Card in one step means a short immigration cycle, fewer uncertainties, and lower difficulty. Under the "work permit -- entrepreneurship -- immigration" model, the immigration cycle generally takes 2 to 2.5 years, which also requires certain management and business capabilities from investors. It is evident that the elimination of the "one-step permanent residency" benefit is a way for provincial governments to encourage investors to genuinely participate in management.
However, the entrepreneurial immigration program also has advantages, such as a low investment threshold.
For example, Saskatchewan's entrepreneur immigration has no age or quota restrictions, with a minimum investment of CAD 200,000; British Columbia's entrepreneur immigration requires a college diploma of two years or more, with a minimum investment of CAD 200,000; Manitoba's entrepreneur immigration requires a high school diploma or above, with a minimum investment of CAD 150,000...
Given the current situation in Canada, simple "capital attraction" will no longer occupy a primary position, so the remaining Quebec investment immigration will become the last privilege for a very small number of people.
Quebec's investment immigration is currently the only investment immigration program that allows for "one-step permanent residency" without the need for entrepreneurship in Canada. Moreover, there are no educational, language, or age requirements. Whether the "one-step permanent residency" benefit will be canceled or the program suspended in the future remains a significant uncertainty. However, it has been confirmed that when Quebec's investment immigration restarts this August, the price will increase, with the family net worth requirement raised to CAD 2 million, the full investment amount increased to CAD 1.2 million, and the loan investment amount expected to rise to CAD 330,000 to CAD 350,000 along with the full investment amount.