The bridges Canada must build, right here at home (John Ralston Saul, Globe and Mail)
01.09.2017
By Adiba Hasan
Canada’s population hit 40 million people in June 2023, representing the fastest population growth (2.7%) among G7 countries. The country plans to welcome 465,000 permanent residents (PRs) in 2023, while annual PR targets are set to hit 500,000 in 2025.
Increasing immigration levels have been accompanied by a surge in public debates about Canada’s ability to accommodate a growing number of immigrants. As the Canadian government pursues strategies to nurture both population and economic growth, the importance of having access to immigration data is becoming increasingly important. ICC’s Citizenship and Immigration Dashboard is a publicly-available tool that provides up-to-date access to the most recent trends. Here is the latest monthly analysis of new permanent resident admissions and new citizens in 2023.
IRCC Backlog
IRCC continues to face backlogs despite efforts to manage a growing number of applications. Overall, IRCC has 820,000 applications in backlog, comprising 429,000 temporary residence applications, 308,000 permanent residence applications, and 83,000 citizenship grant applications. In 2022, IRCC finalized 5.2 million applications. While the aim was to reduce the backlog, in June 2023, there was a slight increase in applications falling outside of service standards, from 800,000 to 820,000 applications.
An earlier analysis of our Citizenship and Immigration Dashboard predicted that the PSAC strike would contribute to a rise in the backlog of immigration applications, with Immigration Minister Sean Fraser acknowledging that approximately 100,000 decisions were not processed during the strike. While processing times have decreased for certain application paths, the processing of citizenship applications still takes about 19 months, and the processing time for permanent residence through the Federal Economic Class takes 20 to 24 months.
Citizenship versus Permanent Residence in 2023
The number of citizens and permanent residents admitted at the beginning of the year hit record highs but the trend saw a sharp decline in April 2023 (see our Citizenship and Immigration Dashboard for a visualization). Between March and April 2023, there was a 39% decrease in the number of permanent residents admitted in Canada and a 46% decrease in the number of new citizens admitted.
This decline could be caused by backlogs in processing applications, however, data acquired from IRCC also show that 2023 saw a notable decline in the number of citizens admitted since 2022.
Canadian Citizens Admission
The table shows fluctuations in the number of citizens admitted since 2019 in the period of January to April. Between January to April of 2023, IRCC admitted 100,161 new citizens, indicating a significant 20% decrease compared to the previous year. The data reveal that PR and Citizenship admissions have been low, but citizenship admissions in April were the lowest since 2020 when the pandemic began.
| Year (January-April) | New Citizens Admitted |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 100,161 |
| 2022 | 125,294 |
| 2021 | 16,674 |
| 2020 | 61,941 |
| 2019 | 82,406 |
Top 3 Source Countries in April 2023
The ICC’s Citizenship and Immigration Dashboard shows that India is the top source country for both new citizens and permanent resident admission, amounting to 3,130 new Canadian citizens and 9,275 permanent residents of Indian origin in April 2023. The Philippines (1,315) and Nigeria (644) follow after India for new citizens admitted, and China (1,770) and the Philippines (1,415) follow after India for permanent residents admitted. Although the following data represents a snapshot for April, a notable trendline can be observed in the Citizenship and Immigration Dashboard, indicating a decline in the number of admitted citizens and permanent residents (PRs) compared to the earlier months in 2023.
Top 3 Country of Origin for New Citizens
In April, there was a noticeable decline in overall citizenship numbers leading to a decline in the number of citizens from the respective countries above. When compared to March 2023, these were the following declining rates:
- India: citizens admitted in April was a 46% decline from those admitted in March 2023.
- Philippines: citizens admitted in April was a 53% decline from those admitted in March 2023.
- Nigeria: citizens admitted in April was a 57% decline from those admitted in March 2023.
Top 3 Country of Origin for New Permanent Residents
In April, there was a noticeable decline in overall permanent residence numbers leading to a decline in the number of PRs from the respective countries above. When compared to March 2023, these were the following declining rates:
- India: PRs admitted in April were a 38% decline from those admitted in March 2023.
- Philippines: PRs admitted in April was a 39% decline from those admitted in March 2023.
- China: PRs admitted in April were a 40% decline from those admitted in March 2023.
As Canada navigates the nuances of immigration targets, it is vital to reflect on public policy challenges and opportunities. How can Canada address concerns related to housing and strained healthcare systems while continuing to attract and retain skilled immigrants? What measures can be taken to ensure the long-term satisfaction and integration of recent permanent residents? Share your thoughts and perspectives on these questions and join the conversation on Canada’s immigration policies.
Take a look at our immigration dashboard for updated numbers of PRs and citizens.
You can learn more about the ICC here. Join the conversation and be part of building a more inclusive Canada.
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