Canada last week gave 23,000 people approved for permanent residency the green light to enter the country. It was another signal that immigration levels are normalizing after the country missed out on 170,000 new permanent residents last year. <\/p>\n
But as with other spheres, Canada’s immigration system could benefit from a rethink in the post-COVID period. While a focus on making up for 2020’s shortfall is a critical goal, over the longer term Canada would benefit from a more responsive approach to immigration: one that addressed labour-force gaps and targeted the world’s best talent all while helping to offset domestic aging. During the pandemic era, the government has already shown some flexibility on immigration\u2014notably in its effort to convert more of the 1.2 million people already here temporarily into permanent residents. Innovative approaches like this could help Canada reap more benefits from the ambitious immigration targets it has set for the years ahead. <\/p>\n