Canada’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth has been developing recommendations for immigration pilot programs since 2015.
And the ongoing success of such programs is a sign that immigration may help plug the labour market gap arising from an aging population.
One of those recommendations was the modification of Canada’s Express Entry program, which is now focused on attracting global talent and former international students. The Global Skills Strategy shortens processing times to two weeks for those with the right skill set, and the Global Talent Stream connects those with the right skill sets to matching jobs.
The Start-Up Visa Program has become permanent, helping around 200 start-ups in Canada. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot programs have helped boost the economies of Canada’s Atlantic region and small northern towns.