Top of PageCanada's Immigration Plan for 2011
The immigration levels plan for 2011 reflects Canada's long-term vision for immigration and recognizes the importance of immigration to Canada's economic growth and prosperity. In addition, the plan fulfils the objectives of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to reunite families and reflects Canada's increased international commitments and humanitarian obligations.
This year's plan indicates the number of skilled immigrants being selected (principal applicants) and the estimated number of spouses and dependants they would bring. Federal economic categories (Federal Skilled Worker, Business Class, Canadian Experience Class and Live-in Caregiver) have been combined to create greater flexibility for CIC's application processing network. This added flexibility will allow the network to shift resources from one category to another to respond to changing operational pressures. Additionally, because provinces and territories are increasingly involved with the selection of economic immigrants, this year's plan identifies economic immigrants according to the government responsible for their selection or nomination: the Government of Canada or provinces and territories.
The levels plan reflects growing commitments in the economic, social and humanitarian streams. In particular, the admissions range for federal economic immigration has been reduced to permit further growth in the Provincial Nominee Program. CIC has made progress to date on key commitments in the Federal Skilled Worker category, and is seeing modest growth in the Canadian Experience Class, which is expected to continue in 2011. In the Family Class, spouses, partners and children admissions are expected to return to historical levels in 2011 while admissions in the parents and grandparents category are expected to remain stable. The levels plan incorporates the first year of a three-year plan to increase the number of refugees settled in Canada, announced with the introduction of the Balanced Refugee Reform Act. Also, following recent appointments at the Immigration and Refugee Board, resulting in more cases being processed, the range for protected persons in-Canada and their dependants abroad has been increased. As a result, Canada's total planning range for the Protected Persons Class is higher than last year.
Top of PageTable 1: Immigration Levels Plan 2011
Immigrant Category 2011 Plan Target Ranges
Low High
ECONOMIC CLASS
Federally Selected Economic Class* 74,000 80,400
Principal Applicants† 33,200 36,600
Spouses and Dependants† 40,800 43,800
Provincially Selected Economic Class* 76,600 80,900
Principal Applicants† 31,900 33,800
Spouses and Dependants† 44,700 47,100
Provincial Nominee Program 42,000 45,000
Principal Applicants† 17,500 18,800
Spouses and Dependants† 24,500 26,200
Quebec-selected Skilled Workers and Business 34,600 35,900
Principal Applicants† 14,400 15,000
Spouses and Dependants† 20,200 20,900
Subtotal Economic Class—Principal Applicants 65,100 70,400
Subtotal Economic Class—Spouses and Dependants 85,500 90,900
Total Economic Class 150,600 161,300
FAMILY CLASS
Spouses, Partners and Children 45,500 48,000
Parents and Grandparents 13,000 17,500
Total Family Class 58,500 65,500
PROTECTED PERSONS
Government-assisted Refugees 7,400 8,000
Privately Sponsored Refugees 3,800 6,000
Protected Persons In-Canada 8,200 10,500
Dependants Abroad of Protected Persons In-Canada 3,800 4,500
Total Protected Persons 23,200 29,000
OTHER
Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds/Public Policy 7,600 9,000
Permit Holders 100 200
Total Other 7,700 9,200
TOTAL 240,000 265,000
*This year admission projections for economic immigration are being presented based on selecting and/or nominating jurisdiction because the direct involvement of provinces and territories in economic immigration has grown. Under the Canada–Quebec Accord Relating to Immigration and Temporary Admission of Aliens, the Government of Quebec has responsibility for selecting immigrants destined to its province, and other jurisdictions participating in the Provincial Nominee Program have the responsibility to nominate foreign nationals for permanent resident status.
†The number of principal applicants and spouses and dependants is estimated based on historical averages, and is included for illustrative purposes only.
. Let's wait for another week and see what happens. 
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