Asia-Pacific
Canada's immigration rate remains high in 2009
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-14 11:09
 |
Large Medium Small |
OTTAWA - Canada took in more than 500,000 permanent and temporary residents in 2009, maintaining a historical high of immigration rate to support its economy, according to the preliminary data released by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) on Thursday.
The data showed that Canada admitted 252,124 permanent residents in 2009, well within the government's planned range of 240,000 to 265,000 new permanent residents for the year, and about 30,000 higher than the average annual intake in the 1990s.
An additional 178,640 temporary foreign workers and 85,131 foreign students came to Canada in 2009.
"The Government of Canada is maintaining immigration levels to meet Canada's short, medium and long-term economic needs, help offset our aging population and low birthrate, and sustain our workforce," said Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.
