What does the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan mean for the resettlement of refugees?

The 2021‒2023 Immigration Levels Plan was presented on October 30th by The Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. The 2021 to 2023 levels plan aims to continue welcoming immigrants at a rate of about 1% of the population of Canada, including 401 000 permanent residents in 2021, 411 000 in 2022 and 465 000 in 2023. The previous plan set targets of 351 000 in 2021 and 361 000 in 2022.

More specifically, this plan forecasts a target number of 59 500 refugees and protected persons in 2021, 60 500 in 2022 and 76 305 in 2023.

For 2023, the plan projects a revised total of 23 550 resettled refugees - government-assisted, 27 505 resettled refugees - privately sponsored and 250 resettled refugees - Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program.

In 2021, Canada welcomed 20 428 resettled refugees, maintaining the tradition of being the top refugee resettlement country in the world. Amongst them, 10 811 were government-assisted; 9 541 were privately sponsored; and 76 were admitted under the BVOR Program.