Editor’s Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on immigration and integration policy around the world.
In its annual report to Parliament on immigration, Canada’s government laid out a three-year plan to welcome more than 1 million immigrants to the country over the next three years. The target of 350,000 immigrants in 2021 represents almost 1 percent of the Canadian population. The report, released in late November, made headlines last week, in part because it comes at a time when anti-immigrant sentiment is leading many other countries to close their borders and otherwise limit immigration. In an email interview with WPR, Kareem El-Assal, a senior research associate and senior network manager for immigration at the Conference Board of Canada, and Sara Rose Taylor, a research associate for immigration at the Conference Board of Canada, discuss the reasons behind Canada’s pro-immigration policies, and its approach to integrating immigrants once they enter the country.
World Politics Review: What is the rationale for Canada's pro-immigration approach?