"The key to both short-term economic recovery and long-term prosperity is immigration," Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino told a news conference. Canada had expected to bring in 341,000 skilled workers, family members of Canadians and refugees this year. "As with every other aspect of our lives, the pandemic has affected migration to Canada," the minister commented. To help make up the shortfall, Mendicino said the government would offer permanent resident status to temporary foreign workers, international students and asylum claimants already in Canada. He noted that immigrants have been "critical" to Canada's pandemic response, representing one in four health care workers in hospitals and elderly care homes.

Source: Dhaka Tribune October 30, 2020 19:41 UTC