More than 400,000 permanent residents were welcomed to Canada in 2021, breaking a 1913 record, according to the federal Department of Immigration.
“This is a historic moment for our country, as we have welcomed the largest number of newcomers in a century. Canada is a country built on immigration, and we will continue to safely welcome the immigrants Canada needs to succeed. I look forward to seeing the incredible contributions of our 401,000 new neighbors in communities across the country, ”said Minister Sean Fraser.
According to the ministry, the majority of these new permanent residents were already in Canada with temporary status. In 2019, Canada welcomed more than 341,000 permanent residents. Despite the challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada also admitted more than 184,500 new permanent residents during the year 2020.