The 2015 levels plan demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to maintaining its international obligations and upholding its humanitarian tradition. By continuing to support the underlying principles of its refugee programs, Canada continues to rank among the world’s most generous and fair countries toward genuine refugees from vulnerable populations. Canada welcomes about one out of every ten of all resettled refugees globally, more than almost any other industrialized country in the world.
The Government of Canada is planning to welcome between 260,000 and 285,000 new permanent residents in 2015, an increase of approximately 19,000 planned admissions over last year. The Protected Persons and Humanitarian Class will account for almost 11 percent of new immigrants to Canada in 2015.
Highlights:
- A slight increase of application admissions in the Humanitarian and Compassionate category will take place in 2015. The increase of up to 4,000 admissions in 2015 is expected to enable the reduction of the current backlog of those cases by as much as 40 percent by the end of 2015.
- Canada plans to welcome up to 14,500 admissions in resettled refugee streams. We will continue Canada’s long and proud tradition of offering protection to those in protracted refugee situations.
- Up to 11,000 people are expected to become permanent residents in the Protected Persons in Canada and the Dependents Abroad categories in 2015.
- The 2015 Levels plan complements reforms to Canada’s asylum system which came into effect in December 2012. These changes make Canada’s asylum system faster and fairer. Under the reformed system, genuine refugees fleeing persecution are receiving Canada’s protection more quickly and are able to begin their lives in Canada sooner.
