Canada sets immigration record in 2022 with 430,000 new permanent residents

The federal government settled 431,645 new permanent residents in 2022, blowing past the previous all-time record set in 2021.

It's one signal that the federal government appears on track to carry out its immigration plan. Next year, the government hopes to bring in another 485,000 new permanent residents.

Newcomers play an essential role in filling labour shortages, bringing new perspectives and talents to our communities, and enriching our society as a whole," said Sean Fraser, the minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, in a news release Tuesday.

I am excited to see what the future holds and look forward to another historic year in 2023 as we continue to welcome and embrace newcomers with open arms."

Before 2021, the previous year where a record was set for immigration was 1913. In 2021, Canada welcomed more than 405,000 newcomers.

The country also saw double the number of citizenship, temporary residence and permanent residence applications in 2022 compared with last year, having processed 5.2 million.

In November, the federal government tabled its immigration plan, which would see Canada welcome 500,000 permanent residents a year by 2025.

According to the new multi-year plan, a revamped skilled-immigration system will help target candidates with the required skills and qualifications in sectors facing acute labour shortages - such as health care, manufacturing, building trades and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

With a new authority endowed in the 2022 federal budget bill, Fraser can bypass the current points-based selection system to pick immigrant candidates with the skills in demand here. The so-called targeted draws" will start early next year.

With files from Nicholas Keung

Kieran Leavitt is an Edmonton-based political reporter for the Toronto Star. Follow him on Twitter: @kieranleavitt