Due to the global pandemic, Canada has seen a surge of deaths and a steep decline in immigration levels which caused its population growth to hit a record low according to Statistics Canada. This has happened due to the Covid-19 travel restrictions imposed by Canada for the immigrants.
Canada’s federal government’s recent census shows the dramatic changes to the population growth in the last year. Canada had recorded its highest ever population growth in the third quarter of last year, the population growth started to decline from the first quarter of this year and has a record low in the second quarter of this year.
“The global pandemic began to affect the demographic patterns in Canada at the end of the first quarter of 2020, Canada’s first COVID-19 death was reported on March 9 and international border restrictions began in mid-March. The resulting decrease in migration from March to June, combined with the excess mortality, led to record low population growth for the second quarter of 2020. The restrictions placed on international borders and the subsequent drop in international migration levels had the largest impact on population growth in 2019/2020”
Statistics Canada
Canada depends heavily on immigration for its population growth because of its aging population and low birth rates. 81.9% of Canada’s population growth last year was due to the immigrants with the country admitting 284,000 immigrants. In the second quarter of 2020, only 34,000 immigrants entered Canada.
The Canadian government has recently relaxed the travel restriction for immigrant students and the extended family of Canadian citizens or permanent residence holders and have allowed candidates who fulfill the required criteria to enter Canada in order to boost its population growth and economy.
“Starting in late October, international students attending a designated learning institution that has been identified by their provincial or territorial government as having a COVID‑19 readiness plan will also be able to enter Canada”.
Marco Mendicino
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