Canada needs immigrants!

Canada has always welcomed newcomers and worked hard to attract and retain the best and most talented people from around the world to settle in Canada and become Canadians. Although humanitarian considerations are a strong motivation to accept newcomers escaping war or persecution, there are also economic reasons why immigration is important for Canada.

Canada is a vast country and is rich in natural resources. Our growing economy needs a growing workforce, especially as the "baby boomer" generation (people born in the years following the end of the second world war) continue to retire from the workforce. Immigrants fill this important gap and allow our economy to continue to grow. In addition, when fully integrated, newcomers contribute to the Canadian economy by paying taxes and purchasing goods and services from Canadian companies. Newcomers also typically bring their life savings and invest them in Canada, and many of them launch new businesses and create jobs. 

Through well crafted immigration programs designed carefully to attract talented, hardworking people who are ready to integrate into Canadian society, Canada has one of the most successful immigration strategies of any country in the world. Canada selects applicants who are the most qualified and needed by the Canadian economy through federal and provincial immigration programs.

On June 19, 2018 the London Free Press, the major newspaper in London, Ontario published an article about a report presented to London's city council about the need to attract newcomers to London, not only because to help those in need, but also because it is good for London's local economy. The city is working on developing a strategy to attract newcomers to Canada and to retain students who study at the post-secondary educational institutions in London. A link to the article is provided below.

• London Free Press: 'Wake up call': London's slowing population alarms city politicians 

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