Canada to Resume Express Entry Draws Shortly

A discussion between Sean Fraser, Canadian Immigration Minister, and the Canadian Business Council president and CEO, Goldy Hyder, on Canadian immigration was streamed on the website of the Canadian Club Toronto on the 16th of this month. Replying to a question as to when Canada would resume holding Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws, the Immigration Minister said that draws are likely to resume “in the near term.” He added that the possibility of improving the flexibility of the Express Entry system is also under consideration. Though Sean Fraser did not announce a firm date for the resumption of CEC draws, he noted that the Express Entry process would become more regular soon.

According to Fraser, it is becoming increasingly essential to resume the draws as Canada requires to welcome more than one million immigrants over the three years as per the immigration level plans. Furthermore, he assured that the skilled worker express entry draws, a very successful and effective immigration program globally, would not be abandoned.

On enhancing the flexibility of the Express Entry System, he noted that the option could be extended to meet the short-term needs, such as fulfilling the manpower requirements of smaller communities and high-demand sectors. It would also include welcoming people from a region with educational institutions and is known to train the kinds of workers needed in strategically important sectors in the country. Fraser added that he is personally focusing on improving the flexibility of the Express Entry system as he expects it to help Canada respond quickly, significantly when the speed of transformation slows down. Earlier, Fraser had hinted that Express Entry draws for specific occupations are likely in the future.

Besides, the Minister indicated in his mandate letter that offering more options for temporary foreign workers and international students to become permanent residents through Express Entry is a top priority. Furthermore, it is his responsibility to ensure that immigration provides better support to small- and medium-sized communities through expanding the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program and advancing the Municipal Nominee Program. After assuming responsibility in the fall, he has been instrumental in converting the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program into a permanent program, yet another priority per his mandate letter.

Fraser plans to table the immigration level plans for 2023-25 in the fall of 2022. Canada expects to welcome a record number of 111,500 immigrants by 2024.