MORE INDIANS IN CANADA DESPITE LARGE INFLUX OF SYRIA REFUGEES

TORONTO: The in flux of Syrian refugees into Canada last year did not impact the number of permanent residents admitted from India. Their number grew margin ally by just over 250 to 39,789 in 2016, making India the secondlargest source country for the third year in succession, and trailing only immigrants from the Philippines.

However, Syrians displaced Chinese immigrants as the thirdlargest group. This was revealed in data released as part of the annual report on immigration tabled in Parliament on Wednesday by immigration, refugees and citizenship minister Ahmed D Hussen.

The Canadian government also presented a three-year policy for intake of immigrants that may prove beneficial to prospective immigrants from India since the quot as for the economic and family categories, which are used by many Indians, have been raised.

Immigration lawyer Ra vi Jain, of Toronto-based firm Green and Spiegel, said: “This is all incredible news for Indians and also for Indian students( who are coming to Canada in record numbers) as it provides a growing allotment over the next three years of permanent residence ‘spots’.”

According to the report, the plan that was introduced “sets out the most ambitious immigration levels in recent history ”, and will provide 340,000 permanent resident spots by 2020.

In a statement, Hussen said, “This historic multi-year immigration levels plan will benefit all Canadians because immigrants will contribute their talents to support our economic growth and innovation, helping to keep our country at the fore front of the global economy.”