News Release - Minister tables the 2004 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration

OTTAWA, October 28, 2004 — Citizenship and Immigration Minister Judy Sgro today tabled the Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration. The report highlights the Department’s activities in 2003 to attract immigrants, who provide both economic and cultural benefits to Canadians. It also includes the Government of Canada’s immigration plan for 2005.

“Our immigration plan for 2005 will help Canada’s economy grow, while promoting family reunification and refugee protection,” says Minister Sgro.

The Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, which must be tabled at the latest by November 1 each year, is a requirement under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), in effect since June 28, 2002. The report indicates that Canada welcomed 221,352 permanent residents in 2003 and includes the linguistic profiles of these permanent residents, an update on the gender-based analyses of the impact of IRPA, and the number of temporary resident permits issued. CIC expects to select between 220,000 and 245,000 new permanent residents in 2005.

Key provincial and territorial collaborative initiatives are included in the report, along with a complete list of federal-provincial-territorial agreements.

“Canada is one of a small number of countries to deliver a permanent immigration program,” explained the Minister. The year 2003 marked the fourth year in a row that the planned immigration levels have been met. “This success indicates that Canada continues to be a destination of choice for immigrants,” adds Minister Sgro.

For more information (media only):

France Bureau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
(613) 954-1064

Maria Iadinardi
Media Relations
Communications Branch
(613) 952-0740

Backgrounder:

• 2004 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration

Report:

• 2004 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration