http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/immigration-system-increase-mccallum-1.3812749

Quote

A high-powered group of external advisers is calling for a dramatic increase in Canada's immigration levels, but Immigration Minister John McCallum says that might be too ambitious.

McCallum said Wednesday he's read the report by the Advisory Council on Economic Growth that calls for a 50-per-cent increase in targets to 450,000 people a year.

The measure would target skilled, entrepreneurial newcomers in an attempt to stimulate economic growth.

• McCallum acknowledges internal Liberal debate on immigration file
• Canada wants more Chinese workers, students & tourists, says McCallum
• McCallum wants to 'substantially increase' immigration to fill labour needs

The 14-member panel, chaired by Dominic Barton of the firm McKinsey and Co., is to deliver a set of recommendations to Finance Minister Bill Morneau on Thursday.

McCallum said meeting the target suggested by Barton's group would be costly and might not find broad national support.

"The figure he gives is a huge figure," McCallum said. "But this is not a universal view across the country."

Discussions are continuing and the government will announce immigration targets for 2017 next month, McCallum added.

McCallum's cabinet colleague, Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, told The Canadian Press on Wednesday that he's "worked very closely" with Barton's panel, and favours increased immigration levels. But he stopped short of endorsing the target in Barton's report.

"Clearly he's demonstrating an opportunity for Canada," Bains said. "We value our diversity, we value our multicultural society and we recognize immigration is an opportunity to create jobs."

The need for skilled labour

Bains said the government would need to sell the idea of higher immigration levels to the public.

"We, as a government, need to focus on communicating the benefits of growing the economy and part of that growth is investing in people and part of that equation is immigration."

Bains said bringing in more skilled workers is part of the government's broader agenda that includes investing in research and development, creating jobs and helping companies grow.

A survey released by Canadian Manufactures and Exporters said the most pressing challenge facing its member companies is "attracting or retaining skilled labour."

The response came from a survey and roundtable discussions with 1,300 member companies.

Matthew Wilson, the organization's senior vice president, said manufacturers have traditionally looked beyond Canada's border to find skilled workers.

"If we can expand that, that's good," he said in an interview.

Slower growth ahead

But the government needs to do more to make sure the immigrants they allow into Canada actually have skills that are needed, Wilson added.

"Just bringing in more immigrants isn't going to solve the skills-gap problem if they don't have the skills Canadian companies need."

The continuing need to address the country's sluggish economy was underscored Wednesday as the Bank of Canada downgraded its growth prediction.

The bank's latest outlook projected a real GDP expansion of 1.1 per cent this year, down from its earlier 1.3 per cent forecast.

Governor Stephen Poloz listed immigration as "one of the ingredients" for helping to reverse declining growth.

© The Canadian Press, 2016 

I can't believe McCallum had those thoughts. He must be drying out. Has anyone ever explained how "diversity" has helped Canada? I don't ever remember it being mentioned during Oshawa's Fiesta Week during its heydey.

Some talk on the CBC this morning & the reporter said most immigrants settle in the big cities, which doesn't help declining populations in rural & small town Canada. The reason those populations are declining is that there are no jobs there. Why would it make sense to plunk immigrants down in areas of unemployment? In Apsley, Asians already own the motel/restaurant and the "general store". I can't think of any other businesses they'd be interested in.  

That is a really disgusting post. Vatican files as a threat. Wow.

Pipeline PP will be around soon to tell us how this is bad bad bad Carney isn't smart

Same haters posted how CTV was catering to Carney for his video released

What a fuck joke the CPC media are

PP is on his last leg

TRUMP is GOD he is everything

Gives his Board of Peace 10 Billion dollars for the Chairmen to do as he wishes

Chiar is Donny POPE TRUMP

not one mention of which Party this was and of course we know it was CONSERVATIVE

Even in the comments not a mention of cons but LIBERALS is mentioned a few tmes

Clueless bunch of PP followers - it is weird

Great performance by Ford.

If he came out last year and just explained why he wants to bring back the Plane it would have been fine.

Doug tried to get away with it for some reason got caught but says sorry

Sorry

I am the only Premier blah blah

attack media

Blame carney's fleet of planes

Ford claim pays 100's of thousands out of his pockets

He is good at the MIC terrible at the books as now most costly Premier ever

Edited April 21Apr 21 by 1trailmaker

No one works harder than PP for PP

no election for years yet every day flying around Canada spewing the same lies and hate

This is OUR GUY wow great just look at him taking selfies like a leader

Drill Baby Drill

16 hours ago, 1trailmaker said:

Pipeline PP will be around soon to tell us how this is bad bad bad Carney isn't smart

Post the numbers

6 hours ago, toslow said:

Post the numbers

I will let PP repeat for you

PP soon to attack O'toole character and a few other CONs

Never PP

WE the people seen through the traitor when he was running as a con.

32 minutes ago, toslow said:

WE the people seen through the traitor when he was running as a con.

nobody can beat YOUR GUY it just isn't possible he is the best you will ever love

The NEW PP is working either can't wait for version 10 coming.

Peace Prize Donny winning many wars so many wars the best wars

Drill Baby Drill all we need is a Pipeline and gas would be free in Canada - PP said so

Cease fire Don caving to Iran

This is what CPC has come too

Tik Tok clips to show the powerful PP destroying Carney

Just PP yelling at nobody as Carney wasn't there but he destroyed him

Carney is uneducated

WOW SUCH POWERFUL SPEECH OUR GUY IS GOD

notice THE REPORTER what does that mean?

CBC does ask questions and is not bias

Don't know who they are?

Don't want to say their name?

CPC media one waste of time

When PP isnt' there CPC media doesn't ask why

Except we don't accept the results of PP losing his seat we have no respect for those voters so we moved to northern Alberta riding where 99% vote CPC so PP can win.

RESPECT CPC not the other way around

nope we don't accept this

OUR GUY needs to move to another riding that respects CPC

PP lost his seat to this guy and now PP will vote against MPs have security clearance

His sheep will back him OUR GUY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK HIS LIES FREELY

WARTIME PETE is really fucked in the head.

We will take our time we don't need a deal anytime soon WE will decide when a deal is needed.

Tough talk eh!

WARTIME PETE

We don't need your help but you should help but we don't need your help but you should help.

we have all the time in the world to GET A DEAL

do you want DOOR #1 or DOOR #2 DOOR #3

Tariff free trade has never happened but PP will tell you different.

HE states HE WOULD TELL TRUMP no more critical mineral TRUMP WILL FOLD

Poor PP what is your education level at

Just deny what you said and it will go away

long verson of PP stating he can PREDICT better than anyone like magic that is my education

funny how THE Countries BANK governor is the one responsible for all economics PP just said this several times in a row

USA is in such trouble as here Jr. explains 600% reduction in prices

Yes you are wrong and Jr. is correct if you have a product $600 dollars that becomes $100 is certainly %600 reduction

OVAL OFFICE MATH CLASS