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.  

If you attack Police in the name of TRUMP you will be pardoned and made out to be a hero

TRUMP hates COPs

All these people should be given millions of dollars for being arrested for doing nothing more than shitting on Nancy's desk, beating Security.

USA citizens need to pay for what they did to these heroes

Drill Baby Drill

KING TRUMP been making millions off his stock trades in past year - awesome you don't hear from AC or ToSlow

22 minutes is a great show too bad CPC dummies hate anything Canadian

Danny Smith is awesome she just loves power and hopes to be Alberta's first Dictator in the new ONE PARTY State

Our Courts mean nothing to me Danny Smith 'I will decide which court is right or wrong" Her words

Edited May 22May 22 by 1trailmaker

GREENLAND is back they need to sell OIL lots of OIL

Greanland today produces ZERO OIL but tRUMP says they have it

Drill Baby Drill Epstien files are fake

IF you make jail time they will not do the crime

PP it is so easy

I DON'T CARE

DEPORT is my new slogan term - I always get on the topic of hating some group of people that are not WHITE

!0 years in jail that will stop them

How is a Prime Minister responsible for a small town like Surrey B.C where right wing is very high along with crime, these two things actually follow each other

CPC leadership race interference was not Carney's fault what a fucking low life PP is

Strong words from a weakling

Notice how OIL OIL OIL has become the only topic in North America from RIGHT WING NUTS?

Canada produces and sells more OIL exports than ever in history - WHERE IS OUR WEALTH fucking PP LIES and his sheep eat his shit daily

LEt me know when OIL makes anyone rich besides OIL people

To say this guy is a leader and should lead Canada is fucking deyond stupid

What a waste of our Tax Dollars this guy spending Millions to spew complete nonsense

What was the increase in extortion in Sudbury? none? oh how about Red Hat? none oh what happened there?

Cherry pick data that has nothing to do wtih FEDs seems to be a CPC thing

LET THAT SINK IN

WAtch the MARKETS on Monday TRUMP has been playing them all year making millions on stock trades

His goal to control world economy and make his family billions

But MARK Carney was an Chairmen that makes him a bad person

under CPC Companies like NETFLIX GOOGLE META will make millions in Canada but pay no taxes ever

Come to Canada where foreign companies pay nothing

This is awesome CPC sheep actually believe this is happening AC and ToSlow what do you think?

What is it you’re trying to ask?

I don’t have time to read all your liberal taint licking posts

IRAN deal isn't looking good, EPSTIEN files not looking at all

Best KING of USA ever TRUMP is - Anyonge get their Trump Phone yet?

In this poorly setup conversation PP nods YES YES YES

LAdy seems in awe of HER GUY to quote her

PP say under him you and launch a business in under 10 minutes

This is pretty sad for someone trying to be a Prime Minister - all day every day spending tax dollars on this and ToSlow say "what are you saying I don't understand"

Canada already has this law to defend your home - the thing is you still can't just kill someone and say they broke in my home. Sorry PP you are a little late qith your panel of sheep

I afford Netflix but can't buy food PP logic at work

american giant companies should never pay any taxes in Canada

Na Trump is not making these deals himself his employees are as he manipulated the markets from Oval office

but Carney was Chairperson at Brookfield

EPSTIEN FILES are gone

Here is the real news

How awesome is Canada you come here and get 82K at year just for showing up

hard to believe but it is true just read here

And they get to vote right away for Liberals but only at the FED level as Provincail is all Cons governing forsome reaon

PP said his new law will allow you to KILL ANYONE THAT BREAKS IN YOUR HOME

You have the RIGHT TO KILL states PP

Another beautiful day out, another day of fail spinning 😵‍💫 😂

Why does CPC top people just make shit up and lie tell mistruths

You wonder why they are at 30% in the polls

Peace Prize DON is winning again so much winning never been so much winning.

Straight needs to be open (like is was before we were winning our war)

Epstien has been put to bed AC looks like you will have to forget your "we never stop asking for the files" Seems you have stopped on Dons command

TRUMP says talks are on going - so it much be true

IRAN is begging for a deal with TRUMP