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.  

AC even THE GLOBE has turned on PP <<< see what i did there

Lying LILLEY losing clicks so an attack on PP should get the base clicking and replying

Remember when carney also lost five of his caucus, i do but the media won’t report that

DRILL BABY DRILL

More BOMBS more BOMB IRAN has no Military or Army it was destroyed as IRAN bombs 5 countries

OIL up as markets sore under the charge of TRUMP family stock profits weekly

Good Times brought to you by Donald Trump

6 hours ago, toslow said:

Remember when carney also lost five of his caucus, i do but the media won’t report that

you know you found out due to CBC reporting it

Freelander left and you seee this as what?

Remember when you had your own thoughts? no I don't either

Holy fuck thats rich coming from a lieberal talking head🤡🤡😂

CPC MEDIA PP lost his riding he didn't get 8 million votes he came second in his riding

We don't vote for Prime Minister in Canada

Talk about his polling numbers 21% is terrible for a guy that was so close until Trudeau stepped aside, PP should step aside and hope for a CPC win

PP good

Carney bad

TH SUN SAID SO

The negative posts about Canada daily seems to be just a waste of LIES - crying bad daily is what a child with problems does

CPC media THE NATIONAL POST makes up shit and the sheep believe it

Today it is legal to molest young children in Canada Alberta courts said so

So ToSlow you are good to go your MEDIA is in charge

PP is running against his news source

tough go

Jason is worried and he should be

CPC is a terrible party at the moment offering nothing but HATE LIES DESPAIR

12 hours ago, 1trailmaker said:

Remember when you were demanding EPSTIEN FILES TO BE RELEASED

One trick pony says what?

Genius.

Genius

20 hours ago, 1trailmaker said:

Jason is worried and he should be

CPC is a terrible party at the moment offering nothing but HATE LIES DESPAIR

Kenny is as much a conservative as Ford.

I'm not happy until he's not happy.

Genius

Genius

On 7/10/2026 at 5:51 AM, ArcticCrusher said:

Genius

How is this even a thing to be measured

1984 GDP was 300 billion it is 2.35 trillion today - not sure what you are getting at with your CPC media post? 1.5% increase equals the entire GDP for 1985

You are not smart enough to know about economics and how it works that is why you follow RYAN he knows nothing too adn shares it for you to repost

No countries can grow at a steady rate of say 6% - just isn't possible ( growth is increase sales not increase prices )

1 hour ago, ArcticCrusher said:

Genius

Actually it has given an entire generation huge inheritances like never seen before as NAna dies her 2.3 million dollar home in Vaughan is up for sale, kids lining up to get their massive cut.

NEver has so many had so much wealth - this is fact

if you Bought a nice home in 1970 Willowdale 28K sold today for 2.4mil - dead at 90 is common

On 7/9/2026 at 10:16 AM, ArcticCrusher said:

One trick pony says what?

I say you are fine with never releasing the files that TRUMP is involved in so heavily - He is your hero and we can't ruin that

So much OIL getting approved we will all be so rich soon eh!

Can[t wait for the money to start rolling in

Why hasn't Wartime PETE released latest video of his great strikes set to Metellica music

Trumps answer - you are horrible work for CNN democrats

Trumps war is going as welll as the release of epstien files

PP is just awesome his leadership skills are beyond great.

What a LIAR

If you build a rental house that is attached to your neighbour and you go through their house

PP just makes shit up. the bridge was always going to be dually owned by Michigan and Canada

the change in how we get our money recouped changed nothing else. We still get our money back that hasn't changed PP lies

Imagaine having a Prime Minister that makes up shit and lies daily