Canada continues to welcome over a quarter-million newcomers a year while other countries are slowing down their levels of immigration. The global recession has resulted in many Western countries such as Australia and Ireland cutting their immigration targets, but Canada refuses to lower its own.

"We are planning for the economic recovery," said a spokesperson for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada Minister Jason Kenney.

Over the course of the global economic downturn, Canada’s economy has proven extremely resilient, in part due to its extremely stable banking system. The country has been much less affected by the recession than others, and continues to need and welcome immigrants to take part in its labour force.