Ottawa-Canada's relationship with the Indo-Pacific region has been forged through generations of deep person-to-person connections.
As a major source of newcomers to Canada and the fastest growing economic region in the world, the Indo-Pacific will continue to play a vital role in Canada's immigration strategy.
As part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced how investments in our immigration system will allow Canada to grow and prosper. An investment of $74.6 million over 5 years, and $15.7 million ongoing, will boost our application processing capacity both domestically and in the Indo-Pacific region-including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Islamabad and Manila. These new resources will bolster ongoing efforts to process the high volume of visa applications from the region, contribute to improved processing times, and support people-to-people ties, all with the goal of bringing more people to Canada-whether to visit, study, work or immigrate permanently-and doing it faster.
What's more, international students make immense social and economic contributions to Canada. In recent years, the Indo-Pacific region has accounted for nearly two thirds of the international students Canada welcomes. Thousands of those students transition to permanent residence in Canada each year, while thousands more return home after completing their education, taking with them a personal connection to Canada. Funding received through the Indo-Pacific Strategy will help strengthen Canada's International Student Program and promote greater diversity in the region among those looking to study here. By giving them access to permanent residence and job opportunities that could lead to staying in Canada, these investments will attract students, who frequently become the highly skilled workers Canada needs to meet the challenges of our economy today and tomorrow.
The Government of Canada recognizes the significant and profound role the Indo-Pacific region will play in our future. By investing in our immigration system and building a strong mutual partnership with the Indo-Pacific, we demonstrate Canada's commitment to long-term prosperity for both regions.
