Marco Mendicino: Immigration Key to Canada’s Economic Recovery

Published on: May 6th, 2020

Yesterday Canada’s Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino participated in a webinar with the Canadian Bar Association to talk about how the coronavirus pandemic will impact the future of Canadian immigration.

free assessment

In the 60-minute long discussion, Mendicino assured members of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) that COVID-19 will not change Canada’s long-term immigration goals

He stated that Canada will continue to rely on immigration and that it would be the key to the country’s economic recovery in the months and years ahead.

Mendicino stated that, although Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) staff are now working remotely, they are doing their best to process applications in a timely and efficient manner. 

He stated that the pandemic would likely force IRCC to innovate the way it processes immigration applications, which could have a positive impact on the future of Canadian immigration.

Temporary Foreign Workers

Mendicino also assured the CBA that they are working hard to protect Canada’s food supply while continuing to keep Canadians safe. The IRCC is in close contact with the agriculture and fishing industries and is working to expedite work permits and remove barriers for foreign workers.

International Students

Mendicino acknowledged that more flexibility is needed for international students at this time. 

He referenced IRCC’s recent Post-Graduation Work Permit reform which enables international students who take online courses to remain eligible for the PGWP.

The Canadian government has also lifted restrictions on the number of hours international students are allowed to work.

The IRCC is currently working closely with Canada’s designated learning institutions to understand how it can best support international students who are in the process of enrolling for the Fall semester. 

If you’re interested in learning more about your Canadian immigration options at this time, the first step is to fill out our free online assessment!

get started

Recent articles

Express Entry Draw

Express Entry Draw #410 | 2,000 CEC Candidates Invited!

The seventh Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw of 2026 issued another strong 2,000 invitations, marking a steady pattern for the program.

Express Entry Draw | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Express Entry Draw #409 | 324 Invitations Issued in PNP Draw

In Express Entry (EE) Draw #409, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada invited 324 candidates to apply for permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) […]

Express Entry Draw

Express Entry Draw 408 | 3,000 Invited in Trades Occupations Draw

The latest Canadian Express Entry draw #408 was held earlier this week for the new Trades category. This impressive first round issued 3,000 ITAs for permanent […]

Express Entry Draw

Express Entry Draw #407 | 2,250 CEC Candidates Invited Again!

The sixth Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw of 2026 issued 2,250 invitations, marking another consistent round continuing a steady pattern for the program.

Express Entry Draw | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Express Entry Draw #406 | 356 Invitations Issued in PNP Draw

In Express Entry Draw #406, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada invited 356 candidates to apply for permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Express Entry Draw | Francophone Immigration

Express Entry Draw #405 | 4,000 Francophone Candidates Invited

Express Entry Draw #405 invited 4,000 French-speaking candidates to apply for permanent residence, following the previous draw’s high issuance of 5,500 invitations.

Free assessment

Discover your Canadian immigration options. Get your free assessment now!