gantdaily.com reports that Canada will cut its immigrant visa quota by 3,000 while keeping the 2010 permanent resident visa quota at current levels of between 240,000 and 265,000. The lower immigrant visa quota is based on the 18-month processing time for applications of refugee status claimants. The quota, however, may go up again in 2011 and 2012 because vacancies on the Immigration and Refugee Board will soon be filled.

Although Canada—like many nations—is decreasing its immigrant intake, it will take in new residents in numbers even higher than its average yearly acceptance rate in the 1990s. Moreover, in 2010, Canada will seek to increase its admission rates for immigrants nominated by provinces and territories, and for applicants under the federal skilled worker program. The 2009 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration has additional details about the Canadian government’s immigration plan for 2010.