Activists in British Columbia urge the provincial government to establish the provincial immigration department in order to ensure better management over the attraction and settlement of immigrants.
In 2020, BC welcomed 44,000 newcomers, being only behind Ontario.
According to Chris Friesen, director of Settlement Services for the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia (ISSofBC), provinces could play a more proactive role and should pivot to a forward-looking, projection-based, multi-year plan of immigration.
The BC immigration ministry was merged with other departments in the early 2000s.
Activists recommend re-establishing it along with creating a five-year provincial immigration plan.
#British_Columbia, #BC, #immigration_levels
