An all-encompassing and inclusive plan is essential to direct Canada’s efforts given the significance of the Indo-Pacific area and its influence on Canadians. As part of its Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada is making investments to strengthen links between Canadians and the area.
On behalf of the Honorable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Rechie Valdez, Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Streetsville, announced the launch of a new application processing facility in Manila, Philippines, today. This programme helps speed up the processing of immigration applications both domestically and abroad and promotes Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
The new centre will be staffed by 37 additional staffers and is housed inside the Canadian Embassy in Manila. The increased capacity is a part of Canada’s continuous efforts to handle a large number of visa applications from all over the world. It will also support ongoing efforts to enhance client service and assist Canada in meeting its expected increases in immigration levels in the coming years. Operations centre opened in the Philippines is a big step forward.
Canada is strategically investing abroad in order to attract more people to the country, whether they are coming to visit, study, work, or immigrate permanently.
As per Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship “Canada is set to welcome a record number of newcomers in the years ahead to fuel our economic growth. This will give us an advantage in the global race for talent, and support key sectors and industries. Today’s announcement to open a new centre supported by 37 new employees in the Philippines is another example of Canada’s work to boost immigration processing, as we continue to promote greater diversity among those looking to visit, study, work and live in Canada”.
As per Rechie Valdez, Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Streetsville ” Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is crucial in addressing the impact of the region on Canadians, including the Filipino community. The opening of the new application processing centre in Manila is a strategic investment that will benefit Filipinos by providing more efficient processing of visas and supporting Canada’s planned increases to immigration levels. By expanding our presence overseas, we are committed to facilitating the immigration process for those who want to visit, study, work, or immigrate permanently to Canada.”
Quick Facts
- Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan has set targets of 465,000 permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025. Operations centre opened in Philippines
- More than 50 Canadian embassies, high commissioners, and consulates around the world house IRCC visa offices. The Canadian Embassy in Manila is home to the new application processing centre.
- The Canadian government is spending $15.7 million annually and $74.6 million over five years as part of its Indo-Pacific Plan to increase the department’s capacity for processing applications both locally and in the Indo-Pacific.
- Growing cross-cultural relations between Canada and the Philippines aid in the development of both cultures. 960,000 individuals of Philippine ancestry reside in Canada, according to the census of 2021, and an increasing number of Filipino residents come to the country to visit friends and family, study at Canadian colleges and universities, or immigrate.
- Canada and the Philippines established diplomatic ties in 1949, and in 2024 they will have been engaged in cordial bilateral relations for 75 years.
