Society

Authorities reveal 11,000 Cameroonians migrated to Canada in 2023.

Media practitioners during working session

The Canadian High Commission in Cameroon has revealed that some 11,000 Cameroonians left the country for Canada in 2023.
The figure was disclosed by the immigration officer at the Canadian High Commission in Yaounde.

The official was speaking during a working session with media practitioners in the capital city.

The session was organised to school members of the public on Canadian immigration programmes and procedures.

The session was organised by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC, in Yaounde.

According to an IRCC official, the newfound openness on the Canadian border is part of a drive to “increase the number of French-speaking people living in Canada”.

The same official explained that before the end of the year 2024, the Canadian government aims to increase the French-speaking population to 6% of the country's current population of just over 40 million.

According to the IRCC official, the figure puts Cameroon in the top 10 countries of origin for new immigrants to that part of the world.

Canada, the IRCC official stated, is just the new eldorado for not only Cameroonians but several other African countries.

During the exchange, the IRCC official equally took out time to school those present about visa acquisition and what it takes to have the precious document.

The permanent residency, IRCC official explained, is a status generally granted to citizens of other countries present on Canadian territory for an indefinite period of time.

The status, they said, allows the holder to live, work or study anywhere in Canada.

The said holder can also to apply for Canadian citizenship; and benefit from the protection of Canadian laws and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Permanent residency programme, the IRCC official explained, includes: Express Entry as a Skilled Worker; Sponsorship of a Family Member; Provincial Nominees, Quebec-selected Skilled Workers; Atlantic Canada Immigration Program; Visas for Business Start-ups, Self-Employment and Caregivers.

In addition to permanent residency, Canada, the IRCC official stated, also offers the possibility of staying in the country as a tourist.

According to the IRCC official, the Canadian government will for the next three years be imposing a quota on study visas. This applies to undergraduate students.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3199 of Wednesday August 14, 2024