Canada is to open its doors again in its quest to encourage greater economic growth.
The country wants thousands of skilled expats to move in during the course of 2014.
Its ambitious immigration scheme aims to fill a number of gaps in the labour market.
From a starting point of 1,250 newcomers in 2000, last year 41,000 immigrants were welcomed under the Provincial Nominee Programme. This scheme ensures that newcomers are spread throughout the country, and not concentrated in the main cities of Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
The separate Canadian Experience Class is looking to give permanent residence to 15,000 foreigners who have at least one year of work experience in the country. Foreign nationals who are already working legally in Canada on a temporary basis will benefit as well as international student graduates and others.
A third programme is hoping to reel in foreign entrepreneurs who will establish their own venture in Canada or invest in local young business. The five-year Start-up Visa Programme is limited to 2,700 people each year.
Canada’s citizenship and immigration minister Chris Alexander said: "Securing economic growth is and will remain our government’s top priority. Canada is in a global competition for the best and brightest immigrants, and this plan is crafted with attracting the people we need for Canada to succeed."
