TORONTO - Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says Canada welcomed a record-high number of immigrant newcomers last year.
Kenney released a report today that indicates in 2010, Canada admitted 280,636 new permanent residents.
That's the highest number reported in more than 50 years and six per cent more than the government had planned to admit.
The high number of immigrants allowed in last year has sharply reduced backlogs in applications among skilled workers.
Kenney says this will reduce wait times for other applicants and help meet labour market needs.
The government says the immigrants will support Canada's economic recovery from the recession.
"Canada's post-recession economy demands a high level of economic immigration to keep our economy strong," said Kenney.
"While other Western countries cut back on immigration during the recession, our government kept legal immigration levels high."
The number of newcomers in 2010 is about 60,000 higher than the average number of immigrants admitted annually in the 1990s.
