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Immigration levels will remain frozen for the seventh straight year as the government shifts the make-up of newcomers to create more space for foreign students and skilled workers who want to stay in Canada permanently.

After tabling his department’s annual report in Parliament Wednesday, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced Canada would admit between 240,000 and 265,000 newcomers in 2013 — a target that’s gone unchanged since 2006.

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Noting Canada is moving to prioritize young people with strong language skills and homegrown credentials, Kenney also indicated that the Canada Experience Class (CEC) would welcome a record 10,000 permanent residents in 2013, about 3,000 more than were admitted this year.

He said the growth in CEC would come at the expense of the federal skilled worker program which has not been as successful when it comes to integration.

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The program is undergoing a make-over and a new points grid that will favour younger workers with strong language skills is expected to be implemented within the first six months of the new year. Under the revamped program, skilled workers will also have to get their education credentials assessed before they come to Canada.