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The Century Initiative says the measures are needed to prevent an economic slowdown caused by labour shortages, an aging population and technological change. “Scale matters,” said Jasmine Gill, the group’s director of policy and programs. But public support for increased immigration levels is low, and finding enough people to meet the organization’s targets is set to get more difficult as the countries that are currently the source of many of Canada’s newcomers offer more domestic opportunities as their economies grow.

With a population of 100 million, Canada would have potential annual economic growth of 2.6 per cent in 2100, “a full percentage point higher than if we maintain our current course,” the report claims.

The organization recommends the federal government continue to increase the number of new immigrants it admits each year, from the 2019 target of 330,800 to 475,000 in 2025. It wants Ottawa to then peg the rate to 1.25 per cent of the population.

The organization’s recommended numbers aren’t historically high — Canada brought in over 400,000 immigrants in 1913, more than five per cent of the existing citizenry, according to the report.

The Century Initiative’s recommendations

1. Set targets to begin increasing immigration immediately: Bring in 400,000 permanent residents in 2022, rising to 475,000 in 2025. From 2026 onward, admit permanent residents equivalent to 1.25 per cent of the population each year.