Canada hit an all-time record of more than 430,000 immigrants last year and has a goal of achieving 500,000 immigrants a year by 2025.

Canada's strategy to grow its population and workforce is the most aggressive in the G7. In the latest "Insights" podcast, Don Mills and David Campbell talk with Sean Fraser, the Federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, about the government's efforts to boost immigration to record levels. 

They discuss the government's willingness to increase the number of refugees; the importance of post-secondary institutions in attracting and retaining immigrants; and efforts to mitigate the impact of immigration on healthcare, housing and education through policy changes and further capital investment.

This will provide listeners with an excellent overview of this critical issue to the future prosperity of Canada.

"You walk down Main Street of any community in Canada, there are going to be 'help wanted' signs in the windows," says Fraser, MP for Central Nova.

"We had almost a million jobs open in the Canadian economy at a time when nearly 100 percent of our labour force growth already comes from immigration. We can't train Canadians quickly enough to fill the gaps in the labour market that exist today, and to prepare for the skills gap that's going to exist over the next generation."

You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.

The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.

Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.