It is harder to qualify, for example for the skilled worker program but it is taking a lot less time. Before 2008, there was up to a 6 year wait in some countries.
The country that is easiest for you to immigrate to depends on your skills and your citizenship. If you are from an EU country, it is obviously very easy for you to immigrate to another EU country. If your country has an open job market agreement with any other countries, then those would be the easiest countries for you to immigrate to. Some countries have working holiday visa agreements with Canada and for those people, that can be a way to get their foot in the door, come to Canada, make connections and at the end of that visa have an employer who will sponsor them under a PNP or apply for their work permit.