In its annual report to the House of Commons, Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced Tuesday that the target for permanent residents will increase by 15,000 in the upcoming year.

Each year the department sets target ranges for each year, rather than exact figures. In 2007 Canada plans to admit between 240 000 to 265 000 permanent residents, up from a range of 225 000 to 250 000 this calendar year. In its report the department said that statistics for this year show that total immigration for this year will fall at the upper end of that spectrum.

Most of the planned increase will be accounted for by immigrants who fall under the economic class designation. Sponsorships for parents and grandparents will remain at the same levels, while refugee claims are expected to drop due to global trends. The plan does however include an increase in the refugee private sponsorship program.