For over a century, immigration has been a means to support Canada's population, economic, and cultural growth. Canada's permanent immigration policy was founded on three pillars that continue to enrich the social fabric of our country:

• Family reunification pillar: policies that facilitate family reunification by permitting close family members (e.g., spouses and dependent children) to immigrate through sponsorship,
• Economic pillar: policies related to the selection of candidates with the highest human capital (highly skilled and experienced) who can meet Canada's current economic needs in the labour market and
• Refugee and humanitarian and compassionate considerations pillar: policies that aim to protect refugees and persons in refugee-like situations by fulfilling Canada's obligations as a signatory to international conventions (e.g., the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment) through an in-Canada refugee determination system and overseas programs for resettlement.

A foreign national who permanently comes to Canada to live here is a permanent resident. With the enactment of the IRPA in 2002, the term permanent resident came into use, replacing the former term "landed immigrant." A person with permanent resident status enjoys most of the same rights that Canadian citizens are guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, such as the right to live, work, and study in Canada, and must fulfill the corresponding obligations to pay taxes and respect Canadian laws. However, a permanent resident may not run for political office, serve on a jury, or vote: Canadian citizens' privileges and obligations are reserved. Furthermore, although section 27 of the IRPA gives permanent residents the right to enter and remain in Canada, they must comply with specific requirements under the IRPA or risk becoming inadmissible and losing their "permanent" status or having it revoked, the consequence of which generally leads to their removal from Canada.

A foreign national who wishes to relocate permanently to Canada must undertake a rigorous and costly application process. Nevertheless, the time and associated financial costs of the immigration procedures have not discouraged the thousands of people who apply and are granted permanent residence status each year.