Thank you again for your question.
What is important to know about permanent residents is that we are subject to the annual immigration levels plan. That means I cannot process a higher number of files than that permitted by the plan. Last year, for example, to get to 401 000 permanent residents, we had to process over half a million applicant files. This allowed us to reach our immigration level.
As the minister said, for next year, we've increased the number of permanent residents that Canada can welcome to 432 000. To maintain this annual immigration level, the department will have to make decisions about 550 000 or 560 000 applicant files.