The federal government is proposing a massive of increase in the number of immigrants coming to Canada in the next three years.

The new targets were revealed Tuesday by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

Last year Canada welcomed over 405,000 newcomers – the most the country ever welcomed in a single year. The new targets increase that number by 60,000 next year, then a total of 485,000 new immigrants in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.

The plan also increases efforts to attract newcomers to different regions in the country including small town and rural communities.

The federal government says its long-term focus is on economic growth, with just over 60% of admissions in the economic class by 2025