Canada immigration at 50-year peak

The Canadian government is reporting that last year it welcomed the highest number of immigrants in more than half a century.



Canada has a population of just over 32 million people.



Immigration minister, Jason Kenny, says the new permanent residents who number more than 280,000 will help to boost Canada's economic recovery.



However, some critics say the Canadian government is tightening admission for non-economic migrants and that genuine refugees could be turned away.



Meanwhile, Kenny says the government also wants to put a stop to abuses of the asylum system and human smuggling.