This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-48466771
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Is Canada asking countries for a million immigrants? | Is Canada asking countries for a million immigrants? |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A story saying Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has invited a million immigrants from individual countries to come to his country is spreading. | |
| Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana and the Philippines have all been targeted. | Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana and the Philippines have all been targeted. |
| The articles have been circulating online and on social media. | The articles have been circulating online and on social media. |
| But the stories aren't true. | But the stories aren't true. |
| What do the articles claim? | What do the articles claim? |
| The articles, variously targeting these countries, claim that Canada is inviting a million people from there as part of a new immigration programme. | The articles, variously targeting these countries, claim that Canada is inviting a million people from there as part of a new immigration programme. |
| One website has the headline: "Canada's prime minister begs Zambia president for one million immigrants". | One website has the headline: "Canada's prime minister begs Zambia president for one million immigrants". |
| The picture of Zambia's president shaking hands with the Canadian High Commissioner, Pamela O'Donnell, is genuine - but the headline is wholly false. | The picture of Zambia's president shaking hands with the Canadian High Commissioner, Pamela O'Donnell, is genuine - but the headline is wholly false. |
| The government immigration office, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made it clear there's no such offer. | The government immigration office, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made it clear there's no such offer. |
| Similar headlines have appeared with claims that Canada has invited a million immigrants from other African countries as well as the Philippines. | Similar headlines have appeared with claims that Canada has invited a million immigrants from other African countries as well as the Philippines. |
| How did the news spread? | How did the news spread? |
| These stories are all false but they're built on the back of Canada's immigration policy announced earlier this year - that the Canadian government plans to attract one million immigrants over a period of three years. | These stories are all false but they're built on the back of Canada's immigration policy announced earlier this year - that the Canadian government plans to attract one million immigrants over a period of three years. |
| This policy has not been directed at individual countries. | This policy has not been directed at individual countries. |
| In Nigeria, a version of the story that first appeared in April was shared thousands of times on Facebook. | In Nigeria, a version of the story that first appeared in April was shared thousands of times on Facebook. |
| It was picked up by individual social media accounts, one with more than a million followers. | It was picked up by individual social media accounts, one with more than a million followers. |
| Comments on posts varied, with some recognising it was not real but others asking for links to apply to move to Canada. | Comments on posts varied, with some recognising it was not real but others asking for links to apply to move to Canada. |
| It was also posted on Reddit, various blogs and various Facebook groups. | It was also posted on Reddit, various blogs and various Facebook groups. |
| How has Canada reacted? | How has Canada reacted? |
| The stories have been widely refuted. | The stories have been widely refuted. |
| The Canadian High Commissions in Nigeria and Kenya have warned people against falling for the stories. | The Canadian High Commissions in Nigeria and Kenya have warned people against falling for the stories. |
| "If you've seen this link on your social media timeline, don't fall for it. This story is not true," the High Commission in Nigeria posted on Twitter. | "If you've seen this link on your social media timeline, don't fall for it. This story is not true," the High Commission in Nigeria posted on Twitter. |
| But this is not the only piece of disinformation targeting Nigerians interested in moving to Canada. | But this is not the only piece of disinformation targeting Nigerians interested in moving to Canada. |
| In March, Canadian officials in Nigeria posted another warning urging people not to fall for a text message claiming to guarantee successful applications for a visa to move to Canada. | In March, Canadian officials in Nigeria posted another warning urging people not to fall for a text message claiming to guarantee successful applications for a visa to move to Canada. |
| An IRCC official told BBC News it regularly checked information circulating online. | An IRCC official told BBC News it regularly checked information circulating online. |
| "When false information is being circulated, as in this case, we aim to act quickly to provide facts," the official added. | "When false information is being circulated, as in this case, we aim to act quickly to provide facts," the official added. |
| What is the actual situation? | What is the actual situation? |
| More than six million immigrants have arrived in Canada since 1990 - and the arrival rate has been steadily rising in recent years. | More than six million immigrants have arrived in Canada since 1990 - and the arrival rate has been steadily rising in recent years. |
| Applications for Canadian citizenship rose 130% from October 2017 to June 2018. | Applications for Canadian citizenship rose 130% from October 2017 to June 2018. |
| And Nigeria and the Philippines are among the top 10 countries of origin for immigrants moving to Canada. | And Nigeria and the Philippines are among the top 10 countries of origin for immigrants moving to Canada. |
| The country aims to attract migrants to deal with its ageing population and declining birth rate by growing Canada's working population. | The country aims to attract migrants to deal with its ageing population and declining birth rate by growing Canada's working population. |
| The current plan covering three years will see 330,800 immigrants allowed into the country in 2019, 341,000 in 2020 and 350,000 in 2021. | The current plan covering three years will see 330,800 immigrants allowed into the country in 2019, 341,000 in 2020 and 350,000 in 2021. |
| The new admissions would be close to 1% of Canada's population. | The new admissions would be close to 1% of Canada's population. |
| Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |
| Send us your questions | Send us your questions |
| Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Twitter |