While the U.S. paused green-card seekers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada continues to welcome immigrants into the country.

Canada normally allows three times the amount of immigrants to enter the country than the U.S. does on a per-capita basis, which makes it different from many other countries, Forbes reported. Even during the pandemic, Canada has allowed immigration to continue, which is fundamental to Toronto and many other parts of the country. 

Immigration is important to Toronto's economy because it increases population, adds to the workforce and keeps a healthy relationship between supply and demand of housing, Forbes said. 

Immigration has helped support Toronto's real estate market during the pandemic, the story said. 

Toronto's population is expected to hit eight million within the next 10 years, even as some residents leave for other ares of Ontario. 

Ontario as a whole has also seen a steady population increase, Forbes reported. Those leaving Toronto are moving to St. Catharine's, London, Hamilton and Kitchener-Waterloo and other areas. Hamilton has seen an increase by 23,763 in population since 2015 and St. Catharine's has increased by 12,396 since the same year. 

But as population increases in Ontario, specifically Toronto, so does the demand for housing. 

A survey of Canadians revealed an increasing the demand for housing in the Greater Toronto Area, Forbes reported.

Canadians aren't the only ones relocating to Toronto. Many immigrants are moving to the city as well, according to Forbes. The Greater Toronto Area welcomes 77% of Ontario's immigrants each year and Ontario welcomes over half (52%) of Canada's immigrants each year, Forbes reported. 

While Canada has seen a steady flow of immigrants arriving, the country's economy is still suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, Forbes reported. But immigrants will help the recovery by improving the real estate market, Forbes said.