OTTAWA - Two ships full of Chinese citizens caught trying to sneak into Canada recently have raised fears that the country is being overwhelmed by immigrants.

But statistics show that the federal government can't even meet its own immigration targets.

Last year, Ottawa said it wanted between 200,000 and 225,000 immigrants let into the country. The actual level didn't even come close -- with only 174,100 immigrants recorded.

The Minister of Immigration, Elinor Caplan, says hitting those targets is a priority, because with an aging population, Canada needs more people to maintain the current standard of living.

"What we want to do is achieve the levels that we've set," Caplan says. "It's realistic, and needed for the future prosperity of the country."

Although the country may need more immigrants, some academics say it will be difficult to attract people with resources and skills unless Ottawa is willing to spend more money.

"It's a consequence of a lack of resources," says Jeffrey Reitz, at the University of Toronto.

"We'll need additional resources in the immigration program just to make the current targets," Reitz says.