Canadian Government Funds Immigration Support Services

Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister has announced $950,000 in funding to provide new immigrants in the city of Hamilton, Ontario settlement services. These will include a variety of services, including language training, job search assistance, and help locating day-care for children.

"We want more immigrants to come to Canada and we are committed to helping immigrants begin their new lives in our country,' said the Haldimand-Norfolk MP. 'Their success is good for Hamilton and good for Canada as a whole."

Government Leaders Opposed Canadian Immigration Changes

Jack Layton, the opposition leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), has stated that the proposed changes to Canada's immigration legislation will be opposed "every step of the way." The changes, which the Minister of Immigration is seeking to help reduce backlogs for applicants worldwide, also contain some provisions which Layton feels is contrary to Canada's history of multi-culturalism.

Layton, promising cross country consultations with community leaders, feels that the issue is significant enough to force an election. His party opposes the principle of encouraging temporary foreign workers over permanent immigrants, and will likely introduce legislation which will annul the changes sought in the present amendments.

Canadian Permanent Resident Card

Canada's Minister of Immigration has announced changes to the process of applying for renewal of a permanent resident card. Effective April 21 2008, Canadian permanent resident seeking renewal will be able to retain their existing card if it is still valid, and may return it to Citizenship and Immigration Canada when collecting the new card. If the card is already expired, then the card should be returned with the application for renewal.

To be eligible for a PR Card, an individual must be a permanent resident of Canada and be physically present in Canada. A permanent resident who is under an effective removal order may not be found eligible for the card. Permanent residents who are outside Canada and do not have a valid PR Card must apply for a travel document from a Canadian visa office in order to return to Canada.

Minister of Immigration Updates Post-Graduation Work Permit Program

On April 21st, Canada's Minister of Immigration announced changes to the program which allows certain foreign students to work in Canada following their graduation. The program, which is effective immediately, changes the maximum duration of such work permits from two years to three. It also removes the requirement of a job offer consistent with the field of study by allowing for issuance of open work permits.

Program requirements for international students as follows:

• Must have studied full-time for at least eight months preceding the completion of their program of studies and have graduated from:
• a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, university or CEGEP (in Quebec); or
• a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions, and that receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify); or
• a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial or territorial statute to confer degrees.
• Must apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation (for example, a transcript or an official letter) from the institution that they have met the requirements of the academic program (notice of graduation).
• Must have completed and passed the program of study and received a notification that they are eligible to obtain their degree, diploma or certificate.
• Must have a valid study permit when they apply for the work permit.

The following foreign students are not eligible for the program:

• Students participating in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program or a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
• Students receiving funding from the Canadian International Development Agency and participating in a distance learning program.
• Students who have previously been issued a post-graduation work permit after any other program of study. However, note that graduates who are already working with a work permit issued under the previous rules are eligible to apply for an extension.

Canadian Government Debates Immigration and Citizenship Changes

Canada's Conservative government and the Minister of Immigration have faced considerable criticism of late in the light of changes currently proposed to the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Proposed changes to the Citizenship Act, to be implemented in the spring of 2009 if approved would change the process by which those born outside Canada to Canadian parents could become eligible for citizenship. Whereas at present such individuals are required to declare or affirm their citizenship by the age of 28, Bill C-37 removes this requirement. At the same time, it removes the possibility of these individuals' children gaining citizenship if born outside Canada.

Meanwhile, the ongoing debate of the proposed amendments to the IRPA continues. The changes, intended to help expedite the processing of eligible applicants, also carries bad news for some whose cases could be closed without processing. A recent vote on the Bill defeated an amendment that would have killed the proposition. Although Canada's Liberal party continues to adamantly oppose the amendments, a decision to bring down the minority government may be needed to shut down the proposition.

Canadian Bar Association Concerned about Immigration Law Amendments

The chair of the immigration section of the Canadian Bar Association has stated concerns that the organization has over the proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The main concern over the changes is that it permits the Minister to unilaterally implement criteria that can affect the processing of cases already submitted. This can include expediting a case or closing it without processing.

The changes are intended to reduce the backlogs which have only extended since the present government took power, despite promises to do the opposite. While the opponents claims that the changes are undemocratic, the Minister of Immigration maintains that urgent action is required to expedite the admission of skilled workers to Canada and to reunite families.

Immigration Amendment Opposed

Canadian Members of Parliament are being urged by Canadians and by other politicians to vote against to proposed amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The main concern is that the Conservative party is seeking to much power to close applications that are deemed inconsistent with present labour market requirements. The amendments propose to allow the Immigration Minister to cap the number of applicants in the immigration backlogs and would be able to refuse an application which had already been approved. The Immigration Minister could also make decisions about immigration policy that, under the current system, require regulatory changes.

One Member of Parliament, Olivia Chow, has promised to introduce an amendment to have the immigration proposals removed from the proposed bill. Other groups presently mounting opposition to the amendments include the Chinese Canadian National Council and the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants.

Amendments to Canada's Immigration Act

The Government of Canada has introduced new legislation that is intended to reduce immigration backlogs, especially in the Skilled Worker program. "The legislation is intended to provide greater flexibility in addressing a range of labour market needs. It will not apply to refugees and does not affect our objectives related to family reunification."

If passed, the new measures will apply to any application received on or following February 27th 2008. Cases which had been received prior to such date will be handled on the existing legislation at that time.

The major change proposed in these amendments is that the immigration department will not necessarily process applications on a first-come first-serve basis. Cases which best match the current needs of the Canadian labour market, as defined by the Minister, may be entitled to expedited processing. The Minister's instructions which govern the priority awarded to certain cases would be published officially. These provisions would not apply to refugee or family class cases.

Canadian Immigration Numbers Released

Canada's immigration department is set to release figures that state that a total of 251,000 permanent residents were admitted last year. Combined with approximately 178,000 temporary foreign workers, the department is claiming that the 2007 figures are the highest total since 1911.