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.