Canadian Immigration Consultations Begin

As part of its efforts to reduce backlogs in the processing of Canadian immigration applications, changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act have been approved. These changes allow direction from the Minister of Immigration in order to determine which cases - most consistent with Canada's economic needs - can be fast-tracked through the application process.

Canada's Minister of Immigration has announced that consultations will begin on July 7th in order to focus on identifying critical occupational shortages, the role of immigration in responding to them, and any barriers to foreign credential accreditation. These consultations will be held with Canada's provinces and territories as well as invited representatives from business, labour, academic, and non-government organizations. They will be the basis for the instructions which will be formulated to identify cases for priority processing.

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 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.