Minister Plans to Reveal Amendments to Canadian Immigration Program
27/08/2008 by Tabitha Holland
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Minister Diane Finley has been heavily involved in governmental discussions concerning new amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
It is hoped that new amendments will not only improve and strengthen migration to the country but will also help Canada's current skills shortage by offering better protection to those individuals opting to work in Canada. It is these laws which saw implementation in June of this year that has prompted the call for greater protection and security for migrant workers.
Canada, like many countries the world over is facing the negative implications of an ageing population and declining skills pool, a situation which the Citizenship and Immigration Canada is actively trying to remedy. Those industries which are at particular dismay due to looming shortages are the medical, financial, and IT sectors.
The June laws were instilled on the precedence of prioritising the processing of Canadian immigration applications based on Canada's socio-economic needs. Dubbed by some as a first-come-first-served system, where all applications were considered on the same objective criteria.
These new policy changes have arisen following the Canadian governments enthusiasm for providing a greater budget to face the issue of immigration in Canada. The 2008 budget commitments specifically highlighted their determination in modernising Canada's immigration system
Although still in place it is thought that the amendments to be announced by Ms Finley will offer immigration visa officials stricter instructions to which applications should be fast-tracked, which should be held for review at a later time, and which should be returned outright.
Following the lead of Australia's successful skilled migration program, Canada hopes to itself provide such an occupational based service with regards to visa applications. Much has been documented in recent months of the numerous consultations with stakeholder groups across Canada, in order to establish the framework for such a program.
As many eagerly await the results of the deliberations and news of greater instructions and guidance on visa applications, one thing is almost certain and that is that those applicants whom clearly obtain occupational skills which are considered to be in demand will surely see their applications fast tracked, in order to get them into struggling vacancies as quick as possible.
USA
UK
Australia
Canada
South Africa
New Zealand
Ireland
India
China
Philippines