48 Immigration
Temporary foreign worker program not working in Alberta
Thomas Lukaszuk, Alberta’s employment and immigration minister has said that Canada’s temporary foreign worker program is no longer working for the province. He says, “The program has fulfilled its mandate by
providing large numbers of workers to an economy that had a shortage of workers, but that the program was a temporary solution to a permanent problem.” During the fall a number of discussions will take
place regarding the temporary foreign worker program. This will result in a number of recommendation that will be submitted to Ottawa to suggest changes to the program. In recent years immigration rules for temporary
foreign workers have been eased, allowing people with a variety of skills and educational backgrounds to enter Canada with working visas valid for up to two years.
In the last five year Alberta has seen a rise in temporary workers from 16,000 in 2005 to nearly 66,000 in 2009.
Canada/US border security
Meetings have been taking place to discuss security and immigration issues between Canada and the United States.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Minister Jason Kenney also signed a Terms of Reference to formalize the long-standing Visa Policy Working Group—institutionalizing this joint forum that aids bilateral consultations and information sharing about US and!Canada visa, admissibility, and screening policies. “Canada’s longstanding geographic, economic and social ties with the United States are a source of strength for both countries,” said Minister Kenney. “By sharing information and working together we
can redefine approaches to identifying and screening travelers to expedite the flow of individuals moving legitimately across our borders, while protecting against those who would threaten our shared peace and prosperity.” Secretary Napolitano and!Canada Immigration Minister Kenney also discussed the progress made since they last met in May 2009, and identified further opportunities for information sharing and collaboration relating to immigration, refugee policies, and the traveler identity verification process.
Quebec pressing for consultant regulation
The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) has praised Quebec!Immigration Minister!Yolande James!for pressing ahead on consultant regulation.
Since 2004, only members of CSIC, a provincial
bar, or a!Quebec!notary have been authorized to appear before the Federal government on behalf of a prospective immigrant or to advise a person with a pending application for immigration. CSIC members, known as Certified Canadian Immigration Consultants (CCICs), are held to a strict code of professional conduct and must constantly develop their professional skills in order to stay abreast of issues that could affect their immigration practice and, ultimately, how they represent a client. In addition, all CCICs must carry errors and omissions insurance and pay into a client compensation fund. Members are subject to a formal complaints process where every complaint is reviewed and every effort is made to resolve the complaint to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. “This measure draws a clear line between unlicensed and licensed immigration consultants. Further, it provides much needed protection to the integrity of the!Quebec!immigration system,” said CSIC Chair,!Nigel Thomson.“The fact that the!Quebec!government has made the regulation of immigration consultants in!Quebec!a priority speaks volumes about their commitment to consumer protection. These measures will ensure Quebec!consumers of immigration consulting services will be afforded competent and up-to-date skills and knowledge.”
How Canadians feel about immigration
The Association for Canadian Studies (ACS)
recently conducted a survey about how Canadians feel about immigration to their country. Jack Jedwab, executive director of ACS said that the survey found that while Canadians don’t believe there are too many immigrants and 70% have a favourable view of newcomers, many Canadians also believe immigrants should put their customs and traditions behind them once they arrive. “There is a disconnect,” said Jedwab, “Canadians want immigration…they are favourable to immigrants, we value their different customs and traditions, but half of us don’t want them to hold onto them very long.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62