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| Subject: Immigration changes good news |
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Ottawa speeds up immigration process
Last Updated Apr 18 2005 07:34 AM PDT
CBC News
BRAMPTON, ONT. ? Citizenship and Immigration Minister Joe Volpe has announced new rules aimed at making it easier for immigrants to re-unite with their relatives, and at the same time clearing a massive backlog of applicants.
Part of Volpe´s $72-million plan will make it easier for people in Canada to sponsor the immigration of their parents or grandparents, a process that now takes five to 10 years because of the massive backlog of applications.
He says that over the next two years, the number of parents and grandparents given landed status will be tripled, from 6,000 a year to 18,000 a year.
And for those parents and grandparents still waiting, there will be five-year, multiple-entry visas to make it easier to visit families living in Canada.
Changes are also coming for foreign students. They will be allowed to work up to 20 hours a week to gain Canadian experience while they are being trained in this country.
There will also be incentives to encourage new Canadian to settle outside major metropolitan centres like Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
LINK: Volpe announcement
Up to 70 per cent of applicants for immigration come from Asian and South Asian countries.
The changes do not need legislative approval and could take place immediately, giving the Liberals some campaign momentum with immigrant communities should their minority government fall this spring or summer.
[18-04-2005,13:01]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
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(in reply to: Immigration changes good news)
That is not good news for people sponsoring their wives or husbands.
[18-04-2005,13:04]
[***.123.170.131]
SW |
(in reply to: Immigration changes good news)
it is a big system. one thing at a time. they just changed the rules 2 months back for spousal sponsorship that allowes partners inside Canada to remain for the duration of the process regardless of status.
One thing at a time.
[18-04-2005,13:18]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: Immigration changes good news)
Yes, one thing at a time, I do understand.
Just frustrated, is all.
[18-04-2005,13:23]
[***.123.170.131]
SW |
(in reply to: Immigration changes good news)
But do you guys think that it will have any affect on applications in process at buffalo.As it will take atleast 3-4 months to speed up the process.
[18-04-2005,14:48]
[***.150.176.102]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Immigration changes good news)
not sure that skilled worker applications will see any change for now.
[18-04-2005,15:27]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: Immigration changes good news)
gooooood news for my parents
[18-04-2005,16:00]
[**.131.196.143]
ed |
(in reply to: Immigration changes good news)
So waht about the pass mark?? nothing about it?? I´m very convinced that it should go up as they need to close or at least tighten the gate. They are overwhelmed now with thousands or may be millions around the world who have submitted their application since the passmark went donw to 67.
Any news about it plz keep up updated. fingers crossed.
[18-04-2005,18:16]
[**.114.248.82]
Romantic warrior |
(in reply to: Immigration changes good news)
no, nothing about pass mark. the following has not come out in a formal announcement but this is what the other national paper has said this morning...
Mr. Volpe, the political minister for Ontario, is expected to make a series of immigration announcements in the coming weeks, including one designed to make it easier for both immigrants and Canadians trained abroad to have their credentials recognized in Canada.
In Edmonton on Saturday, Mr. Volpe vowed to accelerate admissions of foreign workers into Canada. About 110,000 wage earners will be rapidly let into the country, cutting a backlog of immigration cases by 25%, he predicted in an interview.
"We have to turn ourselves from a risk-management system into a recruitment system. We have to rethink how we do business and attract people," Mr. Volpe said. "It´s a function of a booming economy. You just need people."
Virtually every occupational group appears to be headed toward shortages to some degree, the minister indicated. He cited appeals to him by the long-distance trucking industry for help to overcome a looming shortage of 30,000 drivers.
Labour shortages are not caused by Canadians being unable to work or refusing to take jobs, Mr. Volpe said. He pointed out Canada has the highest labour force "participation rate" in the world, with more than 70% of the working-age population holding down jobs. The average is 63% for member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Ottawa also wants to work with cities to identify their labour needs and recruiting immigrants who match local requirements, Mr. Volpe said.
Mr. Heckbert denied the rush to make the announcements has anything to do with a possible spring election. "No," he said. "This is the right thing to do for Canadians."
[18-04-2005,19:04]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
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