Running up their bill of election promises, Liberals have vowed to reverse the controversial immigration amendments implemented by Conservative government this year, and pledged to overhaul country’s immigration system through an $800-million strategy.
The Conservative-legislation, Liberals are promising to repeal, was written into the 2008 budget bill C-50 in an attempt to tackle a backlog of nearly one million applications and, consequently, excessively long processing times. Critics have taken aim at the law for the authority it assigns to Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to hand-pick immigrants. Although Liberals called these ministerial powers "unfair, sweeping discretionary" but they were abstained in the House of Commons at time of voting on this legislation perhaps to defeat Conservatives in Parliament that could trigger an election.
The Liberals also pledged to invest a total of $800 million in federal funding to deal with the immigration backlog, bring in a new business and visitors’ visa system, set up a new program for temporary workers and students to apply for permanent residence status, set up a more efficient refugee-determination system, raise immigration quotas "significantly" and introduce a series of programs to help new Canadians learn one of the country’s official languages and have their professional credentials recognized.
A breakdown of this investment, over four years, would be as follows:
- $400 million to modernize the immigration system, process applications more efficiently and support the admission of significantly more permanent residents to Canada.
- $200 million in New Beginnings Canada – an enhanced language training initiative designed to help newcomers master the language necessary to get jobs that match their qualifications.
- $200 million for a Bridge to Work plan – a new initiative that will better prepare newcomers for the workplace through the use of internships, special training and work placement opportunities.
Other measures will include (a) revamping the immigration points system to give greater weight to skilled trades, better aligning immigration policy to the Canadian labour market; (b) creation of an In-Canada Fast Track program that will accelerate the process for temporary workers, international students and live-in caregivers to apply for permanent residence within Canada; (c) direct financial assistance to help foreign professionals obtain recognition of their credentials; (b) introduction of Welcome Canada Pass – a five year renewable, multi-entry visitor’s visa for individuals sponsored by Canadian citizens and landed immigrants; (c) Creation of a so-called Canada Express Pass for frequent business visitors to reduce processing times and promote trade and commerce; and (d) strengthening provincial nominee programs.
Liberal party has declared immigration a "critical component" of its election platform and believed that a successful immigration plan is built on the sound principles of fairness, accountability and opportunity.
