Canada announces new funding for youth initiatives and settlement services in schools and libraries in Toronto

To help newcomers settle, adapt and integrate into Canadian society, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), in partnership with provinces, territories and settlement providers, has been delivering programs and services to migrants and providing stakeholders necessary funding to support these initiatives.

For this purpose, a new settlement funding of over $36 million has been announced to help nineteen schools, libraries and community centers delivering settlement and integration services to new immigrants, specifically newcomer youth and their families, in the city of Toronto and in high needs neighborhoods.

With this unique funding, newcomer youths and their families will have access to innovative programs, which will ease their transition to life in Canada. These innovative programs will include mentorships and peer engagement that would be delivered through sports and the arts. The schools and libraries will staff 223 specially trained settlement workers in order to improve the delivery.

This funding will also expand the federal-provincial partnership on use of libraries to help newcomers finding training programs and job opportunities using computers and the Internet. This project was launched in 2006 on pilot basis. Another such great pilot project has been started recently at Vancouver Public Library (VPL), which will provide skilled immigrants with customized employment information that will help them find work in their chosen field.

Few of the partner agencies in the city of Toronto, who will receive major share of $36 million, include Catholic Cross-Cultural Services ($4,325,740), Center for Information and Community Services of Ontario ($2,575,207), Center Francophone de Toronto ($615,177), CultureLink Settlement Services ($1,724,903), North York Community House ($3,379,461) Thorncliffe Neighborhood Office ($6,717,229), Jewish Family and Child Services ($1,658,148), University Settlement Recreation Center ($271,717), Vietnamese Association of Toronto – Youth ($130,851) and Scadding Court Community Center ($128,387).

Similarly, a new settlement funding, totaling $450,000, has been announced for the New Canadians Center to assist in delivering settlement services to newcomers in Peterborough and the Kawartha region. This funding is expected to serve an estimated 400 people with settlement services such as language training, paraprofessional counseling and assistance in finding a job, including access to workplace training opportunities in bookkeeping, computer repair, the legal field, food services and other occupations.

These funding for settlement and language training to Ontario are provided under the $920 million Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA) over five years and are part of $1.4 billion package over five years to provinces and territories other than Quebec, which was committed by the Canadian federal government in budget 2006.

Proposed amendments in Canada’s immigration laws: Bill delayed until next week; ignite debate over its net effects

Though the second (and final) reading on Bill C-50 was scheduled on March 31, 2008 in the ongoing 2nd session of 39th Parliament, but it has been postponed by the government until later this week or early next week.

This delay, as I think, could have some hidden political agenda, which would not be discussed here, but on the other hand, this postponement is providing an opportunity to businesses, policy groups, lawyers and advocacy groups to comment on the net effects of proposed legislation.

As this debate is getting fire in Canada, immigration groups and lawyers are overwhelmingly opposing the proposed changes to Canada's immigration laws. Their main concern is that the changes will give open-ended powers to the Immigration Minister to instruct the department. In their opinion, the legislation does not say what those instructions would look like because they would be made public only after the bill is passed by Parliament through a notice in the Canada Gazette. Departmental officials say the instructions would be solely focused on fast-tracking skilled workers to meet demand, but critics say the law as worded could allow instructions that block the processing of applications based on country of origin, race or religion thus promote a fundamentally unfair system. It will likely encourage the use of labor exploitation through temporary work permits. There are also objections to the changes relating to mandatory review of humanitarian applications.

Policy groups and major business organizations backing this initiative on simply one point: it would give officials the authority to prioritize and process immigration applications made under the skilled worker class according to Canada's labor market needs. This group has urged that immigration policy must work as an investment for the future of Canada, rather than simply put pressure on already stretched social programs. They are certain that the government is moving in the right direction by focusing on Canada's economic needs. Last year, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) issued a report on immigration and labor shortages in Canada that called for a reduction in immigration waiting times and more emphasis on skilled workers.

The two major political parties of Canada have their own specific agendas on this issue, however, NDP is quite clear and openly opposing the proposed changes in immigration laws. The Liberals, on the other hand, are not disclosing their position but it seems that they may abstain from voting.

It would further be important to note that if the proposed bill passed by the House of Commons at the end of this week or early next week, it will likely go to a Parliamentary Committee for consideration, which can take up to 60 days. If this would be the situation, the proposed bill may become the law in the end of May or beginning of June. However, I am not certain of a definitive timeframe.

Canada announces funding for Saskatoon to develop immigration strategy and help newcomers settle

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), in partnership with provincial governments and immigrant settlement service providing organizations, has been delivering programs and services for smaller communities across Canada wanting to attract immigrants and support their settlement and integration by their own for their growth and sustainability.

Recently, CIC has announced funding of $74,000 to help Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) promote and coordinate early settlement and integration support for immigrants and refugees moving to the city. The funding will basically support the development of mutual awareness, understanding and appreciation among racial, religious and ethnocultural groups as well as help newcomers with providing meaningful employment and entrepreneurial opportunities; coordinating and promoting existing services for newcomers; and helping newcomers integrate into the community.

Additionally, this funding will also help meet the recommendations of the report entitled Building Saskatoon to Become a Global City: A Framework for an Immigration Plan. This report provides the City of Saskatoon with a framework for developing and implementing an immigration action plan. It also provides guidance on what the city can do on its own and what it needs to do in partnership with other governments and stakeholders.

As part of its $1.4 billion ‘additional settlement funding package’ over five years to provinces and territories other than Quebec, Canadian government will provide Saskatchewan more than $5.5 million in basic settlement funding during 2008-09, an increase of more than $1.5 million over the previous year.

Canada announces increased funding for language training for newcomers in Ontario

To help newcomers settle, adapt and integrate into Canadian society, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), in partnership with provinces, territories and settlement providers, has been delivering programs and services to migrants of more than 40 nationalities for over 16 years, and providing stakeholders necessary funding to support these initiatives.

Language training is one of several settlement services funded by the federal government to help immigrants integrate into their new communities. To recognize the importance of language skills in successful settlement of a newcomer, government has announced to increase funding for language training from $143 million to $150 million for new immigrants in Ontario. Over the coming year, $150 million will be invested in two key language training programs: the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada program (LINC) and the Enhanced Language Training program (ELT).

This was announced by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada during a keynote address delivered at a conference entitled “Moving Forward Together: Higher Level Language Learning.” Funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), this is the first conference planned jointly with the Province of Ontario to discuss language training programs and how they can be improved. The conference brings together service providers, professionals, and federal and provincial officials.

Few days earlier, a new funding of $3.2 million was announced under LINC to Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge area, which will go towards developing and delivering brand new English-language training services to meet the increasingly diverse needs of more than 250 newcomers.

Similarly, Flexibility Learning Systems of Lethbridge, Ontario will also receive a funding of $1.3 million under LINC, which will go towards developing and delivering more flexible language training and literacy programs, over the next three years, to meet the increasingly diverse needs of newcomers.

These settlement funding for two key language training programs and support services are provided under the $920 million COIA over five years and are part of $1.4 billion package over five years to provinces and territories other than Quebec, which was committed by the Canadian federal government in budget 2006.

Federal and provincial cooperation on skills agenda will connect skilled immigrants to job resources

The provincial government of British Columbia and Canada’s federal government have jointly announced a new pilot project at the Vancouver Public Library (VPL), which will provide skilled immigrants with customized employment information that will help them find work in their chosen field.

The Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre will help foreign trained professionals and skilled immigrants in thoroughly planning their job search strategy by identifying them career opportunities and connecting them with other resources such as professional organizations, employer associations and immigrant services. Newcomers will also be provided with detailed labor market information.

With an estimated one million job openings in the province over the next 10 years, and only 650,000 people now in B.C.'s school system, 350,000 jobs will need to be filled by workers from outside the province. Health care, engineering, teaching and skilled trades are some of the professions that will require skilled immigrants. B.C. attracts over 42,000 immigrants annually, with most settling in the Lower Mainland.

Funding for the Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre is provided by the Government of Canada's Foreign Credential Recognition Program in a partnership with the Government of British Columbia.

The InfoCentre builds on other provincial immigration programs such as Skills Connect for Immigrants, WelcomeBC and the Provincial Nominee Program. This customized service, coupled with other job programs and services offered by the VPL, will provide skilled immigrants with a roadmap that will speed their transition into the labor force.

The Vancouver Public Library will staff the Center with a specially trained librarian and will follow-up with clients to assess the success of the service. The project also helps employers in British Columbia who need skilled workers.

Canada announces new funding to strengthen support for approved immigrants overseas

To complement and strengthen its existing Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP) – pilot overseas orientation services – to future immigrants in China, India and the Philippines, Canadian government has announced an additional investment of $3.8 million through to 2010.

These pilot orientation services are designed to prepare future immigrants from top three immigrants’ source countries for the Canadian labor market and improve their transition to the Canadian work force before they enter into the Canada. This overseas orientation includes labor market information sessions, individual counseling and planning, and referrals to a wide range of services available in Canada to assist future immigrants integrate into the Canadian labor market.

During these orientation sessions, potential immigrants participate in a daylong workshop at the CIIP overseas office where they are grouped either by profession or by destination. The participants then meet with counselors to develop a Canadian settlement strategy and then receive 90 minutes of one-on-one counseling with Canadian representatives. This orientation helps participants to develop a more realistic understanding about Canadian labor market integration and illustrates the steps they should take to better prepare themselves for life and work in Canada.

CIIP is funded on a pilot basis by Human Resources and Social Development Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program in partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada and delivered by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges. This project was first launched in January 2007 with an initial investment of $4.5 million over three years in Guangzhou, New Delhi and Manila. Last fall, the Canadian government has expanded the CIIP overseas orientation services by adding services on a rotational basis in the states of Gujarat and Punjab. In China, rotational services have been added in Beijing and Shanghai. Since January 2007, CIIP has been offering orientation sessions and helped over 2,300 immigrants learn about Canadian labor market trends, skills in demands in different areas, career bridging programs, and licensing procedures.

With over 2,300 approved immigrants to Canada accessing the services offered by the project since January 2007, the Canadian Immigration Integration Project has been hailed as innovative and a key contribution to the success and workforce integration of new Canadians upon their arrival. The Government's commitment to deepening these types of forward-looking services and directing future steps based on the success of the project are indicative of the fundamental need to fully integrate new Canadians into Canadian society.

In countries except China, India and the Philippines, potential immigrants to Canada can benefit from practical advice and useful resources available on the website of Canadian Immigration Integration Project where they can create their own Canadian Settlement Plan in preparation for a successful settlement and employment in Canada before they immigrate.

In Canada and abroad, newcomers can also look to the Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO), which helps internationally trained individuals find the information they need to get their credentials assessed and recognized more quickly. Established in May 2007, the FCRO provides information, pathfinding and referral services to help internationally trained individuals use their skills in Canada. There are now 320 Service Canada Centers across Canada offering in-person services to newcomers.

Budget 2008 has also proposed additional changes to modernize the immigration system to ensure that families are reunited faster, and that skilled and qualified workers arrive sooner to meet the needs of Canada’s labor market.

Proposed amendments in Canada’s immigration laws raising concerns over its implications on immigrants and its implementation

Although few days have remained in the scheduled second (and final) reading on Budget 2008-09 Implementation Bill (C-50) in the House of Commons, the proposed legislative changes in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) raising concerns over its implications on prospective immigrants and possible “methods” of its implementation.

How these amendments will affect prospective immigrants?

The theme behind the proposed amendments is the management of growing backlog of Canadian immigration applications (approx. 900,000 as of December 31, 2007) to improve the responsiveness of existing system and better align it with the needs of labor market.

In this context, the fresh immigrants to Canada under the Economic Class are the most targeted audience of these modifications in the country’s immigration laws. This proposed legislation, if passed in its present form, will give visa officers the authority (based on instructions received by the Immigration Minister) to retain or dispose of a new application received on or after February 27, 2008, whereas the existing system processes applications on first-in, first-out basis. To accept and fast track a new application, hold for processing at a later date, or return to the applicant (with fee refund) will entirely be a discretion of visa office that should be exercised on the changing requirements of Canadian job market. So, new applicants who may otherwise qualify for consideration under the applicable federal or provincial rules are no longer guaranteed that their applications will be processed. Moreover, the proposed legislation would authorize the Immigration Minister to set limits on the types of applications that can be accepted for processing in a given year (allowing the Minister to fast track skilled immigrants over those applying on grounds of family sponsorship or reunification, for example).

The proposed legislative change will not apply to the Economic Class cases that had been received or are in-process prior to February 27, 2008. These cases will remain in process according to the existing legislation. However, the change could cause a positive or negative impact on these cases. If passed and implemented, this change will help to boost the processing of these cases. However, it is almost impossible to estimate that how much reduction in wait times will possible and how much time this change will take to deliver the results? On the other hand, if the queue of potential immigrants gets too long, then the cases which does not best match the current needs of the labor market, as defined by the Minister, could be discarded in order to cap the backlog.

The proposed legislation would also not apply to family class cases. However, if Minister gets the power to eliminate any humanitarian and compassionate claim filed outside Canada, this will also include claims seeking to reunite families or partners.

The changes will not affect refugee claimants too, because applicants are technically only considered refugee claimants if they file their claim while physically in Canada. A proposed amendment in Subsection 25(1) pertaining to humanitarian and compassionate considerations will authorize the Minister to determine any humanitarian and compassionate applications from overseas and may grant the foreign national permanent resident status or an exemption from any applicable criteria.

What would be the possible “methods” to practically implement proposed amendments?

Although the proposed amendments in the bill provide no details about how the Minister’s powers might be interpreted or what sort of changes to the system might be involved, but it seems that current pass marks for most categories of Economic Class (67 points under the Federal Skilled Worker category, for example) will not be affected.

And if the pass marks for Economic Class categories are not affected, it could assume that “adaptableness” of an applicant with Canadian society and labor market will actually determine the future of a new application. For example, in Federal Skilled Worker program, an applicant with approved job offer from a Canadian employer and a conclusive proof of language skills (such as IELTS) will likely accept and proceed in an expedite manner. Similarly, people having at least two years of fulltime study and/or one year of work experience in Canada will be given priority.

Finally, it is also not clear whether a Ministerial decision under the new amendments to exclude a group or individual from consideration could even be appealed to a court.