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Immigration News

Please find links below to some interesting news relating to Canadian immigration from the past year:


Government of Canada introduces changes to work permits for international students, making Canada more attractive for skilled individuals

21 April 2008

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced changes to work permits for international students who graduate from eligible programs at certain Canadian post-secondary institutions, making it easier to attract foreign students to Canada.

Effective immediately, and for the first time, these international students would be able to obtain an open work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, with no restrictions on the type of employment and no requirement for a job offer. In addition, the duration of the work permit has been extended to three years across the country. Previously, the program only allowed international students to work for one or two years, depending on location.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Government of Canada admits highest number of newcomers in Canada’s history

14 March 2008

Canada accepted the highest number of temporary and permanent residents in its history last year, according to preliminary data released by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) today.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Government of Canada announces funding to help immigrants settle in the Ottawa Area

10 March 2008

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced funding for six organizations to deliver settlement services to newcomers in Ottawa and the surrounding area.

The new funding, totalling more than $10 million, will help more than 1,300 newcomers access settlement services, including language training, counselling and help finding a job.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Canada lifts visa requirements for travellers from Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania and Hungary

1 March 2008

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced today that citizens of Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania and Hungary no longer require a temporary resident visa to visit Canada.
Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Proposal for legislative amendment to protect trafficked persons

20 February 2008

The Canadian Council for Refugees has developed a Proposal to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The proposal would provide temporary and permanent protection to trafficked persons. The CCR is calling on Parliamentarians to turn this proposal into law.


Source:
Canadian Council or Refugees


New Statistics Canada study: The 2006 Canadian immigrant labour market - Analysis by region or country of birth

13 February 2008

Statistics Canada just released a study: "The 2006 Canadian immigrant labour market: Analysis by region or country of birth."

Immigrants born in Southeast Asia, particularly those from the Philippines, had the strongest labour market performance of all immigrants to Canada in 2006, regardless of when they landed in the country, according to the new study.

Source: Statistics Canada


Rushing Injustice through the Senate

13 February 2008

With the support of the Liberals, the Harper government is trying to rush a bill through the Senate that would put security certificates back into Canada's anti-terror lexicon as a legitimate means of apprehending and deporting people suspected of being threats to national security.

The security certificate is a citizenship and immigration process that was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada on Feb. 23, 2007, because it involves secret hearings and because it denies the suspects the ability to know and to meet the cases against them.

Source: The Star


Government expands temporary foreign worker services in Ontario and Atlantic Canada to help employers meet labour market needs

11 February 2008

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced an expansion of services to help employers in Ontario and Atlantic Canada meet their labour market needs with temporary foreign workers.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Minister Finley celebrates Chinese new year, announces funding for the Chinese community in Ottawa

8 February 2008

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced funding for the Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre to deliver settlement and integration services to newcomers in the community.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Immigration program no quick fix

4 February 2008

Federal bureaucrats are putting the finishing touches on a new immigration program that the government hopes to roll out just in time for the next election. It is called the "Canada Experience Class" and it is designed to alleviate the acute labour shortages in the oil patch. If it is presented honestly – as a modest initiative to keep temporary foreign workers and Canadian-educated foreign students in the country – it deserves to be welcomed.


Source:
The Star


Court puts hold on refugee pact ruling

31 January 2008

OTTAWA - The Federal Court of Appeal has put a freeze on a recent ruling that overturned a controversial refugee pact between Canada and the United States.

In a decision Thursday, Chief Justice John Richard said there should be a full airing of arguments before the Safe Third Country Agreement is suspended.

Source: Canada East Online


Small is better for immigrants: Newcomers who settle in towns earn more than big-city peers, StatsCan finds

26 January 2008

Contrary to conventional wisdom, immigrants in smaller Canadian cities and rural areas fare better financially than those who flock to Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

Newcomers to small towns earned on average 14 per cent less than native-born residents during their first three years in Canada, a Statistics Canada study released yesterday found. But their big-city peers earned 37 per cent less.

The small-town advantage became more pronounced over time. Not only did the income gap narrow in small urban centres, by the fourth year immigrants earned slightly more on average than the native-born population. By the 11th year, their earnings were 18 per cent above the median.

Big-city immigrants earned 22 per cent less than Canadian-born workers after four years, and almost 10 per cent less after 12 years.

Source: The Star


'Tireless' Afghan women's activist, 26 others to receive Order of Ontario

23 January 2008

She deals with Afghan women who come to Canada after experiencing the trauma of war, the loss of loved ones and who are in the throes of culture shock.

And Thursday in Toronto, 54-year-old Adeena Niazi will receive the Order of Ontario for what Lieutenant Governor David Onley calls "her tireless efforts" to help those women adjust and settle in their new country.


Source:
National Post


New Threats of Prosecution for Helping Refugees

17 January 2008

Another humanitarian refugee worker has been threatened by the Canadian government with prosecution for assisting refugees, the Canadian Council for Refugees reported today.  The threats follow charges for people-smuggling laid (and subsequently dropped) last fall against Janet Hinshaw-Thomas, a US-based refugee worker.


Source:
Canadian Council for Refugees


Canada makes it easier for children adopted overseas to become Canadian citizens

20 December 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced that Bill C-14, an amendment to Canada's citizenship laws passed earlier this year, will go into effect December 23, 2007.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Minister Finley announces new federal commitments to help newcomers settle in Canada

17 December 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced new federal commitments to assist in the settlement and integration of newcomers to Canada.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Immigrants make up 20% of population: Census

5 December 2007

Canada is becoming a nation of immigrants again. Canada's foreign-born population grew four times as fast as that of the Canadian-born population during the first half of this decade to reach a 75-year high of nearly one in five people living here, according to the latest analyses of data from last year's census.


Source: National Post


Court strikes down 'safe third country' pact

30 November 2007

The Federal Court of Canada has struck down an agreement that barred thousands from seeking refugee status in Canada, saying the United States does not meet international refugee protection requirements nor does it respect international conventions against torture.


Source:
Montreal Gazette


Foreign credentials referral services now offered at 320 Service Canada centres across Canada

30 November 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced that as of November 30th, 320 Service Canada centres across the country are now offering in-person credentials referral services for newcomers trained internationally.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Canada accepts 661 Iraqi refugees

22 November 2007

The Canada is among the top countries for accepting refugees from Iraq this year, according to a newly prepared list by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The report shows that, of the three countries accepting the most Iraqi refugees, two are not involved in the Iraq war. According to UNHCR, Canada accepted 661 refugees this year as of last week. Sweden accepted 663 during the corresponding period, while the United States accepted 2,015.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Government of Canada announces measures to help reunite families affected by the situation in Iraq

Monday, 19 November 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), today announced measures to assist families affected by the humanitarian crisis in Iraq.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Minister Finley announces overseas expansion of Foreign Credentials Referral Services

Tuesday, 6 November 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced the expansion of services to help immigrants from India and China get their professional credentials assessed and recognized in Canada as quickly as possible with the assistance of the Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO).

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, 2007

1 November 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, has tabled the annual report, including the target levels of immigration to Canada for 2008.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Canada lifts visa requirements for the Czech Republic and Republic of Latvia

Wednesday, 31 October 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced today that citizens of the Czech Republic and the Republic of Latvia no longer require a temporary resident visa to visit Canada.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Canada to accept up to 265,000 new immigrants in 2008

Wednesday, 31 October 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced today that Canada expects to welcome between 240,000 and 265,000 newcomers in 2008.

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Foreign credentials referral services now offered in over 75 centres across Ontario

Friday, 26 October 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced that more than 75 Service Canada Centres across Ontario are now providing in-person foreign credential information and referral services through the new Foreign Credentials Referral Office.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


New full-service centre to help immigrants in Ottawa

Thursday, 25 October 2007

Parliamentary Secretary Ed Komarnicki, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, municipal leaders and representatives of the National Capital Region YMCA-YWCA today opened the Newcomer Information Centre in Ottawa, the first one outside of the Greater Toronto Area.


Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Federal judge rejects request to lift conditions on Adil Charkaoui

Wednesday, 10 October 2007

A federal court judge has rejected a request to remove stringent bail conditions imposed on Adil Charkaoui, a Moroccan-born Montreal man accused of being a terrorist.


Source: CBC News


UNHCR annual refugee protection report highlights security concerns

Wednesday, 3 October 2007

Security concerns are driving the operation of asylum systems in an increasing number of countries with a disturbing trend towards rights becoming peripheral, UNHCR's top protection official said Wednesday.

Source: UNHCR News


Renewing resident card can be tricky

Saturday, 29 September 2007

Q: My permanent resident card expires in March. The immigration department website advises that I should apply for its renewal as soon as possible. I have a few questions: Is there a timeframe when I should apply for its renewal?


Source: The
Toronto
Star


Canada and Nova Scotia Sign New Immigration Agreement

Wednesday, 19 September 2007

A new immigration agreement between the federal government and Nova Scotia will make it easier to attract more skilled international workers to the province.

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Off-campus work program for international students extended to private institutions

Thursday, 13 September 2007

Parliamentary Secretary Ed Komarnicki, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Diane McGifford, Manitoba Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy, and Nancy Allan, Manitoba Minister of Labour and Immigration, today announced the implementation of a pilot project that expands the Off-Campus Work Permit Program for international students to include selected private institutions in Manitoba.


Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Canada’s new government extends off-campus work program for international students to private institutions

Wednesday, 12 September 2007

Parliamentary Secretary Ed Komarnicki, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Diane McGifford, Manitoba Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy, and Nancy Allan, Manitoba Minister of Labour and Immigration, today announced the implementation of a pilot project that expands the Off-Campus Work Permit Program for international students to include selected private institutions in Manitoba.

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Canada ’s new government announces expansion to mentorship program to help newcomers to Kitchener-Waterloo

Tuesday, 4 September 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced $1.4 million in funding for mentorship programs to help immigrants in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge.

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada


Canada’s Unemployment Rate Lowest in 33 Years

Friday, 10 August 2007

Canada’s jobless rate hit a record low of 6 percent – the lowest it’s been since 1974.

Source: The National Post


Minister Finley announces revised selection process for appointments to the IRB

Monday, 9 July 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, today announced changes to the selection process for Governor in Council (GIC) appointment of members to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). 

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada


$12.5 Million in Funding Announced for English-Language Training for Newcomers in Hamilton

Thursday, 9 August 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced $12.5 million in funding for the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC).

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada


New Federal Program Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP) Helps Immigrant Professionals from China, India and the Philippines Settle in Canada

Monday, 6 August 2007

The Canadian Immigrant Integration Project (CIIP) in Asia is a $4.5 million, three-year pilot program geared to help future immigrants from China, India and the Philippines find jobs in their professions in Canada before leaving their home countries.

Source: The Toronto Star


Ontario Launches Pilot Provincial Nominee Program

Thursday, 24 May 2007

In its first year, the Ontario Pilot Provincial Nominee Program will nominate 500 individuals to settle in the province.

Source: Government of Ontario