“Canadian citizenship is not for sale,” said Minister Kenney. “Canadians are generous people, but have no tolerance or patience for people who don’t play by the rules and who lie or cheat to become a Canadian citizen.  The Government will apply the full strength of Canadian law to those who have obtained citizenship fraudulently.”

In July, Minister Kenney announced that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) was beginning the process to revoke the citizenship of up to 1,800 citizens who obtained it fraudulently; that number has now risen to more than 2,100.

The Department has also been working on cases of those who are not yet citizens. Nearly 4,400 people with permanent resident status who are known to be implicated in residence fraud have been flagged for additional scrutiny should they attempt to enter Canada or obtain citizenship.  The majority of these individuals are outside the country.

In typical cases, permanent residents will use the services of an unscrupulous immigration consultant to establish evidence of residence in Canada while living abroad most, if not all, of the time.  This fraud is perpetrated so that individuals can maintain their permanent residence status and later apply for citizenship.  A family of five may pay upwards of $25,000 over four or more years to create the illusion of residence in Canada.

“My department is working closely with the Canada Border Services Agency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Canadian offices abroad to prevent people who are suspected of non-compliance with the permanent residence requirement from being admitted to Canada without proving they meet the requirements and take enforcement action when necessary,” added Minister Kenney.

To date, of the 4,400 permanent residents who have been flagged, nearly 1,400 people have withdrawn or abandoned their citizenship application because of new scrutiny.

Permanent residents must acquire three years of residence out of four years to apply for Canadian citizenship.  To retain their status as permanent residents, they must be physically present in Canada for two years out of five.

“I encourage anyone who has information regarding citizenship fraud to call our tip line to report it,” urged Minister Kenney.

Cases involving false representation, fraud or knowingly concealing material circumstances in the citizenship process – for example, pretending to be present in Canada to meet the residence requirements for obtaining citizenship – should be referred to the citizenship fraud tip line at CIC’s Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday).  Tips may also be reported by e-mail at Citizenship-fraud-tips@cic.gc.ca. Those overseas can contact the nearest Canadian visa office.

All other fraud types related to immigration should be reported to the CBSA’s Border Watch Tip Line at 1 888-502-9060.   Tips accepted by the Border Watch Tip Line include, but are not limited to, suspicious cross-border activity, marriages of convenience, misrepresentation in any temporary or permanent immigration application, or the whereabouts of any person wanted on an immigration warrant.

The Government of Canada is taking action to crack down on the actions of crooked consultants during the immigration process. Bill C-35, originally introduced as the Cracking Down on Crooked Consultants Act, came into force on June 30, 2011.  The Act imposes penalties on unauthorized representatives who provide, or offer to provide, advice or representation for a fee at any stage of an immigration application or proceeding.

The results tell a contrary story to one occasionally found in news headlines that suggest Canadians might be increasingly fed up with accommodating newcomers.

There were actually two prominent news stories Monday in Quebec related to disputes over minority accommodations.

Talk TV was exercised over a report on a Montreal-area municipality’s decision to remove Christmas and Hanukkah decorations at city hall. A community group had requested to have Islamic symbols erected as well, and the Town of Mount Royal responded by taking down symbols from all religions, save for a Christmas tree.

There was also a report on the city of Gatineau’s immigrant guide book, asking newcomers not to take part in honour killings or cook smelly foods.

But the research director for IRPP’s diversity, immigration and integration program said while disputes make flashy headlines, they overshadow the many positive stories of integration that are never told.

“We think sometimes these debates are kind of tough in Canada and things are getting worse — but we’re in a lot better shape, in all kinds of ways, than a lot of other countries,” Leslie Seidle said recently in Montreal.

“Contrary to many other countries, particularly in western Europe, we have a strong majority who think that the level of immigration we have right now is about right.”

The IRPP study cited a 2010 survey that found close to 60 per cent of people in the United Kingdom thought there were too many immigrants in their country. By comparison, less than 20 per cent of Canadians felt the same way.

In the poll taken by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, Canadians were also found to be more tolerant of immigrants than people in Italy, Spain, the U.S., France, Netherlands and Germany.

But Canadians’ views toward immigrants haven’t always been as welcoming.

The study by IRPP, a non-partisan, Montreal-based public policy think-tank, suggests there was a shift in public opinion about a decade ago.

From the late 1970s until the early 1990s, the majority of Canadians held negative attitudes about the country’s immigration levels.

Following a shift in the 1990s, Canadians’ view of immigration has been more positive than negative since the latter part of that decade.

The country opened its doors to 280,000 immigrants last year and has accepted more than 200,000 newcomers annually since 2000, according to Citizenship and Immigration Department statistics cited in the study. In the mid 1980s, fewer than 100,000 immigrants per year came to Canada.

The report argued that Canadians who support immigration believe that multiculturalism is a source of national pride and creates economic benefits.

The research also found that attitudes about immigration varied by region, though each area had majority support for existing levels.

The Prairies (62.8 per cent), Atlantic Canada (62.5 per cent) and Quebec (61.8 per cent) scored higher than the Canadian average. The other regions, included British Columbia (57.4 per cent), Alberta (54.4 per cent) and Ontario (53.5 per cent).

Seidle was asked whether he was surprised the study found one of the most pro-immigration areas in Quebec, a province that has been at the centre of heated debate over minority accommodations.

He blamed Quebec media for putting too much emphasis on disputes, such as a request a few years ago by a Montreal Jewish community group that a local YMCA frost its windows.

The group no longer wanted its youth to be able to see people wearing revealing clothes as they exercised inside.

“These stories have been blown up,” said Seidle, who, for example, added that little adjustments to accommodate diet, dress and days of religious observance are made in schools throughout Montreal every day.

“But maybe we end up paying too much attention to this kind of stuff because it’s got conflict underneath it.”

The government earmarked $583 million for settlement services across Canada for 2011-12, down from $622 million the year before. That amount will drop another $6 million for 2012-13 to a total of $577 million across Canada.

For the current year, Citizenship and Immigration Canada budgeted $346.5 million for Ontario, a decrease from $390 million the previous year. For 2012-13, it’ll drop again to $314.9 million. A loss of $31.5 million. The federal government argues it’s adjusting its funding to fit changing migration patterns.

Senior government sources say they’re simply adapting the funding to the fact that fewer immigrants are going to Ontario as a proportion of the national total. Immigration experts argue that the Ontario government is partly to blame, because it hasn’t worked hard enough to bring in newcomers. The experts are quoted as saying:

“Ontario has failed to select the number of immigrants provincially, relative to the size of the population of the province. How is it that smaller provinces than Ontario can select more immigrants provincially than Ontario?”

Many immigrants going west

British Columbia is getting $109.8 million, a slight increase over $105.6 million for 2011-12.

Thomas Tam, head of a B.C. organization that helps immigrants integrate, says the federal government is making the right move by boosting funding to B.C. and other western provinces. Tam says migration patterns are changing dramatically.

“That’s a very important additional resources for us. In the last couple of years, we’ve been seeing more and more immigrants into the province, particularly from Asia. There’s a great demand for language training and labour market integration programs.”

In fact, not only are immigrants increasingly going west, they’re also going to smaller towns and cities. For example, Tam’s organization is now expanding its services to the northern B.C. town of Fort St. John. The funding is justified, as immigrants head to smaller communities in the west and the east, where settlement services are sparse.

“It’s very good news for the recipients of settlement funding in Canada’s hinterland, in western Canada, and of course the Maritimes, to include the idea of retaining immigration. The more settlement funding you can toss into the Maritimes the better chance you have of retaining immigrants in that region,” he said.

“I was very concerned after a court decision in 2008 found that a Canadian citizen, who was convicted in India of killing his sister-in-law after setting her on fire, could sponsor his new wife,” said Minister Kenney. “The regulatory changes now in force aim to prevent a similar situation from happening again.”

Previously, a sponsorship application would not have been approved if the sponsor had been convicted of a crime resulting in bodily harm against a list of family members or relatives. This list has now been expanded to ensure that prospective sponsors convicted of such crimes against an expanded list of individuals, or particularly violent offences against any person, are generally not allowed to sponsor family to come to Canada for five years following the completion of their sentence.

The proposed regulatory changes were pre-published in the Canada Gazette on April 2, 2011, followed by a 30-day public comment period. The changes came into force on Friday, November 18th, are posted on Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s website and will be published in Part II of the Canada Gazette on December 7, 2011.

“Family violence is not tolerated in Canada,” added the Minister. “Someone who commits a serious crime should not benefit from the privilege of sponsorship.”

These regulatory changes reinforce the integrity of Canada’s family class sponsorship program, assist in the protection of sponsored individuals from family violence and protect the health and safety of Canadians.

How well are immigrants fitting into their new country, what should be required of them as a condition for acceptance as immigrants, and what categories of immigrant should be given priority?

Highlights

• The Canadian public is more likely than not to believe that immigrants are doing well in fitting into their new country, with respect to finding gainful employment, participating in civic institutions like voting, and adopting Canadian values.

• Canadians are much more likely to be positive than negative about the overall impact that 250,000 new immigrants each year are having on the country.

• There is broad agreement about what should be required of new immigrants who want to live in Canada. At the top of the list are: adopting Canadian values of tolerance and gender equity; accepting the preeminence of Canadian law over religious laws; and becoming familiar with Canadian history and culture. By comparison, the public is more forgiving in terms of expecting immigrants to become economically self-sufficient within their first year.

• Despite the emphasis on adopting Canadian values, there is no public consensus on which values are the most important for new immigrants to adopt. Those values most apt to be identified include respect for Canadian history and culture, and fluency in one of the two official languages, followed by tolerance of others and respect for the law.

• While most immigrants settle in the country’s three largest urban centres, most Canadians believe it would be best for everyone if immigrants were evenly distributed across the country. Views are notably similar among residents of urban and rural communities.

• Canadians place the highest priority on immigrants who qualify based on education and employability, and least so on political refugees. Opinions are divided on the current policy of increasing the proportion of temporary foreign workers.

• The opinions of immigrants surveyed are notably similar to those of native-born Canadians. The group that stands out clearly in holding a negative view of immigrants is the small proportion of native-born Canadians who believe that immigration is making Canada a worse place.

Research Findings in Detail

INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANTS

1. How well do you think that immigrants coming to Canada are fitting in, with respect to: a) finding jobs and gainful employment; b) participating in civic institutions; and c) adopting Canadian values and ways of living?

Canadians are more likely than not to believe that immigrants are succeeding in settling into their adopted country. Modest majorities believe they are doing well in finding jobs and gainful employment (59%), participating in civic institutions (like voting and volunteering) (57%), and adopting Canadian values and ways of living (55%), although few say they are doing “very well” as opposed to “generally well.” Sizeable minorities disagree with this viewpoint, although less so in the case of civic participation as one in six (15%) are unable to offer an opinion.

Attitudes about this issue vary somewhat across the country. Across the three areas of integration, the most positive assessments are given by Atlantic Canadians and residents under 30 years of age. In terms of finding gainful employment, success is most widely mentioned by residents of the Prairie provinces, and least so by those living in Ontario and Quebec and by allophones and immigrants themselves. In terms of civic participation, positive assessments are most widespread among Quebecers and least so in the Prairie provinces. In terms of adopting Canadian values and ways of life, immigrants are most likely to be seen as fitting in by Canadians with a university degree, while those least apt to share this view live in Ontario and rural Canada.

2. Do immigrants who come to Canada do so with the hope of making Canada little more like where they came from, in terms of values and cultural practices?

A majority of Canadians believe that immigrants coming to this country aspire to maintain at least some of their values and cultural practices, and in doing so make their new country a bit more like home. More than half strongly agree (14%) or agree (43%) with this viewpoint, compared with four in ten who disagree (32%) or strongly disagree (7%).

Agreement with this perspective is most widespread in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and among those with the lowest levels of education. Agreement is least evident in Quebec (especially in Montreal), among urban Canadians more generally, and among those with more education.

3. On balance is the effect of 250,000 immigrants coming to Canada each year making the country a better or worse place?

Canadians are much more positive than negative about the overall impact of immigration on the country. By a three to one margin, the public says that immigration is making Canada a better place (47%) rather than a worse place (16%), while the remainder says it is not making a difference either way (29%) or is unable to offer a definitive response (8%).

Opinions on this question vary noticeably across the population. A positive view of the impact of immigration is most clearly expressed by residents of Toronto and Vancouver, as well as among Canadians with higher levels of education, allophones and immigrants themselves. This perspective is least apt to be shared by residents of Manitoba, those without a high school diploma, and native- born Canadians who do not know any immigrants.

No more than one in five from any group says the impact of immigration has made the country a worse place. However, this minority stands out as having the most negative perspective on immigrants and immigration across most of the issues covered in this survey.

4. What should immigrants be expected to do a condition to being accepted into the country?

The survey asked Canadians about whether each of seven specific requirements should apply as conditions for immigrants to be accepted into the country. In each case a clear majority believes the requirement should apply, although the size of this majority varies considerably. Virtually all Canadians believe new immigrants should be required to adopt Canadian values of tolerance of others and gender equity (97%), and close to nine in ten feel the same way about accepting the preeminence of Canadian law over any religious laws (89%) and becoming familiar with Canadian history and culture (88%).

Almost eight in ten say immigrants should be required to raise their children as Canadians (79%), should be fully fluent in either English or French (78%) and should make an effort to create ties with non-immigrants outside their own ethnic group (77%). By comparison, just six in ten (59%) believe immigrants should be required to become economically self-sufficient within their first year.

Views are similar across the country, but Quebecers are most likely to emphasize fluency in English or French and creating ties with non-immigrants, while residents of Ontario and BC are most apt to mention the importance of accepting the preeminence of Canadian law.

5. What do you consider to be the Canadian values most important for immigrants to learn and adopt when they move to this country?

When asked (unprompted, without response options provided), Canadians identify a number of values they consider to be important for new immigrants to adopt when they settle in this country. At the top of the list are respect for Canadian history and culture (28%) and fluency in one of the country’s two official languages (26%). Other common values identified include tolerance for others (19%), respect for the law (17%), respect for religion (9%), the importance of assimilation (9%), gender equality (7%), a healthy work ethic (5%), and democracy/freedom/peace

(5%). One in six (16%) could not identify any particular Canadian values they consider to be important for new immigrants to adopt.

Opinions about important Canadian values are strikingly consistent across the population, with only minor variations. Language fluency is somewhat more apt to be emphasized by British Columbians, low income Canadians and those 60 years and older. Respect for history and culture is most widely mentioned by those 45 and older, while respect for other religions is a bit more prominent in Quebec. It is Atlantic Canadians and Canadians under 45 who are least apt to identify any important values. Perhaps most notable is the fact that opinions about important

values are essentially the same among native-born Canadians and immigrants themselves.

URBAN VERSUS RURAL SETTLEMENT

6. Is the current pattern of most immigrants settling in the country’s biggest cities best for everyone, or would it be better if immigrants were more evenly distributed across the country?

Survey respondents were told that most immigrants coming to Canada settle in the biggest cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Only one in six (15%) agrees that this settlement pattern is the best approach, compared with three-quarters (74%) who say that it would be better if immigrants were more evenly distributed across the country. Another 10 percent are unable to offer an opinion.

A preference for having immigrants more evenly distributed is the dominant view across the country, although it is most widespread in Manitoba (87%) and less so among Vancouver residents (64%) and Canadians 30 to 44 years of age (68%). Residents in the country’s largest urban centres are only marginally more supportive of the current pattern (19%) of immigrant settlement compared with those living in smaller communities (13%). There is no difference in the perspectives of native-born Canadians and immigrants.

IMMIGRATION CATEGORIES

7. What priority should be placed on accepting new immigrants from specific categories?

Few Canadians are likely to be familiar with categories under which immigrants are accepted into the country, or the proportion that is currently accepted under each category. But they can and do express opinions about the priority that should be placed on each class, when specifically prompted.

Economic Class. Of the three current categories, the public is most likely to say that a higher priority should be placed on immigrants who qualify based on education and employability (51%), with most of the remainder indicating that this should remain the same priority as now (42%); only four percent maintain that this category should be a lower priority. The emphasis given to this class of immigrants is somewhat stronger among immigrants, Canadians living in major urban centers, men, those 60 years and over, and those with higher levels of education and income. Least apt to share this view are residents of Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

Family Class. One-third (35%) believe Canada should give higher priority to accepting immigrants who have family members living in Canada, with the remainder indicating the same priority (55%) or a lower priority (8%). Views on this question are similar across the country, but a higher priority is somewhat more likely to be indicated by Quebecers and immigrants, and least so by Vancouverites. No more than 12 percent from any group advocates lowering the priority on accepting immigrants in the family class.

Refugee Class. Three in ten Canadians (30%) say the country should place a greater priority on accepting political refugees, compared with 45 percent who say the priority should remain as now, and another one in five (21%) who believe the priority should be lower. Support for increasing the priority placed on this class is most evident in Alberta, among Canadians with a university degree, among those 18 to 29 years of age, and among native-born Canadians with immigrant friends and family. In contrast, those most likely to advocate lowering the priority include Canadians without a high school diploma, those 60 and over, and immigrants themselves.

8. Should refugees who want to stay in Canada be entitled to legal aid services to help them pay for their claims?

The public’s weaker support for political refugees as a class of immigrant is further reflected in the lack of consensus around whether or not such individuals should have access to legal aid services to help pay for their claims to remain in the country. Opinions are largely split between those who support such entitlements (48%) and those who do not (44%). The remainder say it depends (e.g., on the circumstances of the individual, on the country of origin) (3%) or have no opinion to offer (5%).

Support for legal aid for refugees is most widely voiced in Atlantic Canada and Quebec, as well as among Canadians with the lowest incomes and the highest education. Age appears to be the strongest predictor of attitudes on this issue, with legal aid supported by 70 percent of Canadians under 30 years of age, declining to only 36 percent among those 60 and older. Notably, native-born Canadians who have immigrant friends and family are somewhat more supportive of such support, than either native-born Canadians without such connections or immigrants themselves. Opposition is most widespread among Canadians who believe immigration is making the country a worse place (77%).

9. Do you approve or disapprove of increasing the proportion of foreign temporary workers to fill job vacancies in Canada?

The survey indicated that in the past few years, an increasing proportion of immigrants has been entering Canada as temporary workers who are hired to fill job vacancies in particular industries, and then return to their home countries when the work is done. Public opinion about this trend is decidedly mixed: Three in ten (33%) say they approve of the policy of accepting an increasing number of temporary workers, compared with one-third (35%) who disapprove and a comparable proportion (32%) who have no clear opinion either way.

Approval of increasing the intake of temporary workers is most evident in Quebec (especially in Montreal) and among Canadians with higher levels of education and income. Disapproval is most widespread in Manitoba, as well as in Ontario, among Canadians 45 to 59 years of age, and among those who believe immigration is harming the country.

Currently, more than 165,000 parents and grandparents who have applied to become permanent residents of Canada are still waiting for a final decision. Each year, Citizenship and Immigration Canada receives applications for sponsorship of nearly 38,000 parents and grandparents, a number that will only continue to expand if no action is taken.

“Wait times for Family Class sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents now exceed seven years, and without taking action, those times will continue to grow, and that is unacceptable,” said Minister Kenney. “Action must be taken to cut the backlog, reduce the wait times, and ensure that the parents and grandparents program is sustainable over the long run.”

To deal with the large backlog and lengthy wait times, Citizenship and Immigration Canada is announcing Phase I of the Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification.

First – The Government of Canada will increase by over 60 percent the number of sponsored parents and grandparents Canada will admit next year, from nearly 15,500 in 2010 to 25,000 in 2012 – the highest level in nearly two decades.

Second – The government is introducing the new “Parent and Grandparent Super Visa,” which will be valid for up to 10 years. The multiple-entry visa will allow an applicant to remain in Canada for up to 24 months at a time without the need for renewal of their status. The Parent and Grandparent Super Visa will come into effect on December 1, 2011, and CIC will be able to issue the visas, on average, within eight weeks of the application. This means that instead of waiting for eight years, a parent or a grandparent can come to Canada within eight weeks. Parent and Grandparent Super Visa applicants will be required to obtain private Canadian health-care insurance for their stay in Canada.

Third – The government will consult Canadians on how to redesign the parents and grandparents program to ensure that it is sustainable in the future. The redesigned program must avoid future large backlogs and be sensitive to fiscal constraints.

Fourth – To prevent the build-up of an unmanageable number of new applications during these consultations and to further reduce the 165,000-strong backlog of parent and grandparent applicants, CIC is putting in place a temporary pause of up to 24 months on the acceptance of new sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents. The pause comes into effect on November 5, 2011.

“The Government of Canada is fully committed to helping families reunite,”said Minister Kenney. “We recognize that what parents and grandparents want most is to be able to spend time with their families.”

“If we do not take real action now, the large and growing backlog in the parents and grandparents program will lead to completely unmanageable wait times. Through this balanced series of measures, we will be able to dramatically reduce the backlog and wait times, while the new Parent and Grandparent Super Visa will allow more family members to pay extended visits to their loved ones,”added the Minister. “We anticipate that in about two years, following our consultations, Phase II of our Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification will come into effect, ensuring that future applicants are processed quickly and that the program can operate on an efficient and sustainable basis.”

For additional information on Phase I of  CIC Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification, see the background info below.

Background:

• Phase I of Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification
• Frequently asked questions: Sponsoring your family – Faster Family Reunification

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) remains the principal avenue for permanent immigration to Canada. In 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) plans to welcome 55,000–57,000 federal skilled workers, up from 47,000–47,400 in the 2011 Immigration Levels Plan.

“The government’s number one priority remains the economy. We recognize the importance of immigration to our labour market and we value the contributions of skilled immigrants who add to our international competitiveness,” said Minister Kenney. “We are committed to facilitating the arrival of the best and the brightest to our country.”

An important milestone was reached this year when the backlog of FSW applications prior to the launch of the 2008 Action Plan for Faster Immigration was reduced by more than 50 percent – two years ahead of schedule. The higher range in 2012 will support labour market responsiveness and sustain progress on backlog reduction.

CIC completed an extensive evaluation of the FSWP in 2010, showing that the program is working well and selecting immigrants who perform well economically. The report found that 89 percent of FSWs were employed or self-employed three years after landing. Moreover, 95 percent of the employers surveyed indicated that FSWs were meeting or exceeding their expectations. The evaluation indicated a strong continuing need for skilled immigrants in Canada.

CIC will continue to ramp up efforts to modernize our immigration system to make it more nimble and responsive to labour market needs,” said Minister Kenney. “Following nationwide consultations this past spring on proposals to improve the Federal Skilled Worker Program, we are actively exploring policy options on the way forward.”

A summary report of the consultations is being finalized and will soon be available on the CIC website.

That’s the same as in 2011 and in keeping with the average of 254,000 a year over the past few years.

But at the same time, sources tell The Canadian Press that the number of white-collar workers in certain occupations, many already with experience or education in Canada, will rise.

They say that in 2012, Ottawa will accept about 7,000 newcomers in that category, the highest number ever, and up slightly from 2011.

Kenney has said he is on a mission to make the immigrant flow younger and more professional, but he has yet to say who will be discouraged from Canada as a result of beefing up the number of younger skilled workers.

Updated: Further announcements from the CIC today (Nov 2nd 2011)

• Canadian Experience Class brings the world’s best and brightest to Canada
• Attracting and retaining internationalPhD students the focus of new initiative

As one participant said, “Canada does have one of the best immigration processes globally – but there is a broken promise because we tell people that their skill-set is going to be recognized, and then they can’t get a job and they end up driving taxis.” Often, this is because organizations are clinging to outdated notions. For example, half of the respondents to a Public Policy Forum survey said that Canadian work experience is either a requirement for employment in their organization, or that foreign work experience is not necessarily considered equal to Canadian experience.

The lack of “fit” or acceptance was another issue raised by the white paper, which strongly suggests that companies have much to gain by broadening their thinking. “Only by taking calculated risks and being open to learning from the experiences of immigrants will Canadian companies fully capitalize on the potential for innovation and growth that comes with their hiring,” says Deloitte’s Chief Diversity Officer, partner Jane Allen.

The findings in the paper echo earlier Deloitte studies on productivity and tax policy.  In the Future of productivity, facilitating the immigration of skilled workers is cited as key to improving our competitiveness. Competing for global talent notes that these individuals will also enhance government tax revenues.

The white paper argues that it’s time to put the theory of diversity into action: more proactive steps must be taken to quickly enable skilled foreign-born workers to contribute to Canada’s economy and achieve their own dreams. Various provinces offer programs through community organizations and government ministries – these and other initiatives provide a solid base of best practices for employers across Canada.  The annual Dialogue on diversity study conducted by Deloitte serves to highlight both opportunity and progress in this critically important area.

Download a PDF version of the the report

To that end, Goldsmith and her colleagues partnered with the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary to establish the Immigrant Employment Partnership Project. The project’s mandate is to “promote employment for newcomers and other immigrant stakeholders in Calgary, and to educate these groups about the careers available with The City of Calgary,” says Goldsmith.

One-stop shop for skilled immigrants

The project has been an outstanding success. This is partly due to the emphasis on employment forums — a “one-stop shop” for new Canadian professionals interested in a career with the City.

Typically, each forum features direct interaction with City of Calgary hiring managers. The forum begins with a general presentation on the recruitment process, followed by individual hiring managers presenting information on how their profession is practiced within the municipality. During these programs, the managers discuss what types of jobs are available, as well as what qualifications and qualities they’re looking for.

Finally, the managers sit down one-on-one with the immigrants, who will get a chance to ask questions. “This is valued as one of the best parts of the forum,” says Goldsmith.

She cites the work of the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary in helping to co-ordinate the agencies to work with the City at these forums. “We always make sure to keep a balanced focus on our partners in the immigrant employment and settlement sector,” she says.

Employer forums on the horizon

In the past, the forums have focused on the immigrant professionals and immigrant employment counselors. Looking ahead, the partnership hopes to also focus on employers.

An “employer forum,” says Goldsmith, would share the model of the Immigrant Employment Partnership and highlight the importance of:

• Working as a partner: sharing the leadership and training responsibilities between the employer and the immigrant-serving agencies.
• Sharing expertise: gaining essential knowledge from immigrant-serving agencies about interviewing immigrants and analyzing their résumés.
• Being creative: participating in career fairs targeting immigrants and reducing barriers in electronic recruitment.

“Partnership is such a viable model because of the learning opportunities,” says Goldsmith. “Peer-to-peer and cross-sector learning has opened so many doors for the City as an employer. Our hiring processes have been greatly improved because of our partnerships.”

The upside to this multifaceted approach to immigrant recruitment has been an overall improvement in human resources services at the City of Calgary. The City now has International Qualifications Assessment Services guides available online, which allows both HR and hiring managers to quickly check international credentials.

“At present, there is a much higher internal awareness of how international credentials factor into the hiring process,” says Goldsmith. “Before this information was provided on our intranet, résumés with such credentials might have been screened out.”

The City of Calgary has more than 14,000 employees.

“I am honoured to announce the participation of Parks Canada in the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s Cultural Access Pass Program. This pass for new Canadian citizens will now open the doors to places that bring together the geography and history defining their new country,” said Minister Kent. “Our national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas are an encyclopedia of our national identity, waiting to be discovered and experienced.”

Through the Cultural Access Pass, new Canadian citizens and up to four of their children under 18 years of age will receive free admission to more than 100 of Park Canada’s treasured places. The pass will be valid for one year after the new citizens have been sworn in. Several Parks Canada locations will also serve as pick-up locations for the passes.

“Community citizenship ceremonies at treasured Parks Canada places already offer a unique transformative and memorable experience,” said Minister Kenney. “The Cultural Access Pass will offer many more opportunities for new Canadian citizens to experience Canada’s natural and cultural heritage firsthand. This initiative will benefit new Canadian citizens by enabling them to become more informed about Canada and more committed to the communities in which they live,” added Minister Kenney.

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship is a national non-profit organization that engages new Canadians citizens through innovative programs, campaigns and partnerships. Their initiatives are designed to ensure that new citizens are welcomed and included as equals and are aimed at creating meaningful connections among all Canadians, fostering a culture of active, engaged citizens and celebrating our shared identity as Canadians.

“Together with Parks Canada, we are creating opportunities for new citizens to access the essence of what so many define as a uniquely and truly Canadian experience,” said Gillian Hewitt Smith, Executive Director and CEO, Institute for Canadian Citizenship. “By opening the gates to our national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas, tens of thousands of new Canadian citizens who have been able to curate their cultural experiences at museums, galleries, and other attractions, can now step outside and discover the beauty of this country’s natural heritage and historical sites.”

Parks Canada works to ensure Canada’s historic and natural heritage is protected and, through a network of 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites, and four national marine conservation areas, invites Canadians and people around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery at our treasured natural and historic places.

For additional information or to register for a Cultural Access Pass see www.parkscanada.gc.ca or http://www.icc-icc.ca/

Over the past 20 years, Canada has accepted about 250,000 “permanent immigrants” annually, author Jeffrey Reitz, an immigration and ethnic studies professor at the University of Toronto. In 2010, the country posted its highest figures in 50 years: more than 280,000 people.

“This support has been consistently high over the past 15 to 20 years when immigration levels have also been high,” states a release issued by the IRPP. “It is particularly strong among more educated Canadians, the young, the fully employed and men.”

About 58 per cent of people in the country support current levels of immigration, stated the report, titled “Pro-immigration Canada: Social and Economic Roots of Popular Views.”

Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the Prairies outshone the rest of Canada, with more than 62 per cent support. Both Ontario and British Columbia showed lower than average levels of support, but people in those provinces’ most immigrant-rich cities, Toronto and Vancouver, showed enthusiasm for immigration that was above average.

“Where there are more immigrants, people are a bit cool to the idea of adding even more immigrants,” Reitz explained. “The question asked wasn’t ‘Do we like immigration?’ It was ‘How do you feel about changing the levels of immigration?’ If you’re in an area where there’s a lot of immigration, your view to adding more might be a bit restrained.”

Between one third and one half of the country’s newcomers settle in Toronto.

The study looked at trends in public attitudes and data from an Environics survey conducted last November, which asked Canadians questions how much immigration they are comfortable with, and to explain the conditions under which immigrants are most likely to succeed.

It found Canadians see newcomers as both an economic benefit and a cultural one, noting multiculturalism remains one of the country’s main sources of national pride.

“Few see immigration as one of Canada’s most significant problems,” states the study. “The survey data show that support for multiculturalism is rooted in a broader, socially progressive agenda that includes issues such as gay rights and gun control, which themselves reinforce pro-immigration attitudes. Nevertheless, many Canadians would like immigrants to blend into society rather than form separate communities.”

The study found Canadians see acceptance of immigrants as distinct from our neighbours to the south, providing a national identity in a country often looking to set itself apart. Indeed, when compared to the United States, where there is a fence along large parts of the southern border and a proposal for one on its north, the lack of debate on the merits of immigration in Canada speaks volumes.

“In the party leaders’ debate preceding the May 2011 election, a voter posed a question on immigration and multiculturalism. Each of the four prime ministerial candidates attempted to adopt the most pro-immigration position,” states the report.

“All Canadian political parties espouse pro-immigration policies, and the public rarely asks them to defend these policies.

“Canada is an exception to the negative attitude toward immigration that prevails in most other industrialized countries, an attitude that has received much attention, particularly in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and France.”

“Canadians were more likely to see immigration as an opportunity than as a problem.”

A notice says the proposed change would not increase the language level required for citizenship but would provide officials and judges with “objective evidence of an applicant’s language ability.”

Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney is proposing changes to the way the government assesses the language abilities of prospective new citizens.

Under the proposal, published today in the Canada Gazette for public input, adult citizenship applicants would be required to provide objective evidence of language ability with their citizenship applications.

“The ability to communicate effectively in either French or English is key to the success of new citizens in Canada,” said Minister Kenney.  “This change will encourage applicants to ensure that they can speak English or French when they apply for citizenship, thereby improving the integrity and effectiveness of the citizenship program for Canada and for new Canadians alike.”

The Citizenship Act already requires that applicants be able to communicate in one of Canada’s official languages.  This proposed change would not increase the language level required, but would change the way that citizenship applicants aged 18-54 prove their language ability.

Under the new system, applicants would have to provide objective evidence that they meet the language requirement when they file their application.  Applicants would be able to demonstrate language ability by submitting a variety of evidence, including:

• the results of a third party test;
• evidence of completion of secondary or post-secondary education in English or French; or
• evidence of achieving CLB/NCLC4 in certain government funded language training programs.

CIC currently uses the citizenship knowledge test as well as the applicant’s interaction with CIC staff to assess language ability.  If it appears an applicant does not meet language requirements, they are invited for an interview with a citizenship judge.  There can be a significant time delay between the submission of the application and the subsequent hearing for language.

The proposed new rule that applicants must provide objective evidence that they meet the language requirement when they file their application would give citizenship judges better evidence on which to base their decision.  CIC would also be able to return applications of those who do not provide evidence they meet the requirements more quickly, thus improving application processing.

CIC is also proposing to clarify that the language skills to be assessed would be speaking and listening, and the criteria would clearly align with Canadian Language Benchmark/Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens  CLB/NCLC4, which represents basic fluent proficiency.  This would allow applicants to understand the requirements they need to meet and to provide evidence that is correlated to CLB/NCLC4.

The Notice of Intent, requesting comments from the public on the proposed change, will be posted for 30 days.

The average minimum wait is currently 19 months, up from 15 months in May. CIC says it plans to continue using temporary workers to clear the backlog, if it can find the money.

But the union says it is clear there is a need for more permanent workers at the office. Union spokeswoman Theresa MacInnis said, this is the third temporary contract some of these workers have been on since being laid off from permanent work a year and a half ago.

“To me it looks like there is a need for additional workers in the workplace,” said MacInnis.

“Stabilizing a workforce is always a benefit for continuing work flows and processing.”

MacInnis said the uncertainty has some workers looking for other jobs. She isn’t sure what the turnover has been, but she said any training of new employees or people new to this processing wastes time and resources. The latest contract for the 86 additional staff will expire at the end of March.

CIC expects workers will have processed at least 5,000 citizenship applications by that time. It’s not known how much of a dent in the backlog that will make.

As Immigration Canada has tightened up many of their residency programs, the option of coming to Canada on a skilled work permit is the option that many would-be immigrants are considering.

In order to get a temporary skilled work permit the applicant usually must have a job offer first. This job offer needs to go through the process of being issued with a Labour Market Opinion (LMO), whereby the employer needs to demonstrate to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) that they have attempted to recruit a Canadian for the position but have been unable to do so. After all, Canadians looking for work need to be given priority over foreigners. Americans may also have the possibility of coming in under NAFTA, but must still have a job offer and meet eligibility requirements.

Rather than just filling in a form, the employer needs to explain and prove what recruitment efforts have been done to justify bringing in a foreign worker. If it is a union position then the union must also provide approval. If licensing is required then the foreign worker may need to get their Canadian licence before being able to proceed, which can hinder and delay the process. The employer also needs to demonstrate that the foreign worker will be paid according to current labour market requirements for the area in question. On top of all of this, new regulations stipulate that if an employer is paying someone to help with the preparation and submission of LMO then that person must be an authorised lawyer, paralegal or regulated immigration consultant.

If HRSDC are satisfied that an employer has truly been unable to find a Canadian for the position then a positive LMO is issued and the foreign worker can apply for an employer-specific work permit at the relevant Canadian visa office, or even at the Port of Entry, depending on their circumstances.

The good news is that “Canada’s labour market has more than fully recovered from the loss experienced in the downturn,” said Ian Wright, chief economist at the Royal Bank of Canada. “As of August, Canada had 164,000 more people employed than during the pre-recession peak and so far this year, employment gains have been concentrated in full-time jobs.”

There is talk now of relaxing the LMO requirements as the demand for foreign workers in Canada starts to grow again. The current maximum of a one year LMO will hopefully also be extended, making it less stressful for both the employer and the employee. The employee will usually aim to submit a permanent residency application after their arrival and will usually need about 18 months for this to be finalised. Applications for permanent residency will usually be submitted in the Federal Skilled Worker category, or upon nomination from the province. Canadian Experience Class is also an option when the worker has been working in Canada in a skilled occupation for two years.

So where should the foreign worker focus their job search?

Every particular occupation has a different set of supply and demand factors. However,to look at the overall labour market, Saskatchewan leads the way in terms of economic growth, with Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador following closely behind. Manitoba is projected to improve its economic standing, while Ontario, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island fall slightly below the national average. Quebec continues to show mixed results and is positioned with the remaining Atlantic provinces at the back of the pack.

Writers Bio: Goldman Associates are an immigration law firm and also a foreign worker employment agency, helping match foreign workers with Canadian employers. We work with workers from around the world and employers across Canada. We can also help you with your licensing and registration. Contact us today at info@immigrationtocanada.org for a free assessment and consultation.

In July, the province’s Office of Immigration said a tentative settlement offered each immigrant up to $75,000.

A proposed class-action lawsuit was filed in December 2009 on behalf of Peter King, who moved to Halifax from the United Kingdom in April 2006 and paid more than $100,000 to participate in the program.

Immigrants like King were supposed to get on-the-job training with an approved mentor company, but a statement of claim alleges that King applied unsuccessfully for a number of jobs before he moved to British Columbia.

The provincial government has already paid out about $38 million in refunds to immigrants, but a clause in the settlement says that if more than 50 people opt out, the government won’t proceed.

Although there IS a shortage, it is mainly specialized nurses that are in demand – especially those that work in the ICU (cardiac, neonatal) and those who specialize in post anaesthesia, geriatrics, and emergency and the OR. There is also a demand for nurses in more remote communities. A quick internet search brings up about 1,000 job ads for nurses in Canada.

The critical part of coming to Canada as a nurse is to ensure that the licensing and registration is done properly so that the nurse can begin to work, after having received their immigration paperwork (either temporary or permanent).

A nurse must hold individual membership in one of the provincial or territorial nursing associations which make up the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) in order to belong to CNA and the International Council of Nurses.

A registered nurse must pass the Canadian Registered Nurses Examination (CRNE) as part of the registration or licensing process. This examination can only be written in Canada on the recommendation of a provincial or territorial nurses’ college.

To come on a temporary work permit means that the nurse must first be approved by the provincial or territorial nurses’ college and have a Labour Market approved job to come to. At the discretion of the hospital, the foreign nurse may apply for a temporary license and work as a nurse with limited duties until she/he has passed the CRNE exam.

Nurses are also on Canada’s High Demand Occupation List for permanent residency applications submitted under the Federal Skilled Worker category; this means that an eligible nurse with at least twelve months of continuous full-time work experience in the last ten years can apply for a permanent residency visa as long as they meet the points pass mark of 67 and their application is submitted before the cap is reached.

As of July 1^st, Immigration Canada had allocated only 500 spots for registered nurses (including psychiatric) to submit permanent residency applications in this category. By September 19^th 499 of these spots had already been filled. There are a further 500 spots for licensed practical nurses, and only 35 of these spots had been taken in the same amount of time.

What is the difference?  The Canadian Nurses Association defines them as follows:

• Registered nurses include nurses who have passed either the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination or the Quebec examination (examen professionnel de l’OIIQ) and have registered with their provincial or territorial regulatory body. RNs can specialize in many areas of care.
• Licensed practical nurses provide nursing care usually under the direction of medical practitioners, registered nurses, or other health team members. The term licensed practical nurse is used throughout Canada, except Ontario, where registered practical nurse is used and in Quebec, where nursing assistant is used.

Global migration for nurses is at an all-time high, evidenced by the number of international nurses that we meet, including those that are already working in a foreign country. In the UK the number of nurses leaving the National Health Service and going abroad for better pay and conditions is at its highest level for ten years.

The Canadian Nurses Association quotes a report that shows “that if the health needs of Canadians continue to change according to past trends, and if no policy interventions are implemented, Canada will be short almost 60,000 full-time equivalent RNs by 2022.”

So, the end result is that YES Canada does need nurses, but it may not be as easy as you think to come and work as a nurse in Canada. Registration and licensing are critical to you being able to work in Canada – contact Goldman Associates if you would like help with getting registered to work as a nurse in any province or territory in Canada.

We are an immigration law firm and foreign worker employment agency who can help with all aspects of coming to Canada. Contact us today at info@immigrationtocanada.org for further information and to request a free consultation with one of our specialists.

Writers Bio: Goldman Associates provide licensing services to help you in your preparation for arrival in Canada. A general consulting service is available as well as an in-depth service which will provide help in completion of the full application, collation of documentation and advice regarding the best province in which for you to get licensed. Contact us for further information and we will be happy to help info@immigrationtocanada.org

“It’s our intention to hammer out a process that is more efficient, that eliminates … red tape, so that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program works, on time, for the Alberta economy.”

In October, Kenney will join Canada’s Human Resources and Skills Development minister, Diane Finley, in meetings with employers from the oil and gas, construction, agriculture and hospitality sectors to discuss improvements to the program. The latest Canada numbers show 42,885 temporary foreign workers were employed in Alberta in 2010.

Cheryl Knight, CEO of the Calgary-based Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada, said the program has had a limited effect on the tight labour situation in the oil and gas sector.

“There is a strong disconnect with the Government of Canada prioritizing so-called skilled workers where skill is associated with education. For our industry, skill is something different,” said Knight, who noted there were shortages in field workers in oil and gas, well services and drilling workers and supervisors.

“Because those are jobs that do not require formal post-secondary education, they’re not seen as skilled workers.”

Kenny accepted that there were people who had very high levels of skill, but not on paper. “They may not have a diploma; they may not have trade certification, but they’re able to run a sophisticated $10-million gas fracking (hydraulic fracturing) operation,” he said.

“We are sensitive to that concern and we are looking at it.”

“Federal and provincial settlement programs have not caught up with changing immigrant settlement patterns, including a growing shift to suburban communities,” the report says.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is in the midst of public consultations on how to best reshape the intake of immigrants, so that the country attracts the kind of people it needs to sustain its workforce.

The federation hopes to play into that process with its paper, released Wednesday after months of research.

But the paper also comes as Mayor Rob Ford of Toronto, the country’s largest city, eyes cuts to some of the key services newcomers rely on — social housing, libraries, transit and childcare.

The thrust of the report and the political turmoil engulfing Toronto are no coincidence, says Michael Shapcott, a social policy researcher at the Wellesley Institute in Toronto.

Cities find their finances strained by years of downloading from other levels of government, he said. And at the same time, mounting poverty among a growing population of immigrants increases the pressure.

The federation’s policy proposals are “an enlightened response” to the pressure, while the turmoil in Toronto “is a much more sharpened response,” Shapcott said.

Newcomers take longer and longer to catch up to the standard of living of the rest of the population at a time when the country’s labour force needs fresh blood, the paper points out.

A traditional, short-term policy focus is no longer sufficient, the researchers argue.

Federal settlement plans usually assume a three-year time frame, but in reality, newcomers need five to 10 years of help before they find their feet, the report says.

Plus, settlement services are often concentrated in urban cores, far from their targeted population and they don’t focus enough on the immediate needs of the newcomer population, the paper argues.

It points out that newcomers are far more likely than long-time Canadians to be “core housing need” — spending more than 30 per cent of their income on shelter.

That’s because almost two-thirds of newcomers are renters and they often say it’s difficult to find and qualify for affordable housing.

The paper points to research by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp., showing that 44 per cent of recent immigrant renters are considered to be in core housing need. For non-immigrant renters, less than a quarter are in that danger zone.

“Without stable housing, immigrants and their families experience even greater difficulties finding jobs, enrolling children in school, participating in language training and becoming part of community life,” the paper explains.

Affordability for newcomers is especially severe in York Region, north of Toronto, and in Ottawa, the report says.

But at the same time, the federal commitment to supporting affordable housing has been spotty.

The federal stimulus program helped build new social housing, and federal and provincial governments recently signed a three-year pact for more spending. But Ottawa is also allowing other operating agreements to expire — a move that will mean $1 billion less per year in federal funding by 2020, the report.

As for transit, newcomers are about twice as likely as long-time Canadians to take the bus. But bus routes don’t necessarily follow the flow of the immigrant population, with so many jobs and newcomers moving to the suburbs, the report says.

“Federal and provincial governments must provide long-term, reliable funding so that transit systems have the financial certainty they need to meet the needs of all Canadians, now and in the future,” the report urges.

The federation argues that municipal governments are on the front lines of a crumbling system to integrate immigrants, helping out with housing, recreation, library services, child care and public transit.

And yet they are not included in policy deliberations and direct funding agreements, nor do they have the money to pay for these services in a way that keeps up with demand, they point out.

New immigrants come to Canada from all corners of the globe – from countries that have different educational standards, licensing requirements, terminology and languages – so it only makes sense that those who practice in regulated occupations need to meet Canada’s standards. This applies whether you intend to work in such varied occupations such as a truck driver, an electrician, a pharmacist or an engineer – just as examples.

If only it were as simple as taking a Canadian test for your occupation so that you could then start to work in your profession. This is not the case however; as many occupations are provincially regulated, and some even require both federal and provincial licensing. Licensing varies from province to province. On top of this, one provincial licence may not be accepted in another province. Documentation required and timeframes vary as well.

Most regulatory bodies and authorities provide information on requirements for licensing, but this information can be confusing particularly when you are dealing with both provincial and federal bodies and you are in a foreign country. It can be very daunting to tackle this on your own when you are unfamiliar with the processes and the terminology. It would be very beneficial for you to have a Canadian who is familiar with the processes and the provinces to help you out – Goldman Associates offer services to help with your licensing so that you can tackle the licensing issue before arrival in Canada. The help provided in navigating the system and in completing the application is invaluable to your future.

You need to ensure that you have fully investigated what you need to do prior to becoming licensed. Don’t expect to be able to write the licensing exam outside of Canada, you will need to physically be in Canada to do this. In many professions you will be able to have your documentation assessed prior to coming to Canada, so that you can do your licensing exam(s) as soon as possible after arrival. Research and preparation are your keys to success.

Challenges that foreign-trained applicants face include the following: 

• Some provinces do not require licensing at all for certain occupations while others do. This is often the case with trades. This may impact where you decide to live and work after arrival in Canada
• It may be pointless to become qualified in a province where there is no work available
• It is easier to get registered in some occupations in some provinces rather than other provinces. For example, some provinces require less experience or less education while other provinces may not require you to do an exam or a language test
• Some provinces require you to have a work permit before you can become registered and others do not (if you are coming on a temporary work permit)
• Some employers may allow you to work in Canada under supervision while you are preparing for your exam while others do not allow this
• You may be allowed to get registered in one province and then to work in another.
• For trades, the Red Seal is recognized across Canada so once the exam is passed you can work in any province
• The national nursing exam is recognized across Canada. However, each province still requires registration. This scenario is also true for occupations such as doctors, pharmacists and physiotherapists

Some helpful tips:

• Exams may only be offered once or twice a year in certain professions so make sure you are aware of the dates in advance
• Licensing bodies are usually very strict with their review of documentation so ensure that you have the correct documents to be assessed
• Official transcripts from your university or college may be required
• Documents will need to be officially translated if they are not in English or French
• It can be expensive and time consuming to get licensed so make sure that you are doing the right assessment and exam

On top of all of the above, these rules are constantly changing. The licensing issue may end up being your biggest challenge in your relocation – it is imperative that you get it right if you want to practice in your profession. It is critical to understand all of the rules that apply to you and your situation. You cannot afford to get it wrong.

As always, preparation and knowledge will determine your success in getting licensed, and will make your relocation smoother.

Writers Bio: Goldman Associates provide licensing services to help you in your preparation for arrival in Canada. A general consulting service is available as well as an in-depth service which will provide help in completion of the full application, collation of documentation and advice regarding the best province in which for you to get licensed. Contact us for further information and we will be happy to help info@immigrationtocanada.org 

“Canadian citizenship is not for sale. I encourage anyone who has information regarding citizenship fraud to call our tip line,” said Minister Kenney. “My department will ensure that all tips are investigated and that appropriate action is taken.”

Cases involving false representation, fraud or knowingly concealing material circumstances in the citizenship process – for example, pretending to be present in Canada to meet the residence requirements for obtaining citizenship – should be referred to the citizenship fraud tip line at CIC’s Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday). Those overseas can contact the nearest Canadian visa office. Tips may also be reported by e-mail at Citizenship-fraud-tips@cic.gc.ca.

All other types of fraud tips related to immigration should be reported to the Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) Border Watch Tip Line at 1-888-502-9060. The CBSA is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

To date, CIC has identified approximately 2,000 people from over 100 countries who may have obtained Canadian citizenship fraudulently, many by using the services of crooked consultants to misrepresent their residence in Canada. CIC is taking steps to revoke citizenship from those who obtained it fraudulently, where allowed by the evidence.

Immigration has been a sustaining feature of Canada’s history and continues to play an important role in building our country. Canada has one of the highest per capita rates of permanent immigration in the world—roughly 0.8% in recent years—and has welcomed 3.5 million immigrants in the last 15 years.

“The online consultation provides an important opportunity to gather input from stakeholders and the public on key questions facing CIC “ said Minister Kenney. “This is also a chance to highlight some of the considerations and difficult choices involved in managing a global immigration system.”

In planning for the total number of people to admit as permanent residents, CIC not only balances immigration objectives but also considers several other factors, including broader government commitments, input from provinces and territories, and current and future economic conditions. The Department must also consider its ability to process applications in a timely manner, as well as the capacity of communities to welcome newcomers.

The questionnaire is a key component of the cross-country consultations Minister Kenney and his parliamentary secretaries are currently leading on immigration levels and mix. In July, the Minister consulted with stakeholders in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto. This month, parliamentary secretaries Rick Dykstra and Chungsen Leung held round tables in Mississauga, Scarborough and London. Additional sessions may be planned in the coming weeks and months.

Thus far, the majority of stakeholders present at the consultation sessions expressed a fairly positive view of the current immigration system. They have identified immigration as a critical way to meet labour market needs, citing economic factors as among the most important considerations when establishing immigration levels, followed by integration concerns. Participants have also highlighted the importance of family reunification and the need to address wait times in the parent and grandparent stream.

More than 1,600 people have already signed up to complete the questionnaire. It is available at the following link: www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/consultations/index.asp.

A report on the consultations, including the online questionnaire, will be available on the CIC website in the fall of 2011 or winter 2012.

In 2004, and long before his children were born, Charles thought it wise to begin the lengthy process of sponsoring his parents to Canada. He is a Canadian citizen, makes enough money to qualify as a sponsor, and thought it a good idea for his parents to apply for the right to live in Canada with their son, daughter-in-law and, hopefully, with any future grandchildren.

His parents were here three years ago to witness the birth of their first grandchild, Daniel and again last year for the birth of their second grandchild, Michelle. Naturally, these trips were extremely memorable and allowed the children an opportunity to know their grandparents and to bond with them. His parents always looked forward to spending time with their loving grandchildren.

In February, the Canadian embassy asked the couple to repeat the medical examinations they had underwent in 2009 which had since expired. After a long seven-year wait, it finally looked like the processing of the application was about to be completed.

When Charles’ mom was being examined, she advised the immigration doctor that she was taking pills prescribed by her doctor for a heart condition. The immigration doctor ordered a follow-up medical with a local cardiologist. In June, the couple received a letter from the Canadian embassy saying that Charles’ mom has a mitral valve disease and that it was reasonable to conclude that this condition will continue to progress and deteriorate requiring ongoing management by specialists in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery. They were given two months to provide further documentation which might lead immigration authorities to reconsider their finding that Charles’ mom was medically inadmissible to Canada.

In spite of the further medical information the family submitted to the embassy in response to this letter, the application for permanent residence was formally rejected in July. Given the fact that Charles’ mom never suffered a heart attack nor was ever hospitalized for this condition, this refusal came as a profound disappointment to the family. But what was really unexpected was the following passage which was contained in the refusal letter:

“This inadmissibility may also extend to any stay in Canada as a visitor … [and you] should therefore not attempt to enter Canada without seeking advice from a Canadian visa office”.

Charles felt shocked and betrayed by the prospect that his mom would not be allowed to even visit Canada anymore. He and his parents did everything right. They applied from abroad, waited patiently for seven years, told the truth, and now they are in a far worse position than when they started. He was upset that his mom wasn’t even offered the opportunity to undergo any surgery or treatment abroad that might be needed to address any medical concerns as a precondition to the granting of permanent residence.

His parents visited often, always with health insurance, and never overstayed. Now his mom may not be able to spend her vacations visiting the grandchildren which she has become so attached to. Her confidence is shaken and Charles is worried that his mother is too afraid to hear what immigration officials might tell her at the Canadian embassy.

What was supposed to be a plan of family reunification has now turned into a potential nightmare for this family. This outcome was not at all anticipated.

Writers Bio: Guidy Mamann, J.D. practices law in Toronto at Mamann Sandaluk and is certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as an immigration specialist.

The Foreign Credentials Referral Office’s (FCRO) annual report, released today, highlights the important achievements made by Citizenship and Immigration (CIC), Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and Health Canada, who work in partnership with provinces and territories and other key stakeholders to help foreign trained workers with the foreign credential recognition processes.

“We want newcomers to be able to use their skills as soon as possible in Canada and work to their full potential,” said Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. “It’s good for them and good for the Canadian economy.”

The Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Credentials met its commitment in 2010 to let foreign skilled workers in eight targeted occupations know within a year of applying whether their credentials are recognized or what additional courses they would need to take to have their credentials recognized. The Framework, led by HRSDC, is a Government of Canada project in partnership with the provinces and territories.

“Foreign-trained workers make an important contribution to Canada’s labour market and economy. That’s why Canada’s Economic Action Plan invested $50 million to work with partners to improve foreign credential recognition,” said Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “Our government is helping newcomers find meaningful work that contributes to Canada’s overall prosperity.”

In 2010, the Government of Canada, with the Association of Community Colleges, expanded the Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP) to serve not only Federal Skilled Workers but also Provincial Nominees, and their spouses and working-age dependents with two-day orientation sessions on Canadian culture, the labour market and foreign credential recognition processes. The overseas courses better prepare skilled immigrants to integrate more quickly into the Canadian labour market and society.

The program is showing success. By September 2010, nearly 13,000 applicants had registered for CIIP services and over 9,100 had completed the two-day course. Among the CIIP graduates who had arrived in Canada, 70 per cent said they found employment despite the economic downturn.

Other key developments this past year included:

• The Federal Internship for Newcomers program gave 65 interns, more than double the number in 2009, key Canadian work experience in 11 government departments.
• In B.C. the Physician Integration Project, funded, in part, through Health Canada’s Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative, was revised to better support international medical graduates as they integrate into the B.C. workforce.
• The Working in Canada website (www.workingincanada.gc.ca) was upgraded to provide information on licensing and certification requirements for various professions, which are steps applicants can begin while still overseas.
• The Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) provides information, path-finding and referral services to internationally trained workers both in Canada and overseas and collaborates with federal partners and other stakeholders to improve foreign credential recognition processes.

To read the Government of Canada 2010 Progress Report on Foreign Credential Recognition, go to: www.credentials.gc.ca

“We are a people who believe that our origins matter less than our destinations.  And that where you come from is not as important as where you are going.” Daryl Bennett—Mayor of Peterborough

Here’s some advice from Newcomers who have already relocated to Peterborough:

Dean Pappas, City Councillor and Business Owner (family originally from Greece).

• Embrace your new country. Getting settled can be hard, so it is important to get to know your community and get support when you need it.
• It can be tough for mothers who stay home to look after the children while fathers are out working. While fathers get to meet new people, mothers bear a great deal of the stress and isolation that come with being a newcomer.
• Get out there- go to the library or the New Canadians Centre.
• Remember, there is a lot of support for families in this city. Use them!
• Canada’s school system is one of its strengths. It does a great job in integrating newcomers. If your kids are in school, take advantage of all the community has to offer and get involved.
• The city offers many services, and a team of friendly staff who are happy to help. Take advantage of the free library, free museum, art gallery and various programs for kids and adults.

Ali Imran and Mostafa Rahman, Business Owners (originally from Bangladesh)

• Make sure you know the business you’re going into.
• Either get some schooling at Trent or Fleming, or work for someone who knows the business well.
• Talk to others who are doing something similar.
• Peterborough is a smaller city, which means word of mouth travels fast. So if you are good at what you do, people find out relatively quickly.
• Believe in yourself, and know that starting your own business is the best thing you can do. If you are serious and willing to work hard, anyone can succeed in this country.

Farah Zafarzadeh, Business Owner (originally from Afghanistan)

• Good customer service and a high-quality product are the keys to maintaining a successful business.
• Don’t be a follower. Be a leader. Over time, others will accept your decisions, even if they are against it at first. Never fear others.
• We are not getting any younger, only older. We shouldn’t cover ourselves with a shell. We should use right now, today, not wait for tomorrow.
• Encourage yourself. Encourage, encourage, encourage. Don’t worry about how long it takes. Keep pushing and saying to yourself “Yes, I can”.

Fadhil Al-Sarraj, Business Owner (originally from Iraq) 

• Have a vision, and pursue your dreams for a better life with determination. Always look forward.
• Appreciate the achievements of others, regardless of how big or small they may be. Expand your own experiences by learning from their successes and failures.
• Be sincere in your relationships. Love for others what you love for yourself.
• Only try to work in a field that you are good at (and you enjoy!). Money will come after.
• If you are going into a business partnership, make sure you have a lawyer involved. This country runs on written statements, not on verbal agreements.
• Remember: lucky people are those who work hard and do a good job.

The number of permanent resident visas issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada between January and March fell from 84,083 in 2010 to 63,224 this year.

The latest department numbers show a decline across the board, with visas for skilled workers down 28 per cent, family-sponsored relatives down 14 per cent, and refugees dropping by 25 per cent.

Over the last 15 years, Canada’s annual immigration levels have remained around 250,000, about 0.8 per cent of the population.

Immigration lawyers say fewer permanent visas could mean bigger backlogs, especially for family sponsorships where there is no cap on applications like there is for skilled workers and investors.

Since 2008, the federal government has made numerous changes to its immigration program in an effort to eliminate backlogs and process applications in a more timely fashion. It counts on capping the number of immigration applications it accepts for processing.

Drop in immigrant acceptance in the first quarter

• Federal skilled workers27,82416,836-39%
• Quebec skilled workers8,9048,239-7%
• Federal business immigrants1,8831,831-3%
• Quebec business immigrants1,1791,32112%
• Provincial nominees11,4639,426-18%
• Live-in caregivers4,7142,897-39%
• Canadian experience class1,241713-43%
• Total Economic Class57,20841,263-28%
• Spouses and children12,42711,017-11%
• Parents and grandparents4,0393,112-23%
• Total Family Class16,46614,129-14%
• Government-assisted refugees2,0511,697-17%
• Privately sponsored refugees 1,1121,53538%
• Refugees within Canada3,6881,971-47%
• Refugees’ dependants abroad 65373913%
• Humanitarian cases2,8681,866-35%
• Others3721-43%
• Total Humanitarian Class10,4097,829-25%

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

This rule applies to foreigners coming to visit, work, study, or live in Canada. In other words, if you have been convicted of such an offence, chances are you will not be allowed to step foot in Canada..

Virtually all countries deny entry to foreigners with criminal records. However, most countries don’t consider drunk driving a “crime”. So admission to those countries is not usually a problem for those previously found guilty of such an offence.

However, in Canada, drinking and driving is a full-blown crime found in Canada’s Criminal Code and people convicted of such conduct are viewed as “criminals”. It makes no difference how the offence is viewed in the foreign country. It doesn’t matter if the violation is considered a felony, misdemeanour, traffic violation or characterized otherwise. It doesn’t even matter if the offence doesn’t appear on the individual’s police report or on their criminal record. It also doesn’t matter if this was a first offence or an offence which did not involve any injury or damage to property.

If the elements of the foreign offence, which were proven in the foreign court, can support a conviction of impaired driving in Canada, then the person is deemed to be criminally inadmissible to Canada. Overcoming criminal inadmissibility to Canada can be overcome in a few ways.

In the case of “minor” crimes, a person can be deemed to be rehabilitated, without having to make any sort of application, if he has not re-offended for at least ten years since the completion of the sentence for the conviction in question. If the person has been convicted of a “serious” crime, then they may apply to the minister of immigration, five years after the completion of the sentence for the offence in question, for a declaration that they have been rehabilitated. If five years has not passed since the completion of the sentence, they will have to apply for a Temporary Resident Permit.

A “TRP” may be issued if an officer determines that:

• the need to enter or remain in Canada is compelling and sufficient to overcome the risk;
• the risk to Canadians or Canadian society is minimal; and
• the need for the individual’s presence in Canada outweighs the risk

While the policy reasons for a ban on drunk drivers are obvious, Canada’s enforcement of this policy has recently come under attack. Documents obtained pursuant to our access-to-information laws reveal that Canada’s tourism industry, especially the sector involving fishing and hunting, is suffering because of the strict application of this law. It was furthermore suggested that border officers were applying the law “arbitrarily” and with a “lack of courtesy”.

While the loss of revenue from sport tourism is not an irrelevant consideration, it is dwarfed by the impact on our economy by the application of this policy on foreign businessmen and women, and in particular American executives.

When Canada denies entry, or is seen to be ready to deny entry, to such individuals, Canadians stand to lose the benefit of the economic stimulus their entry might have brought our economy. In my office, the cases with the greatest potential impact on Canada’s economy are, not those involving investors and entrepreneurs but, those involving senior executives headed to the Canadian branch of a multi-national corporation.

It is always easier for a democratically elected government to avoid controversy and simply banish all those with DUI convictions. However, such a blanket approach will have dramatic and unnecessary consequences for Canadian businesses which stand to benefit greatly by a more measured approach.

No Canadian wants dangerous foreigners entering this country. On the other hand, no Canadian wants to deprive themselves of the economic benefit of those who do not pose a risk to us.

The question to be addressed is how do we achieve this delicate balance.

Writers Bio: Guidy Mamann, J.D. practices law in Toronto at Mamann Sandaluk  and is certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as an immigration specialist. For more information, visit www.migrationlaw.com

“The backlog of federal skilled worker applications is now half of what it was when we announced the Action Plan for Faster Immigration in 2008,” said Minister Kenney. “These measures will help us to continue that progress.”

Canada receives many more immigration applications than can be accepted every year. As part of ongoing efforts to better align application intake with priorities for immigration, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is limiting the number of new applications it will consider in certain categories of the federal economic immigration stream.

Effective July 1, 2011, the changes will affect new applicants to the federal Skilled Worker, federal Immigrant Investor and federal Entrepreneur programs. The changes will not affect the number of permanent resident admissions in 2011 in these three categories.

“Canada continues to welcome historically high numbers of new immigrants each year, but the Government continues to receive applications that far exceed this number,” said Minister Kenney. “If we don’t keep putting reasonable limits on new applications, backlogs and wait times will grow.”

In November 2008, the government first took steps to identify for processing those federal skilled worker applications that responded to Canada’s labour needs, such as applicants with arranged employment offers from Canadian employers or with experience in an occupation in high demand. In June 2010, the government released an updated list of 29 priority occupations and introduced a global cap of 20,000 for federal skilled workers, as well as a sub-cap of 1,000 under each occupation. Over the past year, CIC has received approximately 13,800 federal skilled worker applications under the priority occupations list (figure accurate as of June 24, 2011).

Now, for applicants who do not have an offer of employment in Canada, the government will further limit the number of new federal skilled worker applications that are considered for processing to 10,000 a year, beginning July 1. This limit will help better align the number of applications with labour market demand. Within the 10,000 limit, a maximum of 500 new applications in each of the current 29 priority occupations will be considered.

In addition, the Minister is introducing a cap of 700 on new federal investor applications. Although last year, CIC made changes that raised the minimum net worth and investment requirements, it continues to receive applications in excess of what is required. An annual cap on new applications will allow for progress on backlog reduction while ensuring that the Department has a sufficient volume of new files to meet its commitments.

The Minister is also introducing a temporary moratorium on new federal entrepreneur applications. Wait times for this program currently stretch to eight years in some visa offices. By ceasing to accept new applications as of July 1, the government will prevent further processing delays. The federal Entrepreneur Program will undergo a review in the coming months to ensure that Canada is better able to attract and retain innovative entrepreneurs.

The authority for these changes, which are being introduced through ministerial instructions, comes from amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act approved by Parliament in 2008 as part of the Action Plan for Faster Immigration. The instructions are meant to be a flexible tool that allows the government to align the intake of immigration applications with priorities for immigration.

Since these changes were implemented in November 2008, the backlog of pre-2008 federal skilled worker applicants has decreased by 50 percent. As well, priority applications are being processed in a period of months rather than years, as was the case prior to the 2008 changes.

The CIC website will be updated on July 1, 2011, with details on application requirements and procedures for affected programs.

Applying for a SIN

The first step to applying is to complete the application form (NAS2120 05-04), which can be found at your local Service Canada Centre office or downloadable here. The form asks for details such as: name, date of birth, mother and fathers names, your Canadian status, contact numbers and mailing address. You will need to take the form along with supporting documents to your local Service Canada Centre where it will be processed. You can also apply by mail, but will need to send original passports etc that may take around three weeks to return.

You will need to have certain documentation in order to prove your identity and status in Canada. As a permanent resident you can provide one of the following for all applicants:

Permanent Resident Card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence and visa counterfoil affixed to a foreign passport or a travel document. If you are a temporary resident you must show one of the following: Work Permit or Study Permit. Be sure to read the instructions carefully to make sure you have all the necessary documents required.

One processed you will be issued with a credit card size SIN card which shows your name and SIN number.

When to use a SIN

Your SIN is a confidential number that is restricted to income reporting purposes. It  is the key to your identity in Canada and should be used very carefully. Your SIN can be used to find out all sorts of information about you and can be used to steal your identity. You should not give out your SIN to just anyone and should make sure all references to your SIN and indeed any other personal information is carefully discarded i.e. shredded to prevent its misuse.

There are only a select number of federal government departments specifically authorized to collect your SIN. Institutions from which you earn interest or income, such as banks, credit unions and trust companies, must also ask for your SIN.

Legislated uses of the SIN (or legislation that regulates its use) include:

• Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and Employment Insurance contributions or claims (the original purposes for the SIN);
• Income Tax identification;
• banks, trust companies, caisse populaires and stock brokers when they sell you financial products (GICs or Canada Savings Bonds) or services (bank accounts) that generate interest. They declare your interest to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for income tax purposes;
• various Veterans Affairs benefit programs;
• Canada Student Loans or Canada Student Financial Assistance;
• Canada Education Savings Grants;
• Gasoline and Aviation Gasoline Excise Tax Applications;
• Canadian Wheat Board Act;
• Labour Adjustment Benefits Act;
• Tax Rebate Discounting Regulations;
• Race Track Supervision Regulations;
• Garnishment Regulations (Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act);
• Canada Elections Act;
• Canadian Labour Standards Regulations (Canada Labour Code);
• Farm Income Protection.

Programs Authorized to use the SIN:

• Immigration Adjustment Assistance Program;
• Income and Health Care Programs;
• Income Tax Appeals and Adverse Decisions;
• Labour Adjustment Review Board;
• National Dose Registry for Occupational Exposures to Radiation;
• Rural and Native Housing Program;
• Social Assistance and Economic Development Program

The Employment Insurance Act requires a person to apply for a Social Insurance Number and to produce his/ her Social Insurance Number card to his/her employer within three (3) days after having received it. However, the legislation does not prevent persons from working in insurable employment prior to being issued a Social Insurance Number and card.

If you are asked to provide your SIN by any other organization, ask why they need it and how they are going to use it. If you are not happy with the answers, do not give it.

Remember, your SIN is not an identification document and is not required by law, there is no signature on the SIN. You can therefore tell the person/company requesting your SIN that you prefer to use another form of identification such as a driving licence or passport.

Under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), organizations like banks, telecommunications companies and airlines cannot require you to consent to the collection, use or disclosure of your personal information unless it is required for a specific and legitimate purpose. This means that unless an organization can demonstrate that your SIN is required by law, or that no alternative identifier would suffice to complete the transaction, you cannot be denied a product or service on the grounds of your refusal to provide your SIN.

If you are not happy about a request for your SIN made by an organization that is subject to the PIPEDA, you can complain to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, who will investigate the complaint.

Questions:

How much does a SIN cost?

There is no fee for first time applicants or amendments to existing cards, however $10 will be charged for the replacement of a SIN card.

If I get married do I need to change my SIN?

Any legal change of name must be changed on your SIN. You will need to supply legal documentation backing up your details. No charge is made for name changes to SIN cards.

What happens if I lose my card?

You will need to report the card lost or stolen to the police and get a police report. You will then need to apply for a replacement card, providing relevant documentation, along with a $10 fee.

What happens if I change my address?

You do not need to inform Service Canada of a change of address.

Should I carry my SIN card around with me?

No, you should not. You only need to have it on your person if you know you will need it that day. You card should be stored somewhere safe and secure.

Can I request a copy of my SIN applications file?

Yes, under the Privacy Act you have a right to access information held about you. You will need to complete form TBC/CTC35-58. Details can be found at here: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/tbsf-fsct/350-58-eng.asp

Why do children need a SIN number?

Anyone wanting to work, open a bank account or obtain tax credits must have a SIN number. Therefore if you intent to open a bank account for your child you will need a SIN number for them. Likewise, if you have already obtained a SIN for them, when they want to start work they will not have to wait several weeks for the SIN to be processed. It is not however mandatory for children to have a SIN.

What happens with temporary SIN cards?

If you have a SIN number beginning with 9 it is a temporary card issued to people who are neither citizens or permanent residents. These cards will have an expiry date printed on them and will need to be renewed, if required, before that date. If your status changes i.e. to permanent resident you will need to apply for a permeant SIN number.

What happens if someone dies?

You must notify Service Canada of any death to be sure the deceased persons SIN number is not used fraudulently. A death certificate will be required as will the original SIN card.

What if my card is lost or stolen?

Inform Service Canada immediately and be sure to check your bank accounts, credit cards etc for any signs of fraudulent use. You may also want to report the loss to credit report agencies who will flag your account as at risk and vulnerable to fraud. If your card was stolen you should also report its loss to the police and get a case reference number.

Your first PR Card

When you become a permanent resident (PR) in Canada you will be issued with a permanent resident card. This is a small plastic card, about the size of a credit card that you will need in order to prove your status when re-entering the county. Everyone, including infants will be issued with a PR card.

When landing in Canada, you will be asked to provide a mailing address to which your card will be sent. If you cannot provide this initially on landing, don’t worry; you have six months to submit one. However any delay in providing an address will mean you do not receive your card until much later. If you want to leave and re-enter Canada during this time you will need to apply for a temporary travel document, which we will address later.

The cost of the card has already been incorporated into your immigration fees, so there will be nothing extra to pay. The card is valid for five years and replacement cards will cost you $50.

The card is designed to improve border security and also provide the cardholder with proof of their entitlement to reside in Canada. Whenever you leave Canada and return via a commercial carrier such as airplane, boat, train or bus you will need to show your PR card to gain re-entry. If you drive across the border in a private car, you will not need to show your card.

Once you have given a mailing address, either on landing or later, you should receive your PR card within 30 days. You will need to contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) if you don’t receive yours within this time. If during the coming years you decide to become a Canadian citizen, your PR card will be taken from you and you will then need to apply for a Canadian passport in order to travel and re-enter Canada.

Urgent Cases: If you need to travel internationally before you are able to obtain your PR card, your application can be prioritized. When you complete your PR application you should include a copy of your travel documents i.e. plane tickets and mark it “Urgent – proof of travel included” on the envelope. Your application will then be processed on a priority basis.

Temporary Travel Document: If you leave Canada during the processing time you will need to obtain a temporary travel document (TTD) in order to re-enter the country. Your Record of Landing (IMM 1000) and Confirmation of PR (IMM 5292) will not be sufficient to allow you re-entry into Canada. All family members travelling will need to apply individually and a $50 non-refundable fee will apply to each.

In order to obtain the TTD, every applicant must complete form IMM 5524, submit a passport size photograph, your passport and evidence of your permanent resident status, such as Record of Landing and of course pay the fee. You will need to submit the application to the visa office responsible for the country where you are currently located.

Your application will then be assessed and if accepted you will be issued with a temporary travel document, allowing you to travel back to Canada. These are normally only valid for a single entry. You will need to collect your TTD in person from the visa office.

Renewal of PR Card

As we mentioned before the PR Card is only valid for five years and needs to be renewed if residency is to be kept. This process should be started well before the date your card expires. You should check the CIC processing times to see how long current PR Cards are taking to process and apply for your replacement in good time. At the time of writing (March 2011), the processing time was 98 calendar days.

All forms and guides are available via the CIC website, however you will have to order the Supplementary Identification Form (IMM 5455) and the HPM Receipt Form (IMM 5401) which is sent to you in the mail. This can be ordered on the website at no charge.

You will then need to complete form IMM 5444 which asks questions such as name, age, address, when you first became a permanent resident etc. It will also ask you to give details of dates, location etc of places you have worked or been educated at and places you have lived for the past five years. You will also need to record details of any trips taken outside the country. This includes dates, location and reason for absence. If you have been outside Canada for more than 1095 days in the past five years you will need to complete the Residency Obligation section.

You also need to supply copies of several documents along with your application. These depend on your circumstances but may include passport, Record of Landing, driver’s licence and proof of any name changes. You will also have to supply two identical photos which need to meet certain criteria. If your PR Card is still valid, you will not need to surrender it at the application stage. A full instruction guide is available on the CIC website.

A fee of $50 is payable per application which needs to be paid prior to submitting your application. You can do this online via the CIC website, or you can use the HPM Receipt Form (IMM 5401) and pay at any financial institution. Receipts need to be included in your application.

Once sent to the processing centre, you will hear nothing more from CIC until they start to process your application, which as we mentioned is currently 98 days. If then your application is complete and approve you will receive a letter from CIC advising you where and when to collect your new PR Card. If your application is deemed incomplete it will be returned and you will have to resubmit.

When you collect your new card you will have to take originals of all documents included in your application as well as your existing card.

Lost or Stolen Cards

If your card is lost or stolen you should report it to the CIC Call Centre immediately and then apply for a new card using the method described above.

More information and all associated documentation and forms can be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website http://www.cic.gc.ca

Under the proposal, a spouse or partner from abroad who has been in a relationship with the Canadian sponsor for two years or less would be granted only “conditional permanent residence.”

The newcomer would then have to remain in a bona fide relationship with their sponsor for two years or more following arrival — or risk having their permanent residence status revoked. In turn, this could lead to their removal from Canada. A federal notice published just before the election writ was issued Saturday says the measure would “send a message that Canada is taking a strong stance against marriage fraud, and immigration fraud in general.”

It would also bring Canada’s policies in line with those of other countries, such as the United States, Britain and Australia, all of which already have a form of two-year conditional status for those in new relationships, the notice says.

The director of a legal clinic that serves the Asian community says the move will hurt women in violent relationships.

“It’s going to be disastrous for women who are abused,” said Avvy Go of the Metro Toronto Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic.

The federal notice says that given concerns about violent relationships, “a process for allowing bona fide spouses and partners in such situations to come forward without facing enforcement action” would be developed should the new measure be put in place.

But Go says many vulnerable women simply won’t report abuse by their partners. In addition, she doesn’t trust immigration officers “who are not trained to deal with domestic violence situations” to decide whether or not a woman has actually fled an abusive relationship. The public has 30 days to comment on the federal proposal.

The government says while most relationships are believed to be legitimate, the spousal sponsorship process is open to fraud.

In some case, both parties may be using the system for immigration purposes. In others, the sponsor thinks the relationship is genuine while the sponsored partner intends on breaking up shortly after gaining permanent residence status.

The government says “firm figures” on the extent of marriage fraud are not available. However, about 16 per cent of the 46,300 immigration applications processed last year were refused for various reasons.

Many were rejected because the relationship was considered a sham, while others were refused for reasons including criminal history, security and medical issues, the government says.

Last fall, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney held town hall meetings in Vancouver, Brampton, Ont., and Montreal to discuss marriages of convenience. His department also consulted the provinces and territories. An online consultation drew 2,342 responses from the general public and 89 from interested groups.

The federal notice says respondents “expressed considerable concern” about marriages of convenience. “Most considered the issue to be a threat to the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.”

As an additional measure, the government proposes to introduce a “sponsorship bar” that would prevent sponsored partners and spouses from sponsoring a new partner for five years.

In the UK, Jon was a civil servant organizing the repair of military equipment around the world. Janet worked in a car dealership as an administrator. They submitted their application for the skilled worker program in August of 2006 but found out the waiting list was around five years. Not prepared to wait this length of time Jon started looking for work in Canada. He found a job as an auto mechanic in Edmonton, Alberta and after several telephone interviews was offered the job. Now he had to satisfy the LMO (Labour Market Opinion) criteria and have his qualifications, references etc approved. He also had to obtain his Journeyman Certificate which had to be done in Canada.

In January 2008 the couple arrived in Edmonton on a six month work permit. They spent the first few nights at a local hotel and then found a place to rent in the city. When they moved they sold their home in the UK, along with all their belongings. So they had money, but not much else. “We came over with two suitcases each and our cat, which subsequently went missing and was never seen again.” laughs Janet.

Jon started his job and Janet looked for one herself, finally securing placement in an office after about five weeks. “This was a dreadful experience,” she says. “The women already had their clique quota, so I was not made welcome. Also,

one of the male employees constantly told me that I was smelly, explaining that all immigrants stink! I did report this to management, but they did absolutely nothing.

READ THE REST OF JANET AND JONS STORY HERE

Improvements to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will ensure that the program continues to be fair to employers and maintain its focus on alleviating temporary labour shortages.

“We saw a need for clear regulations to better protect workers from poor treatment and to ensure that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program continued to address short-term labour and skills shortages,” said Minister Kenney. “These regulations respond to that need and with the information being made available today, employers and workers will clearly know what is expected of them.”

The regulatory improvements to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program include the most significant changes to the program in many years. There are three major elements:

• a more rigorous assessment of the genuineness of the job offer;
• a two-year period of ineligibility for hiring temporary foreign workers for employers who fail to meet their commitments with respect to wages, working conditions and occupation; and
• a four-year limit on the length of time some temporary foreign workers may work in Canada before returning home.

“We know that the vast majority of employers treat foreign workers with respect and we recognize the importance of temporary foreign workers to employers in certain industries,” added Rick Dykstra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Member of Parliament for St. Catharines. “That’s why we have also identified some workers who will be exempt from the four-year limit, such as workers who come to Canada through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and play such a critical role in the harvest across the country.”

For more details on the regulatory improvements, please see Protecting Temporary Foreign Workers and Four-Year Limit for Foreign Nationals Working in Canada.

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is driven by employer demand and aimed at filling identified labour shortages where no suitable Canadian workers or permanent residents are available. It is jointly managed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

“The Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council – or ICCRC – has committed to enhancing the protection of the Canadian public and those who use the services of immigration consultants,” said Minister Kenney. “I am confident that, with the ICCRC’s strong regulation of immigration consultants, people using our immigration processes will be offered quality consultation, representation and advice.”

A notice has been published on the website of the Canada Gazette, Part I, proposing to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations so that the ICCRC becomes the regulator of immigration consultants. The official Gazette publication will be available on March 19, 2011.

The proposed amendments are open for public comment for a 30-day period. The current intention is that the final regulations would be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, and would come into effect. This proposed regulatory amendment is the culmination of a process that began in June 2010 when Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced its intention to launch a transparent public selection process to identify a body that could be recognized as the regulator of immigration consultants.

Immigration consultants are currently regulated by the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC). Reports by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in 2008 and 2009 pointed to governance issues and a lack of public confidence in CSIC. Based on the Standing Committee’s reports, CIC decided to launch this public process.

“I anticipate that the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council will not only help ensure public confidence in the integrity of the immigration program, but also that immigration consultants provide their services in a professional and ethical manner,” added Minister Kenney.

A selection committee was established to examine all submissions received following a public process requesting submissions from parties interested in being the regulator of immigration consultants. The committee reported its conclusions to the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. Based on these conclusions, the ICCRC is being proposed as the regulator best placed to govern immigration consultants.

In its submission, the ICCRC committed to a variety of activities to foster a culture of transparency and openness and to protect the Canadian public and those using the services of an immigration consultant, while building a strong relationship with its members. It has also proposed innovative strategies to ensure accountability and transparency to its membership, including a hotline for members of Parliament for complaints and questions and a public awareness campaign.

Transitional measures would be put in place to ensure continuity of service for both existing members in good standing of CSIC and their clients during the transition to the ICCRC. This process could take a few months to complete and it is anticipated that the ICCRC could become the regulatory body this summer.

This process is part of a broader strategy to protect from immigration fraud people wanting to immigrate to or stay in Canada. Included in this strategy is Bill C-35, which aims to crack down on crooked consultants. As well, a multilingual domestic advertising campaign warning prospective immigrants, permanent residents and Canadian citizens not to be taken in by crooked immigration consultants was launched in February and an overseas advertising campaign, with the support of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States—members of the Five Country Conference—was launched earlier this week. They can be viewed on YouTube.

Minister Kenney raised the issue of immigration consultant fraud in meetings with officials in China, India and the Philippines last fall and more recently in Pakistan. He has urged those governments to protect their citizens from exploitation and abuse by crooked immigration consultants.

Having been born in Canada, it was always an option for me to return but it wasn’t until the Autumn of 2002 that my husband and I reached the decision that, for the benefit of our children, as well as ourselves, this would be the best thing to do.

We spent years watching successive British Governments allow the plundering of our National Health system by non tax paying immigrants and visitors to the UK, the overloading of the education system and the clogging up of the roads, and all because, we felt, they had allowed unrestricted immigration to the point of saturation. This doesn’t mean that we are against immigration (after all Jim is now one himself) but it’s just that there was no monitoring. We got to the point where we could not see any way that this could be undone and as a result, both we and our children would suffer in years to come, whether it be with health care, employment, or otherwise.

Once the decision was made to leave the UK, Canada became the first choice as it would be easy for us to move there because of my citizenship and it had the reputation of being one of the top countries that people wanted to emigrate to. As I mentioned, I was born in Canada although I had not lived there since the age of two. But because I had not obtained a British Passport prior to February 1977, it meant that quite without intent, I had managed to retain my Canadian citizenship and therefore emigration for me was not a problem. Our two children Zoe and Aidan were also Canadian citizens by default. My husband Jim however was a Brit through and through, so the only way he could legally enter Canada permanently was if I sponsored him, which I did.

We did very little research regarding where we would live in Canada. We knew we wanted to be near Toronto, but not actually in the city. We basically got the map out and followed the lake east and came across the Quinte region, and were drawn to Prince Edward County, an island just south of Belleville and Trenton. We decided to see what this area could offer and if it wasn’t suitable we would look to the west of Toronto.

Jim was granted permanent residency in July of 2003 and we landed in Canada on August 22, 2003 after a heart wrenching farewell party with family and friends. After a weekend staying in Toronto, we headed up to Belleville on the following Monday. Looking back, I think we must have been either awfully brave or awfully stupid and I cannot decide which. Neither of us had jobs to go to but had at least managed to rent a house ahead of our arrival which meant that we did have somewhere to lay our heads the first night; however, the problem was what on!

Having found the house which we had rented out at Demorestville and marveling on how lucky we were to be going to live in such a beautiful spot, reality then struck and we realized that we would have to go shopping if we were going to survive the first night. Walmart must have been rubbing their hands together when they saw us heading back in 9.00 p.m. that evening for our third trip of the day purchasing everything from air beds and bedding, electrical equipment such as a TV, kettle etc to knives and forks. Finally at 10.00 p.m. the store closed and we headed back to the house to make up beds and get the children to sleep.

I look back on that first day with such good memories, not least the feeling of adventure and starting out on a whole new chapter in our lives. That said, I wonder whether we weren’t just a little mad!

We didn’t realize how difficult it would be for Jim, having 30 years of practical experience, but few paper qualifications, to find a job. The employers seemed very wary of taking him on, not because they didn’t think that he could do the job, but because they thought that he might find their way of doing things too different. Eventually he took a job back at square one so to speak and had to work his way up again, which he did do very quickly and is now the General Manager at the motor dealership where he works.

For me it seemed a whole lot easier. I worked in real estate my whole working life in the UK and whilst it is very different here and I had to re-learn the process, there is a real need for real estate secretaries and I managed to secure a position without too much difficulty.

After ten months in the rental accommodation we decided to buy our own house. We purchased our house in Rednersville, which completed at the end of May 2004 whereas our rental lease ran out at the end of June. Therefore we were able to take the month of June to move gradually and did not make the final move until the children finished their school year.

We found the house buying process relatively easy but that was mainly because by that time I was working for a lawyer in Picton who did the purchase for us. I now work for a company in Belleville and have helped a few British families with their home purchases in the area.

In the years since moving a lot has happened. Zoe will turn 18 at the end of March and is off to Ottawa University in the Fall and Aidan is now 16 and is in his second semester in grade 11 at High School. We have all just attended Jim’s citizenship ceremony in Ottawa which was a great honour. At least now we are all Canadian citizens.

One of the hardest periods was the summer of 2007 when I lost my Dad. He was in the UK and it was the first time I truly wished that I was living in the UK. I found it very difficult not being able to be with him when he was really sick.

We built a new house three years ago but have now decided to move into the City so the house is currently on the market. So if any of your readers are moving out here and need a five bedroom five bathroom house – let me know!

We have had a couple of holidays in Palm Springs where my Aunt and Uncle live and were fortunate enough to be able to celebrate my grandmother’s 98th and 99th birthdays with her in Santa Barbara, California before she passed away in November 2009.

Overall, I am still very happy that we made the decision to move here but now accept that there are certain things which will never be the same. I miss family gatherings in particular and feel that in the 8 years since we left the UK I have definitely missed out on my nieces and nephews growing up.

On the plus side, my children have had a wonderful transition from childhood into their teenage years and very much see Canada as their home. On the odd occasion that I refer to where we live now as “over here” or to the UK as “back home” they will both look at me most indignantly but I guess it’s just habit.

If you take all the money away from a millionaire, and the last CDN$20 away from someone just making ends meet, then give them both CDN$1,000 each, within five months the millionaire will be well on his way to increasing his wealth back up to a million and the ‘making ends meet’ person will be back down to the CDN$20 only in his pocket. The same situation can be applied to emigration. Why is it that the majority will do well, by pushing themselves forward and getting into jobs easily, yet, there are those that  moan and complain about everything?

Ironically, the complainers tend to have been of a similar nature in their homelands. They were never satisfied at work, in their home lives, or socially. Sad fact is they will always go through life complaining and doing very little to change it. Still to this day it amazes me how so many of us don’t or won’t accept that we are, for the most part, where we are in life, financially and otherwise, because of the decisions we’ve personally made. So, how much should you budget for emigrating? Well, some of you will survive within your comfort zones on the base amount the Canadian High Commission recommends. Others of you will come with a few hundred thousand dollars and still feel you are struggling, due to capital upfront purchase choices you made.

So whilst I will write as logically as I can, none of these figures are cast in stone for any one individual’s situation. First and foremost, will you have to budget for new furniture or are you shipping most of your home contents you already possess?

• Are you the type of person that happily accepts cutting your cloth to suit your pocket? That is accepting a lesser home rather than over-stretching yourself on mortgage payments and ongoing bills?
• A single person or couple without children, emigrating with say CDN$30,000 will likely do okay if they intend to rent for the foreseeable future. You will need first and last months rent up front, and unless on a good transportation route, will need to budget for a vehicle. In addition you will need to allow yourself a ‘safety net’, say a couple of thousand dollars a month to live on for the first three to four months (allow more in higher rental rate areas).
• A family emigrating with children or a couple intending to purchase a home and furnish it should allow at least 35 per cent of the purchase price to put down (if you have work, 25 per cent or less is possible with written confirmation of a permanent position). respective of whether you are able to qualify for a lower downpayment or not, seriously consider on first arrival always trying to put down the 35 per cent, to lower your monthly mortgage costs.

When budgeting it is crucial you check within a month of landing of what’s happening on the economy in your chosen area. It can blow any budget totally out of the water. Make sure you understand that the bigger the home the higher the running costs: gas, electric, property taxes, insurance and so on. I’m a great believer that people shouldn’t get carried away on the initial capital purchases. It’s all too easy when you have a couple of hundred thousand dollars in the bank. However, once that’s all gone, you’ve nothing to supplement your income to pay the everyday bills. For most the biggest variable will be what salary you can expect to earn. Someone earning CDN$120,000 a year can likely handle the bills of a CDN$600,000 or more home, but can someone earning CDN$50,000 a year?

So, in a nutshell, what should you budget for when emigrating?

• Finalizing your UK affairs. For example, house sale, lawyers, debts etcetera;
• The 35 per cent downpayment for your home, if applicable, plus CDN$1,500 incidentals;
• First and last month’s rent (variable; depending on destination and style of home)
• Shipping costs – ship all or nothing at all, it is your choice;
• Flights to Canada;
• Initial temporary furnished accommodation for first arrival;
• Travel and three month’s health insurance (where not covered immediately);
• Cost of living day to day – food, travel and household bills for three months or more;
• Purchasing a vehicle and auto insurance;
• Replacing furniture and/or electrical good;
• School fees (variable depending on Grade);
• Medications if applicable, such as diabetics;
• Childcare expenses or one income earning in the interim; and  don’t forget to add sales taxes where applicable.

The matter of setting your budget essentially boils down to what you want to achieve out of emigrating to Canada. You will feel much more comfortable as a family if you can emigrate with at least CDN$150,000 or more. Then you will at least get a foot on the property ladder in most areas, have enough for a vehicle, replace household electrical goods and cover the first few month’s living expenses.

Remember that, no matter how much you budget, for most of us, it’ll never be enough. Do make sure you put in a large contingency figure and veer on the higher end of costs, not lower.

Remember that if you emigrate to Canada that city to city, and province to province, costs vary. I said it before and I’ll say it again: It’s all about the personal choices you make.

“I congratulate all those involved in the Federal Internship for Newcomers program for their work, which was recently recognized by this award,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “For many immigrants a lack of Canadian work experience is a significant hurdle in finding employment. That’s why this program is so exciting. We offer eligible immigrants a chance to work in the federal government and gain valuable Canadian experience. Hopefully that can be a springboard to a successful career in their chosen fields.”

Since 2008, close to 130 skilled immigrants have been placed in federal departments in fields such as policy, research, project management, administration, translation, communication and science, based on their skills and the needs of hiring managers. To be eligible, interns must be permanent residents or Canadian citizens who have been in Canada for less than 10 years and possess a post-secondary degree.

Madut Majok, a graduate from the program in 2010, provided the following thoughts: “Through this opportunity I gained invaluable experience working with a very competent and dynamic policy group at CIC”

“As a founding partner and a lead participating department HRDC is proud to be helping newcomers get Canadian work experience that maximizes their skills and talent,” said Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “This program is an example of how we are enabling skilled immigrants to find fulfilling and rewarding work and to contribute to our country’s prosperity.”

Some 11 federal departments and agencies are now involved in the program, with 20 additional departments, agencies, and Crown corporations expressing interest for the September 2011 recruiting process. Next year, interns will be placed in jobs in the National Capital Region, as well as other regions beginning with Toronto and Vancouver, tapping into local immigrant talent in those locations. The program currently partners with World University Services Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program, and through Local Agencies Serving Immigrants (LASI) World Skills and Service intégration travail Outaouais (SITO) for referral of job ready candidates.

The award was given by the Employer Council of Champions, an organization made up of employers that have committed to enhancing the utilization of skilled immigrants in Ottawa. Members of the Council represent a wide variety of employers, ranging from small to large operations in both the private and public sectors. The Employer Excellence Awards highlights the important work of employers in improving the integration of immigrants’ talents in Ottawa’s labour market.

More Information:

For more information on how to apply, interested newcomers can contact FINPInbox@cic.gc.ca.

To learn more about Madut Majok’s story, and those of other FNIP graduates click on the link below:
www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/stories/madut.asp.

“According to Ministry of Immigration and Cultural Communities forecasts, by 2018 the Québec labour market will need over 1.3 million people to fill the gap left by retirement, or just to fill new positions created by economic growth,” explains Danielle Laramée, Partner and Leader of Human Capital for Ernst & Young in Montréal. “With Québec’s considerable demographic challenges, an increasing number of businesses will have no choice but to turn to immigration to meet their needs.”

At a roundtable held by Ernst & Young and attended by Immigration and Cultural Communities Minister Kathleen Weil, representatives of a number of large companies agreed that to ensure Québec’s continued growth and success, immigration policies must not only facilitate access to a pool of talent, but must also support efforts to retain immigrants and foreign workers. In spite of the unanimous recognition of the importance of professional integration, temporary workers currently employed in organizations are often required to leave due to work permit expiry.

“The government’s role is crucial, not only in facilitating the integration of immigrants, but particularly in allowing foreign workers and students to remain in the province and work,” says Philippe Rousseau, a lawyer with Egan LLP, a business immigration law firm allied with Ernst & Young. Programs rolled out by the Ministry should provide the business community with assurance that their needs have been understood, that initiatives will better match immigrant selection to Québec’s specific needs, and that programs are in place to retain talent already in the province.”

International labour mobility has reached significant proportions in recent years, and will continue to mount. According to the International Organization for Migration, 240 million people — approximately 3% of the world’s population — currently work outside their native country.

Click here for more Quebec immigration information

This prestigious award pays tribute to Canadians who have made an important contribution in promoting the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. It also honours Canadians who have made outstanding contributions in assisting newcomers in integrating into Canadian society.

“Canada’s citizenship award will be presented to people who help to nourish the Canadian story by promoting the value of citizenship to all Canadians and making a real difference in the lives of newcomers to Canada,” said Minister Kenney. “Our outstanding citizens, through their kindness and generosity in helping newcomers integrate, have led by example, demonstrating that good citizenship also involves giving back to your community and society.”

Canada’s Citizenship Award is presented to Canadians for work done on a voluntary basis. The winners are selected by a panel that includes citizenship judges from across Canada and will be announced during Canada’s Citizenship Week, October 17–23, 2011. Each person honoured will receive a gold maple leaf pin and a certificate signed by the Minister.

For a nomination form and more information on Canada’s Citizenship Award, please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s website at www.cic.gc.ca/citizenshipaward. Submissions and all supporting documents must be postmarked by May 13, 2011.

The quiz can also be downloaded to mobile devices like iPhone, Blackberry and Android. The 20 questions are randomly selected from a bank of 122 questions, allowing the quiz to be played more than once.

The initiative is part of an on-line resource called “A Fun Path to Learning” that was launched in April 2010 by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The educational tool draws from material in the popular new citizenship study guide Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship and aims to help students from grades five to 12 learn about Canada’s history and political institutions through games and activities.

The “How Canadian Are You, Eh?” application is a cross platform application that can be found within Facebook, at the iTunes app store, in the Blackberry app world, and in the Android marketplace.

Links to the app can be found at www.citizenship.gc.ca/youth.

Our government takes a zero tolerance approach to immigration and citizenship fraud

“On March 2, the RCMP laid charges under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and theCitizenship Act against a Halifax immigration consultant. This follows an investigation into whether the consultant fraudulently helped individuals create the appearance they were residing in Canada in order to keep their permanent resident status, and ultimately attempt to acquire citizenship. Citizenship and Immigration Canada cooperated in this investigation.

“Our government takes a zero tolerance approach to immigration and citizenship fraud. We are particularly concerned by residency fraud in the immigration and citizenship programs. With just this one consultant, about 1,100 principal applicants plus their dependents were implicated. At this time, our records indicate that 76 individuals identified through the RCMP investigation have obtained citizenship. We have also prevented a number of people from fraudulently obtaining citizenship as a result of this investigation. Our investigation is ongoing.

“Citizenship fraud is a serious offence that implicates both applicants and consultants. That is why we will apply the full strength of Canadian law, and where evidence permits, we will seek revocation of Canadian citizenship and deportation. Canadians value their citizenship. It is not something to be bought and sold with the help of crooked consultants.

“That is why, last year, I introduced the Strengthening the Value of Canadian Citizenship Act, which, if passed, will amend the Citizenship Act by increasing the penalties for fraud and strengthening citizenship residence requirements to specify in law that people applying for citizenship would have to be physically present in Canada for three of the previous four years. It’s why I also introduced the Cracking Down on Crooked Consultants Act, which, if passed, proposes new and stronger penalties for being a crooked immigration consultant, including fines or prison, or both.

“Citizenship and residency fraud are serious issues in Canada. There are a number of other ongoing police investigations regarding potential residence fraud across Canada. Crooked consultants take advantage of individuals eager to come to this country and pose a serious threat to the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. All levels of government and law enforcement must work together to ensure that those who commit fraud are punished.”

Among the hardest hit by the lower immigration targets will be parents and grandparents seeking to join their children in Canada. Indications point to the  government issuing about 11,000 family reunification visas for parents and grandparents overseas, down by some 5000 from last years figure of 16,000.

Employment and industry groups are also reacting negatively to a government plan to cut substantially the number of visas issued for federal skilled workers this year. New figures obtained through Access to Information show the government will cut all economic class visas by nearly seven per cent, and federal skilled worker visas specifically by 20 per cent, in 2011.

Spouses, kids get priority: Kenney

Speaking in Etobicoke, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney responded to plans to reduce family reunification visas, suggesting this is necessary so “priority” applicants — and their spouses and children — can be processed first.

“There have to be choices made,” he said. “I know that the most popular thing they could do politically would be to say that this year, we’re going to go from 14,000 to 100,000 parents and grandparents. …But it wouldn’t be responsible because that means fewer economic immigrants coming and paying taxes, or fewer refugees to save from refugee camps.”

Experts speculated that the timing of Kenney’s announcement, which indicated Canada admitted 280,636 new permanent residents last year, may have been a pre-emptive move to “dull the blow” from critics of the new visa cuts.

Parents and grandparents often aren’t viewed as a help to the economy but many immigrants entering the workforce rely on parents and grandparents for child care and help around the home.

The numbers show the government will issue about 56,000 federal skilled worker visas overseas, down from nearly 70,000 issued last year — a drop of about 20 per cent. Among the biggest losers from Canada’s reduced immigration targets are those applying under the federal skilled worker program — a category the government has repeatedly said it wants to prioritize.

The numbers in this group will drop by 20 per cent this year over last, with just 56,000 workers being allowed into Canada — compared with 70,000 last year.

Figures obtained from Citizenship and Immigration Canada show new skilled-worker applicants now receive an answer in less than a year, but only if they have a skill on a list of 29 drawn up by the immigration minister based on a controversial change introduced in 2008. Under the old system, applicants waited more than five years for a response. Applications made under that system are still being processed, but the backlog now contains more than 300,000 applications.

New figures obtained through Access to Information show the government will cut all economic class visas by nearly seven per cent, and federal skilled worker visas specifically by 20 per cent, in 2011.

“While other Western countries cut back on immigration during the recession, our government kept legal immigration levels high. Canada’s post-recession economy demands a high level of economic immigration to keep our economy strong,” said Minister Kenney. “In 2010, we welcomed the highest number of permanent residents in the past 50 years to support Canada’s economic recovery while taking action to maintain the integrity of Canada’s immigration system with the introduction of the Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada’s Immigration System Act.”

According to preliminary data, last year Canada admitted 280,636 permanent residents, about six percent more than the government’s planned range of 240,000 to 265,000 new permanent residents for 2010. This is in line with Minister Kenney’s announcement in June of last year that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) would adjust its 2010 immigration plan to meet the need for economic immigration. The 280,636 number is about 60,000 higher than the average annual intake of permanent residents the Government of Canada admitted in the 1990s.

“It’s important to understand that the ranges are for planning purposes only. The key number is how many immigrants Canada actually admits. For 2010, that number is 280,636, with the growth coming mostly from skilled economic immigrants,” said Parliamentary Secretary Wong.

The high number of economic immigrants in 2010 has helped CIC decrease application backlogs in the federal skilled worker category, reduce wait times under the Action Plan for Faster Immigration, and better meet labour market needs. Before the Action Plan for Faster Immigration, which Minister Kenney announced within one month of becoming Immigration Minister in November 2008, Canada was obliged to process every immigration application it received, even if it meant creating large application backlogs in popular immigration categories. For example, in 2008 Canada had a backlog of over 640,000 people in the federal skilled worker category waiting as long as six years to be processed.

“Last year, the backlog of people who applied before the Action Plan was drawn down to 335,000 applicants, which represents close to half the number of people who were awaiting a decision in 2008,” said Minister Kenney. “I’m very pleased that a higher number of admissions in 2010 means that more people are now out of the lineup and well on their way to beginning a new life in Canada.”

A recent evaluation confirmed that immigrants selected under the federal skilled worker program are faring well in Canada and filling gaps in the work force. It found that skilled workers who already had a job offer when they applied for permanent residence fared best of all, earning on average $79,200 three years after arriving in Canada. About two thirds of those admitted in 2010 in the permanent resident category were economic immigrants and their dependants.

At the same time, we did our part to meet the needs of provinces and territories through a record number of immigrants in the provincial nominee program, representing an increase of 20 percent from the previous year.

“Since 2006, our government has allowed for the provincial nominee program to expand significantly, from 8,047 people in 2005 to 36,419 in 2011,” said Minister Kenney.

Canada continued to welcome a high number of temporary residents, including 182,322 temporary foreign workers and 96,147 foreign students. That is 28,292 more foreign students than in 2005. And with the creation of the Canadian Experience Class in 2008, eligible foreign students can apply for permanent residency from within Canada. According to a study commissioned by the Government of Canada entitled Economic Impact of International Education in Canada, foreign students are estimated to contribute more than $6.5 billion to Canada’s economy every year.

“We continued to admit an increasing number of foreign students to Canada last year through joint efforts among the federal government, provincial governments and other partners,” said Minister Kenney. “Our government’s initiatives such as the Student Partners Program have also helped to attract and admit a high number of foreign students, particularly from China and India.”

In 2010, Canada also maintained its humanitarian tradition by welcoming 7,265 government-assisted refugees and 4,833 privately sponsored refugees. This represents 63% more privately sponsored refugees than in 2005.

“These refugees played by the rules and came to Canada through legal streams,” noted Minister Kenney. “It is important to note that while Canada is maintaining its humanitarian tradition of providing a safe haven for legitimate refugees, we will not stand by while our immigration system is being abused by queue jumpers and human smugglers. Bill C-49, the Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada’s Immigration System Act, sends a clear message that the abuse of our immigration system will not be tolerated.”

“If we can’t find a way to reduce the interminable process by which immigration cases creep through the courts, slouching from appeal to appeal, the changes will be of little use and the progress we have made will be for nought,” Kenney said.

In a speech heavy with legal references and stories of refugee claimants playing the Canadian courts for years, at a high cost to taxpayers, Kenney urged the judiciary to be more co-operative.

“We need the judiciary to understand the spirit of what we are trying to do,” he said.

“There are serious criminals we have been trying to remove who have been able to delay their deportation through repetitive appeals for almost 20 years.”

Federal courts are flooded with appeals from would-be refugees who are manipulating the system to extend their stay in Canada. But only one per cent of those appeals are successful, Kenney notes.

“So it concerns me when I hear that more than half of the cases that come before the Federal Court are immigration- or refugee-related,” he says.

“It suggests to me that the integrity of the decisions made by my department is being questioned too often without sufficient justification.”

Both the government and the public are despairing over the ability of unacceptable refugee claimants to take advantage of Canada’s courts, he claimed.

Kenney says the Supreme Court has already told lower-court judges they should defer to a ministerial decision to deport someone — unless it’s obvious the decision was made in bad faith.

He warns that Parliament’s best efforts to design an efficient and fair immigration and refugee system won’t work unless the judiciary starts co-operating.

“Even in easy cases, the removal process can be exploited by clever immigration lawyers who know that our courts are too often willing to indulge even the most creative and dubious claims,” he warned.

He accused the courts of “intrusive and heavy-handed” interference in well-reasoned decisions made by officials.

And he said it’s well known that judges will often hand criminals sentences of two years less a day — ensuring they stay in provincial jails, rather than federal — so that the criminals can delay deportation.

Parliament passed a major overhaul of the refugee system last spring, and it is due to come into force in the coming months.

The new system aims to speed the deportation of false refugee claimants, and also help legitimate refugees get their claims accepted more quickly.

Kenney is also hoping to see Parliament agree to a crackdown on human smugglers. But that proposed legislation has been blocked by opposition parties, who say it treats refugee claimants unfairly and would breach the Charter of Rights.

Naturally the regulations regarding bringing pets into Canada are very strict and must be followed exactly. There are very few pets that cannot be brought into Canada, but there are different regulations relating to each. We will take a look at some of the most popular pets to let you know what you need to do to make sure your pet is allowed to make the move with you.

Dogs and Cats

By far the most popular pets transported are dogs and cats. Regulations depend on your home country, the age of the pet and whether you are accompanying the pet or not. No quarantine period is required for either dogs or cats entering Canada for any period of time. To determine the exact regulations regarding bringing your dog or cat to Canada you need to know if your country is recognized as rabies-free.

The following countries are recognized by Canada as rabies fee: Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Finland, Iceland, Ireland (Republic of), Jamaica, Japan, New Zealand, Norway Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin (Netherlands Antilles), Saint Pierre et Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Taiwan, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) and Uruguay.

If you come from one of the officially recognized rabies-free countries you will need to obtain an export certificate, which has to be in either French or English, and signed by an official government veterinarian from your home country.

If you come from a country not considered rabies free then the dog or cat must be vaccinated against rabies and a rabies certificate needs to be issued by a licensed veterinarian. The rabies certificate should clearly identify the breed, colour and weight of the dog or cat as well as the name of the rabies vaccine used, along with its serial number and duration of validity.

Different rules apply for dogs either under or over 8 months of age. Cats under 3 months of age are exempt from requirements. You can check out the full details by using these links:

Dogs under 8 months of age

Rabies-free countries: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/canin1e.shtml

Not recognized as rabies-free: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/canin2e.shtml

Dogs over 8 months of age

Rabies-free countries: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/canin3e.shtml

Not recognized as rabies-free: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/canin4e.shtml

Cats

Rabies-free countries: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/felin1e.shtml

Not recognized as rabies-free: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/felin2e.shtml

Transporting birds

Birds

Only pet birds can be imported into Canada. Other birds such as pigeons, doves, game birds or fowl cannot be imported. All bird imports must accompany the owner and be healthy.

Birds imported from the United States are covered by different regulations as follows: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/aviamere.shtml

Birds imported from countries other than the United States fall under these regulations: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/avie.shtml

Rodents

Rodents include animals such as chinchillas, chipmunks, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats etc. Rodents can be imported into Canada without any import permits, health certificates or inspections. Full details of rodent importation can be found here: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/rodente.shtml

Exceptions: Prairie dogs, Gambian pouch rats and squirrels cannot be imported from any country. No rodents can be imported from Africa. Alberta only allows the import of rats under certain conditions. Endangered species may require an import licence. You should contact the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) to clarify if the rodents you wish to import are endangered.

Amphibians and Reptiles

This category includes salamanders, frogs, toads, newts, snakes, iguanas, turtles, tortoises, geckos etc. No import permit or health certificate or inspection is required for importing reptiles or amphibians.

Exceptions: All turtles and tortoises require an import permit from all countries. Endangered species may require an import licence. You should contact the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) to clarify if the animal you wish to import is endangered. Full details of this type of importation can be found here: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/amphe.shtml

Rabbits

Pet rabbits imported from the United States do not require import permits or health certificates. However they do need to be presented to staff upon entry to Canada. Rabbits from other countries will require permits and quarantine. You should contact the local CFIA office for full details. http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/lagomorphe.shtml

Horses

Only horses from the United States may be transported into Canada. You will require an export certificate issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certificate VS 17-140 or VS 17-145. http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/equie.shtml

Methods of transportation

Excess Baggage (Cargo): Excess baggage allows your pet to be checked in with you and your luggage. Cargo is when the pet is checked in without the owner through the cargo terminal. In both instances the pet will travel in the cargo hold.

Some carriers allow you to take your pet as excess baggage. This is usually the cheapest option and the pet, depending on regulations can either accompany you or be shipped separately. Most airlines only allow pets in the hold and many have regulations regarding the type of carrying container used, so check with the airline concerned. A decreasing number of airlines allow small pets to be carried in a container under your seat, however there are tight regulations regarding this so again, check first. This is not normally an option for transatlantic flights.

Methods of transportation

This method of transportation is often the cheapest as you are dealing with the airline directly. You will need to use this method if there is a requirement to accompany your pet as you can arrange with the airline for the pet to travel on the same flight as yourself. This can result in a restricted number of flights being available as not all airlines have “pet friendly” flights every day. Because they need to have extra facilities on board for pet travel such as a pressurized and heated cargo hold, then not all flights meet these requirements. For this reason you should start arranging your pet travel well in advance and be prepared to be flexible with dates and times. The only downside with taking your pet as excess baggage is that you will have to arrange all the paperwork and documentation yourself.

Specialist Pet Carrier: Most of these companies offer complete pet transfer services and can take a lot of pressure off you, however they do cost more.They offer services such as pet collection and boarding. They arrange all the necessary documentation including import permits and health certificates. They will provide the container and transport your pet to the airport. Many also have veterinary services and can offer micro chipping and vaccinations if required.

This service is usually used for unaccompanied pets. This means you will need to check with the regulations regarding your type of pet as to whether this service is right for you. Some companies will arrange for your pet to travel on the same flight as you, but you do need to check.

Airline Using Specialist: Each airline has its own regulations regarding pet carriage. Some will only transport using a specialized pet carrier, which can increase the costs considerably. In this case you will need to contact the airlines preferred shipper and arrange all the transportation through them. You can usually arrange to either fly on the same flight or separately. You will get all the services of a specialist shipper, but be able to arrange to travel with your pet.

Restrictions: Many airlines restrict certain breeds from traveling. These breeds include those classed as dangerous such as pit bulls. Also snub-nosed dogs and cats such as bulldogs, pugs, pekinese, persian as they can suffer from respiratory problems during the flight. Most airlines cannot accept very young kittens or puppies, usually under 10 weeks of age. Restrictions also apply to pregnant pets. Many carriers also have weight restrictions, so if you have a large dog, you may find your choices limited.

In most cases airlines will not accept a sedated pet. Most will not accept a pet that cannot stand unaided. You will also find that some airlines will not take animals other than cats and dogs. So if you have another type of pet you may find your airline choices restricted.

Carriers can also restrict the length of journey travelled by a pet. This limit is usually around 12 hours, so if your flight is longer then the pet will not be allowed to travel. In this instance you should try to find a flight that has a stop over so your pet can be checked, given water and allowed out of the container for a short time. There can also be temperature restrictions. If you are leaving or landing at a location, which is either very hot or very cold, then the carrier can refuse to take pets. Each carrier will have its own rules regarding this, but it is purely in the pet’s interest. They do not want pets to be exposed to extreme heat or cold during the transportation process.

Other regulations you will come across will be regarding the type of carrier you use to transport your pet. You should check with your airline to be sure your carrier satisfies their requirements before you travel.

Pet Welfare

Although the thought of moving to Canada and not taking a beloved pet may be unthinkable, you always should put the welfare of your pet before your own needs. Some pets travel well whilst others may not and this will not always be related to the type of pet but rather the personality and disposition of the pet.

Generally speaking most cats and dogs will travel well although a very timid animal may be more of a concern than a bold animal. Many owners who were worried initially about taking a timid pet have found that they faired the journey better than themselves. Most animals will sleep during the journey and airlines keep the cargo hold dark so the animal can do just that.

The airports are well aware of animal (and owner) stress and so will usually go out off their way to make sure your animal is treated well. Many will leave the animal with you until the last minute before a flight to reduce this stress. Airlines usually release pets very quickly from the flight and your pet will be waiting for you once you clear customs. As soon as you are reunited with your pet you should allow them to relieve themselves and give them access to water as they may be a little dehydrated.

If you pet is not used to being housed in a carrier then try to acclimatize them well before travel. Get them used to being in the carrier and make it a nice place to be so they do not get stressed. The better prepared your pet is the better they will travel.

Should I take my pet?

This is a question only you can answer. You have the best idea of how well the pet is likely to travel, although as we have said, many owners worry unnecessarily. The animals’ welfare must be paramount and owners should try not to be selfish. Everyone would love to take their beloved pet with them, but if this is going to cause undue stress to an elderly pet or perhaps one not in the best of health then perhaps your feelings need to be pushed aside. Maybe rehoming the pet with a friend or relative will be the best solution for them.

You will have to weigh up if you will cause more stress leaving the animal behind than will be caused by the stress of the journey itself. After all the journey will be a one-off event, but leaving them behind will be forever.

“It’s a reverse brain drain,” said Minister Kenney. “We’re making it easier for Canadians abroad to bring their skills home and contribute to the Canada of tomorrow.”

We’re making it easier for Canadians abroad to bring their skills home and contribute to the Canada of tomorrow said Kenney

For some Canadian workers living abroad, an obstacle to returning to Canada is that their non-Canadian spouse, common-law partner or dependent children may be unable to work until they are processed as permanent residents, which usually takes between six months and one year.

Since November 22, family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning to work in Ontario in the health care and academic sectors have been able to get temporary work permits immediately upon arriving in Canada. Ontario’s health and academic sectors have faced significant skill and labour shortages in recent years and were identified as the most appropriate sectors for the pilot project.

“By encouraging highly-skilled workers to come back to Canada, we are laying the foundation for long-term economic growth,” added the Minister.

A pledge to establish this pilot project was included in the 2008 Temporary Foreign Worker agreement between the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario. It is operating on a trial basis until May 22, 2012. Upon completion of the pilot project, the government will evaluate the initiative’s effectiveness.

Move to Alberta

You will need to submit your application to the province first and then apply for a permanent resident visa through Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) as a Provincial Nominee, once Alberta approves your application.

The AINP has different streams/categories, and you should ensure you are applying under the one that best suits your situation. The program is split into eight categories/streams:

• Employer Driven stream
• Skilled Worker category
• International Graduate category
• Semi-Skilled Worker category
• Strategy Recruitment stream
• Compulsory Trades category
• Engineering Occupations category
• US Visa Holder category
• Family stream
• Self-Employed Farmer stream

Skilled Worker category

If your skills are in demand in Alberta, you might be invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada as a nominee from Alberta. To determine whether or not your occupation is in demand, check the National Occupation Classification (NOC) Skill Levels 0, A and B. Check for jobs in this category

International Graduate category

If you’re an international graduate with skills in one of the occupations listed in the Skill Levels 0, A and B in the NOC, you might be eligible to apply for the AINP. Applicants must also show evidence of:

• Completion of an education program with a duration of at least two years at the undergraduate level or a minimum of one year at the graduate level
• Secured permanent full-time employment with an Alberta employer. The applicant must also be employed with that employer on a post-graduate work permit for a minimum of six months in a skilled occupation related to their field of study prior to applying for the AINP

Semi-Skilled Worker category

If your skills fall in the C and D list of the NOC, you might be eligible for a permanent resident visa as a Semi-Skilled worker, nominated by the province of Alberta. Selected occupations of the following industries may also be considered:

• Food an beverage processing industry
• Hotel and lodging industry
• Manufacturing industry
• Trucking industry
• Foodservices industry (pilot project)

Compulsory Trades category

Successful applicants in this category must have successfully completed the Qualification Certificate Program with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) and possess both the Qualification Certificate for the Compulsory Trade and a letter of invitation from AIT to apply to the AINP under this category. To be eligible, you must also:

• Demonstrate a clear ability and intention to live permanently in Alberta
• Be currently residing in Alberta
• Demonstrate that you are either currently working or have previously worked in the past two years with an Alberta employer in their trade

Engineering Occupations category

If you are an engineer, designer or drafter and you have Alberta work experience, you might be able to apply for the AINP under this category.

You must also meet other criteria, such as:

• Being able to demonstrate that you currently reside in Alberta or intend to live permanently in Alberta
• Provide evidence of related education/training and experience as an engineer, designer or drafter
• Prove your engineering credentials by providing a “Letter of No Objection” from the Association of Professional Engineers,
• Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA), or demonstrate that you are registered with APEGGA as a foreign licensee
• Have one of the occupations listed in the AINP Strategic Recruitment Stream – Engineering Occupations List
• Be currently working or have worked within the last two years in Alberta either directly or on contract for one of the following:

1. A reputable and well-established Alberta Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) company and/or
2. An Alberta company that is a member of the Consulting Engineers of Alberta

US Visa Holder category

If you’re currently working in the United States on a valid temporary skilled worker visa in an occupation that is in demand in Alberta, you might be nominated by the province for a permanent residence visa in Canada. Your current US visa must be in one of the following categories: H1-B, H1-B1, H-1C or E-3. On top of that, you must have a minimum of one year work experience in the US in one of those visa categories.

Additionally, your current occupation must be in the for the Strategic Recruitment Stream – US Visa Holder category.

Family stream

If you have relatives in Alberta and they are willing to sponsor your move to the province, you might qualify for permanent residence as a nominee in the Family stream. Alberta’s official immigration website has a self-assessment tool that you can use to see if you meet the criteria.

Self-Employed Farmer stream

Under the AINP Program, Alberta can nominate farm owner/operators who intend to immigrate, purchase and manage a farming business in Alberta. Farm owner/operators who are considering applying under this category should contact officials in Alberta’s Department of Employment and Immigration (E&I) or Alberta Agriculture and Food (AF) for further details on the eligibility criteria for the PNP program. Some of the requirements that applicants must meet include:

• Commitment to invest a minimum of CDN$500,000 of equity in a farming enterprise in Alberta
• Sufficient financial resources to develop a sustainable farming operation

This category is restricted to primary agricultural enterprises and priority will be given to applicants purchasing farming enterprises representing the best opportunity for growth relevant to Alberta’s agri-food growth targets.

“It just goes to show you how truly resilient children are. I came to Canada at such a young age that the only hurdle for me was to practice my French. Once I learned to speak fluently that was it — I was Canadian — no different than my friends.”

Micheline and her family settled in Montreal North where there was already a small Haitian community. “My family chose Canada because of its reputation for having a culture of acceptance and welcoming towards immigrants.”

For Micheline, life has taken her from Haiti to Canada and back

One of the things that surprises her the most is how ethnically and culturally diverse Canada is. She has friends from all kinds of backgrounds and cultures. When you ask someone why they came to Canada they always give the same response: “They all left home because something was missing, whether it was peace, security, opportunity — and they all found what was missing in Canada,” she says.

Micheline’s ties to Montreal North and its diverse community are what motivated her to join the Montreal Police Service. She felt that her heart was in the police force serving the public. She was particularly drawn by how close the service works with the cultural communities in the area. “I had lived there my whole life. It was my community and I felt a special bond to it.”

In the Fall of 2009 Micheline was selected to participate in the RCMP’s International Peace Operation Program, where Canadian civilian police are deployed to Haiti to act as advisors to the Haitian National Police. Her mission was from October 21, 2009, to July 21, 2010.

When she arrived, she was first tasked with providing introduction training to the police staff coming from around the world that were participating in the Haiti mission. Then the earthquake hit….

Every time Micheline thinks back to that fateful day it’s hard for her to hold back the tears. “The devastation was unbelievable, unimaginable,” she says. “You never forget where you were when you experience something like that. It may have lasted a few minutes but it felt like an eternity.”

Micheline’s first memory , after the shock of what happened finally settled a little, is of the bond she felt between Canadians. “It was truly moving,” she says. “The first instinct we all had was to assemble together. We would go looking for a fellow Canadian in our camp, and as soon as they were located and joined the group, we moved on to locate the next fellow Canadian still not accounted for.”

In the first few days following the earthquake Micheline helped out as an interpreter in one of the emergency clinics. Her ability to speak French, English and Creole was a huge asset during this period of crisis. She would inform the patients of the treatment they were receiving and would also use her police skills to collect information on where they came from and if they had any missing relatives.

Following this, Micheline worked in the camps, helping to set up communal police stations. She describes the work as being very gratifying. Micheline’s work was so instrumental that she was invited to speak as a representative at the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) conference in New York.

“What was paramount to me in participating in this mission was to use the advantages I had gained through my life in Canada and be able to give back, and especially to my native country. I wanted to make a difference, and being there at that time, allowed me to make a difference — that’s what the mission meant to me. My life came full circle — it was a wonderful feeling.”

Learn the do’s and don’ts of working in Canada

This is not just for immigrants – Canadians also have to figure out the company culture when they change jobs. But immigrants have an extra step to take in learning out how to work in Canada and how to work in their new company.

Tips for immigrants on how to work successfully in Canada.

1. Learn the do’s and don’ts of working in Canada.

The working conditions in Canada may be different from what you are used to, so you have to adapt. For example, in Asia, when the boss speaks, everyone steps behind. Here, everyone speaks equally.

• Were they dressed in business suits, or were people dressed casually?
• Does the atmosphere seem structured, or more relaxed?
• Were people moving quickly or at a more even pace?

2.Each company has its own rules, processes and procedures.

It’s your job to figure this out by observing and asking questions.

3. Understand Your Manager’s Needs and Objectives

Learn what your manager wants from you. Not only should you get a job description for your job, but you should also ask for a copy of your manager’s objectives so you know what he or she is trying to achieve.

It’s also important to ask your manager how much responsibility you should take, how often you should report back, and how he or she prefers to be contacted – by phone, email, or at his or her office.

4. Learn about Canadian business communication styles.

In some Eastern European cultures, communication is very direct. People may write emails such as “Send me the documents by 10 am.” They can appear rude and offensive to Canadians without realizing it. In other cultures, such as South Asian, people may not say exactly what they mean, in order to save face – but Canadians won’t understand what they are trying to say.

Canadians tend to use words and phrases that make it easier to work together, such as “How can we resolve this issue?” or “What could we do better next time?” instead of, “This work is unacceptable.” It’s important to understand how Canadians communicate to avoid misunderstanding.

5. Learn what professional behavior means in Canada.

Observe how the people above you dress and act in your company, and model yourself after them. Canadians are very time oriented, so be sure you always arrive a few minutes early, and never make anyone wait for you. Always do what you say you will do. Nothing makes a worse impression than promising something and not doing it.

6. Treat men and women equally in Canada.

Treat women and men equally, with respect and courtesy. People make a big mistake when they only act respectful to executives, and disregard the administrative assistants.” This is important to note if you come from a culture that is based on rank and status.

In Canada, people notice if you only act respectfully to people who can further your career. You may also have a female manager, which may be new for you. Be sure to treat your female manager with the same respect you’d pay a male manager. You might also encounter a male assistant. Never be condescending to anyone.

7. Show initiative.

Lack of initiative is one of the most common misperceptions that managers have of immigrants from cultures such as East Asia, South Asia and Africa, where the workplace is based more on hierarchy. In these cultures, bosses tell employees what to do and how to do it. In most Canadian companies, managers expect you to take initiative and find solutions to problems. (Always check with your manager about how much initiative to take, because this can vary from one manager to another.)

What if you don’t get a job description or orientation, or there isn’t even a phone or desk set up for you when you arrive

This is where initiative comes in. There is usually a “go to” person in every office – the person who takes pride in knowing where everything is, and how things function. Befriend this person, and ask for help in getting oriented. Don’t forget to say “Thank you!”

Here is the recipe for success: Learn about working in Canada. Figure out how your company operates, and what your manager expects from you. Then jump in and start contributing your best work!

Search for your perfect Canadian job:

2011 what will Canadian immigration look like?

CIC have already announced that they aim to welcome between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents during 2011 with the majority of those coming via the economic categories. So what is the government going to do to help these immigrants settle into their new country?

It is a proven fact that many immigrants earn considerably less than their Canadian-born counterparts. Indeed the thought that there are foreign qualified doctors driving cabs in Toronto is unfortunately a reality.

In 2006 CIC announced that they would be investing heavily in settlement and integration services across Canada over the coming years. This has been true and many of these services have received funding for projects such as language proficiency and job training skills. This funding will continue into 2011 to allow even more new immigrants to take advantage of these services.

Many people come to Canada with little or no language proficiency. Obviously this is a huge barrier when looking for employment and indeed living day-to-day. The CIC is working with local settlement agencies to provide free language skills training so that these people can better integrate into their new environment and secure work.

The second biggest barrier for newcomers is the recognition of their foreign credentials. It is understandable that some professions are regulated and that in order to work in Canada newcomers need to update their skills or bring them in line with Canadian qualifications. After all, an electrician moving from England will not be familiar with Canadian wiring and will need to comply with regulations in order to work.

Canada needs to make the transition for these people much clearer and easier. After all it is these very qualifications that allow them to apply for immigration in the first instance, but then once here they cannot practice their chosen profession.

Over the past year or so CIC has put into place measures to help potential immigrants and newcomers to have their credentials recognized in Canada. Details of the Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) can be found at their website: http://www.credentials.gc.ca/. The FCRO can help with not only credential recognition but with other factors that help foreign trained people to succeed in Canada such as language skills, job searches, fact sheets etc.

Other areas that CIC are working to improve are people who use the immigration system in fraudulent ways. Two major examples are unscrupulous immigration consultants and marriage fraud.

Marriage fraud is a big problem with foreigners marrying Canadians in order to be sponsored and enter the country as permeant residents. Some Canadians and permanent residents are caught out unawares, perhaps meeting someone via travelling or on the Internet. They get into a relationship and then marry, only to find that once the new spouse is safely in Canada the marriage they thought was genuine is no more. Other people enter into this arrangement knowing exactly what they are doing and more often than not money changes hands.

CIC has recognized that this is a very big problem and is trying to put measures into place to prevent this from happening. Currently, as soon as a spousal sponsorship is granted they are given permanent residency and as long as they comply with residency requirements they can stay in Canada indefinitely, even if the marriage on which it was granted is no more. CIC is proposing a change to the rules which will include a three year waiting period before a sponsored spouse can become a permanent resident. Similar rules are in place in Australia, United Kingdom and the United States.

Unscrupulous immigration consultants are another big problem facing immigrants. The majority of immigration consultants are legitimate and ethical, but unfortunately a few bad apples spoil the pie. Some consultants have been charging fees for immigration services that they either don’t provide or they charge far too much for.

CIC will be strengthening the rules for consultants meaning that the current loopholes will be closed. They will be designating a governing body to govern immigration consultants making sure all adhere to strict guidelines.

So, CIC is making some significant changes and putting into place several measures which will hopefully benefit potential immigrants and newcomers. The system is far from perfect, but any improvements are welcomed. Hopefully these will help make 2011 a successful immigration year.

Many of the British policemen who emigrate to Canada find that their jobs are made somewhat easier, not by a difference in the nature of the criminals but by a difference in the nature of Canada’s communities.

“People here are generous and friendly, and citizens seem to be very active in reporting crime and helping to stamp it out,” says Steve Pocock, a British migrant who works as a 911 operative in Victoria, Vancouver Island.

“This is quite different to how we found things in the UK, where ‘looking the other way’ seemed to be all too prevalent. What we find wonderful here, unlike the UK, is the community spirit. People love their communities, and are very proud of them. If a youth is misbehaving, people are generally outraged and will tell them so. I cannot see this happening in today’s Britain.”

Moving form the UK to Canada Policing is different

Perhaps it’s this community-based approach to combating crime that has resulted in the low number of youth offences in Canada. It’s a tactic which many British migrants say was employed during their childhood in the UK, but which has been supplanted over here by a general feeling of alienation – nowadays, more than ever, Brits feel divorced from the communities in which they live. In many areas of Canada, however, community spirit is still strong; and it is this value which Pocock suggests lies behind one of the main differences between UK and Canadian crime.

“People here generally respect other people’s property and right to enjoy life,” he says. “If you come across some hooded males, they are more likely to say ‘hi’ and move over for you than produce a knife and demand your wallet.”

Paul Looker, a British policeman working in Edmonton, has noticed a similar trend. “I find that there is less youth-on-youth violence here than in the UK, and in general youths are better behaved,” he says.

There are other differences between crime in Canada and the UK; some positive, and some less so.

“I can’t really say whether there’s less crime in Canada or there’s the same amount, but we count it differently,” says Stuart Davidson, a British policeman working in Edmonton. “The thieves don’t seem as determined or organized as they are in the UK: there aren’t the same number of large-scale bank and cash-in-transit robberies, nor is there the same amount of level two crime, where villains drive long distances to commit felonies. On the other hand, there’s a lot of crack cocaine”.

Looker agrees that drugs are a “big problem” in Edmonton, and according to Pocock, they are also a major issue on Canada’s west coast. “Unlike in the UK, drugs are perhaps the biggest social problem and bugbear for all the population over here,” he explains. “You can’t avoid seeing users all over downtown. We receive many calls daily about parents taking their kids to school, having to walk past people injecting themselves or injecting each other with heroin. Then there are frequent calls about users passed out behind dumpsters, people going berserk running down the middle of a busy highway in a state of delirium, or junkies doing the ‘funky chicken’ in public parks!”

Most of Canada’s major cities have trouble with drug-users – and, while the drugs themselves are usually dealt and contained within a small area, drug-related crimes are a more widespread problem. “The drug culture results in massive car crime, homeless people and mental health issues,” says Pocock. “Car crime in particular is rife, and largely a result of the drug problem. Coming on duty at 6am in the Victoria 911 centre, the first few hours consist mainly of taking reports of vehicle break-ins and car thefts.”

One type of crime that migrants expect to see more of after moving to Canada is gun-related offences. Canada has more guns and fewer controls on them than most nations in Europe, and the gun ownership rate is high. As Pocock points out, this has its attached problems. “Migrants have to be aware that they are on the continent of North America, with attendant North American crimes,” he says. “So we do get armed bank robberies, drive-by shootings and biker gangs.”

On the other hand, Canada has far less of a problem with firearms than the USA. Only one third of murders in the country involve guns, and it is effectively illegal to carry concealed guns.  “Gun crimes are relatively rare and certainly more prevalent in big cities,” says Pocock.

“They are nothing to be overtly concerned about, and not something the average citizen is likely to encounter, but just be aware that they do exist.”

Although most migrants are unlikely to find themselves affected by the greater prevalence of firearms in Canada, it’s a different story for the Canadian police. “One of the main differences between policing in the UK and Canada is the gun aspect,” says Looker. “Because there are more of them here, police officers are naturally more safety conscious going to calls.” “Cops over here are generally no nonsense – as in all of North America they carry guns and may have tazers also,” agrees Pocock. For example, if the police run a vehicle licence plate and it comes back as stolen, the driver will be stopped and ordered out of the vehicle and on to the ground at gunpoint! No messing around here.”

While Canadian police may have a more forceful approach than their UK equivalents, the powers of detention and arrest that they are granted by law are actually comparatively restrictive. “When you take into account the fact that stop and search and police bail don’t exist, it probably seems like we have fewer powers of arrest, search and detention than in the UK,” says Davidson. “However, in the UK you spend so much time justifying the fact that you exercised the power in the first place, you never get out of the station! For example, it’s all very well having the power to arrest on reasonable suspicion, as you do in the UK – the problem is that, once you’ve used that power, the demands of the system ensure that you remain in custody justifying your arrest and trying to get your suspect to court.”

According to Davidson, this smaller bureaucratic burden results in a far more effective police force. “We’re more productive and there’s less waiting around,” he says. No CPS Direct or defence solicitors to call, no appropriate adults or lengthy booking procedure in custody. What this means in terms of actual time is difficult to say, because it depends on how quickly and accurately you can type up the required reports, but as an estimate I’d say it takes 75 per cent less time to deal with incidents.”

Most of the British police people who emigrate to Canada feel positively about the different approach to arresting and charging suspects. Looker, for example, admits that “the powers for a police officer are generally more restrictive in Canada”, but says “generally arrests end in charges, unlike in the UK.”

Another positive aspect of policing in Canada is the attitude of communities towards officers. “I was sometimes surprised in the UK, both as a 999 operative and as a special constable, how badly the police were often treated,” observes Pocock. “Being spat at, shouted at and sworn at and generally abused was all part of the lot of the British bobby. If you did that here, your feet wouldn’t touch the ground. In  my opinion, there’s way more respect for the police, and for authority in general, over here than in the UK.”

Of course, attitudes to the police and methods of policing vary across Canada, just as crime levels do. Many problems are specific to particular areas – such as the fugitive issue currently plaguing the west coast.

“You get a lot of criminals from other provinces fleeing to the west coast,” says Pocock. “If you are wanted by the police, say in Manitoba, you simply leave the state and the police can’t touch you. Your Manitoba warrant is not applicable in other provinces. Only Canada-wide warrants mean you can be arrested anywhere in the country.

Vancouver Police Badge

And where do you think most criminals head for? The balmy west coast, where the weather is mild all year round, so if you have to sleep in the streets then it isn’t going to kill you. However, Vancouver and Victoria have recently inaugurated their own ‘con-air’ programmes, where criminals wanted for serious crimes can be arrested and shipped back to their native province.”

One problem facing the entire country at the moment is a shortage of police people (one per 528.6 people) this is substantially lower than most developed countries, with only Japan and Sweden having so few police officers, and many British officers notice the difference.

“There are never enough police officers to attend all of the incidents which may be in progress at any one time,” says Pocock. “As in the UK, that results in calls to the 911 centre from residents asking where the police are. However, a large recruitment drive over recent years is starting to turn things around, with many more officers on the street.”

The massive Canadian recruitment drive has been instrumental in bringing a new influx of British bobbies to the country. The drive was so successful that 12 per cent of all applications that the Canadian police receive now originate outside of Canada, while the majority of those come from the UK. O’Neill is one of those who was attracted by Canadian advertising in the UK – he migrated to Calgary, which was implementing a particularly aggressive recruitment policy. “At the time Calgary was heavily promoted in the UK,” he says. “We liked the location, and economically it was good for us.”

Although Calgary has now put its recruitment drive on hold, other Canadian cities are still eager to attract British policemen. “Canadian police forces are always keen to take on British officers,” says Pocock. “Don’t wait for job ads, just pick up the phone and speak to someone – that’s how things are done over here. There are quite a few expat officers over here, particularly in Alberta I understand. Victoria police has several UK officers and they seem to fit in very well indeed.”

The success of the Canadian recruitment policy in the UK indicates that many British policemen have been happy to swap their job in the UK for a new world environment in Canada. Many perceive life over the Atlantic as safer in general, as Looker observes. “Where we live I have no issues walking, running and being there on my own,” he says of Edmonton. “I feel completely safe here.”

Pocock has similar feelings about Victoria and the west coast. “We feel much safer and more secure in Canada than we ever felt in the UK,” he says. “Crime of all types exist everywhere, but it seems much less day-to-day in Canada.

“Our advice is not to be overly paranoid, as we were. When we moved into our edge-of-town duplex, we chained our patio furniture to the wall. I didn’t even want to leave these things outside. Our neighbours thought we were mad; just how bad are things in the UK? In Canada things are way better – or at the very least, appear to be!”

A favourite saying among British migrants is that Canada reminds them of ‘how the UK used to be 20 years ago’. This adage also rings true of crime and policing in the country – the level and types of crime, the community support for police officers and the attitude towards detention and charging of criminals. Perhaps crime seems less of an issue in the country not because felonies are rarer but because community dependence and mutual support results in crime being perceived as less intimidating. In the Canadian psyche, it is the communities and not the criminals that are in control.

Through the federally funded Local Immigration Partnership, developed in collaboration with the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto, representatives from several sectors including employers, educational institutions and settlement and social service agencies will work together to research the diverse needs of newcomers in order to create a strategy to improve integration.

Through the City of Toronto Newcomer Initiative, settlement workers will be placed in Public Health offices, City child care facilities, shelters and community recreation centres to use city services to advance the social and economic wellbeing of newcomers to Toronto.

“The Local Immigration Partnership and Newcomer initiative programs will enhance the City of Toronto’s ability to help newcomers integrate,” said Minister Kenney. “By better understanding newcomers’ needs, we can improve access to important services, like language training, that are key to successful integration. We are very much looking forward to working with the new Mayor of Toronto toward that end.”

“I am very pleased to be here with my Federal and Provincial colleagues,” said city of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. “Providing top notch customer service to our newcomer residents is something that is imperative.”

“Attracting and retaining newcomers is part of our Open Ontario plan for economic growth for our province,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.  “This newest Local Immigration Partnership will ensure that our newcomers get the services they need to help them settle and find a good job right here in Toronto.”

Since 2005, the Government of Canada has more than tripled its annual spending on settlement services for newcomers in Ontario. For 2010–11, the Government of Canada is allocating $428 million in Ontario for settlement services for newcomers, such as language training, job search workshops and placing settlement workers in schools.

For more information on CIC programs, please visit www.cic.gc.ca.

One man’s story of hard work and determination to make his dream come true

I am a nurse here in the Philippines. I am part of the wave of professionals who redirected their career paradigm and took up a bachelor’s degree in nursing to have a better future abroad. Yes, I took a Bachelor of Arts in English first. Worked as a medical representative for less than a year promoting glucometer in hospitals until I got onto the bandwagon of studying nursing like my ‘medrep’ (medical-representative) friends were doing at that time.

Going back to school was hard in every way. I had to go back to reading thick books, memorizing scientific names, back to laboratory analysis, do return demonstrations and had to surface from the discreet discrimination of submitting one’s self to younger professors. I had to take all these in and find joy in studying nursing. I had to think of the dollars and the comfort of my parents and family in the future. My family was very supportive. I have a sister, married and with a kid, a nurse in Ireland, who, supported half of the expenses – tuition, allowance and books. The other half was from my brother, who worked as a caregiver in the States. It was a surreal experience: going back to school in the hope of landing a better future. I had to risk everything and consider a major career shift. No more selling glucometers and start doing the dirty job. No more salary and relying on allowances.

I studied for three years. Luckily, the minor subjects in my previous course got credited and so I was able to cut a year from the regular four-year course. Two months after graduation, I had to take the board exam and pass it before I could practice. I studied hard and passed. And after that, I embraced unemployment. I believe there were 20,000 more licensed nurses in the Philippines, never mind, it’s close to 300,000 now. Imagine – all those people all looking for jobs. I had to go through the dreadful process of competition. Most nurses had to pay the hospitals so they can get to work as volunteers. That is roughly P800-2,500/month ($20-65 CND) so they can get a certificate of experience. And yes, the hospital is lucky it gets income from their workers. We had to find other means of income. I had a different case. I worked as a volunteer first. No, I did not pay them. But my services were free for the first 3 months. I had to work as a writer online so I could get other means of income while I worked as a nurse. It was so hard. I felt it was an excruciating injustice and an obvious violation to nurses. After the very expensive tuition and long years of financial insolvency from schooling, I had to risk everything myself in order to advance.

I applied for jobs abroad. Anywhere: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Australia, USA and even Bermuda. You name it and I sent applications there. Unfortunately I had no replies because I was an inexperienced nurse.

In the second year, a friend of mine forwarded me an email from a website. A new agency in Manila was calling for nurses with experience to work in Manitoba, Canada. It was nothing new. I just sent my application without high hopes – thinking I would be rejected again like the others. Two days later, they called me up and asked me to attend an interview in Manila in four days time. I got so excited. I prayed hard. I loaned my airfare from my mother through her credit card. It would be the start of something big.

It was not that easy though. I had to go through several phases of selection. I called it torture (wink). I took a 25-part exam where I had to at least get 20 to pass. Then I got interviewed and was told that I was to be put on a waiting list. I flew back home uncertain and in deep prayer. I considered the possibility of losing that chance to go to Canada. After the longest four days of my life,

Jason Marchand, the Human Resource Officer for Brandon Rural Health Authority called me with the good news that I had been accepted. Jason heard my outpouring of laughter and joy through the phone line. I worked at my papers and medical exams and now, I am finally leaving in 5 weeks time.

I am writing my story because for the longest time in my life, I have had a dream of working abroad. Now I’m going to be in Canada with Canadians. I have always valued the culture and the finesse of Canadians. I have always believed in the way they preserve humanity, health and values in tune with realizing economic goals. To me balance is important. I have always been prudent in my life’s decisions and to me Canada is the way to go.

I am excited about the Brandon experience. I have been doing constant research online about what Brandon looks like and what it will offer me. I have read an article about a 15 year-old girl who moved in from Vancouver with her family and how she overturned her skepticism. I have no hesitations now. I will be coming with 161 more Filipino nurses who will be assigned in four parts of Manitoba: Central, Assiniboine, Parkland and Brandon. I will be there in May 27, 2009 to be exact.

I’m just so excited. Brandon, here I come!