CIC Wins Technology Award for the Come to Canada Wizard

Ottawa, November 6, 2012 — The Come to Canada Wizard, which helps people determine if they are eligible to live, work or study in Canada, received a prominent technology award last night for Excellence in Public Service Delivery.

This award, presented at the GTEC Distinction Awards Gala, recognizes outstanding achievements by individuals or teams developing and implementing innovative projects to improve client-facing service delivery, with a specific focus on citizens or businesses as clients of government.

“I commend CIC on the creation of the Coming to Canada Wizard and I am very proud that their hard work is being recognized,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “The Wizard helps prospective immigrants assess their eligibility, which in turn helps them save time and money. It also helps the department to be more efficient by helping ensure prospective immigrants to Canada know whether they are able to immigrate to Canada, and helping ensure they apply under the most appropriate program.”

GTEC (the Government Technology Exhibition and Conference) attracts over 7,000 participants annually from around the world with the demonstration of the most advanced technologies that are driving public sector IT initiatives at all levels of government in Canada and other countries.

The Come to Canada Wizard is interactive. It presents users with a series of questions to determine which federal immigration option best suits their specific circumstances. It then leads users through the application steps and provides instructions and forms.

There are more than 4,000 visits to the Come to Canada Wizard every day and since its launch in August 2011 there have been over 1.8M users. Close to 93 percent of users say that the Wizard is easy to use and close to 90 percent of users say they would recommend it to someone they know.

Canada cuts immigration quota for skilled workers

Canada is reducing the number of people given permanent residency through its skilled immigration scheme, as it seeks to free up places for migrants already living in the country.

Canada is cutting the number of people given permanent residency through its most popular immigration scheme by nearly 2,000.

The federal skilled worker programme, a points-based system for skilled migrants, is being squeezed next year to make way for 3,000 more people who have worked or studied in Canada for at least two years.

The changes are aimed at ensuring that foreigners who move to Canada are more able to contribute to the country’s economy.

Immigration minister Jason Kenney said the move would help to attract “more of the world’s top talent who already have a successful track record in Canada”.

Under the plans, the total number of economic migrants admitted in 2013 will remain at between 240,000 and 265,000.

But Canada is expanding its “Canadian Experience Class” scheme, which gives permanent residency to international students and those who have worked there for two years on temporary visas.

Up to 10,000 people will be able to settle permanently in Canada this way next year, compared with 7,000 in 2012.

Meanwhile, the maximum quota for federal skilled workers will drop to 55,300 in 2013, from 57,000 in 2012. In 2011, 57,296 people were admitted through this route. The figures do not include applicants’ families.

The skilled worker programme was frozen in July 2012 due to a massive backlog of applications that now stands at 100,000.

In September, the government announced changes to the scheme that would prioritise English speaking under 35s who had previously worked in Canada. Final details have not yet been released, but any changes are likely to come into effect from January.

Harald Bauder, director of the Centre of Immigration and Settlement at Ryerson University in Toronto, said the changes would benefit those with existing connections or a job offer in Canada.

He said: “One of the big problems foreign workers face in finding a job is that Canadian work experience is often required. It’s very contentious. It’s a catch-22 situation.

“That’s why they’re focusing on foreign workers or students already in Canada.”

The changes come as attitudes towards expats in the country appear to be hardening. Government survey results released last week found only 56 per cent of Canadians felt immigration was having a positive impact on the Canadian economy – 10 percentage points down from 2010.

However, Mr Bauder said his research suggested that support for immigration in Canada was still high compared with other Western countries.

Canada cuts immigration quota for skilled workers

Canada is reducing the number of people given permanent residency through its skilled immigration scheme, as it seeks to free up places for migrants already living in the country.

Canada is cutting the number of people given permanent residency through its most popular immigration scheme by nearly 2,000.

The federal skilled worker programme, a points-based system for skilled migrants, is being squeezed next year to make way for 3,000 more people who have worked or studied in Canada for at least two years.

The changes are aimed at ensuring that foreigners who move to Canada are more able to contribute to the country’s economy.

Immigration minister Jason Kenney said the move would help to attract “more of the world’s top talent who already have a successful track record in Canada”.

Under the plans, the total number of economic migrants admitted in 2013 will remain at between 240,000 and 265,000.

But Canada is expanding its “Canadian Experience Class” scheme, which gives permanent residency to international students and those who have worked there for two years on temporary visas.

Up to 10,000 people will be able to settle permanently in Canada this way next year, compared with 7,000 in 2012.

Meanwhile, the maximum quota for federal skilled workers will drop to 55,300 in 2013, from 57,000 in 2012. In 2011, 57,296 people were admitted through this route. The figures do not include applicants’ families.

The skilled worker programme was frozen in July 2012 due to a massive backlog of applications that now stands at 100,000.

In September, the government announced changes to the scheme that would prioritise English speaking under 35s who had previously worked in Canada. Final details have not yet been released, but any changes are likely to come into effect from January.

Harald Bauder, director of the Centre of Immigration and Settlement at Ryerson University in Toronto, said the changes would benefit those with existing connections or a job offer in Canada.

He said: “One of the big problems foreign workers face in finding a job is that Canadian work experience is often required. It’s very contentious. It’s a catch-22 situation.

“That’s why they’re focusing on foreign workers or students already in Canada.”

The changes come as attitudes towards expats in the country appear to be hardening. Government survey results released last week found only 56 per cent of Canadians felt immigration was having a positive impact on the Canadian economy – 10 percentage points down from 2010.

However, Mr Bauder said his research suggested that support for immigration in Canada was still high compared with other Western countries.

Canadian history deserves to be taught in schools

Canadian history deserves to be taught in schools

Too bad it isn’t

Troy Media – by Michael Zwaagstra

Most schools fail to provide an adequate Canadian history curriculum to public school students.

Former Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King once said that “while some countries have too much history, we have too much geography.” He implied that because of the relatively young age of our country, Canada has less history than most other countries.

However, having a shorter history is no guarantee that our citizens are more likely to know it well. According to a 2009 survey commissioned by the Dominion Institute, less than half of Canadians between the ages of 18 and 35 could identify John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, from his portrait. Less than one in 10 could identify former NDP leader Tommy Douglas and barely one in five recognized Métis leader Louis Riel. Even former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was unknown by almost half of Canadians in the same cohort.

Last year, federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney introduced a new citizenship guide. In order to be granted citizenship, applicants must now demonstrate sufficient knowledge of essential Canadian history. The new 64-page study guide, Discover Canada, devotes 10 pages to a chronological overview of key events in our history. Any applicant who does not master these facts cannot pass the citizenship test.

Since we expect new citizens to be familiar with Canadian history, it makes sense to apply the same standard to those who grow up in this country. This is why most people expect schools to ensure students learn the key events in Canadian history.

While there will always be debate around what historical events are most important, it’s not difficult to identify some fundamental things everyone should know. For example, few would dispute that all Canadians should be familiar with our Confederation of 1867, Samuel de Champlain’s founding of Quebec City in 1608, Canada’s contribution during the two World Wars, and the patriation of the Constitution in 1982. Controversial episodes such as Indian residential schools, the Chinese Head Tax, and the forced relocation of Japanese Canadians during World War II should also be studied.

Understanding our past, warts and all, makes us better able to grapple with the issues confronting our country today. A well-educated and broadly-informed general public is the best protection against misguided government policies. Knowing our past makes it easier for us to build on our successes and avoid repeating our failures.

Because education is a provincial responsibility, there are no national history standards. Unfortunately, most provinces fail to provide an adequate history curriculum to public school students, a fact well-documented by renowned historian Jack Granatstein in his book, Who Killed Canadian History?.

Although every province includes some Canadian history in the elementary grades, most do not require high school students to take a full course on the subject, but prescribe nebulous social studies courses instead. For example, Alberta students take courses in globalization, nationalism, and ideology while British Columbia students take a grade 12 history course in which they look at major world events of the 20th century. Neither province mandates a high school course in Canadian history.

Saskatchewan does require grade 12 students to take a history course called Canadian Studies. Unfortunately, the course is arranged thematically rather than chronologically. Instead of starting at a chosen point and showing how one historical event builds on another, students jump from topics such as “External Forces and Domestic Realities” to “The Forces of Nationalism.”

Interestingly, Manitoba stands out as a bright light among the provinces. Not only are all Manitoba grade 11 students required to take Canadian history, the course content is arranged chronologically. Furthermore, the new textbook that goes with the curriculum provides a useful and easy-to-read overview of key events in Canadian history. Other provinces would do well to follow Manitoba’s example.

Much of the inadequate teaching of history in our schools stems from a faulty educational philosophy. Prospective teachers are told by their education professors not to focus on making sure students learn a core knowledge base, but rather to emphasize the so-called process of learning. As a result, schools focus on abstract concepts such as globalization, nationalism, and social justice at the expense specific knowledge and skills.

Canadian history is too important a subject for us to allow it to fall out of use. No student should graduate from high school without a solid understanding of the events that have shaped our great country.

Statement — Minister Kenney congratulates Bishop Tawadros on being named the new Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church

Ottawa, November 5, 2012 — The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, issued the following statement congratulating the new Coptic Pope:

“I wish to congratulate Bishop Tawadros on being chosen as the new leader of Egypt’s ancient Coptic Orthodox Church, becoming the 118^th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa in the Holy See of St. Mark the Apostle.

“In a traditional ceremony at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Cairo yesterday, Bishop Tawadros’s name was selected from a crystal chalice containing the names of three short-listed candidates. He succeeds Pope Shenouda III, whom I had the great honour to meet in person, as the spiritual leader of the largest Christian minority in the Middle East, at a challenging and uncertain time for Coptic Christians in Egypt.
“As patriarch, the Pope will provide leadership for the global Coptic Church, will be responsible for protecting the ancient Coptic religious, ritual and cultural patrimony, and will be able to deepen and strengthen ecumenical relations with sister churches throughout the Catholic and Orthodox world. He will also bear the great responsibility of encouraging and protecting the Coptic minority in Egypt as they face ever-increasing threats and persecution.

“As Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, and on behalf of the Government of Canada, I extend my best wishes to Bishop Tawadros as he prepares to assume these heavy responsibilities at his enthronement on November 18 and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the Coptic community in Canada.”

Message from the Government of Canada – Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism

We are pleased to present Strengthening Canada’s Economy: Government of Canada Progress Report 2011 on Foreign Credential Recognition.

Our Economic Action Plan has helped Canada to weather the global downturn. The Government of Canada’s top priority is economic growth and job creation. As we move forward, immigration will play a key role in strengthening our economy. Ensuring that skilled immigrants participate fully in Canada’s job market is a key part of our growth strategy. We recognize the important role of skilled immigrants in helping to fill labour shortages and in contributing to Canada’s overall competitiveness.

We are committed to removing the barriers to employment faced by newcomers and to fostering their economic success. Improving foreign credential recognition is a key element in achieving these commitments.

Recognizing foreign credentials benefits Canada’s economy by helping newcomers put their education and experience to use in relevant and satisfying employment soon after their arrival. With pre-arrival access to accurate information on assessment and recognition processes, and related tools, skilled immigrants can more quickly integrate into the labour market.

In collaboration with our partners, including provincial and territorial governments and a variety of stakeholder groups, the Government is continually working to improve foreign credential recognition processes. Three federal departments work together on these improvements. These include the Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCRP) at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), and the Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative at Health Canada.

A good example of this collaboration is the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. Within the Framework, governments, regulatory bodies, credential assessment agencies, industry associations and employers collaborate to streamline and simplify the process for licensure. This is leading to major improvement in the recognition of foreign credentials

Recent achievements include the launch of the International Qualifications Network website. The site is a virtual space for employers, regulatory bodies, sector councils and immigrant-serving organizations to share innovative practices in qualification assessment and recognition. The Foreign Credential Recognition Loans pilot project, delivered in partnership with community organizations, is helping internationally trained professionals cover the costs of having their credentials recognized. Another example of the Government's effort is Health Canada's support for an innovative assessment and bridging program to help internationally educated nurses meet regulatory requirements for licensure across Canada.

When new Canadians succeed, Canada succeeds. With the improvements we have made to foreign credential recognition, we are ensuring that new Canadians can share in Canada’s prosperity. 

The Honourable Jason Kenney, PC, MP
Minister of Citizenship,
Immigration and Multiculturalism

The Honourable Diane Finley, PC, MP
Minister of Human Resources and
Skills Development

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, PC, MP
Minister of Health

Canada's skilled immigrants backlog to be eliminated soon

mmigration Minister Kenney says 100,000 applicants are still in the system

The Canadian Press 

 

Posted: Nov 2, 2012 2:00

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney has said the backlog of skilled immigrant applicants will soon become a "just in time" process. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Canada's Conservative government says a backlog of skilled immigrant applications, which has clogged the system for years, is declining rapidly and will be eliminated by the end of next year.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says about 100,000 applications are still in the system, down from 640,000 just a few years ago.

Kenney told a news conference that the eradication of the wait list means a new immigrant labour pool from which employers and provinces can choose will be established ahead of schedule.

The backlog was culled by a measure in last spring's contentious omnibus bill, which threw out 280,000 applications filed prior to 2008, a controversial move that saw the federal government refund $130 million in application fees.

Without flushing the system, it was estimated the backlog wouldn't be cleared until 2017, but the decision is being challenged in court by lawyers who plan to launch a class-action lawsuit on behalf of people whose applications were expelled.

Kenney says that by the end of 2013, the government will be able to process skilled immigrant applications within a year, rather than eight years, which had become the norm.

He says the reforms are "finally unshackling Canada from the outrageous backlogs and wait times of the past," and will bring people who are likely to find and keep good jobs into the country.

"The system had become totally dysfunctional. It was broken, and it was getting worse," Kenney said. "Strong action was necessary."

The Conservatives in 2008 imposed limits on the number of skilled immigrant applications they would accept, and with that action alone, Kenney says, the backlog was sliced in half.

Kenney has also announced that Canada plans to admit between 53,500 and 55,300 new Canadians in 2013 under the revamped federal skilled worker program, which will be geared more toward accepting young people.

Overall immigration targets will remain frozen at between 240,000 and 265,000.

Immigration minister wants qualified newcomers to integrate quickly

Kenney set to fast-track foreign students for immigration

2013 immigration targets

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has announced that he wants to admit more foreign students currently studying in Canada as permanent residents and potential citizens, though he also plans to maintain Canada's overall immigration level at the same tally that's been in place since 2007 — between 240,000 to 265,000 people.

Flanked by young foreign students from Carleton and the University of Ottawa, and fronted by a large sign that said "Faster Immigration," Kenney said Wednesday he is expanding the number of admissions under the Canadian Experience Class, which aims to recruit and retain international students who have studied and graduated in Canada as well as temporary foreign workers who speak one of Canada's official languages and already have Canadian work experience.

Up to 10,000 permanent residents will be accepted next year in the Canada Experience Class, up from 7,000 in 2012 and 2,500 in 2009.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has been focused on restructuring Canada's immigration system, with a strong emphasis on finding immigrants likely to integrate and succeed in the Canadian workforce. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Last month, Kenney's department marked its 20,000th immigrantunder this class, after five years in existence. Admitting up to 10,000 in a single year represents a big jump.

The minister's annual immigration plan must be tabled in Parliament each year by Nov.1. It sets overall targets for how many newcomers will be issued visas to be admitted to Canada from abroad, as well as how many students and temporary foreign workers already in Canada will be allowed to stay.

Pointing at the students behind him, Kenney said, "These are the kind of bright young people we are trying to recruit." In the past, Kenney said, these kinds of students would be told to leave the country and apply for residency which could take up to eight years.

Kenney said that immigration is a tool to address the problems of Canada's aging population and shortage of certain types of skilled workers. "But we must do a better job of selecting those who can succeed quickly, who can integrate quickly, who can find and keep good employment, who can start successful businesses and add to Canada's prosperity."

"The data tells us [what to do]," continued Kenney. "The reforms we're making are based on evidence, on research and on data that tells us that the immigrants who do better over their lifetimes in Canada are those with a higher level of language proficiency in Canada and those with Canadian degrees and diplomas."

'Under pressure to increase immigration'

Kenney said he was under pressure from some provinces and from some interest groups to increase immigration levels. He accused the NDP of wanting immigration numbers to rise to half a million newcomers a year. But, Kenney said, he was very aware of polls suggesting that Canadians view immigration less favourably than in the past, partially because, he thinks, the unemployment level of immigrants is 14 per cent.

The NDP immigration critic Jinny Sims said she was disappointed that the government was cutting back on the family reunification that allows immigrants to sponsor their parents and grandparent. "This is a government that talks about families, and the importance of families. And yet once again it has abandoned the hundreds of thousands Canadian citizens by not increasing the numbers under the family reunification class."

Kenney said that his department is actually increasing the numbers for family reunification, especially for immigrants' parents, going from 17,000 a year to 25,000 a year. But he added that Canada cannot admit what he called "unlimited numbers of seniors."

Sims also accused the government of being obsessed with temporary foreign employees, such as mining workers, and said that companies, permitted to pay temporary workers lower wages, are actively recruiting them from overseas.

Kenney said that he was disturbed at the number of temporary workers who are often in jobs that can't be filled by Canadians, which he found "bizarre." But he added this was only a "last resort" for companies, and that his government is careful not to do anything that would stall economic growth.

"We are rebuilding our economic immigration programs to get higher levels of employment, higher levels of income, more immigrants realizing their potential contributing at their skill level, rather than coming to Canada and being stuck in survival jobs and being underemployed.

News Release — An Immigration Plan that works for Canada: More immigrants who are already working in Canada to be admitted through Canadian Experience Class

Ottawa, October 31, 2012 — The Government of Canada will maintain record levels of immigration to support economic growth in 2013, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

“Our Government’s number one priority remains economic and job growth,” said Minister Kenney. “Newcomers bring their skills and talents, contribute to our economy and help renew our workforce so that Canada remains competitive on the world stage.”

According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)’s 2012 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration tabled today, CIC plans to admit a total of 240,000 to 265,000 new permanent residents in 2013, for the seventh straight year. This represents the highest sustained level of immigration in Canadian history.

In particular, the 2013 Immigration Levels Plan makes room for the rapid growth in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The CEC, which was created in 2008, facilitates the transition from temporary to permanent residence for those with high-skilled work experience in Canada, including international students and temporary foreign workers. Admissions under the CEC have increased from about 2,500 people in 2009 to more than 6,000 in 2011, with more expected this year than ever before. In 2013, CIC intends to accept a record high of up to 10,000 permanent residents through this popular program.

“Immigration plays a vital role in our country’s long-term prosperity,” said Minister Kenney.“Our 2013 Immigration Plan will build on our economic success by bringing in more of the world’s top talent who already have a successful track record in Canada.”

Every year, CIC consults with provinces, territories and public stakeholders across Canada to develop a balanced immigration plan. Besides stakeholder consultations, the Canadian public is invited to participate through online consultations on immigration levels and mix. This year, for the first time in Canadian history, CIC consulted with key Aboriginal groups.

CIC’s 2013 planned admission ranges for other immigration programs will be released in the coming days.

CIC annual tracking survey, methodological report

Report

Summary

Demo Tables Study 1 Set 1

Demo Tables Study 1 Set 2

Demo Tables Study 2 Set 1

Demo Tables Study 2 Set 2

News Release — “The Jig is Up on Marriage Fraud,” says Minister Kenney

Mississauga, October 26, 2012 — In an ongoing effort to deter people from using marriages of convenience to cheat their way into Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) introduced a new regulation that requires certain sponsored spouses live in a legitimate relationship with their sponsor for two years or they risk losing their permanent resident status.

“There are countless cases of marriage fraud across the country,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “I have consulted widely with Canadians, and especially with victims of marriage fraud, who have told me clearly that we must take action to stop this abuse of our immigration system. Sometimes the sponsor in Canada is being duped and sometimes it's a commercial transaction. Implementing a two-year conditional permanent residence period will help deter marriage fraud, prevent the callous victimization of innocent Canadians and help us put an end to these scams.”

The new regulations apply to spouses or partners in a relationship of two years or less and who have no children in common with their sponsor at the time they submit their sponsorship application. The spouse or partner must live in a legitimate relationship with their sponsor for two years from the day on which they receive their permanent resident status in Canada. The status of the sponsored spouse or partner may be revoked if they do not remain in the relationship.

Minister Kenney was joined at today’s announcement by representatives of Canadians Against Immigration Fraud (CAIF). Sam Benet, President of CAIF stated: “We applaud Minister Kenney for taking bold steps to address the growing problem of marriage fraud and for protecting the integrity of our immigration system.”

“I think it is a very good measure,” added Palwinder Singh Gill, founder of the Canadian Marriage Fraud Victims Society. “Canada’s generous family sponsorship program was being abused because many people were marrying only to get a permanent resident card and then leave their partners. With this rule, those abusing the system will think twice.”

The regulations include an exception for sponsored spouses or partners suffering abuse or neglect. The conditional measure would cease to apply in instances where there is evidence of abuse or neglect by the sponsor or if the sponsor fails to protect the sponsored spouse or partner from abuse or neglect. This abuse or neglect could be perpetrated by the sponsor or a person related to the sponsor, whether or not the abusive party is living in the household or not during the conditional period. The exception would also apply in the event of the death of the sponsor.

The conditional measure is now in force, which means that it applies to permanent residents in relationships of two years or less, with no children in common, whose applications are received on or after October 25, 2012.

Conditional permanent residence does not differ from regular permanent residence other than the need to satisfy the two-year requirement.

These regulations bring Canadian policy in line with that of many other countries including Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, all of whom use a form of conditional status as a deterrent against marriage fraud. The lack of such a measure increased Canada’s vulnerability to this type of unlawful activity. It is expected that by implementing a conditional permanent residence measure of two years as a means to deter marriage fraud, Canada will no longer be considered a “soft target” by individuals considering a marriage of convenience to circumvent Canada’s immigration laws.

“Canadians are generous and welcoming, but they have no tolerance for fraudsters who lie and cheat to jump the queue,” said Minister Kenney. “This measure will help strengthen the integrity of our immigration system and prevent the victimization of innocent Canadians.”

In addition to conditional permanent residence, CIC introduced, in March of this past year, a measure that prohibits sponsored spouses from sponsoring a new spouse for five years following the date they become a permanent resident. Along with a multilingual advertising campaign, CIC released a short video warning people not to be duped into committing marriage fraud. The video directs people to a specific page on the CICwebsite (www.immigration.gc.ca/antifraud) for advice on how to immigrate to Canada “the right way.”

News Release — Minister Kenney Proposes Guidelines on Barring Harmful People from Canada

Ottawa, October 24, 2012 — People who promote terrorist activity or incite hatred which is likely to lead to violence could be barred from Canada, according to proposed guidelines released today by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.

The Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act, introduced in Parliament on June 20, 2012, includes several proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to protect the safety and security of Canadians. Among the proposed changes is a new ministerial authority to refuse temporary resident status to foreign nationals on the basis of public policy considerations.

“This authority ensures that we do not let in those who, for example, have a track record of promoting hatred and inciting violence against vulnerable groups,” said Minister Kenney. “The intent is that this authority be used very sparingly and with caution. We want to ensure that we strike the right balance in describing the scope of this authority, which is why I’ve tabled the guidelines in Parliament and welcome the feedback of parliamentarians.”

The proposed guidelines, introduced by Minister Kenney before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, illustrate scenarios where the Minister may choose to exercise his authority. The proposed guidelines outline two categories of behaviour and activities whereby a foreign national may be refused temporary resident status: 1) individuals who promote terrorism, violence or criminal activity including individuals who incite hatred that is likely to lead to violence against a specific group; and 2) certain foreign nationals from sanctioned countries or corrupt foreign officials.

This new authority would allow the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism to deny temporary resident status to a foreign national for a period of up to three years, on the basis of public policy considerations. The authority is intended to be used only in exceptional circumstances.

Unlike many of our key international partners, including the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, which already have similar measures in place, Canada currently does not have a mechanism to prevent certain foreign nationals who are otherwise admissible from entering Canada, even though it is in the public interest that they be kept out.

“For years, Ministers of Immigration have been asked by members of federal and provincial parliaments, stakeholders, and Canadians to refuse entry to individuals who promoted hateful rhetoric, yet we were powerless to act,” said the Minister. “This authority would apply to the handful of exceptional cases each year where there are no other legal grounds to keep such people out of the country to protect the safety and security of Canadians.”

The Minister will report annually to Parliament on the number of instances the new authority is used.

The new discretionary authority for refusal is meant to be flexible, allowing for case-by-case analysis and quick responses to unpredictable and fast-changing events. It would allow the Minister to make a carefully-weighted decision, taking into account the public environment and potential consequences.

To view the proposed guidelines, consult the Backgrounder.

I have written to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee nominating the brave young Pakistani woman Malala Yousafzai:

News Release — Minister Kenney announces Citizenship Judge Appointment, Reappointments

Ottawa, October 22, 2012 — Roy Wong has been appointed as a Citizenship Judge in Vancouver for a full-time, three-year term, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. The appointment is effective October 29, 2012.

Mr. Wong holds a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, a Licentiate in Law from theUniversité de Montréal and the Certificate of Qualification for Common-Law from the University of British Columbia. He had a lengthy career as a lawyer and is a past member of the Law Society of British Columbia and a past member of the Barreau du Québec.

Four other citizenship judges have been reappointed to three-year terms:

• Ann Dillon (Vancouver)
• Renée Giroux (Montreal)
• Anne-Marie Kains (Vancouver)
• Terrence O’Malley (Regina)

Citizenship judges are responsible for making decisions with regard to citizenship applications, presiding over citizenship ceremonies and administering the oath of citizenship to new citizens.

America needs to rethink its immigration policy

The Immigrant Exodus: Why America Is Losing the Global Race to Capture Entrepreneurial 

IVEK WADHWA’S new book, “The Immigrant Exodus”, is admirably short, yet he packs it with righteous fury. America, he points out, has one of the greatest assets a nation can have: people yearn to live there. Chinese students, Indian doctors, British actors and French financiers flock to its shores. What is more, America is very welcoming and always has been. Its universities brim with foreign brains. Its zippiest companies are powered by immigrants. Some stay for ever. Others work for a while and return home, where they often continue to swap ideas and do business with their American friends.

A nation that can attract the cleverest people in the world can innovate and prosper indefinitely. Unless it does what America has done since September 11th 2001, which is to make the immigration process so slow, unpredictable and unpleasant that migrants stay away.

Consider the story of Puneet Arora, who came to America in 1996 to study medicine. He won a fellowship at the prestigious Mayo Clinic, worked for a while as a doctor in a deprived area and ended up as medical director at Genentech, a giant American biotech firm. Mr Arora is clearly the kind of citizen that any sensible country would be delighted to have. Yet America kept him waiting 16 years for a green card (which grants permanent residency).

Life in immigration limbo is wretched. Immigrants on H1-B visas, which are issued to skilled workers, must be sponsored by a specific employer. They cannot change jobs without imperilling their application. Their careers stagnate. They do not know whether they will be deported, so they hesitate to put down roots, buy a house or start a company. Sometimes their spouses are barred from working. In some states their spouses cannot even obtain a driving licence, as if they were female and living in Saudi Arabia. Fewer and fewer talented people are prepared to put up with such treatment, and they have plenty of other options. They know that Canada, Australia and Singapore hand out visas swiftly and without fuss. If they are from a poor country, they know that there are opportunities back home.

Mr Wadhwa’s finds are alarming. Since no nationality may receive more than 7% of employment-based green cards, Chinese and Indian applicants are treated more harshly than citizens of less populous nations. The time they must spend in limbo has shot up. If they have a great idea for a new company, they can go home and start it straight away. In America, if they quit their day job, they may be deported.

In a survey, Mr Wadhwa found that most Indian and Chinese students in America expect problems in obtaining a work visa when they graduate, regardless of the demand for their skills. An unprecedented number now plan to go home. Mr Wadhwa believes that immigration policy has halted the surge in high-tech firms founded by immigrants, and possibly reversed it. In Silicon Valley the proportion of high-tech start-ups they founded has fallen from 52% in 2005 to 44% this year.

“The Immigrant Exodus” is packed with examples of opportunities squandered for want of a visa. Hardik Desai, for example, persuaded hard-nosed investors to put $300,000 into his start-up, which made diagnostic technology. But he could not persuade the immigration authorities to let him work for his own company without proving that it could pay his salary for a long time—something almost no new firm can prove. So he had to shut it down.

Mr Wadhwa, who is himself of Indian origin, moved to America from Australia back in the days when it was easy. Working as a computer scientist, he received a green card in 18 months and went on to found two high-tech companies. He laments that, if the conditions when he first arrived had been as they are today, “I would have been a fool to leave Australia.” By locking out foreign talent, America has “blocked the flow of [its] very lifeblood,” he argues in this wise and powerful tract. Yet the problem is simple to solve. Mr Wadhwa lays out a seven-point plan that can be summarised in three words: let them in.

A Free Canadian Video

A Free Canadian Video

Free
This video encourages all Canadians to learn more about citizenship by reading Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship.

  Free

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Transcript for “Free” Video

Video length: 30 seconds
Close-up image of young boy appears on screen.  Video treatment is in black and white.  All spoken words appear as text flowing behind actors.
Boy Speaks: I am a Canadian, a free Canadian,
Full body image of young woman appears on screen.
Young woman speaks: free to speak without fear,
Close-up image of man appears on screen.
Man speaks: free to worship in my own way,
Close-up image of young man appears on screen.
Young man speaks: free to stand for what I think right,
Full image of man appears on screen.
Man speaks: free to oppose what I believe wrong,
Close-up image of woman appears on screen.
Woman speaks: free to choose those who shall govern my country.
Close-up image of young man appears on screen.
Young man speaks: This heritage of freedom
Close-up image of young woman appears on screen.
Young woman speaks: I pledge to uphold.
Image of hands holding an e-reader looking at the Citizenship and Immigration publication titled: “Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship” appears on screen.
Narrator: Learn more about citizenship at citizenship.gc.ca/discover
Text on screen: citizenship.gc.ca/discover
Narrator: A message from the Government of Canada.
Text on screen: Canada wordmark

Notice – Fee Returns for Federal Skilled Worker applicants affected by the backlog elimination measure

October 12, 2012

The content below is offered in PDF format. For more information or to download the appropriate viewer, check the Help page.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is now starting to return fees which were paid to the Department for Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications affected by the Government of Canada’s Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act.

If you applied before February 27, 2008, and have not heard from CIC about whether a decision based on FSW program selection criteria (*see below) was made on your application, you may be affected by this new law.

If you fall under this category, CIC needs to verify your contact information is up to date so that your fee return will reach you at your current address. Please note that interest will not be paid on the fees.

Please confirm your latest contact details by sending CIC this form (PDF, 1.4 MB). While we will also contact you by regular mail later on if we do not hear from you, communicating with us electronically is the best and easiest way to have your fee return processed.

Due to the large number of affected applicants, the fee return process may take some time from the date your form is received by CIC to the issuance of your cheque. We appreciate your patience.

Your FSW application has been terminated by operation of law if:

• you applied before February 27, 2008, and
• a decision based on FSW program selection criteria* was not made on your application by an immigration officer before March 29, 2012.

(*A “FSW program selection criteria” decision means that a CIC officer has determined that you have accumulated enough points to qualify for the program, based on factors such as your language skills, education and work experience.)

If you remain interested in immigrating to Canada, you may be eligible under other immigration programs. To find out more about the requirements and steps to apply in each category, please see Immigrating to Canada.

News Release — Minister Kenney Delivers Keynote Speech at BORDERPOL Conference

London, U.K., October 17, 2012 — Canada’s efforts to enhance the security and integrity of our immigration system were highlighted yesterday by Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism in his speech at a major conference on border control in the United Kingdom (U.K.).

“The first responsibility of the state is to protect the safety and security of its citizens,”Minister Kenney said during his keynote address. “By developing laws, policies, and practices that make our immigration system more secure, we believe we are helping to ensure continuing support for that system.”

The inaugural BORDERPOL Conference, hosted by the U.K. Border Force, is a leading forum for international sharing of experiences and best practices among specialists in the border control industry. The two-day event is the first of its kind.

Minister Kenney spoke alongside Mark Harper, the U.K. Minister of State for Immigration. Delivering his address to an audience composed of border management, immigration, customs and security policy makers and practitioners, Minister Kenney highlighted Canada’s integrity measures in border and migration management.

“When I became Minister, I was acutely aware that Canada had a reputation – fairly or not – as an international ‘soft touch’ when it came to immigration and border security,”Minister Kenney stated. “In recent years, we have worked very hard to change this impression. We have done so, in part, by introducing a good number of tough-but-fair initiatives to bolster the security of our immigration system.”

Of note, Minister Kenney spoke of the many changes to Canada’s immigration system, including:

• stronger laws to combat human smuggling;
• reforms to deter unfounded refugee claims and other abuses of the refugee determination system;
• cracking down on immigration fraud;
• the tabling of a new law that would allow Canada to remove foreign criminals more quickly by limiting appeal mechanisms;
• proposed tougher penalties for those who commit immigration fraud; and
• the introduction of biometric screening of visitors to Canada.

The Minister further noted that recent efforts to crack down on fraud and abuse in Canada’s immigration system, including residency fraud and fraudulent asylum claims, help restore Canadians’ faith in the immigration system, which ultimately allows Canada to continue to have the most generous system in the world.  In fact, since 2006, the government has maintained the highest sustained levels of immigration in Canadian history.

“Canadians are rightly proud of our generous approach to refugee protection. As one example, at a time when other countries are reducing their programs to resettle refugees from overseas, Canada maintains one of the largest such programs in the world,” Minister Kenney stated during his speech.

The Minister stressed that Canada takes its international obligations seriously, cooperating with other countries in sharing policy and operational experiences, as well as increasingly sharing information and intelligence. On this most recent trip, Minister Kenney has met with immigration and law enforcement experts in Hungary, Sweden and the U.K.to discuss the shared challenges of facilitating legal migration while combating illegal immigration, which is often associated with organized criminal activity and human smuggling operations.

Minister Kenney marks the celebration of the first day of the Coptic New Year

Statement – Minister Kenney marks the celebration of the first day of the Coptic New Year

Ottawa, September 11, 2012 — The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism issued the following statement to mark the celebration of the Feast of El Nayrouz, the first day of the Coptic New Year and a commemoration of Coptic martyrs and confessors:

Today is the Feast of El Nayrouz, the first day of the Coptic New Year. I wish to extend my regards to all Coptic Orthodox and Catholic Christians observing today, both in Canada and around the world.

Sadly, this New Year observation comes at a time of recent mourning for many Egyptian Christians, who are presently living through increasing violence and anti-religious persecution.

The Coptic Church is one of the world’s oldest, established in Egypt by St. Mark early in the first century. While the Coptic calendar itself predates the birth of Christ by at least three millennia, and retains the names of 13 ancient Egyptian gods. Coptic Christians chose 284 A.D. to begin their counting of years, as this was the first year of the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who implemented the first heavy age of martyrdom and persecution of Christian Egyptians.

This day is steeped in tradition for many Copts, who eat dates on this day; the red colour symbolizing the blood that they were willing to shed for Christ, with the white colour on the inside serving as a reminder of the martyrs’ purity of heart.

Coptic Canadians are a community of strong values and vibrant growth. For all Canadians, this important day provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on the importance of faith and religious freedom, and the tremendous contribution of Coptic Christians to Canadian society.

As Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, I want to wish a blessed New Year to all Coptic Canadians and their families.