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2005-31

IMMIGRATION MINISTER ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN FIXING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION SYSTEM

OTTAWA, November 24, 2005 — The Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced the Government of Canada will invest an additional $700 million over five years to make important improvements to the federal immigration system. These improvements include funding to start reducing the current inventory of applications at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and a new process to allow immigrants with Canadian experience or Canadian education to apply for permanent resident status under the new In-Canada Economic Stream in 2007.

“Today’s announcement is an important step toward fixing and improving the immigration system,” said Minister Volpe. “By beginning to reduce the number of outstanding applications and moving to actively recruit those who best meet Canada’s labour market needs—such as temporary foreign workers and international students already in Canada—we will build on the improvements already under way to Canada’s immigration system.”

The new in-Canada stream is intended for applicants with experience in Canada’s labour market or educational institutions. These immigrants are well positioned to integrate quickly and successfully into Canadian society and the economy, and this new stream will eventually be an important tool in promoting Canada as a destination of choice for immigrants. In ensuring that people with significant labour market or educational experience can make a smooth transition to permanent resident status, we will help build a more responsive and proactive immigration system.

“Today’s announcement builds on the major investments already made to help newcomers integrate more quickly into their local labour market and new communities,” said Minister Volpe. “These investments include $398 million announced in the 2005 budget to improve settlement services and to launch the Going to Canada portal; funding for the Internationally Trained Workers Initiative; and a $1.3 billion investment in settlement programs announced in the fiscal economic update of November 14, 2005.”

The $920 million Canada-Ontario agreement announced earlier this week is funded through the fiscal framework and forms part of the $1.3 billion announced by Minister Goodale.

This announcement reflects the key priorities identified by federal, provincial and territorial ministers on November 4, 2005. For further information, visit the CIC Web site at www.cic.gc.ca.

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For more information (media only):

Stephen Heckbert
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
(613) 954-1064

Greg Scott
Media Relations
Communications Branch
(613) 941-7028

BACKGROUNDER
Fixing the Immigration System

On November 24, 2005, the Government of Canada announced it would invest $418 million for streamlining the immigration system and $282 million for creating the in Canada economic stream totaling $700 million over five years. These improvements include funding to start reducing the current inventory of applications at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and a new process to allow immigrants with Canadian experience or Canadian education to apply for permanent resident status under the new In-Canada Economic Stream in 2007.

Ensuring the Immigration System is More Responsive to Labour Market Needs

1) Reducing the Current Inventory of Applications and Modernizing Service Delivery

The funding provided will allow for an increase in operational capacity for federal departments to more efficiently process applications and start to reduce processing times.

Together, these measures will help make the system more responsive to varied labour market needs, support improved immigrant outcomes, and streamline the system in order to enhance the processing of applications.

2) Creation of an In-Canada Economic Stream in 2007

Provinces, territories, cities and communities agree on the need for increased regionalization to spread the benefits of immigration all across the country. Introducing an in-Canada stream will help address this challenge by supporting the greater use of the temporary foreign worker stream as a means of addressing short-term labour market needs and providing a bridge to permanent residence for newcomers.

The introduction of the in-Canada economic stream is expected to lead to approximately 5,000 additional foreign students and 11,000 temporary foreign workers (including dependants) applying for permanent residence each year.

Two types of foreign nationals will be eligible to apply for permanent resident status: students and temporary foreign workers in Canada. After entering Canada on a work or study permit, these individuals will be required to spend a minimum period of time working or studying before being eligible to apply for permanent resident status. The new in-Canada stream is designed for applicants who have Canadian experience in the labour market or in educational institutions.

Applicants are fully screened for criminality and security.