Speaking Notes

Speaking notes for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration at a lunch reception

Mumbai, India, November 3, 2007

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Na-Ma-STAY! (Hello!)  Thank you for that kind introduction.

On behalf of Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, and myself, thank you all for joining me today.

It is such a pleasure for me to be here and to experience some of the sights and sounds of India right here in Mumbai. 

Since we arrived just yesterday, this city has impressed me in many ways. 

Mumbai may not be India’s capital, but you can feel it is the heart of human enterprise as the country’s thriving commercial centre. 

Nearly 13 million people call Mumbai home. 

And they come from such diverse backgrounds.  More than a dozen languages are spoken here, adding colour, flavour and texture to this great cosmopolitan centre.

As in Canada, in India you can find snow-covered mountains and rain forests, and a vast diversity of regions, languages, and traditions.

I think that as members of the Commonwealth, Canada and India have quite a lot in common.

I think we’ve always had a special bond.

For many years, India has been one of the most important sources of newcomers to Canada. 

In the past 10 years alone, some 250,000 people from this country have emigrated to Canada.

Today, there are about 700,000 people of Indian descent in Canada. 

When you consider that Canada’s total population is less than 33 million, these are pretty significant numbers.

The skills, knowledge, innovative ideas and motivation to succeed that these people have brought to Canada are having a tremendous, positive influence on the economic and cultural life of our country.

When my government tabled our national long-term economic plan more than a year ago, we talked about creating opportunities:  opportunities for Canadians, and opportunities for Canadian businesses and organizations.

The opportunities are there.  Canada has a strong and growing economy, and we want to sustain that strength for the long haul. 

To do that, we need a labour force with the skills and the knowledge to keep our economy competitive in the new global marketplace.

One of the things our economic plan does is detail the steps we can take to build that kind of labour force. 

And because it is exceedingly clear that we simply do not have enough people, we recognize that immigration will play a key role in realizing our goals in both the short and long term.

It’s fair to say that as we look for the people with the knowledge, the skills, and the language abilities that can translate into success in—and for—Canada, we are looking increasingly to countries such as India.

I’d like to give you a couple of examples of our serious short-term needs.

Alberta is in the midst of the strongest period of economic growth ever recorded by any Canadian province.

And despite what many people think, it’s not just the energy sector.  There are labour shortages in every part of the province and almost every sector of the economy.

The situation is the same in British Columbia next door.  Our western-most province is out-performing the Canadian average on a list of indicators, from GDP growth to non-residential construction.

These labour and skills shortages in the west are having a ripple effect right across the country.

Fortunately, Canada continues to be a destination of choice for immigrants, who help enrich our society and strengthen our economy. 

What defines us has been expressed by our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, who said earlier this year, and I quote:

“The characteristic that most defines Canadians is welcoming…. East and West, North and South, French and English, immigrant and Native-born, we are all proud champions of these founding values – of the Canadian way.”

As I say, in the coming years, immigration will play an increasingly important role in our long-term growth and prosperity, and we will continue to look for innovative ways to bring in talent from around the world.

Since becoming a Member of Parliament, and certainly since becoming Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, one of the stories I hear most often is that of the newcomer to Canada who has struggled to find a job in their field.

It’s always difficult to hear these stories.  People come to Canada hoping to build a new life for themselves and their families.  They come here hoping to use their skills and do the work they love to do. 

Success is possible with some determination and a bit of help—and Canada, led by our Prime Minister, is committed to helping.

To make sure that newcomers can succeed in Canada, we established the Foreign Credentials Referral Office this past spring. 

Since May, this Office has been helping internationally trained individuals find the information and access the services they need to put their skills to work quickly in Canada.

Of course, I’ll have more to say about credentials when I arrive in New Delhi later this week to talk about orientation sessions in the Punjab and Gujarat regions.

As well, ladies and gentlemen, we are responding to the growing economic needs of various regions in Canada. 

Just last year we took in 112,000 temporary foreign workers.  We also created regional lists of jobs where there are clearly identified worker shortages.

And we’ve made it faster and simpler for employers to hire a foreign worker for an occupation that is on one of these lists.

We’ve also removed the limit on the number of immigrants Canada’s provinces can nominate each year.  Removing these limits allows our provinces a better opportunity to meet their unique economic, social and labour-market needs.

As part of our plan for the coming year, we are introducing a new avenue to immigration.

This new economic class will help attract and retain certain skilled temporary workers and international students with Canadian degrees and work experience.

Many of these people, including some 150,000 international students, are getting Canadian work experience, learning our languages, and adapting to the Canadian way of life—and have all the ingredients for success as immigrants.

But just when they’re getting settled in Canada, their work or student visa expires. 

We want to give certain skilled Temporary Foreign Workers and international students the opportunity to call Canada home permanently.

I do want to stress at this point that Canada’s immigration system will never be entirely about economics.  Family reunification remains an important objective.

In fact, my department has been making a considerable effort to ensure family-class immigrants are processed as efficiently as possible.

Here in India, for example, 80 percent of applications for spouses wishing to join their partners in Canada are finalized in six months or less.

The vast majority of students headed to established colleges and universities in Canada are approved and served very quickly.

As I say these things, I think we should remember that the benefits of immigration do not necessarily flow in one direction only.

These initiatives have obvious benefits to Canada, of course, but they can also benefit the workers’ home countries.

In fact, there’s a long tradition of migration between India and Canada.  This movement of people has forged strong links between our two countries and strengthened us both.

Temporary workers develop new skills and gain new knowledge while they’re in Canada.  And when they leave, those skills and knowledge go with them.

A study by the Asian Development Bank released a year ago talked about how more and more countries have been able to harness the talents and expertise of their skilled overseas nationals as short-term consultants, investors and trainers.

In the past 10 years, India has emerged as a rising star in the international business community.

An affluent middle class is growing in India.  And as Indians come to study, work, and live in other countries like Canada, strong international financial alliances will continue to be formed.

I look around this room and I can see exactly what that study is talking about. 

You are promoting and practicing precisely that kind of vibrant exchange to the advantage of both our countries.

On behalf of Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, and the Government of Canada, I congratulate you, and encourage you to continue with these efforts.

To strengthen the existing links between our two countries. 

To explore new ways to make the relationship between Canada and India even stronger in the future.

Thank you again for your tremendous hospitality. Bo-hott Shok-ri-ya!