Immigration changes are long overdue


LORNE GUNTER
FIRST POSTED: 

Two-thirds of refugee claimants who come to Canada ultimately have their applications turned down.
For claimants arriving from developed countries such as the U.S. and Europe — who some years make up nearly half of our claimants — the rejection rate is upwards of 90%.
Given those two facts, is it really all that awful that federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced last Wednesday that Ottawa would be scaling back the health benefits claimants receive while waiting to learn their fate?
Kenney explained that beginning in June, Ottawa will no longer foot the bill for prescription drugs, dental care, eye exams and glasses or “mobility devices” such as canes, walkers or prosthetics for citizens of other countries who are in Canada awaiting a refugee hearing.
Kenney’s reasoning? “We do not want to ask Canadians to pay for benefits for … refugee claimants that are more generous than what they are entitled to themselves” through their provincial health plans.
He added the move is also aimed at “taking away an incentive from people who may be considering filing an unfounded refugee claim.”
Our benefits are so generous that lots of refugee claims are nothing more than bogus attempts to skip the lineups for regular immigration and cash in. Many claimants are benefit shoppers rather than victims of persecution.
To hear the opposition talk, you’d think Kenney had implemented mandatory flogging of claimants.
New NDP leader Thomas Mulcair called this week’s benefit cuts “scandalous behaviour.” Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Bob Rae maintained this was nothing more than an attempt to “whip up hostility to refugees.”
Huh!?
How is it hostile to legitimate refugees to want to keep claim-jumpers from clogging up the system?
Indeed, if Kenney can reduce the number of bogus asylum-seekers, isn’t that good for true refugees? If there are fewer bogus claimants gumming up the system, won’t that help those with legitimate claims get heard faster and find safe harbour here sooner?
Kenney has long believed (and quite correctly) that if his department can reduce the number of claimants who arrive in Canada by weeding out those unlikely to be successful before they even leave their own countries, then our refugee system will be better able to protect those who truly face discrimination, persecution or even death in their homelands.
To this end, in the past three years he has also increased the number of countries from which visitors to Canada require visas. This permits foreign-based Canadian diplomats to identify potential sham claimants before they even board a plane headed here.
Kenney has also changed federal policy so that claimants arriving here without proper documents — such as the boatloads of Tamils and others who periodically pop up on the West Coast in rust bucket ships run by human smugglers — must wait in secure camps or barracks while their applications are vetted.
Formerly, they were allowed to disperse into the general population while awaiting adjudication. From there, it was almost impossible to locate and deport them if their claims were rejected, which so many ultimately were.
Kenney is aiming at reducing the time it takes to get refugee decisions from almost two years to just 60 days. And he would like to see the appeal process for failed claims reduced from six levels to just three or four and the delay time cut from nearly five years to just 12 months.
All of this outrages the New Dems and Libs, as well as immigration and multiculturalism advocates. But is it really all that outrageous that Canada should want to be a true asylum rather than a doormat? 

Canadian Program Changes force Chinese Investors to US EB-5 Program

Česky: Kanadské muzeum civilizace v kanadské p...
Česky: Kanadské muzeum civilizace v kanadské provincii Québec Deutsch: Gatineau: Canadian Museum of Civilization English: Gatineau, Québec: Canadian Museum of Civilization. Français: De soir, vue sur le Musée canadien des civilisations à Gatineau, Québec, Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) April 23, 2012
Canada has been a major destination for wealthy Chinese investors since the 90s. To qualify, the investor has to own at least $1,600,000 assets. Unconditional permanent residence can be obtained if the investor deposits $800,000 for 5 years with the Canadian Federal government or the government of Quebec. The funds are completely secure as they are guaranteed by the Federal Government or by the Province of Quebec. It will be used for economic development and will be returned to the investor at the end of 5th year. Because of its safe nature of the Canadian program and it is relatively easier to be granted permanent residency in Canada, Canadian investment immigration program became a dominant program among Chinese emigration agents for last 15 years. The majority of 600+ licensed Chinese emigration agencies are now beginning to explore EB-5 program and investor program in European countries.
The most recent development that dramatically has changed the emigration industry in China is that the Canadian program reached its allocated quota in 2011 and is now “closed for renovation” leaving most China’s emigration agents with less profitable products they can choose to offer to their clients. The Canadian emigration authority is suggesting that the government it may develop the current program into an entrepreneur-investment program which would be requiring the acquisition of a business in Canada. Making it even worse for the Chinese emigration business, the Quebec immigration program reached its allocated quota of 2,700 on April 12, 2012 after 9 working days after it opened for petitions. Quebec program is now closed, it also closes the door to thousands of Chinese investors and have disappointed China’s agents since they don’t have anything to offer to their clients until March, 2013 when the program reopens again. Now many Chinese emigration brokers are looking into theU.S. EB-5 program which is becoming an important business option for them. Based on a April 20 survey by Gallup, 20 million Chinese population is interested in emigrating to the US and other countries.
The 2nd Annual EB-5 Investment Summit: Dealmakers Conference April 27, 2012 in New York City will update the latest developments in the EB-5 investors program. The event has drawn a lot attention from US capital seekers and commercial real estate developers. Brian Su of Artisan Business Group, Inc. has been organizing EB-5 events in both China and the US.
The all-day conference will feature EB-5 industry experts and VIP guests, including H. Ronald Klasko, Partner of Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP, and the EB-5 Chairman of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Jeffrey B. Carr, President and Economist of Economic & Policy Resources, Inc., Mr. Boyd Campbell, Immigration Attorney of Immigration Law Center, LLC, Mr. Brian Su, CEO of Artisan Business Group, Inc., Joseph P. Whalen, Former USCIS Adjudicator, Mr. Ronald Fieldstone, Attorney & Partner, Arnstein & Lehr LLP, Ms. Hong Yu, US Project Manager of Wailian Overseas Consulting Group in China, and Mr. John Jiang, CEO of Micon International, Kevin Wright, President of Wright Johnson LLC, Dr. Scott Barnhart, Barnhart Economics Services, Ms. Jo Ann Clark, Founder of EB-5 Resource Center LLC. A 50-member executive delegation from China will also participate in the event.
This year’s event is being hosted and sponsored by Artisan Business Group, Inc., Wailian Overseas Consulting Group, Wright Johnson LLC, Extell Regional Center, and Amazing Journey Investment Consulting Co. The Hilton New York will serve as the venue for the conference. Those attending the event also have the opportunity to meet the prior day with Artisan Business Group’s CEO, Mr. Brian Su, for a 1-hour private consultation.
For more information regarding the event, registration, or a private consultation with Mr. Su, please visit:http://www.EB5NewYorkSummit.org.
Press Contact:
Mr. Brian Su
Artisan Business Group, Inc.
http://www.EB5NewsBlog.org
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Alberta praises new foreign-worker rules


OTTAWA AND EDMONTON— From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Canadian companies that want to bring in highly skilled foreign workers temporarily will be able to do so faster and pay them less under new federal immigration rules aimed at addressing the country’s persistent labour shortages.
In areas of the country that are booming economically – particularly Alberta – companies are complaining about the lack of skilled workers, a problem that Ottawa has identified as one of Canada’s biggest policy challenges. Of 190,000 temporary foreign workers who entered Canada last year, 25,500 went to Alberta.‬ Businesses that use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which allows employers to bring in workers if they can prove they have advertised the jobs locally without success, say they are relieved that it will become less cumbersome, but critics worry the changes will lead to lower wages across the country.
Under the new rules, Ottawa promises to respond to employer requests for highly skilled workers within 10 days, instead of the 12 to 14 weeks it currently takes to get a Labour Market Opinion – a government approval that’s one major step in bringing a worker into Canada.
Also, previous rules required foreign workers to receive the “average wage” paid to Canadian workers in the same region, but the new rules will allow employers to pay up to 15 per cent less than that average wage.‬ ‪In an interview, Human Resources Minster Diane Finley said Canada’s skills shortages mean there will be more temporary foreign workers coming to Canada regardless of the latest changes.‬
“[Wednesday]’s announcement is going to make the system more efficient, it’s going to be more effective for the employers and it’s going to add protection to temporary foreign workers who are brought in while still ensuring Canadians get first crack at the jobs,” she said.‬ ‪
While the new national rules will apply only to high-skilled jobs at first, the government says it could be expanded to include other occupations.‬ ‪Ms. Finley made the announcement in the small, industrial town of Nisku, in central Alberta, which produces infrastructure for energy producers. Labour-starved Alberta relies on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program as a key pillar of its fast-growing economy.
But although Alberta applauded the changes, the province is hoping for further changes to Canada’s immigration laws, including an increase in how many people Alberta can nominate for permanent residency under the provincial nominee program – or no cap at all. Currently, it can put forward 5,000 people per year.
“We’d like to see the cap removed, but if we could get it up to 10,000 that would be very helpful,” said Alberta Human Services Minister Dave Hancock, whose department includes the employment and immigration file.
“The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is not the be-all and end-all. It is a way to get workers when we need them,” Mr. Hancock said, but residency is preferred. “The permanence is an important factor. … Ideally, you want somebody who will actually come to stay.”
Alberta’s provincial government has also complained that a four-year cap on how long a worker can stay short-changes Canadian companies, which help develop employees’ skills (and, in some cases, fluency in English or French), then are forced to kick them out. Other countries are benefiting from Canada’s training, the Alberta government has argued.‬ ‪
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business’s Alberta director, Richard Truscott, applauded the changes and said the TFW program is a “godsend” for some businesses. He added that more changes are needed to cut red tape and improve the overall immigration system.‬ “This is one first step in that direction, but there are many more steps to go,” he said, noting the labour shortage is “going to get a lot worse before it gets better.”
Immigration consultant Peter Veress, the president of Calgary-based Vermax Group, also praised the move, saying a 10-day turnaround would be a big improvement.‬ He said the jobs are typically ones that Canadians don’t want. “I don’t think we can fix the [labour shortage] problem domestically,” he said.
‬ ‪

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Immigration is a privilege, not a right

Immigration
Immigration (Photo credit: lcars)
GURMUKH SINGH, GUEST COLUMNIST



Immigration, per se, is not a bad thing.
Many birth rate deficient western countries, including Canada, need newcomers each year.
But putting a fanatical emphasis on immigration quotas or numbers is a bad idea.
Delivering needed foreign skilled workers and professionals to industries and businesses is not a bad thing.
But making immigration policies hostage to politics is.
Canada’s immigration policies have become hostage to politics since the early 1980s, when immigrant numbers swelled and ethnic enclaves sprang up around major urban centres.
Wily politicians saw ready-made vote-banks in these ethnic enclaves and cleverly ramped up family-class immigration, as well as instituting various grants in the name of multiculturalism, to keep these vote-banks working.
Therein lies the rub. Once in place, vote-bank policies are very difficult to dismantle.
Today, any politician who tries to scale back family-class immigration, or any other category, faces a backlash from these vote-banks.
Worse, these flawed policies have engendered a deep sense of entitlement among some newcomers.
They won’t brook any tinkering with immigration categories that allow them to bring in their extended families and clans.
That’s nothing short of blackmailing the immigration system.
How absurd that the moment some people land here, they start complaining about disruption of their family life and demand they be reunited with their families quickly!
They think immigration to Canada is their birthright, not a privilege.
Now, will any politician turn around and honestly tell these people: Nobody forced you to come here, or promised a quick passage into Canada for the rest of your family?
But one can count upon the same politicians to play upon these perceived grievances during election times.
Remember how some candidates in immigrant-dominated ridings in the GTA raised the seniors’ issue for political gain during the last two general elections?
With everybody — from newcomers to lawyers’ groups — shoving the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in our faces at the slightest hint of changing the system, the task of dealing with immigration backlogs and plugging loopholes has become nothing short of a legal minefield for policy makers.
Even applicants with no connections to this country are feeling entitled to “rights and freedoms” under the Charter and are threatening Citizenship and Immigration Canada with legal action for delaying their cases or deleting their files!
Since stories of misuse of the immigration system by refugees, criminals, fraudsters, hijackers and murderers abound, the impression has gone around the world Canada is a doormat and one can force one’s way into this country.
Imagine an applicant (some time ago) threatening to take legal action against Canada for sleeping over his case for “too long”!
The outburst by another foreign applicant, as reported in the media recently, is in keeping with the way Canada is perceived as a “soft” destination by would-be immigrants.
Imagine this individual, a mere applicant with no connections with this country, postponing his family life, marriage and dreams because he was so sure of entry into Canada.
One wonders where in the world can any immigration applicant be one hundred percent sure of success?
Perhaps all those applying for Canadian immigration? At least up until now.
Recent steps by the government to tighten the system are to the good. This country is finally getting real about immigration.
— Singh is a former correspondent with the Times of India and is based in Toronto 

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Why Bill C-31 Must Be Rejected: An open letter to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney

Distributing copies of the Canadian Charter of...
Distributing copies of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
"March of Hearts" rally for same-sex...
"March of Hearts" rally for same-sex marriage in Canada on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, March 6, 2004 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
BY HARALD BAUDER, NATHALIE DES ROSIERS, AVVY GO AND WINNIE NG,



Dear Minister: Canadians are proud of their country's tradition of providing protection for those in need. Bill C-31, Protecting Canada's Immigration System, however, contradicts this tradition.
The bill protects no one and threatens many. It treats asylum seekers as criminals rather than people who need our protection. It is discriminatory, conflicts with Canadians' sense of fairness, and violates the fundamental rights guaranteed to all people by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
In particular, bill C-31 would give the minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism the power to ``designate'' a group of refugees - including women and youths - who can be jailed for up to 12 months without any judicial review. These individuals can be released only at the minister's pleasure or when their refugee status is determined.
This type of discrimination is an obvious violation of the charter protection against arbitrary detention and creates a ``second class'' of refugees.
Other changes proposed are equally worrisome: The minister would be able to create a list of ``safe countries'', assuming the residents of these countries cannot possibly suffer persecution, therefore denying refugees from these countries refugee status without appeal. One can easily imagine how economic or political objectives might influence the minister's determination of whether a country is safe or not. For very good reasons, international law requires an individualized process for refugee determination and not a group assessment based on second-hand knowledge.
Furthermore, the bill would impose a tight timeline (15 days) for filing claims, rendering it unlikely that refugees will get legal advice or assemble the evidence needed to support their claims. This process will increase the likelihood that genuine refugees will be turned away and sent back to danger.
Moreover, the bill would impose a one-year ban on unsuccessful claimant to apply for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Yet, the bill would not stop the government from deporting the person in the meantime.
The bill would even give the minister the right to revoke the permanent resident status of genuine refugees, simply because the minister believes the conditions have changed for the better in their country of origin. This practice would defeat the purpose of permanent residency, which should be - well - permanent. Rather than encouraging refugees to make a claim, the bill would instead encourage them to move underground.
These circumstances are worrying signs Canada is rolling back the rights of refugees. In recent years, we have seen other regressive measures, including the increase of temporary migration, the erosion of family class immigration, and the treatment of immigration as a mere economic utility. Bill C-31 is another step towards creating an immigration and refugee system that divides immigrants into desirables and undesirables, and that puts the rights of some above others.
The bill would also end up hurting vulnerable and marginalized people the most, including women fleeing gender-based persecution, refugees fleeing discrimination based on their sexual orientation, and anyone who has linguistic barriers and little knowledge of the Canadian legal system. The bill would make these claimants easy prey for unscrupulous immigration consultants.
When putting forward the bill, you have said that there are bogus refugees in Canada and harsh measures are necessary since other countries have them too. However, incarceration policies have proven to be counterproductive, cause further trauma to people, delay the integration of refugees into society, and are particularly costly. Furthermore, the bill will not stop human smuggling. Refugee claimants leave their country because they are desperate. And desperate people take desperate measures. Smugglers will find other ways of circumventing the law, while refugees will be the ones being punished.
What this bill does accomplish, however, is to give you and your successors more powers without the necessary judicial oversight.
Rather than addressing problems of abuse and human smuggling, the bill would politicize refugee and immigration decisions.
Despite Canada's proud tradition of protecting refugees, the country has not always been generous with those in need of protection. Canada imposed a Head Tax and an Exclusion Act on the Chinese immigrants, turned away the Komagata Maru ship in 1914 and its Indian asylum seekers, refused immigration to African American farmers, incarcerated Ukrainians and later Italian and Japanese Canadians, and denied entry to the Saint Louis in 1939 (900 Jewish people were returned to Europe and concentration camps). Your government has seen fit to redress these historical wrongs and, in doing so, pledged to never again commit the same error. Yet, by passing this bill, it would seem that we have yet to learn the painful lessons of our history.
A plaque in 2050, commemorating the victims of bill C-31, will not suffice.
We therefore ask you, respectfully, to immediately withdraw bill C-31.
Signatories
Harald Bauder, Director, Ryerson Centre for Immigration and Settlement
Nathalie Des Rosiers, General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Avvy Go, Clinic Director, Metro Toronto and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic
Winnie Ng, CAW Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice & Democracy, Ryerson University

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Government of Canada Announces a More Efficient and Responsive Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Canada
Canada (Photo credit: palindrome6996)

NISKU, ALBERTA, Apr 25, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- The Government of Canada is realigning the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to better meet labour market demands and support the economic recovery. The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, made the announcement today during a tour of Advance Engineered Products Ltd.'s manufacturing facility.
"Our government's top priority is creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. That's why we are taking action to ensure that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program supports our economic recovery and effectively responds to local labour market demands," said Minister Finley. "Our government is looking at ways to make sure businesses recruit from the domestic workforce before hiring temporary foreign workers, while also reducing the paper burden and speeding up the processing time for employers that have short-term skilled labour needs."
Employers with a strong track record will receive an Accelerated-Labour Market Opinion (A-LMO) within 10 business days to hire temporary foreign workers in high-skill occupations, including the skilled trades. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program will become more responsive to skills and labour shortages, employers will have less red tape and temporary foreign workers will benefit from enhanced protections. In addition, the Government of Canada will propose legislative amendments to further strengthen protections for temporary foreign workers and ensure that employers comply with program requirements.
"This improvement is a direct result of consultations that were held with employers to discuss concerns with the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and seek ideas on improving it. Going forward, our government will consider additional measures to strengthen and improve the program, so employers can get skilled workers when no Canadians are available," said the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. "A fast and flexible economic immigration system combined with a strong Temporary Foreign Worker Program will sustain Canada's economic growth and deliver prosperity for the future."
The Government of Canada will ensure that the employment of temporary foreign workers supports economic growth and helps create more opportunities for all Canadians.
"As North America's premier manufacturer of bulk tank and vac equipment, our company's success relies on the availability of highly skilled tradespeople-particularly welders and trailer mechanics," said Ron Buchhorn, Vice-President of Human Resources at Advance Engineered Products Ltd. "We have been unable to recruit and train enough Canadians for our manufacturing and service facilities throughout western Canada because of the current highly competitive labour market. We strongly support this government initiative to expedite the hiring of skilled workers from other countries."
"Today's announcement by the federal government is welcomed news. This plan addresses industry's immediate needs for skilled labour, but more importantly, by enabling projects to proceed, it fosters economic recovery and growth, while also creating permanent jobs for Canadians for decades to come," said Ron Genereux, chair of the Association for Construction Workforce Acquisition.
Economic Action Plan 2012 also announced that the Government of Canada will work in partnership with the provinces and territories, and other stakeholders, to further improve foreign credential recognition, so that internationally trained workers are able to find meaningful employment and, in turn, contribute to Canada's economy and overall competitiveness.
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IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL.
This news release is available online at: www.actionplan.gc.ca .
Backgrounder
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) jointly administer the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). HRSDC is responsible for issuing Labour Market Opinions (LMOs) to employers, while CIC is responsible for issuing work permits to temporary foreign workers.
The new streamlined, attestation-based model, known as the Accelerated-Labour Market Opinion (A-LMO), will be launched on April 25. The A-LMO will reduce the paper burden on employers, enable LMOs to be issued within 10 business days and strengthen protections for foreign workers through employer compliance reviews.
The new model will feature:
        
        --  a simplified, online application process;
        
        --  faster and timelier processing for employers with a good history;
        
        --  risk-based and random in-depth compliance reviews of employers after
            LMOs are issued;
        
        --  enhanced automation to reduce paperwork, and improve capacity to track
            compliance and share information; and
        
        --  call centre support for employers.
        
        
        


Employers will have to consent to post-LMO reviews to verify compliance with the TFWP requirements (e.g. all reasonable efforts to recruit from the domestic labour force, providing wages and working conditions that are consistent with Canadian standards). HRSDC will closely monitor employer compliance and take action when necessary to protect temporary foreign workers.
A new wage structure will also be introduced to provide employers with greater flexibility. Wages that are up to 15% below the average wage for an occupation in a specific region will be accepted; however, employers must clearly demonstrate that the wage is consistent with that of Canadian workers based on Statistics Canada data.
The A-LMO will cover high-skill occupations, including the skilled trades, and will be open to employers across Canada. Through a tested and measured implementation, the A-LMO may gradually be expanded to include risk-based processing for all occupations and components of the TFWP.
While in Canada, temporary foreign workers have the same rights and protections as Canadian workers under applicable federal/provincial employment standards and labour laws.
        
        Contacts:
        Marian Ngo
        Office of Minister Finley
        819-994-2482
        
        Media Relations Office
        Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
        819-994-5559
        
        
        


SOURCE: Canada's Economic Action Plan
Copyright 2012 Marketwire, Inc., All rights reserved. 

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