Canadian Immigration News

In their efforts to deal with the current backlog of immigration applications, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) in the federal budget for 2008. At present, the IRPA states that Citizenship and Immigration Canada must process every application that enters the system.

Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada recently announced the allocation of $12.5 million for the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. The funding will be distributed among seven partner agencies in Hamilton, Ontario – among them the Settlement and Integration Services Organization and the Circle of Friends for Newcomers. Increased language training funding was also announced for the region of Caledon, Ontario.

Attracting and Retaining Immigrants: A Tool Box of Ideas for Smaller Centres has recently been released by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and provincial, municipal, and community partners. It is a comprehensive guide for smaller communities who want to create their own immigration strategies, to attract and encourage Canadian newcomers.

Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism Canada (CIMC) Minister Jason Kenney recently commented on the Conservative government's plans for Canadian immigration while on a visit to the Ukraine. He stated that immigrants are needed to ensure economic growth.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) recently announce a pilot project that will centralize the receipt of new Federal Skilled Worker applications at the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Last week, Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced that it is making it easier for Temporary Residents in Canada to extend their stays by enabling them to fill out their applications to extend their visas online.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Minister Diane Finley has begun her cross-Canada tour through which CIC will develop the framework for the newamendments to Canadian immigration legislation. By way of meetings and video conferences, provincial and territorial governments, as well asrepresentatives from business, labour, and academic and non-government organizations will be consulted.

Jason Kenney, the new Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism delivered an address today on the future of Canadian immigration. Hestated that the Government of Canada remains committed to a dynamic immigration program and to the successful integration of newcomers.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) named three members to the Indo-Canadian Advisory Committee for the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP) on Saturday.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Minister Diane Finley recently announced funding for the Société des Acadiens et Acadiennes du Nouveau-Brunswick (SAANB) to help attract French-speaking immigrants to the province’s francophone communities and to provide settlement supports.