On March 14, 2008, the Conservative government announced their intention to introduce significant amendments to Canada’s immigration system. Many heated debates, numerous stakeholder consultations, a federal election, and a new Immigration Minister later, the amendments were finally announced on November 28. Immigration remains a key priority for Canada, but now has a slightly stronger focus on economic immigration.

With the goal of processing new Federal Skilled Worker applications within 6-12 months, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada (CIMC) has implemented new submission procedures to make the process more efficient.

Many Canadian employers have been feeling the pinch of chronic labour shortages over the past few years and Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) and Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada (CIMC) have been responding with various measures to alleviate them. The most recent good news is the expansion of the NAFTA temporary foreign worker program, now granting three year work permits to American and Mexican professionals to work in Canada. In addition, provincial and federal trade ministers recently announced a plan for full labour mobility across the country as of April 2009.

Immigrant and temporary migrants have become increasingly important to population growth and to Canada’s economy. Canadians are grateful for the contributions of workers from abroad, and have established a vast network of settlement services to help them feel at home. A recent HSBC survey has given Canada the top spot in terms of how friendly and welcoming locals are to newcomers.

Without a doubt, the Canadian immigration story of the past year has to do with the changes made to the Federal Skilled Worker category of immigration. Not only is qualifying now different than it was a year ago, but the application process itself has also changed significantly.