Archives for July 2006

This month marks the launch of the new CICNews.com! The good folks here at Campbell Cohen have been working hard to release the newest version of Canada ‘s ‘unofficial’ monthly immigration newsletter.

The new website has been completely re-designed from the ground up. We’ve made it easier to use, have included a comprehensive search function, added a forum, blog, news feed, and a helpful and ever-growing Canada immigration resources section.

What’s more, we have come up with – as you can see! – A new look and feel to the ever-popular Canada Immigration Newsletter. The monthly publication has enjoyed firm growth and is received by over 40,000 people worldwide. It is now better looking, and packed with more content than ever!

Letter by the CCA requests the Federal Government look closely at improving Canada ‘s immigration system with “meaningful reform” facilitating entry into Canada ‘s booming construction industry.

Construction is the single largest industry sector in Canada and it is also experiencing the greatest unfilled labour demand. According to the Construction Sector Council, in the next eight years, roughly 150,000 people will be required to meet impending worker shortages.

Due to the unwavering demand for skilled trades people, the CCA is formally asking the federal government to introduce changes to the immigration system that will facilitate entry of construction workers into Canada on both a temporary and permanent basis.

“Although aggressive efforts by all industry players must continue in order to recruit Canadians to the construction industry, the fact remains that immigration policy must play a bigger role in meeting future labour demand,” explains Michael Atkinson, President of the Canadian Construction Association.

In its request to Prime Minister Harper, CCA is issuing the following
recommendations:

• Canada needs to adopt a proactive immigration policy that will
target individuals with needed skills, and expedite their entry into Canada .

• The points system used to screen for permanent residents
must be revised to put greater emphasis on experience and
arranged employment in specific high demand skills categories.

• Under the Temporary Worker Program, the list of accepted
occupations must be expanded to include construction trades, and
there must also be quicker recognition of shortages that would qualify
under the Temporary Worker Program.

• A program similar to the existing ‘Seasonal Agricultural Worker
Program’ (SAWP) should be available to the construction industry.

• A process should be developed to resolve the issue of
undocumented workers that does not involve deportation.

• The federal government needs to work more closely with provinces to expand the ‘Provincial Nominee Programs’ addressing the specific needs of Canada ‘s construction trades.

The House of Commons committee (HCC) on citizenship and immigration is calling on the Federal Government of Canada to stop all deportations of undocumented workers until a new immigration policy is established.

Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Ed Komarnicki has filed a recusant report in response to the HCC official request, stating that the proposed moratorium could actually encourage lawbreakers, and will also compromise the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. What’s more, the Federal Government has already acknowledged its intention to “crack down” on so-called “Queue-jumpers” and is on track to deport about 10,000 people this year alone.

Although stopping short of proposing a “blanket amnesty”, some government officials believe that a viable alternative lies in bringing “out-of-status” immigrants into the legal and social fold. However, Immigration Minister Monte Solberg has officially ruled out a “blanket amnesty” program for the tens of thousands of undocumented workers employed in Canada’s bustling underground economy. He says that Ottawa does not want to encourage people to come to the country illegally.

The irony in all this is that Canada is desperate to attract foreign skilled labourers to fill the shortages in key Canadian industries such as construction, oil, and gas. Yet, we are shipping thousands of undocumented foreign workers back home who have already successfully integrated themselves into Canadian society.

Some of these foreign workers claim they are here illegally because Canada’s immigration system doesn’t work for them. The federal immigration system is designed to adhere to a stringent set of rules that awards points for criteria such as education and experience. Not all trades-people necessarily fit into such an eligibility model. “The vast majority of foreign construction workers have no hope of entering Canada under the current points system, because it is biased in favor of academic qualifications and not skilled trades,” explains Andy Manahan, spokesman for the Universal Workers Union.

Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as some outspoken government critics, believe that the Conservative agenda in regards to deportation does not benefit Canada in the least. Proponents of legalizing “out-of-status” workers say that it costs money to “remove” these individuals, both to the government and to the employers for whom they work. Policy critics also believe that it chokes healthy Canadian industries. Builders and construction developers say that deporting all undocumented workers could seriously undermine Canada’s economic interests.

Solberg adds that Ottawa is working closely with the provinces to ensure labor market needs are being met. “We understand the process doesn’t work well for a lot of people. We’re trying to fix that,” he explains to reporters in Ottawa. “[…] the ideal situation is for people to go through the [immigration] process. The idea […] is for people to play by the rules and get in line like everyone else…” He says.

The United States is going through its own illegal immigration trouble. Lawmakers there have met the quandary by passing a controversial bill in the U.S. Senate this week that gives status to the nation’s 11 million illegal immigrants. Solberg has ruled-out introducing similar legislation here in Canada explaining that his government has their “own ideas on that,” and offering no further details on the matter.

Estimates on the number of illegal foreign workers who make up Canada’s growing “underground economy” range as high as 200,000. No official number has ever been given to this dilemma because it is next to impossible to put a human toll on this issue.

The Ontario Construction Secretariat estimates that the province alone loses over 1.5 billion dollars in unpaid taxes and premiums annually to the underground immigrant economy. Amid deportation hearings, officials in Canada are wondering what to do with all these illegal workers.

CIC continues to process immigration applications to Canada while the Government evacuates Canadian Citizens.

The Canadian Visa Office in Beirut , Lebanon , will remain open with regular business hours. However, the office hours are subject to change given the severity of the situation. Previously submitted applications for permanent residence will continue to be processed. The Visa Office will not be accepting new applications until further notice.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is currently giving priority to Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents and their spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and dependent children. Non-Canadian dependants of Canadian citizens and permanent residents will also be given priority.

“Our goal is to reunite families as quickly as possible,” said Canada ‘s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Monte Solberg. “We’re giving priority visa and immigration services to family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to help them join their relatives in Canada .” There are an estimated 50,000 Canadian citizens living or visiting in Lebanon , more than any other single western country. Roughly 30,000 Canadian Citizens are requesting immediate evacuation. Daily ship departures from Beirut stopped on Saturday, July 29, 2006. As a result, the Embassy of Canada in Beirut is no longer contacting registered Canadians to board evacuation ships. They will continue to evaluate the situation and will respond accordingly.

Official Information:

DFAIT’s Emergency Operations Centre has been responding to phone calls and e-mails from both Canadians currently in Lebanon , and their family and friends in Canada . We urge Canadians affected to contact the Emergency Operations Centre. From Canada , you can call toll-free at 1-800-387-3124. From Lebanon , Canadians can call the Embassy at 961 (4) 713-900 or collect at 001-613-996-8885 or by e-mail at either sos@international.gc.ca or berut@international.gc.ca

The Canadian Visa office in Beirut, Lebanon remains open and will be concentrating on processing priority cases. CIC will give priority to the immediate family members ( spouses , common-law partners , conjugal partners and dependent children ) of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have been affected by the situation in Lebanon.

Please note that this information applies to visa and immigration services, not evacuation assistance. For information on the evacuation, please visit Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Web site.

People marry for all kinds of reasons. Love. Money. Companionship. A better life. Most of the time, the decision to marry is complex and involves multiple reasons. Who could possibly state with conviction that they know exactly why another person decided to tie the knot?

Read Full Blog on CanadaVisa.com…

Over the Canada Day long weekend, I wrote a letter to the Montreal Gazette in response to their editorial about Yves Bourbonnais, the former Immigration and Refugee Board appeals division judge who has pleaded guilty of receiving bribes. I’d like to elaborate on a few of the points I raised in the Gazette.

Read Full Blog on CanadaVisa.com…