Latest Proposal for Immigration Change by the Liberals
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- A fast-track program for international students and live-in caregivers wanting permanent residency.
- A special “Welcome Canada” multiple entry visa, good for five years and renewable, to help families visit their Canadian immigrant relatives.
- $200 million to encourage foreign-born professionals to upgrade their existing credentials, or take the courses necessary to have qualifications recognized here.
- Encouragement for provinces and cities who need skills and labour to have immigrants settle there, outside of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
- A special business visa called the Canadian Express Pass for frequent business visitors.
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Point 1.) I have no problem with this change. It only makes sense that if we are going to train people in our schools we should make it easy for them to remain in Canada as a permanent resident. Having said that, I don't think it should be a carte blanche approach where all students have this fast tracked approach. Students in fields that we are in high demand for, sure, ESL students, no.
Point 2.) I only agree with this IF they make provisions where the person coming to visit has valid medical coverage for the entire duration of the stay in Canada AND the person would be inelgible to obtain social assistance or make a claim for refugee protection.
Point 3.) Need more detail on this proposal. $200 million to encourage? What does that mean. If it means that they will pay for their schooling then no. They can pay for any upgrades just like the rest of the people that go to school in Canada.
Point 4.) Sure, but it is ultimately up to the individual where they want to live. I am sure most provinces want immigrants to live where the jobs are. Doesn't seem like anything is really relevant from this point.
Point 5.) Special business VISA? They already have multiple entry work permit exempt VISA's not to mention CANPASS and NEXUS. This just sounds again like something that they just want to throw out there to make themselves look good.
The biggest thing that I disagree with about their policy is this following statement
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A Liberal government, Dion said, would reverse those changes, including removing the discretionary power of the minister of immigration to fast track some categories of immigrant over others.
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One of the reasons our system is so backlogged is because many people keep re-applying after they have been refused and the old system required that application to be looked at in order not looked at due to relevance. Why shouldn't out immigration policy be designed so that we can approve the people WE NEED. WE NEED skilled workers, they should be first priority. Not family re-unification or visitor applications or previously refused applications.