Purpose and Operation of Canadas Immigration Policy - Essay Example

Purpose and Operation of Canada's Immigration Policy Introduction The problems associated with ageing populations, low birth rates and skilled workershortages are not exclusive for the four countries that currently have established immigration plans: Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand. Other industrialized countries such as the members of the European Union and Japan are also reconsidering their position regarding attracting foreign workers into their countries. Recognizing the potential of harnessing foreign worker's supply, Canada and other similarly workforce-challenged industrialized countries need to efficiently and timely put matters in the right perspective. There is a surplus in the applications from immigrants currently received by Canada including non-immigrants and refugee claimants. There is also apparent shift in the profile of immigrant source countries in the past several years. Added to this is the fact that more and more people are moving from one place to another worldwide and the perceptible competition in the international economy to attract skilled workers. Movement of people across continents has been a global trend during the advent of long distance travel. Reasons behind this phenomenon are various. These include escaping political, economic, environmental persecution and problems. For some families, the more pressing reasons can be search for better opportunities and safer, more secure living conditions. Given the availability of manpower resources in the different parts of the world and the surplus of families applying immigrant status in Canada, the problem of sustaining the country's economy seems to be solved. However, the process of immigration is not as simple. There must be appropriate and efficient governmental and provincial policies to facilitate this process. This is the function of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada: to draft a structural framework and policies for handling immigration issues of the country. This paper aims to assess these immigration policies and their implications regarding the proposed objectives, established frameworks, differences in policies in various governmental levels, disconnections in objectives and realities and solutions to these limitations. Canadian Immigration Policy Section 7 (2) of Canada's Immigration Act of 1978 provides an estimate of the total number of immigrants, refugees and other non-immigrants status who will be given permission to settle in Canada. The responsibility of selecting immigrants and refugees and their number for every province, except for Quebec which has the only selection powers, lies on this annual immigration plan (CIC "Laws and Policies"). The proposed Immigration and Refugee Protection Act called Bill C-11 will provide the Citizenship and Immigration Canada the needed implements to ensure public safety and security in relation to the admission of immigrants in the country. This can be achieved by setting new admission criteria and delegating authority to arrest law-breakers and security threats (CIC "The Immigration System"). The other side of the above provisions is the important delivery of the following commitments of facilitating entry to legitimate immigrants and refugees. First is the change of selection priority using the assessment of skills and experience of workers over their current occupations. Second is the focus on reunification of families and protection of refugees. Third is the improved Temporary Foreign Worker Program for the simplification and efficiency of processing of skilled workers and permission of spouses to work. Last is efficient transition of qualified temporary workers from temporary to permanent residents (CIC "Laws and Policies"). The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of Canada or IRPA was established in 2001. The act has a provision for a consultation between the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the provincial governments regarding refugee protection policies and programs to include the determination of the number of foreign nationals who will be given permanent residency in each class per year (CIC "The Immigration System"). The IRPA was installed to sustain the progress towards a strong and progressive economy of Canada to include equal sharing of the benefits of immigration in all regions of the country while at the same time bolstering the cultural and social aspects of the Canadian society in all its federal, bilingual and multicultural interests (CIC "Laws and Policies"). In 2004, a related policy was promulgated entitled the Agreement for Canada-British Columbia Cooperation on Immigration. This was between the Government of Canada through the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Government of the Province of British Columbia through the Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services (ECDEV). The objectives of the Agreement for Canada-British Columbia Cooperation on Immigration include the following (ECDEV). First is to develop and improve an efficient cooperation between Canada and British Columbia for the recruitment and choosing of legitimate immigrants. In addition to these are the permission, and management of immigrants and other non-immigrants status who wish to relocate to British Columbia such as international students, refugees and the like. Second is to foster partnership between British Columbia and Canada regarding drafting and implementation of regulations related to immigration. This includes programs and structural systems to dictate the degree and makeup of immigrants to British Columbia and Canada (CIC "The Immigration System"). Third is to enumerate the duties of British Columbia and Canada for the recruitment, choosing, management, settlement, assimilation of immigrants to British Columbia. Fourth is to give British Columbia a level of control regarding immigration and matters related to it such as social, population, economic, labor and skill shortage issues (CIC "Laws and Policies"). Fifth is to encourage cooperation between the provincial governments of British Columbia and the federal government of Canada towards regional progress and balanced development throughout the whole of British Columbia. Sixth is to establish the responsibilities of British Columbia and Canada in relation to immigrant settlement and integration (CIC "Settlement and Integration"). Seventh is for British Columbia and Canada to encourage minority official language development in British Columbia communities. Eighth is to install efficient information sharing frameworks between Canada and British Columbia. Ninth is to guarantee cooperation in responding to unforeseen immigration issues. Tenth and last objective is for British Columbia provincial governments and Canadian federal government to facilitate admission to the provinces of British Columbia of skilled workers and other legitimate individuals (CIC "The Immigration System"). The above objectives clearly illustrate the areas that are in need of focus and priority between the federal and provincial governments. The immigration policy includes not just the physical movement of people but the timely admission of legitimate immigrants. This includes the proper selection and assistance when immigrants land in the provinces. The most important feature of the above purposes of immigration policy as iterated in the agreement is the cooperation between the federal government and the provincial governments wherein responsibilities and priorities in each party are established. Examples of which is the Canadian assistance towards an equal growth in British Columbia. Another is the importance of encouraging development of minority language in British Columbia communities. The differences in the objectives are therefore clear in the different levels of government. The federal government ensures the coordination of the different agencies including provincial governments while provincial governments are responsible for hands-on implementation of the specifics of the agreement regarding the immigration policy. In terms of the mechanisms and schemes needed to efficiently run the policies on immigration, the federal and provincial government each has clear cut functions as specified initially in the objectives listed above. For policy development and different levels of planning, Canada takes the lead in creating general immigration policies keeping in mind the interests of British Columbia including its population, social and economic aspects. It is Canada's responsibility to draft an annual delivery plan for federal immigration goals as agreed upon by consultation in the two parties including by immigration class. It is also Canada's role to consult British Columbia on federal immigration targets. Regarding promotion and recruitment, there will be cooperation between Canada and British Columbia but the responsibility of coordinating the said efforts will be on the federal government. It is the function of both Canada and British Columbia to promote international qualifications abroad. However, this proposition does not prevent any party from conducting their own promotion activities abroad independently. In terms of selection, admission and control the following will be the responsibilities of Canada. First is the definition of the general classes of foreign nationals and status of individuals who are acceptable for immigration to Canada, determination of refugee status, and requirements for admission. Second is the determination of medical admission criteria. On the other hand, British Columbia has the following responsibilities related to selection, admission and control: the power to influence selection and management policies, planning of settlement and integration strategies and the right to be consulted regarding medical admission issues. In terms of settlement services, British Columbia handles design, administration and delivery of these services while Canada provides funding. To promote program integrity, both Canada and British Columbia will be responsible and cooperate in related issues. In terms of information sharing, research and related agreements concerning immigration, British Columbia and Canada will be responsible of the said activities including audits. As mentioned above, consultations between the two parties are mandatory to ensure efficient delivery of services and improvements. From the drawing board, there appears to be no disconnection between the objectives of the immigration policy since there is an extensive study and consultation of the different and specific needs of the provinces regarding labor shortage, demographics and multicultural issues. As listed above, the federal government and provincial governments have responsibilities to make sure of the efficient implementation at the different levels of government. These two parties perform roles appropriate to their inherent positions. It seems that the various issues regarding immigration and its impact to the local communities were carefully considered. One good example is the emphasis on the use of language in local communities. There is also encouraged cooperation between the federal and provincial government. Consultation before and during the implementation is envisioned to tackle inherent issues and problems that may later surface. In fact, there is a segment in the abovementioned policy and frameworks wherein information sharing, research and other contracts associated with immigration are mandated. Program integrity is also a priority even when function such as settlement services, selection and admission, promotion and recruitment were all designated to either party or both depending on the capacity of each party. The real test of such objectives of the immigration policy is in the experience of those who have applied and requested assistance for the said services. There are at least two minor limitations of the immigration policy that applicants are currently facing. These are the requirement of establishing the economic stability of a family before being granted immigrant status and the prioritization of those persons with families and relatives already residing in Canada. Most of those yearning to have a comfortable life in Canada are from external countries that are either underdeveloped or impoverished. They may be skilled and highly educated but they are not always modestly paid. Thus, many of those legitimate skilled- or education-wise may not be economically legitimate. Their options towards establishing a sufficient account will never be clear but all the same, there is a disconnection between the policy to admit economically stable applicants and the majority of those dreaming of a better lot in life. Another problem for most applicants is the priority for those who have families or relatives already in the country. Many who have started their search for a more comfortable life in Canada are those who recently discovered their opportunities in the said country and may not have relatives or families there. For those who already have settled in Canada and experienced the above inconveniencies are more or less assured of the assistance with settlement issues as the provincial governments have installed appropriate services to ensure smooth landing and transition for immigrants and resident workers. Although the above concerns can be considered minor and not reflections in major loopholes in the immigration policy, there can still be room for solutions. These include a consideration of the economic background applicants but without great emphasis on this criterion, instead on the skills and educational or work experience as needed by provinces applied for. The same can be considered for the second issue concerning relatives already in the country. Conclusion Canadian immigration policies are based on extensive consultation and research on the pressing and specific needs of local communities and industries towards a more progressive and diverse economy. Functions and responsibilities provide efficient handling of immigration affairs in different levels of government. The objectives of immigration policy are coherent with the requirements of the provinces and legitimate workers and students from around the world. Since there are schemes and structures in place through the performance of roles of the federal and provincial governments, almost all of the issues that immigrants will encounter are covered. Minor disconnections such as the weight of economic stability of applicants and the presence of relatives already in the country do present limitations to those who are applying, those who are already in the country can find sufficient support and assistance in the multifarious aspects of settlement and social integration of immigrants. References CIC. Laws and Policies. Citizenship and Immigration Canada. 31 October 2007 CIC. Settlement and Integration. Citizenship and Immigration Canada. 31 October 2007. CIC. The Immigration System. Citizenship and Immigration Canada. 31 October 2007 http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/about/immigration/index.asp ECDEV. British Columbia's Provincial Nominee Program. Ministry of Economic Development. 31 October 2007 Read More