Posted on: 18-07-11 10:16:20
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1026232--immigration-to-canada-drops-by-25-per-cent?bn=1
Canada let 25 per cent fewer immigrants into the country in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2010, raising concerns the Conservative government is embarking on a bold plan to restrict the country’s immigration levels.
The number of permanent resident visas issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada between January and March fell from 84,083 in 2010 to 63,224 this year, according to figures obtained by the Star.
The latest department numbers show a decline across the board, with visas for skilled workers down 28 per cent, family-sponsored relatives down 14 per cent, and refugees dropping by 25 per cent.
The significant drop in visas comes on the eve of public consultations Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is holding on the country’s immigration levels and classes of people that should be allowed in. The first meeting was held in Calgary last week, and another is scheduled in Toronto Wednesday.
“It’s a very sharp decline,” said Myer Siemiatycki, professor of politics and public administration at Ryerson University, referring to the visas granted. “It begs the question: What is going on here?
“Has the government decided on the outset that they want fewer admissions? Is the tap being closed tighter?”
In the months leading up to the May 2 federal election, the Conservatives touted 2010 as a banner year in immigration, welcoming 280,000 permanent residents, the highest in 50 years. In 2009, approximately 265,000 immigrants were granted permanent status.
Commenting on this year’s quarterly figures, immigration officials say it is unfair to use the 2010 numbers as a benchmark since it was a record year in granting permanent visas.
“The department is confident that irrespective of lower visas/authorizations issuance and admissions in the first quarter, it will meet its annual target of visas,” immigration spokesperson Nancy Caron wrote in an email to the Star.
Over the last 15 years, Canada’s annual immigration levels have remained around 250,000, about 0.8 per cent of the population.
The Conservative government has announced it intends slashing $4 billion in annual spending from the federal budget, raising fears of further cuts to the immigration system. More than $50 million was slashed this year in settlement services.
“The success (of immigration) is determined by the resources. This government has been cutting resources and a number of provinces have,” said New Democrat immigration critic Don Davies.
“In turn, it is going to put pressure on the number of immigrants we can appropriately absorb.”
Immigration lawyers say fewer permanent visas could mean bigger backlogs, especially for family sponsorships where there is no cap on applications like there is for skilled workers and investors.
“The real problem with backlogs are the parents . . . The math says people will die before seeing a visa,” said immigration lawyer and analyst Richard Kurland. “That is the major challenge to Canada’s immigration system today.”
Immigration lawyer Mario Bellissimo said he would not be surprised if the minister brings in a new law to cap family sponsorship applications. Since 2006, the number of visas for sponsored relatives and refugees has declined, while visas for workers have steadily increased.
“The (immigration) minister has the authority to decide who can come to Canada,” he said. “If we get more applications than we can process, we’re going to return them.”
Since 2008, the federal government has made numerous changes to its immigration program in an effort to eliminate backlogs and process applications in a more timely fashion. It counts on capping the number of immigration applications it accepts for processing.
A department backgrounder for the upcoming consultations, which are by invitation only, suggests while increasing immigration may be one way to solve the growing demand, “there are clearly a number of pressures that make trade-offs inevitable.”
With an aging population, “immigration levels will need to be raised to 350,000 annually to support Canada’s economic growth,” said Anne Golden, president and CEO of the Conference Board of Canada.
Ernst & Young business immigration lawyer Batia Stein said the biggest percentage drop in early 2011 comes in the federal skilled worker and Canada experience programs, which are designed to usher in immigrants most likely to succeed in the job market.
“If our goal is to attract global talent and combat our aging population, there’s some room there to do that,” she said.
Ryerson’s Siemiatycki said Canada has a capacity to take in as many as 450,000 immigrants a year by including the 200,000 temporary foreign workers that it lets in to fill labour market needs on a perennial basis.
According to the government’s consultation backgrounder, Canada would have to increase immigration to nearly 4 per cent of the population to stabilize its “old-age dependency ratio.”
Drop in immigrant acceptance in the first quarter
Class20102011Change
Federal skilled workers27,82416,836-39%
Quebec skilled workers8,9048,239-7%
Federal business immigrants1,8831,831-3%
Quebec business immigrants1,1791,32112%
Provincial nominees11,4639,426-18%
Live-in caregivers4,7142,897-39%
Canadian experience class1,241713-43%
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Total Economic Class57,20841,263-28%
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Spouses and children12,42711,017-11%
Parents and grandparents4,0393,112-23%
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Total Family Class16,46614,129-14%
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Government-assisted refugees2,0511,697-17%
Privately sponsored refugees 1,1121,53538%
Refugees within Canada3,6881,971-47%
Refugees' dependants abroad 65373913%
Humanitarian cases2,8681,866-35%
Others3721-43%
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Total Humanitarian Class10,4097,829-25%
Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Large numbers of immigrants are struggling and were before the government cut funding for settlement agencies. I don't think we've been doing a good job at absorbing or integrating newcomers for a long time. Taking a higher number won't help those already here and won't offset the aging population unless we take immigrants with a younger average age who will earn a higher average salary than they currently do. Having more under employed middle aged people won't create a much larger tax base.
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Immigration minister Kennedy has got the right idea.. give visas to people who can find jobs here rather than people who will struggle and become a burden..
Quote:
Originally posted by dudewheresmycar
Immigration minister Kennedy has got the right idea.. give visas to people who can find jobs here rather than people who will struggle and become a burden..
Don't agree. Going by this statement parental immigration should be zero. For a conservative government that touted family issues and concerns high on their agenda in their platform, it is nothing short of a hypocritical approach to reduce parental immigration levels. If anything I was expecting to see an increase in parental quotas - if the levels dont change there will be a pretty big backlash from a large portion of the Indian community who have been waiting for immigration for their parents.
Another politically motivated article from 'The Star'. Lobbyists are trying to pressurize the government and prevent them from taking the harsh steps which are pertinent.
The most disturbed groups are colleges and universities followed by lawyers and immigration consultants, who are highly bothered with the little bit slowness in newcomers because it affects adversely to their wealth building process. However, there are lot other sides where government has to look into and Mr. Kenny is working rightly in that direction.
Quote:
Originally posted by dudewheresmycar
Immigration minister Kennedy has got the right idea.. give visas to people who can find jobs here rather than people who will struggle and become a burden..
Right idea? How?
How certain would it be for these low numbers of immigrants to get a job in their fields when they immigrate? Low or high immigration is not the issue here. When it comes to the immigrants' employment, there's no co-ordination between the Govt. and the Companies. Government let in immigrants on the basis of their qualifications and experience. However, the companies here aren't ready to employ the same individuals that have been brought in with the promise that their experience/qualifications are in demand here.
Besides, the low level of parental visa's would only depreciate the Conservatives in a large Indo-Canadian electorate. One can't leave their parents just because they are old. If a sponsor is ready to take charge of his/her parents, Govt. shouldn't have to intervene. Now, please don't give me a cliche'ed statement to go back to India if I want to take care of my parents. Oh, please!
Besides, how would they manage Canadian economy without the immigrants? It doesn't make sense at all.
Conservatives are actually all for family values, but least concerned about immigrants' parents, especially when they are South Asians. What they need is the balance approach and the reduced timeline across ALL visa categories. But looks like it is too much to ask from them.
immigration may be reduced due to high unemployment. Also they should allow skill people as per the desired skill set job available in industry. But they should increase rather than decrease parents category visa. This will be in line of thier family values. The only reason me & my brother in law migrate to canada from Uk was due to parents. Else we have very good jobs in IT in london and could have settle down their. Parents being in canada will make kids happy and allow other half to work full time. More tax to govt.
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