Speaking in Vancouver today, Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, commented that it is not surprising that many Canadians are looking to immigration to address the country’s shortage of skilled workers.

However, he acknowledged that, for many migrants, the journey here is only half the battle.

First of all, before migrants can even move to Canada they have to wait – sometimes for years. Then they need to pay a $975 Right of Permanent Resident Fee before landing documents are issued.

Mr Solberg said that processing new applications, quickly and effectively is his primary focus.

In the meantime, the government has committed to cut the $975 Right of Permanent Resident Fee in half. Not only will that mean more money in the pockets of newcomers to provide for their settlement, it will also send a clear message that Canada wants and values immigrants.

The minister also said that Canada needs to ensure that it attracts the best and the brightest — and they should be able to work in their designated field.

It’s not right that a foreign-trained doctor should spend years charting a course through a maze of rules and regulations before he or she can find any work at all in the medical field, despite a growing shortage of nurses, doctors, and medical professionals of all kinds. The same applies in dozens of other fields. The government is working to speed up the process.

26 Mar 2006

The government has recognised that the immigration process is not working as well as it should. Suitably qualified migrants often wait too long to have their applications approved. The government intends taking quick action in three areas relating to immigration.

• The first deals with credential recognition. A new agency will be formed to speed up the recognition of foreign credentials. One of the goals of the new agency is to cut through the red tape that marks the present system.
• The second priority addresses the big expense that many newcomers face on arrival in Canada. The Right of Permanent Residence fee is to be halved.
• The third priority deals with citizenship. When Canadian parents adopt foreign-born children these children will become Canadian citizens – provided the adoption is legal and in the best interests of the child.

Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration spelt out the priorities today in Toronto.

He said that Canadians pride themselves on their fairness.

• Yet it is not fair that a highly educated professional from another part of the world should be driving a cab because his or her credentials aren’t properly recognised.
• It is not fair that a foreign-trained doctor should spend years charting a course through a maze of rules and regulations before he or she can find suitable work, despite the growing shortage of doctors and nurses in Canada.

“Many newcomers have trouble finding work relevant to their skills and experience. Their underemployment is a drag on Canada’s productivity. More than that, it is a human tragedy that should not be allowed to continue,” Mr Solberg said.

The minister said it should be the government’s duty to knock down barriers preventing skilled newcomers from having their credentials recognised.

20 Mar 2006

Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration said today that some of Canada’s immigrants need to make greater effort to improve the whole process – becoming more fluent in English or French, learning the customs and practices of the Canadian workplace and learning and embracing Canada’s values.

Businesses too, the minister said, have a role to play in welcoming and integrating newcomers. They provide the jobs. But just as importantly, they need to ensure newcomers are made to feel welcome in their workplace.

Employers need to encourage immigrants to fit in, feel like part of the family, and feel that they are making a contribution to the business in line with their levels of skills and experience.

Business should also engage the professional accreditation bodies that their migrant employees belong to in order to:

• speed up the recognition of overseas credentials, and
• obtain guidance on how to upgrade their skills.

20 Mar 2006