Photo: lonelyplanet.com

1. 1.       Canada Ranked Fourth in Terms of Most Peaceful Country of The World:

The GPI or the Global Peace Index termed Canada amongst the most peaceful countries of the world. Canada shifted three spots in only one year and now ranks four. Also, the study says that Iceland, New Zealand and Denmark are the other more peaceful countries. A number of indicators are used before determining the peacefulness of a country. These comprise of access to weapons, violent demonstrations, organized conflicts, political instability and conflicts fought. Most of the indicators ranked Canada at the top position making it the most peaceful country. Also, the world has on a whole become more peaceful when compared to last year. Except Middle East and North Africa, all other places have shown improvement in the peacefulness level.

1. 2.       Agreement to Develop Skilled Workforce was Announced:

An agreement to develop skilled workforce in Canada’s oil sands region was announced by CAPP, i.e., Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. Canada is ranked second in terms of producing oil and the major portion of it is found in oil sands mainly located in Alberta. This industry provides employment to plenty of Canadian citizens as well as foreign workers. The Building Trade Unions and the CAPP have taken an initiative to promote careers in the field of skilled trade. The president of CAPP, David Collyer, said that the agreement will focus on training and employing people who are currently underrepresented. This will in turn imply a need for immigration. It is estimated that this industry would employ over 2 lakh jobs by 2018 and also around 2 lakh workers would be at the verge of retiring.

1. 3.       Changes in Procedures as Well as Closure of Extra Visa Offices:

Around nineteen CIC local offices have closed their doors as on the first of June, 2012. Also, front counter services are to be removed from the left over open offices. Visa offices at Kelowna, Prince George, Victoria, Rgeina, Barrie, Oshawa, Sudbury, Quebec City, Saint John, Charlottetown, Nanaimo, Lethbridge, Kingston, Sault Ste-Marie, Thunder Bay, Gatineau, Moncton, Trois-Rivieres and Sherbrooke are now closed. All those who wish to receive services from the open office can do so only by an appointment. The Moncton CIC will process files till October 2012 while other offices will remain entirely closed for the public. All the processing will be given to Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Frederiction in October 2012.

The three most important news headlines of Canada which occurred during the middle of June have been summarized briefly.

photo: http://cbc.ca

Alexis Pavlich, a spokesperson for Immigration, citizenship and multiculturalism minister Jason Kenney said criminals and thugs continue to target Canada. The immigration department has addressed the matter saying that the government will soon implement several reforms to prevent such occurrences. A few weeks ago, another group of Sri Lankan migrants were deported off the coast of France. It is said that these migrants might be members of the LTTE, a military union that was culminated by the Sri Lankan army and paramilitary forces.

Critics claim that the government of Canada has to take several measures in order to prevent such incidents. They argue saying national security should not be at stake. The federal government had cut $143 million from the funds allotted for border security services in the 2012 budget. As a result, the provincial governments are forced to cut down the forces. Recently, the House of Commons passed the immigration bill, Bill C-31 to crack down on human smuggling. The bill is currently before the senate aims at curbing human trafficking by hiking fines and penalties and minimum sentences for the accused.

The government also plans to detain people who arrive in Canada by illegal means such as suspected smuggling operations for a minimum of two weeks. The spokesperson also said the immigration bill would stop illegal migrants and smugglers from viewing Canada as a doormat. However, critics claim that such measures could unfairly target legitimate refugees. The future of the bill continues to remain uncertain. Moreover, if the bill becomes a law, it would also allow the government to get rid of the massive backlog of unprocessed applications created before 2008.

This is not the first time that a massive smuggling operation targeting Canada has been busted. Earlier, a smuggling plan involving over 400 migrants from Sri Lanka was busted by the Canadian immigration department in association with Canadian border security agencies. In January, about 200 migrants were left stranded in Togo, West Africa after they were abandoned by a human smuggler. In 2009 and 2010, massive vessels named the Ocean Lady and the Sun Sea vessels turned up on the Canadian coast with over 550 asylum seekers aboard.

Experts believe that reducing the number of officers in border security agencies would encourage criminals to indulge in such offences. Officials report that such cases have reduced in the previous months following the introduction of various reforms by the immigration department. It would be interesting to see the government’s approach in this issue.

To get a humorous take on recent happenings and read everything in a funny way, visit here.  

photo: http://canindia.com

Minister Kenney strongly believes that social integration was linked to economic growth on the country. The minister said they were interdependent and cannot exist individually. He also said a newcomer could have the best resume but face difficulty in finding a job if he has poor language standards or lacks confidence to interact with other at the work place. Therefore, social integration is necessary considering the current market trends in Canada.

Minister Kenney stated that reforming the immigration policy was necessary to compete at the global level. He added that this has been largely achieved by altering the selection criteria under various schemes proposed by the immigration department. Government bodies have been created to deal with cases pertaining to immigration fraud and the integrity of the Canadian immigration policy has been achieved. Minister Jason Kenney said the new immigration policies are focused at the job market in Canada. Minister Kenney is also credited by the media to take the multicultural component more seriously than his predecessors. His presence at important gatherings and festivities has earned him the admiration of several minority communities in Canada.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said it is essential to create a bond of trust between the immigrant communities and the government. Besides this, getting a first-hand experience of new immigrants helps them in the formulation of specific policies for the benefit of Canadians. The information he had collected over the months aided him in the implementation of new immigration policies. He said the common problem was unemployment and failure to adapt to the new environment in Canada. Due to this, many immigrants are forced to take up meager jobs to survive in the country. A recent study showed that highly qualified immigrants were forced to drive cabs due to lack of employment opportunities.

As it stands, certain ethnic groups live in the same neighborhood because of the social support they receive. As a result, their children are not exposed to social diversity in Canada. This could be a hindrance to social integration. Jason Kenney has been a visionary and had a clear idea about how he could tackle the most sensitive matters in the country. Nonetheless, Jason Kenney could be the most controversial federal minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism ever in the History of Canada.

Undoubtedly, his immigration policies have worked well and he has gained good reputation of the immigrant population residing in Canada. However, the bottom line remains that reforms have to be introduced by the immigration department that aim at social integration of newcomers in Canada.

photo: http://canadaforvisa.net

The new centre is located behind the St. Paul’s cathedral and offers ample space for immigrants. This center accommodates a full-fledged kitchen, office space, classrooms, a children’s recreational room and a computer lab. In other words, the center provides various learning opportunities. It is said that the center was facing stiff competition from other social organizations for basic amenities and room rentals. The programs were spread across different locations including the one in Saskatoon community service village.

The new center will offer assistance to newcomers in Canada. The drop-in center has welcomed 120 new clients in five weeks. Podrug said the centers were in great demand courtesy of the large number of immigrants pouring in Canada each year. It has been noted that temporary workers prefer these centers. The non-profit center has assisted thousands of immigrants to settle in Canada. The center offers various programs that focus on community integration, language skills, overall development of children and health benefits.

Belma Podrug said the diversity in Canada affect all aspects of life. Besides this, it alters the attitude and outlook of people for the betterment of the society. Don Atchison, mayor of Saskatoon said the non-profit center enhances the quality of life newcomers. In order to make Saskatoon more cosmopolitan, these centers need to flourish. He also said such global centers help newcomers to adapt to the new environment of Canada. He said people belonging to diverse cultures come to Canada and face several hurdles.

According to official figures provided by the provincial government, about 12000 immigrants come to Saskatchewan each year. Presently, people from over a 180 countries live in 325 community centers. Experts believe that such centers should grow in number if Canada aims at satisfying the labor demands and continue intake of immigrants in the future. Both the provincial and federal governments are funding the non-profit organization in moving and conducting welfare programs.

While the Ottawa government gave the organization about $500000 for the financial year 2011-2012 they contributed province contributed about $340000 between 2011 and 2013. Director of citizenship and Immigration Canada for the province of Saskatchewan Chris Gelineau said the immigration department is seeking to help newcomers to contribute towards Canada’s prosperity. In order to run the new center, the organization has added about 120 volunteers to the supporting staff.

photo: http://news.nationalpost.com

Nathan Cullen, the NDP House leader thanked the common staff for their tireless efforts. He said the parliament had an extraordinary experience. He also stated that it would probably be the longest working day in the history on Canada. The members of the opposition had suggested 871 amendments to the Omnibus Job, growth and long term prosperity Act. They criticized the bill calling it a “Trojan horse” and an insult to the principles of democracy.

The federal government claims that the bill would revolutionize the Canadian immigration system. Nonetheless, the bill contains changes to dozens of regulations, ranging from environmental assessment and public pensions to employment insurance, spy agency lapse and border security services. The governing conservatives asserted the 400 page bill is necessary and accountable to ensure Canada’s economy can withstand the coming economic crisis. The federal government has been very confident regarding the bill and claimed that it could solve most of the problems Canada is facing today.

The bill addressed various issues pertaining to immigration, sustainable economy and management of security services in the country. During the process of voting, Gordon O’Connor, the chief government whip asked for a single, final vote. Responding to the request, the NDP said it would agree provided the government immediately proceeded to the question interval. On the other hand, the Liberals said they would agree only if the conservatives divided the Omnibus bill. When the Green Party leader Elizabeth May tried to make a counter offer, she was silenced by the Conservative ranks.

While O’Connor told that he did not want a division of the Omnibus bill, the deputy speaker Barry Davolin said there would be no unanimous approval for anything in the House at that time. Such incidents of malignity resulted in the opposition members halting the voting process. Reacting to the situation, the Conservatives reduced their margin for victory by employing fewer members in the House in order to speed up the count. However, the truth remains that it was the Conservatives who were enjoying the whole procedure while the new democrats and members of the Liberals failed to stop their inevitable victory.

This controversial bill has attracted a lot of criticism from both the people and the immigration lawyers. Some also believe that the bill is a disgrace to Canada and insults the principle of democracy. However, the government is hoping to change the whole scenario once the bill is passed by the Senate. The Conservatives enjoyed comfortable victories during the whole voting process. However, the bill is all set to get a third and final reading soon after which it will be sent to the Senate for consideration.

photo: http://citytv.com

This addition was made in the report to assess minimum language standards for immigrants under the provincial nominee program. The report emphasized on concerns within the CIC about the applicant’s ability to speak one of Canada’s two official languages. Addressing these concerns, immigration and citizenship minister Jason Kenney announced in April that applicants under the provincial nominee program in semi-skilled and low-skilled jobs would have to meet the language standards as proposed by the immigration department.

The program has grown in popularity among the provincial governments, who are seeking to cater to the increasing labor demands through it. Last year over 38000 workers and their families came to Canada under this program. The report obtained by immigration lawyer Richard Kurland reveals that people who can speak fluent English or French have an income comparable to Canada-born employees. However, those who cannot speak a Canadian official language struggle and often end up working in enclave immigrant communities.

According to the report, the number of immigrants working in a non-official language grew fourteen percent between 2001 and 2006. This means that one on six immigrants uses a non-official language at work. A study also shows that close to sixty percent of the immigrants belonging to the group could not converse in French or English. Some researchers say that such immigrants are forced to work at ethnic enclaves. On the other hand, some believe that this could have an adverse impact on the provincial as well as the national economy.

Several studies have also revealed that jobs in these enclaves are in the low-paying service industries and are stressful. The report also said exposure to such ethnic groups reduces the collection of essential skills characteristic to the nation’s labor demands. This would, in turn decrease the knowledge of local native language and hinders the immigrant’s economic progress. The report found out that the immigrants who do not speck an official language are susceptible to greater risk in terms of occupational safety and health. The occupations usually demand physical work and the employees are unaware of their rights.

It is said that language proficiency plays a pivotal role in the social integration of immigrants entering Canada. It has a direct impact on the immigrant’s ability to settle and adapt to the Canadian society. Professor Daniel Hiebert, who studied the immigration trend in major Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, said ethnic communities and establishments have higher unemployment levels. He also said the residents are dependent on government funds due to lack of available opportunities. This is turning out to be a major problem in the industrial centers of Canada, as they face intense labor shortage.

(To get a humorous take on recent happenings and read everything in a funny way, visit here.  )

photo: http://pm.gc.ca

Brea Lewis, customs and immigration union branch president for Saskatchewan commented saying that the province would soon become a hub of smuggling and human trafficking in Canada. She said this was a wrong move by the provincial government and the union is working to stop these cuts. In addition to this, the union is also trying to restore all the 19 drug dog teams at border crossings. So far, the union has been able to achieve decent results as four Canadian detector dog teams are back on job including a drug dog team at North Portal.

According to reports, the union is working hard to get all the drug dog teams rehired and terminate the elimination of four intelligence officers from the Prairie Border crossing in the province. While the government is introducing various reforms to keep illegal immigration and human trafficking in check, the Saskatchewan government is encouraging such criminal practices by cutting down the border security forces. Lewis said that intelligence officers are their puzzle solvers and their expulsion could hinder the investigation process.

Canada is currently going through a major labor crisis and immigration seems to be the only possible option to cater to the immense labor demands under the skilled trade category. Experts believe that this would eventually affect Canada’s image as an immigrant friendly nation. The immigration union is worried that crime will increase if this happens. On the other hand, it would not be possible to check criminal offences such as human smuggling, drug smuggling and smuggling of firearms if the human resources are reduced.

Today, Canada requires more human resources to satisfy the country’s needs. On the contrary, the government’s decision to cut the funds for border security has forced the provincial government to take such steps. While some say that it was necessary to reduce the expenditure considering the nation’s economic scenario, others feel that a national security should not be compromised in the name of economic slowdown. According to sources, a total of 325 service officials will be cut.

Brea Lewis also said the Canadian border service agency (CBSA) is not providing more information regarding the cuts and how they might work in the long run. She said the biggest concern is the confidentiality surrounding the whole procedure. The agencies and the people of Canada have the right to know every fact. In spite of all the controversies, the provincial government has not announced any sort of reconsideration of the decision.

Photo: http://thelinkpaper.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Immigration-to-canada-1.jpg

Such is the story of Fusako Kametani, 55. She migrated to Canada with her daughter to enjoy a sophisticated living. Fusako reached Canada on a visa for students. She employed her life time accumulated wealth as well as the legacy she received from her ancestors to acquire two dwellings, one in which she resided and one was for investment purpose. The properties were located in Signal Hill and Spring bank.

Eventually this Japanese woman became a victim in the hands of a Calgary woman, Melissa Holman, 40. Holman runs a non profit immigration consultancy, Temporary Foreign Workers Association of Canada, to help the immigrants and assist and guide them so that they are not deceived by the legal agents and other immigration agencies.

Kametani visited Holman to undertake some advice on immigration. According to Kametani, Holman terrified her by saying that both of Kametani’s houses could be taken away by the government and she can be deported back to Japan, as she entered Canada on a student visa. Holman also mentioned to her that she cannot work on a student visa. Kametani got so much scared that by doing legal formalities she transferred her two houses in the name of Holman. This transfer was completed within the time span stretching from 23rd June to 8th July 2011. Holman is also charged for amount worth $410,000 from Kametani’s account.

Staff Sgt. Geoff Gawlinski said that Kametani reached Canada on a student visa, but she wasn’t in any profession when this incident happened. She was encouraged to hand over all her belongings to Holman out of the fear of leaving Canada. She transferred the properties and the money on the pretext that all her wealth will remain protected with Holman as she is a Canadian citizen. Holman was arrested under the case of fraud. No other employee of the Holman’s organization was questioned in this case. The immigration organisation headed by Holman is still operational and the employees faithfully defend her. They mentioned that Holmes is a person with a big heart.

The police legally returned Kametani’s two houses located in Signal Hill and Spring bank. Out of the total amount of money that was transferred closely $90,000 is given back. All the accounts of the liable woman are under scrutiny to get clues about the rest of the money.

Kametani is determined to fight for herself and get the remaining money. But she has definitely lost her trust in the Canadian people.

Photo: http://abid-ismail.blogspot.in

The minister of immigration, Jason Kenney declared in April that he was working out ways to modernize the obsolete and out-of-date program, which is said to be of little advantage to Canada, as stated by the critics. Still, it is not evident how these steps are going to affect the round of applications this year.

Jason Kenney’s press secretary, Alexis Pavlich stated “We continue our options so as to maximize benefits to the Canadian economy.”

As stated in the Citizenship and immigration website, on july 1, the cap of 700 will be “reset” , “unless otherwise indicated in a future ministerial instruction.”

Richard Kurland, who is the immigration lawyer of Vancouver said he hopes that the government is going to wait until the fall at the least in order to re-open the scheme to all the new applicants, provided the “changing conditions of the marketplace” and that Canada is coping up with a great backlog in older applications till now, which includes about 25,000 cases that involve about 86,000 people, as indicated by the updated figures collected by Postmedia news.

He also suggested that the proceeding set of ministerial instructions should also be stipulated that all the applications should be post-marked on the date july 1 or later and should be sent via Canada post only in order to prevent the advent of chartered planes like last year.

“We should be in no rush to open the gate to receive more inventory when we’re just struggling to process what we have on hand” said Richard, also saying that the country should wait to witness if United states is also planning to revive its investor program or not.

“if the Americans are not continuing, we can hike our prices even higher than anticipated.”

A hike in price is an option that Canada is considering, irrespective of the fact whether Americans are reviving their program or not. This is because Canada is seeking to revive their own program, which basically provides millionaires with permanent residency by shelling out cash.

photo: http://immigrationcanada.pro

Some wealthy investors also even charted private jets to submit their applications to the central intake office in Sydney. Last year the program opened on July 1^st after the immigration department capped the intake at 700. In April, Immigration and citizenship minister Jason Kenney announced that the government would take adequate measures to modernize the outdated program. Critics claim that this program offers little benefits to the nation.

Nonetheless, this year’s process continues to remain a mystery. According the official citizenship and immigration website, the cap will reset on 1^st July, 2012. Richard Kurland, a Vancouver based immigration lawyer said he hopes the Canadian government will wait until the fall to reopen the program considering the conditions of the global market. Besides this, the government is also facing problem of managing the massive backlog of immigrant applications. According to official figures, there are nearly 25000 applications involving 86000 prospective immigrants.

Richard Kurland also said the government should be in no hurry to accept new applications and focus on clearing the pending applications. The immigration department is already struggling to process the applications on hand. More applications would only increase the pressure on the Canadian government. He also said the government should also wait to see if the United States of America renews its investor program. The government can also hike the prices if the United States opts to do away with the program.

Regardless of what the American government does, the government of Canada will definitely hike the prices as it seeks to renovate the program. This program provides permanent residency to millionaires and their families in exchange for cash. Immigration and citizenship minister Jason Kenney said the $800000 minimum requirement and a net worth requirement of $1.6 million is too low to provide permanent residency in the country. Canada needs to consider this as an investment to national economy rather than just a loan.

As it stands, this amount is used as an investment is projects pertaining to the overall economic development of Canada. The federal government also complained that few provinces have not spent enough on development projects. Kurland suggested that the government could also consider setting the threshold as $2 million. In case the American government decided to drop the investor program, the Canadian government could further increase the required minimum investment amount.

It has been reported that the immigration minister held consultations with stakeholders and other government officials earlier this year. Discussions regarding the creation of a new program were also held. Under the new program, the minister will also be able to select a new, short term program to satisfy the labor requirements in Canada.