Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently published a “consultation and review report” that proposed a review of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
The paper – titled An Immigration System for Canada’s Future – was released in October 2023 as the result of a months-long endeavor by the immigration department to meet with stakeholders, identify areas for improvement in the Canada immigration system, and evaluate policies to achieve those improvements.
After listening to 17,500 voices (including more than 2,000 organizations and 2,100 current or former clients, such as foreign workers in Canada on a temporary basis, international students, and permanent residents), the following are some of the takeaways that were gathered:
Read More Canada Immigration News
Canada Closed Work Permit is Set for Reform, Marc Miller Says
Ontario Aims To End Canadian Work Experience Requirement For Job Applications
Alberta Express Entry Draw: Province Issues 285 Canada Immigration Invitations
In response to the aforementioned suggestions, a plan was developed to realize a Canadian immigration system of the future that is “nimble” and able to “better meet the needs of our country and of newcomers.”
The following actions were suggested to address each issue:
To help reduce barriers to welcoming immigrants, the department suggested an examination of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to assess the need for legislative amendments or reform.
IRPA came into force in 2002, being the legislation that lays groundwork for most of IRCC’s programs, policies, and procedures. It provides the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) with jurisdiction to hear and decide cases on immigration and refugee matters.
It also sets out the core principles and concepts that govern the Canadian immigration and refugee protection programs, including provisions relating to refugees, sponsorships and removals, detention reviews and admissibility hearings, and the jurisdiction and powers of tribunals.
The department now says that IRPA needs to continue to reflect the goals of Canada’s immigration system, and that it provides a sufficiently flexible framework to meet them while keeping Canadians safe.
Watch video:
IRPA’s inclusion of legislation that allows for the creation of new immigration pathways could be – through the suggested update – used by IRCC to allow more specialized immigration pathways for skilled immigrants.
Further, IRPA includes legislation on application submission, technology use, processing procedure, etc. An update could reform these legislations to align with present realities and rising demand, allowing for the department to meet its aim of simplifying the immigration system.
“This report, An Immigration System for Canada’s Future, and the engagement exercise it reflects marks the conclusion of formal engagement sessions, but the beginning of a transformation to Canada’s immigration system. As our society continues to evolve and new realities emerge, so too will our immigration programs and policies,” read the paper.
“In order to seize opportunities that come with change, we have to be nimble and continue to innovate and adapt. This cannot happen in isolation. It’s through partnership and staying connected that we share information, become aware of emerging issues and find solutions.”
Discover the latest trends in Canadian immigration with a notable decline in permanent residency applications.…
Learn about the Parti Québécois' call to halt temporary immigration in Quebec, its impact on…
In a recent panel discussion at the Canada Strong and Free Network conference in Ottawa,…
Discover Saskatchewan's enhanced Immigration Services Act, bolstering protection for foreign workers, combating fraud, and facilitating…
Discover how newcomers to Canada can access a wide range of benefits and tax credits…
Discover how immigrant children in Canada outshine their counterparts, excelling in education and earning higher…
This website uses cookies.