Modern Canadian Immigration Policy To 1996 Essay, Research Paper

& # 8220 ; Immigration is necessary for Canada & # 8217 ; s growing. At the same clip, we must be sensitive to the demand to equilibrate our demographic and economic demands with our capacity to settle and absorb immigrants. & # 8221 ; ( 1 ) Immigration has played a major portion historically in the growing of Canada s population. Between 1901 and 1911 entirely, Canada received over 1.5 million immigrants, stand foring 28 per centum of Canada s entire population at the clip. ( 2 ) Recently, nevertheless, Canada s in-migration policies and patterns have come under examination and unfavorable judgment, as progressively larger Numberss of people begin to oppugn whether our current progressive in-migration policy is good in the long tally for Canada and Canadians. Basically, Canada has begun to oppugn itself whether its current limitations on in-migration are sufficient. Although Canada s current in-migration policy does include many procedures for testing out alleged & # 8220 ; unwanted & # 8221 ; immigrants, it should be argued that it is as of yet still non supplying us with a sensible system for guaranting that the inflow of immigrants to Canada will non adversely impact the economic and societal stableness of the state. Although the current system does supply a good foundation for future in-migration policies, and does integrate many good thoughts, it still needs to foster strengthen many of its limitations on in-migration into the state. Immigration should be limited to those who possess the human capital necessary to set rapidly and independently to the demands of Canadian society and the occupation market.

Throughout its history Canada has maintained legion in-migration policies, many non lasting the life span of the authorities under which they were created. Yet these policies, although extremely restrictive, were non in the best involvement of the state, many established to protect the single involvements of the current authorities, or in an attempt to keep the authorities of the clip s basically racist construct of Canada. In fact, it wasn t until 1962 that Canada s basically all-white in-migration policy was abolished. ( 3 ) In 1976 Canada adopted a points-based system, where possible immigrants were assigned assorted points based on such things as age, instruction, and net worth. This system was designed to forestall immigrants from being barred entry into the state based on race, faith, or credo. Basically, those immigrants with sufficiently big personal nest eggs, or with occupations accomplishments listed under the authorities s General Occupations List, would be awarded more points, therefore increasing at that place opportunity of being granted entree into the state. ( 4 ) ( This system does non use to some sponsored immigrants, as discussed subsequently. ) Recently, the authorities has adopted new policies to convey this system up to day of the month. Under current proposals, new immigrants would hold to show eloquence in one of the official linguistic communications. As good, points would no longer be given out based on a possible immigrant s business, but their business must still look on the new National Occupational Classification in order for them to measure up for entry. The new system basically places more duty on visa officers abroad to measure an applicant & # 8217 ; s eligibility. ( 5 ) One of the more of import concerns with these new policies, nevertheless is whether the officers will have sufficient preparation in measuring these factors, and whether the demand for interviews will increase. The authorities would hold to guarantee that such preparation was given. Other concerns with immigrants coming to Canada in the past involved the issue of wellness and security. It has about ever been Canada s policy non to let involents, or those non capable of caring for themselves physically or financially, to come in the state as immigrants. Canada besides requires possible immigrants to obtain certification from their local jurisprudence enforcement bureaus to turn out that they are without a condemnable record. Yet the concern expressed in the yesteryear, and still today, is that both medical and security certifications can be obtained rather easy in many states, frequently through the mail. Bribery has frequently been used in the yesteryear in many less scrupulous states to obtain certification, and many other states merely do non hold the jurisprudence enforcement capablenesss or records to verify a individuals condemnable records. Canada needs to follow a much harsher policy in this regard. Immigrants who are discovered to hold obtained certification in such a mode should be instantly deported. The Fundamental law may hold to be amended to guarantee that Parliament can finally command entry into Canada, and, in the meantime, the & # 8220 ; notwithstanding & # 8221 ; proviso of the Charter could be used to guarantee that this is the instance. ( 6 )

Of all the immigrants coming to Canada, most autumn under the skilled worker class. These are immigrants who posses work accomplishments which are deemed wanted by the Canadian authorities s National Occupational Classification. Such accomplishments frequently include proficient accomplishments, in the Fieldss of scientific discipline and medical specialty, but besides rather often labour accomplishments, to make full labour spreads that the current Canadian population either can non or is unwilling to make full. It has ever been the current Broad authorities s policy to restrict in-migration to Canada to 1 % of the current population ( 7 ) , but does this clasp in pattern? In 1997, the Canadian authorities programs to accept 82-90 1000 skilled worker immigrants ( 8 ) , a figure which supports the 1 % theory. But in 1996, the Canadian authorities planned to accept a upper limit of 73,000 skilled worker immigrants, but has presently accepted about 86,000, a difference of 13 000. ( 9 ) In 1995 the program was for 61 000, but the authorities ended up allowing in 81 034 skilled worker immigrants. ( 10 ) The Canadian authorities demands to follow a system of quotas which it is both willing to back up and implement, since the Liberal s do non look to be implementing their one-percent doctrine. The Reform Party of Canada has suggested in their Blue Sheet that in-migration degrees should be established at a upper limit of 150 000 ( for all immigrant groups. A figure somewhat less so the Liberal 1 % ) per twelvemonth in any twelvemonth where the unemployment rate exceeds 10 % , with additions in in-migration as the unemployment rate falls below 10 % . Such a system would be more sensible than the Liberal s one per centum, since it would guarantee that in times of high unemployment, that the possible exists for Canadians to acquire any new occupations, as opposed to them perchance being filled by cheaper immigrant labor. It besides takes into history the fact that Canada may non necessitate so many skilled worker immigrants, since it already has a sufficiently big skilled work force already in topographic point. To let so many immigrants in without a strategy similar to that of the Reform Party s may in fact be doing the addition in unemployment. Yet, like the Liberal doctrine, this policy would necessitate a system to forestall the quota from being exceeded. A simple policy would merely halt accepting in-migration applications once the quota has been reached. Any immigrants turned down after this point could ever reapply in the undermentioned twelvemonth.

Business immigrants are one of the other group categorizations under Canada s current in-migration policy. Business immigrants are divided into three groups, the & # 8220 ; Self-employed & # 8221 ; , the & # 8220 ; Entrepreneur & # 8221 ; , and the & # 8220 ; Investor & # 8221 ; . The & # 8220 ; Self-employed & # 8221 ; immigrant is defined as & # 8220 ; an immigrant who intends and has the ability to set up or buy a concern in Canada that will make employment chance for that individual, and will do a important part to the economic system, or the cultural or artistic life of Canada. & # 8221 ; ( 11 )

The & # 8220 ; Entrepreneur & # 8221 ; is required to & # 8220 ; set up, purchase or do a significant investing in a concern in Canada that will do a important part to the economy. & # 8221 ; The concern must make or go on at least one occupation in Canada for a Canadian citizen or lasting occupant other than the enterpriser and dependents. The applier must besides mean and hold the ability to supply active and on-going engagement in the direction of the concern. ( 12 )

The & # 8220 ; Investor & # 8221 ; immigrant must & # 8220 ; have accumulated a personal net worth of $ 500,000 or more & # 8221 ; and must subscribe & # 8220 ; in any one of three investing degrees & # 8221 ; , which presently range from a lower limit of $ 250,000 to $ 500,000, for a period of 5 old ages. ( 13 ) The figure of concern immigrants coming to Canada has ne’er been high, and has ever fallen within the scopes planned by the federal authorities. ( 14 ) In fact, concern immigrants have about ever benefited Canada and the economic system in some manner. Investor immigrants geting in British Columbia between 1986 and 1992 contributed about $ 276 million to the local economic system, and created an estimated four occupations per investor. Because Canadian ordinances require concern immigrants to engage Canadian employees merely up until and including their 5th employee acquisition, most of these new occupations were guaranteed to include Canadian workers. ( 15 ) Between 1987 and 1990, the 11,000 enterpriser immigrants which arrived in Canada brought an estimated $ 14.3 billion with them

and created an estimated 48,000 occupations. ( 16 ) These figures would propose that Canada should in fact encourage increased concern in-migration, provided these immigrants continue to run into the definitions above, and provided they continue to make occupations. Yet the policy should besides guarantee that concern immigrants run into rigorous economic conditions. On such thought would be to guarantee that all concern immigrants can turn out a net worth of at least $ 250,000. Equally good, the policy should be designed to forestall concern immigrants from being admitted who could potentially set up a concern in struggle with the local economic system. It would make Canada no good to let an immigrant to get down a concern which could potentially set other, established concerns out of concern, increasing the unemployment rate. Unfortunately, the current in-migration policy includes really small to forestall this from go oning, a policy which should be changed if it is to maintain the best involvement of Canadians in head.

One of the other larger groups admitted into Canada are sponsored immigrants. Sponsored immigrants are basically those who have household already in Canada and can acquire those household member s to patronize Thursday

eir in-migration application. The Broad authorities encourages household dealingss and development, as it sees household and household life as a necessary aspect of an immigrant integration into Canadian society. ( 17 ) With this end in head, the current authorities encourages immigrants to patronize their household members, provided those members meet the same wellness and security limitations applied to all other immigrants. Statistically, the figure of sponsored immigrants geting in Canada has bit by bit declined in proportion to the figure of immigrants geting in Canada, to the point where the figure really geting seldom reaches the maximal figure of sponsored immigrants planned for by the authorities. ( 18 ) Yet despite this proportionate diminution, the figure of sponsored immigrants geting is still significantly high ( About 63,000 in 1996 ( 19 ) ) . The job lies in what is classified as household. The authorities defines household as being a partner, any dependent kids under 19, any sibling under 19, or any parent or grandparent. ( 20 ) Recently it has been suggested that the authorities bound sponsorships to include lone partners, minor dependant kids, and merely aged dependent parents, and thought supported by the Reform Party and some Liberals. The presence of an immigrant s immediate household can play hold an of import societal impact on how that immigrant integrates into Canadian society. To forestall an immigrant s immediate household from coming to Canada with them without sensible cause would non be human-centered. However, Canada does non necessitate to be, nor wants to be, a topographic point where every immigrant can keep their household reunions. Siblings of the immigrant, and independent dealingss, should be forced to use for in-migration through the regular channels.

The other group of immigrants often admitted into Canada, and the 1s that receive most of the media attending, are refugees. Statistically, Canada has accepted 26,000 refugees so far in 1996, and programs to accept 32,000 in 1997. Of the 1s admitted in 1996, half were landed immigrants, the staying either authorities or in private sponsored. ( 21 ) Since World War II, Canada has resettled or granted refuge to over 800,000 refugees and other people in demand of human-centered solutions. ( 22 ) The Broad authorities has ever maintained that Canada should accept refugees out of a human-centered desire. ( 23 ) Other parties, such as the Green Party, have even suggested much more extremist attacks, reasoning that Canada should ONLY accept refugees, and no other signifier of immigrant. ( 24 ) Such statements, nevertheless, fail to take into consideration Canada s economic demands and capablenesss. Although the credence of refugees does beef up Canada s image as a human-centered state, one must still retrieve that the 1000s of refugees accepted into Canada must still be placed in such a manner as to go contributing, productive members of society. Too frequently Canada has accepted unskilled immigrants, immigrants who finally end up on our state s societal aid plan. As good, Canada has besides been known to accept refugees who would non even sort as such harmonizing to the United Nation s rigorous policies. ( 25 ) To forestall this from go oning, Canada must follow a policy the adheres purely to the United Nation s definition of a refugee, so that it can guarantee it is merely accepting legitimate refugee claims. It must besides develop a system to vouch that incoming immigrants can be rapidly placed in Canadian society and integrated into the work force. Many of the unskilled refugees accepted into Canada each twelvemonth frequently end up on societal aid. For this ground, it has been suggested by some, including the Reform Party, that before one can measure up for societal aid or wellness attention, one must first go a full Canadian citizen. It has besides been suggested that Canada should test possible refugees, and merely choose those who have the accomplishment or potency to quickly accommodate to Canadian society and the occupation market.

It was originally stated that in-migration has ever played an of import function in Canada s history, and it should go on to make so. But in-migration must be limited to those who possess the human capital necessary to set rapidly and independently to the demands of Canadian society and the occupation market. Canada should beef up their limitations on in-migration by supplying a stricter and more effectual manner of filtrating out security or medical menaces, by ordaining the new proposals to guarantee that possible immigrants are fluid in either of the official linguistic communications, and that they have a needed business harmonizing to the National Occupational Classification. Canada should besides supply better preparation for visa officers abroad in order that they may break measure an applicant & # 8217 ; s eligibility for in-migration. Other limitations Canada should enforce include a much tighter and enforced quota system for skilled worker immigrants, based on Canada s current employment demands, they should promote concern immigrate in-migration, and they should restrict who an immigrant can patronize for similar in-migration. As for refugees, Canada must follow a policy more consistent and similar to that of the United Nation s, a policy that can much better determine which refugee applications are legitimate, and which are non. It should besides vouch that all refugees have the possible to rapidly incorporate themselves into the work force so that they may go economically independent. All of these proposals are for the economic and societal benefit of Canada and Canadians. Although in-migration is a critical function in our development, we must besides guarantee that Canada puts Canadians first, and ensures that in-migration will non adversely affect the bing economic system, by either doing increased unemployment, and/or increased usage of societal plans. The immigrants Canada accepts should be those with the best possible to accommodate to our society and go independent, and those with the best possible to give something back in return.

Endnotes

( 1 ) Lucienne Robillard, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, in a address made on October 29, 1996.

( 2 ) The Liberal Party of Canada, & # 8220 ; Immigration and Refugees, & # 8221 ; in Red Book 1993 ( 1993 )

( 3 ) Department of Citizenship and Immigration, A Short History of Immigration to Canada 1869-1994 ( 1994 )

( 4 ) Ibid.

( 5 ) Chris Elgin, New Developments in the Immigrant Selection Process, hypertext transfer protocol: //www.intermanage.com/elgin/docs/newdev.html

( 6 ) The Reform Party of Canada, Blue Sheet: Principles & A ; Policies of the Reform Party of Canada & # 8211 ; 1996-97 ( 1996 )

( 7 ) The Liberal Party of Canada, & # 8220 ; Immigration and Refugees, & # 8221 ; in Red Book 1993 ( 1993 )

( 8 ) Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Staying The Course: 1997 Annual Immigration Plan ( 1996 )

( 9 ) Ibid.

( 10 ) Canadian Immigration Policy-What & # 8217 ; s New? , hypertext transfer protocol: //www.khp.com/morris/policy.htm

( 11 ) Canadian Government, Canada & # 8217 ; s Immigration Law. ( Ottawa: Supply and Services. 1993 )

( 12 ) Canadian Government, Canada & # 8217 ; s Immigration Law. ( Ottawa: Supply and Services. 1993 )

( 13 ) Canadian Government, Canada & # 8217 ; s Immigration Law. ( Ottawa: Supply and Services. 1993 )

( 14 ) Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Staying The Course: 1997 Annual Immigration Plan ( 1996 )

( 15 ) Roslyn Kunin and Cheryl L. Jones, Business Immigration to Canada, in Don J. DeVoretz ( ed. ) Decreasing Tax returns: The Economicss of Canada & # 8217 ; s Recent Immigration Policy. ( Ottawa and Vancouver: C.D. Howe Institute and the Laurier Institution. Policy Study No. 24, 268-292. 1994 )

( 16 ) Peter Li, The Making of Post-War Canada, ( Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996 )

( 17 ) The Liberal Party of Canada, & # 8220 ; Immigration and Refugees, & # 8221 ; in Red Book 1993 ( 1993 )

( 18 ) Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Staying The Course: 1997 Annual Immigration Plan ( 1996 )

( 19 ) Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Staying The Course: 1997 Annual Immigration Plan ( 1996 )

( 20 ) Cohen Campbell, Canadian Immigration FAQ, hypertext transfer protocol: //www.cam.org/ dcohen/txt/faq.html

( 21 ) Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Staying The Course: 1997 Annual Immigration Plan ( 1996 )

( 22 ) United Nations High Commission for Refugees, hypertext transfer protocol: //www.unhcr.ch/world/amer/canada.htm

( 23 ) The Liberal Party of Canada, & # 8220 ; Immigration and Refugees, & # 8221 ; in Red Book 1993 ( 1993 )

( 24 ) The Green Party of Canada, 1993 Federal Election Platform Papers,

hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ncf.carleton.ca/ip/government/fedelect/nat/green/greenplat.txt

( 25 ) The Reform Party of Canada, hypertext transfer protocol: //www.reform.ca

Bibliography

Campbell, Cohen. Canadian Immigration FAQ. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.cam.org/ dcohen/txt/faq.html.

Canadian Government. Canada & # 8217 ; s Immigration Law. Ottawa: Supply and Services. 1993.

Canadian Immigration Policy-What & # 8217 ; s New? . hypertext transfer protocol: //www.khp.com/morris/policy.htm.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Staying The Course: 1997 Annual Immigration Plan.1996.

Department of Citizenship and Immigration. A Short History of Immigration to Canada 1869-1994. 1994.

Elgin, Chris. New Developments in the Immigrant Selection Process. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.intermanage.com/elgin/docs/newdev.html.

The Green Party of Canada. 1993 Federal Election Platform Papers.

hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ncf.carleton.ca/ip/government/fedelect/nat/green/greenplat.txt.

Kunin, Roslyn and Cheryl L. Jones. Business Immigration to Canada in Don J. DeVoretz ( ed. ) Decreasing Tax returns: The Economicss of Canada & # 8217 ; s Recent Immigration Policy. Ottawa and Vancouver: C.D. Howe Institute and the Laurier Institution. Policy Study No. 24, 268-292. 1994.

Li, Peter. The Making of Post-War Canada. Toronto: Oxford University Press. 1996.

The Liberal Party of Canada. & # 8220 ; Immigration and Refugees, & # 8221 ; in Red Book 1993 1993.

The Reform Party of Canada. Blue Sheet: Principles & A ; Policies of the Reform Party of Canada & # 8211 ; 1996-97. 1996.

Robillard, Lucienne, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Speech made on October 29, 1996.

United Nations High Commission for Refugees. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.unhcr.ch/world/amer/canada.htm.

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