For Immediate Release

COMMITTEE TABLES REPORT ON NEW IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS

OTTAWA, March 21, 2002 - Joe Fontana, MP (London North Centre), Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, today tabled the Committee’s third report in the House of Commons.  Entitled Building a Nation, the report deals with the proposed regulations under the new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

“When the Committee studied the Bill last year, we were told repeatedly that it was framework legislation,” said Mr. Fontana.  “Details were to be left to the regulations and we had some concerns about that.  The Committee amended the Act to require that the Minister table the proposed regulations with us to ensure that this major overhaul of Canada’s immigration laws – the first in 25 years – was properly scrutinized.  It’s a good thing we did, because we have some very serious concerns about the proposed regulations. We applaud the Minister announcement to date and his openness towards amending the Regulations”

The Committee made 76 recommendations in its report.  It called for substantial amendments to the skilled worker selection system and addressed the contentious issue of retroactivity by recommending an extension of the processing period for those who applied to immigrate before December 31, 2001.  “Those applications should be processed under the old rules until March 31, 2003,” said Mr. Fontana.  “With a concerted effort and additional resources, much of that inventory can be addressed.  As for those who will be assessed under the new point system, we believe that our recommendations will lead to a better skilled worker program, one that will allow the people that Canada needs to come here as permanent residents.  In particular, our recommendations will really facilitate the arrival of skilled trades people.”

As the proposed regulations relate to all aspects of Canada’s immigration and refugee program, the report is wide-ranging.  “We’ve addressed everything from family class sponsorships to the business immigration program to the resettlement of refugees from overseas to the Immigration and Refugee Board Rules,” said Mr. Fontana.  “And as the Minister specifically requested, we have made recommendations regarding the regulation of immigration consultants.” 

Some additional recommendations include:

• The skilled worker point system should be significantly amended to address concerns about the criteria of education, language, age and adaptability, with a lower pass mark of 70.
• Significant resources, including immigration “SWAT teams”, should be used to ensure that pre-December 31, 2001 applications are processed as quickly as possible.
• The minimum income requirements for skilled workers and family class sponsors should be changed.
• There should be an explicit recognition that common-law partners include same-sex partners.
• The definition of “excessive demand” in relation to medical inadmissibility should be changed to recognize that per capita public health costs will differ depending on age or sex.
• The Immigration and Refugee Board’s determination of identity should be considered valid for the purpose of granting permanent residence status to Convention refugees in Canada.
• There should be greater flexibility in allowing applications to be made at immigration offices in Canada, as well as at missions abroad that are not necessarily in the applicant’s country of habitual residence.
• Oral hearings should be required in the new Pre-Removal Risk Assessment process when a person is ineligible to have a hearing before the Immigration and Refugee Board because a previous claim was withdrawn or abandoned.
• The new permanent resident card – the “Maple Leaf” card – should contain a biometric identifier once appropriate safeguards are established.
• The entrepreneur and investor programs should remain unchanged and the self-employed person category should be expanded.
• The family business class should be maintained and included in the regulations.
• The Committee supports an implementation date of June 28, 2002.

Committee E-Mail Box = CIMM@parl.gc.ca                            Fax: (613) 947-0307

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