CIMM Committee Report

RECOMMENDATION 1

The Provincial Nominee Program should be one of the main tools used by the federal government to encourage more immigration settlement in all regions of Canada.

RECOMMENDATION 2

To encourage permanent residents to remain in particular regions, Citizenship and Immigration Canada should pursue incentive-based programs that promote settlement throughout the country.

RECOMMENDATION 3

It is necessary that Citizenship and Immigration Canada prepare an annual report outlining the functioning of the various provincial nominee programs. The report should highlight positive developments as well as identify problems and concerns that have arisen.

RECOMMENDATION 4

The Committee recommends that Citizenship and Immigration Canada facilitate the sharing of information between provinces and take an active role in advising jurisdictions with a Provincial Nominee Agreement of issues that have arisen with respect to other jurisdictions.

RECOMMENDATION 5

Citizenship and Immigration Canada should encourage the provinces participating in the Provincial Nominee Program to expand their programs. The Department should work towards significant increases in the allotment of Nominee Certificates when current agreements are approaching expiry.

RECOMMENDATION 6

Citizenship and Immigration Canada should make the necessary corporate commitment to process significantly more provincial nominees.

RECOMMENDATION 7

The provinces that are participating in the Provincial Nominee Program must also ensure that they commit the necessary resources and should develop strategies to ensure the success of their programs.

RECOMMENDATION 8

Adequate resources should be dedicated to ensure that Provincial Nominee Program applications are processed by our visa posts overseas within six months.

RECOMMENDATION 9

Provincial Nominee work permits should be used as a method of allowing Provincial Nominees to begin work in Canada pending the final processing of their permanent residence application.

RECOMMENDATION 10

Provinces should be encouraged to include a domestic component to the Provincial Nominee Program by permitting temporary residents in Canada, such as international students and live-in caregivers, to apply.

RECOMMENDATION 11

Local municipal government, community groups and business associations should be actively encouraged to participate in the Provincial Nominee Program.

RECOMMENDATION 12

Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the provinces with Provincial Nominee Agreements should include local municipal government, community groups and business associations in sponsoring immigrants with targeted skills and business entrepreneurs.

RECOMMENDATION 13

Citizenship and Immigration Canada should pursue a Provincial Nominee Program agreement with the government of Ontario.

RECOMMENDATION 14

Citizenship and Immigration Canada should undertake an international marketing program in coordination with the provinces that have entered into an agreement under the Provincial Nominee Program.

RECOMMENDATION 15

The provinces that have entered into an agreement under the Provincial Nominee Program should be encouraged to promote their regions at Canada’s visa posts overseas.

RECOMMENDATION 16

Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the provinces involved in the Provincial Nominee Program should, in conjunction with Industry Canada and Human Resources Development Canada, develop a communications strategy directed at the Canadian business community to inform them of the Provincial Nominee Program and its benefits.

RECOMMENDATION 17

Citizenship and Immigration Canada should review how it provides information to the public, and in particular how Canadian employers can arrange for personal consultations with CIC officials, as part of an overall communications strategy for the Provincial Nominee Program.

RECOMMENDATION 18

The necessary administrative resources must be provided by Citizenship and Immigration Canada to ensure that increased application volumes that result from marketing and promotional activities are processed quickly.

RECOMMENDATION 19

The Committee recommends that adequate settlement resources be provided to ensure the successful establishment of provincial nominees.