Canada Immigration News

Statistics Canada, the Canadian government's statistics office, has released an estimate of the Canadian population. It says that the population of Canada was approximately 34,880,500 on 1st July 2012. It says the population grew by about 1% in the year to July 1st 2012 with the populations of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan growing fastest. The populations of both grew by over 2% in the year to 1st July 2012. Statistics Canada says that the population rose by 396,516 in the year to 1st July 2012. Over that time

From November 1st 2012 all those aged between 18 and 54 who are applying for Canadian citizenship must provide proof of a sufficient level of competence along with their application or their applications will be rejected. The required level of language ability is not altered but, from 1st November, it will be necessary for applicants to provide objective proof of that ability. Acceptable proof will be• A certificate proving that the applicant has passed a test administered by an approved third party

The Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney has written an article in British newspaper The Guardian strongly refuting the claims, published in the same paper on 14th September 2012, that Canada's immigration system has become less generous, and more open to charges of racism.On 14th September, The Guardian published an article by Jonathan Kaiman entitled 'Maple leaf ragged: what ails Canada?' Mr Kaiman said that 'there's trouble brewing in Canada.' He said that, there had been 'a harsh crackdown on immigrants'.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the Canadian government's immigration department, has issued a statement explaining changes made to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).

In common with many other countries, Canada increasingly favours skilled migration. In 2011, 37% of economic migrants to Canada entered the country via the FSWP. However, CIC identified problems with the system. A review of the program conducted in 2010 found that 22% of immigrants who had entered Canada as FSWP migrants were 'not satisfied' with their jobs.

The Canadian Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney, has urged the Canadian parliament to pass legislation that would allow Canada to remove foreign criminals from Canada more quickly.

Speaking on Monday 24th September 2012, Mr Kenney said that the proposed Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act would 'make it easier for the government to remove dangerous foreign criminals, make it harder for those who may pose a risk to Canada to enter the country and remove barriers for genuine visitors who want to come to Canada'.

A report published yesterday, September 18th 2012 says that the Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the separate provincial temporary worker programs, create problems for low-paid temporary migrants and leave them vulnerable to exploitation.