Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller on Tuesday unveiled federal government plans to strenghten Canada’s immigration system.
“Hearing from stakeholders and newcomers provided important insight into how we can develop a stronger and more integrated immigration system in Canada,” Miller said in a statement.
Ottawa intends to make the IRCC website more user-friendly so that applicants can easily find the required information and to create an advisory body of newcomers with experience in immigration to inform program and policy improvements, as well as service delivery.
Canada is also looking at making further improvements to the International Student Program, specifically aimed at faster processing of study permits. This can be achieved by working with provinces and territories on a Recognized Institutions Framework so that post-secondary institutions with high standards in key areas such as integrity and student supports can benefit from faster processing of study permits, IRCC said in a news release.
The creation of a Chief International Talent Officer position is expected to more effectively align immigration programs and pathways with the labour market, including industry and sector strategies.
Ottawa also wants to integrate housing, health care and infrastructure planning (along with other important services) into Canada’s immigration levels planning after facing criticism in these areas.
The IRCC report also outlined plans to position the immigration system to adapt quickly and to respond equitably and sustainably to growing global humanitarian crises.
“With these measures, we aim to build a system that is easier to navigate, with an inclusive and coordinated plan that aligns our immigration programs and policies with the needs of the country,” Miller stated.
IRCC says it has already made significant progress in modernizing Canada’s immigration system, such as introducing automation and advanced analytics across a number of business lines to accelerate and streamline our work. As of this spring, clients can also use the application status tracker to find information about their applications for the sponsorship of a spouse, partner or child, for Express Entry, study permits, work permits, visitor visas, citizenship and passports through Service Canada.
Immigration is the main driver of population growth in Canada. In 2021, more than 8.3 million people, or almost one quarter (23%) of the population, were or had been a landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada. This was the largest proportion since Confederation, and the highest among the G7.
