Canadian immigration minister talks to communities about migrant issues

November 18 2009 by Liam Clifford

Immigration issues addressed at group event which saw residents and ministers come together for open discussion.

Immigrants who have settled in Canada and live in the Langley region of British Columbia have been given the chance to speak to the Canadian immigration minister about how they think the system could be improved for newcomers.

Langley MP Mark Warawa led a round table group to discuss immigration issues with Jason Kenney. The speakers are the event included local mayors, people who have recently moved to Canada from abroad and locals who provide services for newcomers to the area.

Recommendations from Langley residents included an enhanced integration programme to enable newcomers to settle in Canada and into their communities with more ease. They also said that Canadian immigration staff would benefit from being more understanding of language barriers.

Minister Kenney said that he intends to consult with regional immigrants and those providing them with services to gain a valuable insight into how the Canadian immigration system can be improved. He said, “consulting with people in Langley and other communities gives me a practical sense of how policies actually work on the ground.”

Kenney revealed he is working on the introduction of an ambitious entrepreneurial programme for immigrants, which he says will benefit both the immigrant community and Canada.

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