Report calls for review of Canadian temporary work visa policy
August 12 2009 by Matt Jones
Maytree president wants Canada visa change
According to a new report from the Maytree Foundation called 'Adjusting the Balance: Fixing Canada's Economic Immigration Policies', skilled immigration needs to be more central to the Canadian government’s immigration policies.
Naomi Alboim, the author of the report, says that since the number of immigrants moving to Canada on temporary foreign work permits increased by 100 per cent between 2004 and 2008, fewer immigrants are well educated with good language skills.
She argues that skilled workers are having to wait longer for their visa applications to be processed as Ottawa gives priority to temporary workers coming to work in Canada under the Provincial Nominee Programme.
Alboim says that the government’s priorities should be on enhancing Canada’s economy to make sure it can continue to attract highly skilled migrants in the future. The report states, 'immigration is a tool for economic growth.’
The report recommends that the skilled migration programme is prioritised and that immigrants with job offers should have their Canada visa applications fast-tracked. It also recommends that Canadian immigration authorities should stop restricting skilled immigration to the 38 ‘demand’ occupations in order to encourage as many skilled migrants as possible to settle in Canada.
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