Canada is competing with other nations for international talent, and must do even more to attract and retain newcomers, says Minister of Immigration Ahmed Hussen.
Hussen made the remarks during a wide-ranging opening address on the opening day of the Conference Board of Canada’s Canadian Immigration Summit 2017.
“Growing Canada’s population through immigration boosts economic growth and softens the economic burden of a rapidly aging population and low birth rates,” said Minister Hussen, himself an immigrant who came to Canada as a refugee at the age of 16.
“More and more countries are also using immigration as a tool for economic growth. Source countries for immigrants, such as India and China, have rapidly expanding economies, therefore creating opportunities right at home for their best young and educated citizens."
The role of Express entry in achieving these goals is front and centre for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the department headed by Hussen, who referred to the country’s flagship economic immigration management system as “part of our toolbox, allowing us to identify the best and brightest people.”
Express Entry is now the main driver of economic immigration to Canada, with more candidates being invited to apply for permanent residence so far this year than in the whole of 2016. Moreover, IRCC is achieving its goal of inviting the best candidates.
“We will continue to make improvements to Express Entry to deal with the realities of the global talent pool.” stated Hussen.
Temporary work stream, due to be rolled out next month, sets a two-week processing time for the delivery of work permits for workers in certain occupations. In his speech, Hussen cited these workers as a future source of Express Entry applicants, as many of them may wish to remain in Canada permanently.
“This is the only immigration program that is completely led by employers, who get to recruit intermediate- and high-skilled workers in all the four Atlantic provinces . . . employers have been enthusiastically embracing this program,” said Hussen, who also noted that employers will be involved in the settlement process. In return, these employers are not required to obtain LMIA when hiring.
The minister said that Canada is looking at international models of settlement and integration, such as the German model, which combines work and language training.
Though Mr.Hussen has only been in the job since January, he has stamped his personal authority and style on the department. In doing so, he recognizes its shortcomings and potential areas for improvement.
“We have to do better,” he stated. “Putting our clients at the heart of everything we do will ensure that everything else works out. If we look at the client as being central to everything we do, processing times will become a priority for us. We will have to drop processing times across all streams of immigration. And we want every Canadian and every foreign national who navigates our website to have a pleasant experience. We don’t want them to walk away frustrated.
Canada issued 367,000 study permits in 2016, a 22 percent increase over the previous year, but there is room to welcome even more international students, according to the minister.
Speaking exclusively to CICNews following his address, Hussen stated that “we have started having national consultations on next year’s immigration levels, and whatever businesses, ordinary Canadians, NGOs, and provincial governments come up with on the number, but also on the right mix, we will take a look at that. We are currently having those conversations.”
These kinds of public-private consultations on immigration may not be the norm globally, but then again Canada is a stand-out country when it comes to immigration and how it perceives integration. To drive home the point, the minister reminded the assembled audience that Canada has “citizenship based on values, not based on ethnicity or blood origin.”
More than three quarters of immigrants to Canada become naturalized citizens.
