Backgrounder - Fixing the immigration system

On November 24, 2005, the Government of Canada announced it would invest $418 million for streamlining the immigration system and $282 million for creating the in Canada economic stream totaling $700 million over five years. These improvements include funding to start reducing the current inventory of applications at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and a new process to allow immigrants with Canadian experience or Canadian education to apply for permanent resident status under the new In-Canada Economic Stream in 2007.

Ensuring the Immigration System is More Responsive to Labour Market Needs

1) Reducing the Current Inventory of Applications and Modernizing Service Delivery

The funding provided will allow for an increase in operational capacity for federal departments to more efficiently process applications and start to reduce processing times.

Together, these measures will help make the system more responsive to varied labour market needs, support improved immigrant outcomes, and streamline the system in order to enhance the processing of applications.

2) Creation of an In-Canada Economic Stream in 2007

Provinces, territories, cities and communities agree on the need for increased regionalization to spread the benefits of immigration all across the country. Introducing an in-Canada stream will help address this challenge by supporting the greater use of the temporary foreign worker stream as a means of addressing short-term labour market needs and providing a bridge to permanent residence for newcomers.

The introduction of the in-Canada economic stream is expected to lead to approximately 5,000 additional foreign students and 11,000 temporary foreign workers (including dependants) applying for permanent residence each year.

Two types of foreign nationals will be eligible to apply for permanent resident status: students and temporary foreign workers in Canada. After entering Canada on a work or study permit, these individuals will be required to spend a minimum period of time working or studying before being eligible to apply for permanent resident status. The new in-Canada stream is designed for applicants who have Canadian experience in the labour market or in educational institutions.

Applicants are fully screened for criminality and security.