详情参见：
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2008/2008-11-28.asp
Minister Kenney announces immigration levels for 2009; Issues instructions on processing federal skilled workers
Ottawa, November 28, 2008 ― Canada will stay the course on immigration in 2009, welcoming between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents, Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, announced today.
“While countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia are talking about taking fewer immigrants, our planned numbers for 2009 are on par with last year and are among the highest for this country over the past 15 years,” Minister Kenney said. “The numbers reflect a continued commitment to an immigration program that balances Canada’s economic, humanitarian and family reunification goals.”
The 2009 plan includes up to 156,600 immigrants in the economic category; 71,000 in the family category; and 37,400 in the humanitarian category.
Minister Kenney also announced another step in measures to improve the immigration program’s responsiveness to Canada’s labour market. Retroactive to February 27, 2008, the date specified by the Federal Budget, the Action Plan for Faster Immigration includes issuing instructions to visa officers reviewing new federal skilled worker applications to process those from candidates who:
“The eligibility criteria apply only to new federal skilled worker applicants and will not affect Canada’s family reunification or refugee protection goals,” said Minister Kenney. “Applicants who aren’t eligible for the federal skilled worker category may qualify under another category, such as the Provincial Nominee Program, or as temporary foreign workers, which could then put them on a path to permanent residency through the new Canadian Experience Class. There are many ways to immigrate to Canada.”
The Department has expanded its website in an effort to make it easier for people to navigate the range of immigration options open to them. The site now includes a specific section for employers (www.cic.gc.ca/employers) and a new interactive tool (www.cic.gc.ca/cometocanada) that matches information provided by potential applicants with immigration programs that best suit their circumstances.
“We expect new federal skilled worker applicants, including those with arranged employment, to receive a decision within six to 12 months compared with up to six years under the old system,” said Minister Kenney. “All other economic class applications―including applicants chosen by Quebec, provincial nominees, the Canadian Experience Class, and live-in caregivers―will continue to be given priority.”
These improvements, coupled with a number of recent initiatives that include the introduction of the Canadian Experience Class, bring Canada in line with two of its main competitors for highly skilled labour: Australia and New Zealand. Both of these countries have eliminated their backlogs and have systems that deliver final decisions for economic applicants within a year.
“The recent steps this Government has taken to improve our immigration system will help ensure that Canada remains competitive internationally and responsive to labour market needs domestically,” said Minister Kenney.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Alykhan Velshi
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064
Media Relations Unit
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
Ministerial Instructions
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2008/2008-11-28.asp
Minister Kenney announces immigration levels for 2009; Issues instructions on processing federal skilled workers
Ottawa, November 28, 2008 ― Canada will stay the course on immigration in 2009, welcoming between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents, Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, announced today.
“While countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia are talking about taking fewer immigrants, our planned numbers for 2009 are on par with last year and are among the highest for this country over the past 15 years,” Minister Kenney said. “The numbers reflect a continued commitment to an immigration program that balances Canada’s economic, humanitarian and family reunification goals.”
The 2009 plan includes up to 156,600 immigrants in the economic category; 71,000 in the family category; and 37,400 in the humanitarian category.
Minister Kenney also announced another step in measures to improve the immigration program’s responsiveness to Canada’s labour market. Retroactive to February 27, 2008, the date specified by the Federal Budget, the Action Plan for Faster Immigration includes issuing instructions to visa officers reviewing new federal skilled worker applications to process those from candidates who:
- are in 38 high-demand occupations such as health, skilled trades, finance and resource extraction; or
- have an offer of arranged employment or have already been living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary foreign worker or international student.
“The eligibility criteria apply only to new federal skilled worker applicants and will not affect Canada’s family reunification or refugee protection goals,” said Minister Kenney. “Applicants who aren’t eligible for the federal skilled worker category may qualify under another category, such as the Provincial Nominee Program, or as temporary foreign workers, which could then put them on a path to permanent residency through the new Canadian Experience Class. There are many ways to immigrate to Canada.”
The Department has expanded its website in an effort to make it easier for people to navigate the range of immigration options open to them. The site now includes a specific section for employers (www.cic.gc.ca/employers) and a new interactive tool (www.cic.gc.ca/cometocanada) that matches information provided by potential applicants with immigration programs that best suit their circumstances.
“We expect new federal skilled worker applicants, including those with arranged employment, to receive a decision within six to 12 months compared with up to six years under the old system,” said Minister Kenney. “All other economic class applications―including applicants chosen by Quebec, provincial nominees, the Canadian Experience Class, and live-in caregivers―will continue to be given priority.”
These improvements, coupled with a number of recent initiatives that include the introduction of the Canadian Experience Class, bring Canada in line with two of its main competitors for highly skilled labour: Australia and New Zealand. Both of these countries have eliminated their backlogs and have systems that deliver final decisions for economic applicants within a year.
“The recent steps this Government has taken to improve our immigration system will help ensure that Canada remains competitive internationally and responsive to labour market needs domestically,” said Minister Kenney.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Alykhan Velshi
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064
Media Relations Unit
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
Ministerial Instructions
- The following ministerial instructions are directed to CIC’s visa officers and identify the immigration applications and requests that will be given priority processing.
- The instructions come into force on their date of publication in the Canada Gazette.
- The instructions apply only to applications and requests made on or after February 27, 2008.
- All applications and requests made prior to February 27, 2008, shall be processed in the manner existing at the time of application.
- The instructions comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and support the economic, family reunification and refugee protection goals of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- The instructions do not apply to refugees or protected persons or persons making a request on humanitarian or compassionate grounds from within Canada.
- The instructions respect all previously established accords and agreements, including the Canada-Quebec Accord, and all agreements with the provinces and territories.
- Any categories for which instructions are not specifically issued shall be processed in the usual manner.
- All economic class applications, with the exception of federal skilled worker applications, shall be placed into processing according to existing priorities, including:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Investors
- Live-in Caregivers
- Quebec economic applicants
- Provincial nominees
- Federal skilled worker applications submitted on or after February 27, 2008, and that meet the following criteria shall be placed into processing immediately upon receipt:
- Applications submitted with an offer of arranged employment; or
- Applications submitted by foreign nationals who have been residing legally in Canada for at least one year as temporary foreign workers or international students; or
- Applications from skilled workers with evidence of experience[note 1] under one or more of the following National Occupational Classification categories:
- 0111 Financial Managers
- 0213 Computer and Information Systems Managers
- 0311 Managers in Health Care
- 0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
- 0632 Accommodation Service Managers
- 0711 Construction Managers
- 1111 Financial Auditors and Accountants
- 2113 Geologists, Geochemists and Geophysicists
- 2143 Mining Engineers
- 2144 Geological Engineers
- 2145 Petroleum Engineers
- 3111 Specialist Physicians
- 3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
- 3141 Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists
- 3143 Occupational Therapists
- 3142 Physiotherapists
- 3151 Head Nurses and Supervisors
- 3152 Registered Nurses
- 3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
- 3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
- 4121 University Professors
- 4131 College and Other Vocational Instructors
- 6241 Chefs
- 6242 Cooks
- 7213 Contractors and Supervisors, Pipefitting Trades
- 7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
- 7217 Contractors and Supervisors, Heavy Construction Equipment Crews
- 7241 Electricians (Except Industrial and Power System)
- 7242 Industrial Electricians
- 7251 Plumbers
- 7252 Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers
- 7265 Welders and Related Machine Operators
- 7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
- 7371 Crane Operators
- 7372 Drillers and Blasters ? Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction
- 8221 Supervisors, Mining and Quarrying
- 8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
- 9212 Supervisors, Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Processing and Utilities
- Overseas requests for humanitarian and compassionate consideration that accompany a federal skilled worker application not identified for processing under the ministerial instructions will not be processed.
- No other humanitarian and compassionate requests are affected by the above instructions pertaining to federal skilled workers.
- Family class applications will be processed in the same manner and with the same priorities as usual. Specifically, applications for sponsored spouses, partners and dependent children shall continue to be placed into processing immediately upon receipt.
- All applications for temporary residence, including temporary foreign workers, foreign students and visitors, shall continue to be placed into processing immediately upon receipt.
- Unless the Minister has otherwise instructed that applications be retained, federal skilled worker applications received on or after February 27, 2008, that do not meet the assessment criteria described above shall not be processed, and the processing fee shall be returned.
