Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (2002)

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (2002)

• There are four immigrant categories.
• Economic immigrants include skilled workers and business people.
• The family class includes relatives of people living in Canada.
• Refugees include those escaping persecution, torture, cruel wars and natural disasters
• Extraordinary cases can also be considered for humanitarian and compassionate reasons.

Immigration Objectives

• Canada aims to pursue social and economic benefits through immigration.
• Immigration respects bilingual and multicultural character.
• Immigration supports the development of official language minority communities.
• A prosperous economy is also part of immigration objectives.
• Immigration also reunites families.
• Immigration pursues successful integration, recognizing mutual obligations.

Need for Immigrants

• Immigration addresses demographic characteristics of populations.
• Immigration supports labor force growth.
• Birth rates will equal death rates by 2025-2030.
• Retiring workers equaled new workers in 2016.
• Immigration ensures a growing population and economy.

The Point System

• Only economic immigrants qualify under the point system since 1967.
• 67 points are needed to qualify.
• There is an application fee of approximately $1000.
• Applicants must prove they are in good health with no criminal record.
• Applicants can be refused if their health condition poses a risk or excessive demand on healthcare.
• Every economic immigrant must provide proof of good health.
• Refusal may occur if health puts Canadians at risk, endangers public safety, or puts excessive demand on healthcare.

Point System Disadvantages

• First applicant in, first to be processed was the system.
• Prioritizing applicants was difficult using a first-come, first-served basis.
• Potential applicants weren't always matched with Canadian job openings.
• Processing an application takes 12-14 months on average.

Express Entry

• Beginning in January 2015, skilled foreign workers can access express entry.

• Express Entry is a new electronic application management system.

• It applies to Canada's key economic immigration programs.

• Immigration Canada selects the best-qualified candidates, not just the first in line.

• Express Entry candidates with job offers or provincial/territorial nominations are invited to apply for permanent residence quickly.

• A new Job Bank connects Canadian employers with skilled foreign national candidates.

• Express Entry candidates benefit from processing times of six months or less.

• A comprehensive ranking system (CRS) is used.

• CRS ranking allows the highest-scoring Express Entry candidates to be invited regardless of when they entered the Express Entry pool.

• The CRS is divided into four components.

• Core/human capital Factors (out of 500 points)

• Spouse/common-law partner Factors (out of 40 points)

• Skill transferability Factors (out of 100 points)

• Additional points (job offer) (out of 600 points)

• Maximum of 1200 points

• Step 1 involves filling out an Express Entry profile, completing the CRS, registering with Job Bank, and being accepted into the Express Entry Pool.

• Step 2 is based on receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

• Candidates with job offers or nominations receive additional points to ensure they are issued an ITA.

• Apply for permanent residence online within 60 days

• The initial application fee is $550 per adult and $150 per child.

• The right of permanent residence fee is $490.00 per adult, with no fee for dependent children.

• Still need to pass a medical exam and security check before being allowed into Canada.

Changes in Policy

• In the past, Canada favored immigrants of British ancestry and restricted immigration from Asia, namely China and India.
• Currently, no one is excluded because of race or country of origin.

Komagata Maru

• The Continuous Journey Clause of the Immigration Act stated that only direct travel from India would be permitted.
• This type of passage did not exist, impeding Indian immigration.
• In 1914, “Komagata Maru” was turned back to India, where some passengers were killed protesting for Indian independence from Britain.
• Stephen Harper apologized in 2008.
• Justin Trudeau formally apologized in 2016.

Chinese Head Tax

• In 1885, a $50 prohibitive fee was imposed to come to Canada.
• By 1903, it increased to $500.
• Eventually, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in 1923, stopping all Chinese immigration.
• By 1947, Chinese Canadians had the right to vote
• In 2006, Harper apologized, with survivors or widows receiving $20,000 (220 people).

Canada's Policy Towards Refugees

• A refugee is someone fleeing danger or persecution.
• Canada began offering refuge during specific world crises in 1951.
• Canada has an ongoing international commitment to protect refugees.
• Refuge is offered to people facing any kind of persecution, beginning in 1976.
• Refugees can resettle in Canada in two ways.
• The federal government works with the United Nations to bring refugees from camps.
• Private sponsors can also bring refugees to Canada.
• All refugees require necessities like government assistance, language training, and job training.

Objectives of Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

• The objectives are to save lives and offer protection.
• To fulfill and affirm Canada's commitment to protect refugees.
• To grant fair consideration to people claiming persecution.
• To offer refuge to persecuted persons because of race, religion, political membership, and facing torture or cruel and unusual punishment.

Overview of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of 2002, covering immigrant categories like economic immigrants, family class, and refugees. It highlights Canada's immigration objectives, including social and economic benefits, bilingualism, multiculturalism, and family reunification. Also explains Canada's need for immigrants.