IMMIGRANTS seek status to live in Canada in Toronto protest.
A new digital immigration platform to process cases more efficiently and speedier to reunite families and bring in workers is being proposed as part of the federal government’s Budget 2021.
FINANCE Minister Chrystia Freeland provide details of Budget 2021 and funds to improve immigration services.
The new computerized system, if approved, may help to process the 400,000 immigrants Canada is accepting this year. It is the second time since 1913 that the country has accepted this many newcomers.
The Immigration Levels Plan will welcome 411,000 immigrants in 2022 and 411,000 in 2023.
Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland tabled Budget 2021 on April 20, which proposes to invest $428.9 million over five years to develop and deliver a digital platform to gradually replace the old Global Case Management System.
“This will enable improved application processing and support for applicants, beginning in 2023,” Freeland said.
“A new digital system will enable Canada’s immigration system to function more efficiently behind the scenes and to deliver digital services that meet heightened client expectations,” she said.
“With this platform, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be able to leverage digital to better achieve Canada’s immigration objectives,” according to the Budget.
She said the system “will support an immigration system that is easier to navigate and more efficient in welcoming the dynamic new Canadians who add to Canada’s strength.”
The Budget will provide $15 million over two years, from 2021 to 2022, to extend the Racialized Newcomer Women Pilot Initiative, to support employment-related services for newcomer women in areas as networking, employment counselling and paid work placements.
Budget 2021 also proposes to provide $2 million over five years to increase access to information and support for new Canadians facing family and gender-based violence, including enhancing the availability of anti-violence resources.
To support Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the budget is proposing $49.5 million over three years to support migrant worker-centric programs and services; $54.9 million over three years to increase inspections of employers and ensure temporary foreign workers have appropriate working conditions and wages.
And $6.3 million will be doled out over three years to improve service delivery of open work permits for vulnerable workers, helping migrant workers in situations of abuse find a new job.
The government intends to propose amendments to the Immigration Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) that would help them select candidates who best meet Canada’s labour market needs among the growing pool of Express Entry candidates who wish to become permanent residents.
Budget 2021 proposes to provide $26.8 million in 2021–2022 to enable participating provinces to maintain immigration and refugee legal aid support for asylum seekers, while protecting the efficiency and integrity of the asylum system.
It also proposes to provide $80.3 million over two years to Global Affairs Canada and IRCC to respond to the Venezuelan migrant and refugee crisis.
“This investment would enable Canada to help reduce human suffering, irregular migration and security threats in the region,” according to the Budget. While “improving the integration of migrants and refugees into host communities.”