This is the English version of the article guys just wanted to help out with the non-french speaking friends;
Unless of family reunions, more economic immigration. Over the last five years under the Conservative government, the number of immigrants received through family reunification decreased 24%, while at the same time, the number of economic migrants has increased by 26%. A change that worries the NDP. "The Conservatives changed the balance of our immigration system," says Don Davies, MP for Vancouver and spokesman of the official opposition on citizenship and immigration.
At the heart of this change, family reunification. Canadian immigrant experience, in fact more and more difficult to bring their spouses, parents or children left behind in Canada. "Family reunification is a nightmare," Sadia believes Groguhé, NDP MP for Saint-Lambert.
The processing time records and sponsorship applications varies according to regions. In Kenya, the Canadian visa office in Nairobi, which serves as many as 18 countries, the processing time is 32 months. Conversely, some Canadian visa offices display an astonishing speed, if we rely on the information available on the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This is true of that of Beijing, where the period is four months.
"The NDP calls for more staff in the foreign consulates. It could also automate these offices, as did Australia, so that applications are processed faster. There are concrete steps we can take to improve our system, "offers Don Davies.
The 2002 amendments to the Immigration Act also bring their share of human tragedy, believes the NDP. Regulation 117 (9) d provides that a person can not be considered in the eyes of immigration as a family member if it has not been controlled by an officer when the sponsor made her application to settle in Canada. Designed to limit fraud, the regulation of feeding many adverse effects.
"If the original purpose of the article is legitimate, it has unfortunately broader impacts and does not protect the family as a privileged space," says Don Davies. Thus, a person who has common-law or married, but does not specify at the time of its application, may never be able to sponsor one or the one who shares his life, even when obtained Canadian citizenship. "There are many social, psychological, and a lot of distress related to immigration status. The implications are enormous, "says Sadia Groguhé.
The official opposition now hopes to challenge the Immigration Minister Jason Kenney on Regulation 117 for the scope is limited only to proven cases of fraud. "We want to work for all Canadians to find justice," says Ms. Groguhé.
