Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada will be traveling to New Delhi at the end of October to assess Canadian immigration operations in India. She will also be "send out the message that Canada is looking for talented (Indian) people, looking for the best and the brightest to come here."

The Canadian immigration department has been working on a program to facilitate the immigration and settlement processes for newcomers – particularly with regard to facilitating the foreign credential recognition process.

Minister Finley recently announced the opening of a referral office in New Delhi (and one in Beijing as well) where people can learn about Canadian standards for regulated occupations. The goal is to teach soon-to-be Canadian immigrants "how to get through hurdles before they get here so that if there’s a gap between their skill levels and what the Canadian standards are, they can work towards upgrading their skills, closing the gap before they even arrive here," she explains.

Minster Finley will be providing more information about this program during her time in India. She will soon be announcing the second phase of the program, which will involve a pilot project in India.