Canadian Immigration News

Canadian immigrants who originate from the Indian subcontinent are helping to make cricket a popular sport in Canada. Mike Colle, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship in Ontario, is presently in St. Lucia to encourage the Canadian team at the cricket World Cup.

Monte Solberg, a western MP stemming from Calgary, Alberta, has been appointed Canada's new Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Solberg was the finance critic from 2003 to 2005 and has been a long-serving member in the House of Commons.

The Consultation Commission on Accommodation Practices Related to Cultural Differences will be holding public hearings and town hall meetings in 17Quebeccommunities this fall. Having done five months of research and focus groups, the Commission's public hearings will give immigrants, French-speakingQuebecers and English-speaking Quebecers a chance to come together and discuss perceptions about immigration in Quebec.

In response to the demand for skilled immigrant workers in the Canadian economy, the Canadian government will be increasing funding for immigrant settlement programs by $307 million over the next 2 years.

In order to better serve its visitors, the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website (www.cic.gc.ca) has been reorganized to facilitate navigation and to improve user experience.

As businesses in Western Canada continue to experience shortages of labour, the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced changes to make it easier for companies to hire foreign workers.

In a move aimed to capitalize on the contributions being made by foreign workers to the booming Canadian economy, the Canadian Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration along with of Human Resources and Social Development Canada (ESDC) have announced that they will be extending the length of certain Temporary Foreign Worker permits.

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced yesterday that she will be working closely with the HonourableMonte Solberg and Human Resources and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to create an office for the Canadian recognition of foreign work credentials.

As announced on September 28, 2006 by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Monte Solberg, after an analysis done by Canada, Estonian citizens no longer require a temporary resident visa to visit Canada. He said this was due to the fact that Canada has the largest community of Estonians outside of Estonia.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada Minister Diane Finely rang in the Chinese Lunar New Year at the Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre, where sheannounced new funding for the centre.