CIC conducting public consultation on 2013 immigration levels

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is conducting a consultation on the 2012 immigration levels. Interested persons, organizations and stakeholders may participate in the consultation by completing an online questionnaire, or submit their opinion by mail or email. Further, Parliamentary Secretaries Chungsen Leung and Rick Dykstra will be meeting with stakeholders in July and August 2012. Interested parties may contact them directly for meeting schedules.

The purpose of the consultations is to seek feedback on immigration to Canada, specifically on the total number of new permanent residents Canada should welcome and how this overall total should be distributed among immigration categories. The three main issues to be surveyed are:

  1. What is the appropriate level of immigration for Canada? Should the number of immigrants per year change?
  2. What is the appropriate distribution – or mix – between the number of economic immigrants, family class immigrants and refugees?
  3. Economic immigration is recognized as a key immigration objective for Canada’s long-term economic growth. What role can immigration play to support Canada’s economy?

In the past, a similar survey had been conducted. The design and handling of the survey were perceived as somehow geared to the conservative government’s immigration agenda, according to Toronto immigration lawyer Jeff Li. In many occasions, the CIC announced surprising policy changes without prior consultation with the stakeholders. Nevertheless, Jeff Li encourages concerned individuals or organizations to participate in the consultation and voice their opinion fully and frankly with the CIC. Voices must be heard first, and then discussion should follow, said Jeff Li.

The online consultation is open from July 31 to August 31. A summary report on the consultations will be available on the CIC website in fall 2012 or winter 2013.

The online questionnaire is accessible at: surveys.ca/s/immigration2013/?l=en

People may also refer to a background document prepared by the CIC, at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/backgrounders/2012/2012-07-31.asp