Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - May 2008
Immigration Minister Diane Finlay claims that her government�s proposal of setting quotas on processing each year, and sending back applications once the quota is reached, will reduce the approximately 900,000 application backlog.
However, a logical analysis of the statistics reveals that quotas are not the solution to Canada�s backlog problem. In fact, quotas- albeit informally established ones- are the cause of the backlog.
This is because each visa office cannot process more applications than their staff allows. In allocating a certain number of staff and funds to each visa office per year, the government is already setting informal quotas on the number of applications to be processed.
What the Conservatives propose to do is to allow the visa offices to send back the excess applications to be resubmitted the following year. This will have no effect on the current backlog, as it would only apply as of February 2008. However, it could, in theory, limit any further backlog, but only by sending the message to possible immigrants that it is not worth the time to take the necessary steps in applying for Canadian permanent residency because the chances of having an application accepted are significantly reduced, especially in countries with high demand such as India.
The Conservatives also want to give the immigration department sole discretionary power to �pick-and-choose� which applications can be processed first. They have yet to convincingly illustrate how this will reduce the backlog. Rather, it seems that this policy would send a message that Canada does not process applications on a fair, transparent, �first come, first served� basis.
Finlay may publicly argue that her government�s intentions are honorable but we must remind ourselves who the immigration policies are designed to serve- not only Canadians, but people abroad who are merely seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
By sending the message that Canada does not want your application, nor will it necessarily be processed fairly, the Conservatives are tarnishing our international reputation and selling their policy to us as a solution to the very problem it is causing.
Source: National Post
http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=528408
