Immigration Canada Business Law Office of Guillaume Brien

Selected Immigration Canada News Release:

March 2007

• Minister announces designation and reappointment to the IRB
  [ 9 March 2007 ] Ottawa, March 9, 2007 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced the designation of Ken Sandhu as Deputy Chairperson of the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). The Minister also announced the reappointment of Barbara Berger to the IRB.

February 2007

• New Interim Chair to the IRB
  [ 28 February 2007 ] Ottawa, February 28, 2007 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, is pleased to name Brian P. Goodman, as interim Chair of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
• Canada‘s new government makes improvements to the temporary foreign worker program
  [ 23 February 2007 ] Vancouver, February 23, 2007 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSDC), and the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (CIC) today announced additional improvements to the Temporary Foreign Worker program. These improvements address challenges that Canadian employers face in filling labour shortages and so help Canada stay competitive and contribute to a strong economy.
• Minister Finley celebrates the 60th anniversary of Canadian citizenship
  [ 16 February 2007 ] Ottawa, February 16, 2007 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today welcomed 17 new Canadian families representing each province and territory in a special commemorative citizenship ceremony held at the Supreme Court of Canada. The ceremony was held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Canadian citizenship. Also in attendance were Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Senior Citizenship Judge Michel Simard.
• Canada to welcome 2,000 more Karen refugees
  [ 9 February 2007 ] London, February 9, 2007 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced that Canada will welcome an additional 2,000 Karen refugees from Burma (also known as Myanmar) over the next two years.

December 2006

• New Settlement and Language Training Services Benefit Immigrants in Ontario
  [ 2006-30, 15 December 2006] ORONTO, December 15, 2006 -- The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and the Honourable Mike Colle, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, visited Brampton Multicultural Community Centre today to highlight new services for immigrants provided under the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement.
• Canada’s New Government to Extend Off-Campus Work Program to More International Students
  [ 2006-27, 14 December 2006] OTTAWA, December 14, 2006 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced that Canada’s New Government will begin discussions with interested provinces and territories to expand the Off-Campus Work Permit program to include private institutions on a pilot basis.

November 2006

• Canada’s New Government to help employers address labour shortages in Western Canada
  [ 2006-21, 15 November 2006] VANCOUVER, November 15, 2006 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, today announced improvements to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to make it easier for employers in Alberta and British Columbia to hire foreign workers when there are no Canadian citizens or permanent residents available to fill the position.
• Canada’s New Government Delivers on $307 Million in Settlement Funding
  [ 2006-20, 10 November 2006] VANCOUVER, November 10, 2006 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced $307 million in new settlement funding to provinces and territories outside Quebec. The funding will ensure services and supports are in place to give immigrants every opportunity to succeed in their new home.
• Minister Calls for Independent Review of Immigration and Refugee Board Selection Process
  [ 2006-19, 3 November 2006] OTTAWA, November 3, 2006 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced today that he has asked for an independent review of the selection process for making appointments to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).

October 2006

• Citizenship and Immigration Minister tables the 2006 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration
  [ 2006-17, 31 October 2006] OTTAWA, October 31, 2006 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, today tabled the 2006 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration. The report outlines Canada’s initiatives over the past year to attract and welcome newcomers, and provides a projection of the number of people expected to become permanent residents in 2007.

September 2006

• Citizenship and Immigration Canada Changes Visa Requirement for Estonian Citizens
  [ 2006-13, 27 September 2006 ] OTTAWA, September 27, 2006 – The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (CIC), announced today that Estonian citizens no longer require a temporary resident visa to visit Canada.
• New plan to boost immigration to Francophone minority communities
  [ 2006-10, 11 September 2006 ] WINNIPEG, September 11, 2006 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, along with the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages, today launched the Strategic Plan to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities. The five year plan seeks to increase immigration of French-speaking people to Francophone communities, and to help them to settle in their new surroundings.

August 2006

• New agreement on immigration attracts entrepreneurs to B.C.
  [ 2006-09, 22 August 2006 ] Burnaby, August 22, 2006 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and the Honourable Colin Hansen, Economic Development Minister, British Columbia, announced today the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will help speed up the process for immigrant entrepreneurs to get to British Columbia.
• Ministers meet on an Atlantic approach to immigration
  [ 2006-08, 9 August 2006 ] Halifax, August 9, 2006 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, met today with the four Atlantic ministers responsible for immigration to explore ways of working together to increase the number of immigrants to Atlantic Canada. The provincial ministers invited Minister Solberg to join them for the Atlantic Immigration Ministers Forum, a session aimed at enhancing dialogue and collaboration on immigration in the Atlantic region.