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Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration 2004

Message from the Minister

Introduction

Canadian Immigration in the International Context

Federal-Provincial/Territorial Partnerships

Foreign Nationals as Permanent Residents

• Selecting Immigrants
  • Economic Class Immigration
  • Family Class
• Maintaining Canada’s Humanitarian Tradition
  • Resettlement
  • Asylum
  • International Protection
• Integration of New Permanent Residents
  • Various Programs for Immigrants
  • New Initiatives for Integration
  • Canadian Citizenship
• Statistical Overview of Permanent Residents for 2003 and 2004
  • New Permanent Residents in Canada in 2003
  • Permanent Resident Status Granted on Humanitarian Grounds in 2003
  • Immigration Objectives for 2004

Foreign Nationals Admitted as Temporary Residents

• Foreign Workers
• Foreign Students
• Visitors
• Statistical Overview of Temporary Residents in 2003
  • New Temporary Residents in Canada in 2003
  • Temporary Resident Permits Issued in 2003

The Immigration Plan for 2005

Gender-Based Analysis of the Impact of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Conclusion and Key Challenges

Annex A: List of Source Countries Grouped by Region

Annex B: Section 94 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Annex C: Glossary

Message from the Minister

Canada’s Immigration program has played a vital role in shaping and enriching our country. Canada has and will continue to benefit economically and culturally from the immigration of individuals and families who come here each year to seek a better future.

As Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, I am pleased to present to Parliament and to the people of Canada the Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration – 2004. This report highlights the important work of our immigration program and outlines the activities implemented to achieve our objectives of reuniting families; protecting people fleeing war or persecution; maintaining public safety; and meeting Canada’s economic, social and cultural needs.

A series of unforeseen challenges affected our operating environments in Canada and abroad in 2003: the SARS crisis, the war in Iraq, and civil unrest in the Ivory Coast and Haiti that resulted in embassy closures and evacuations in our missions abroad. Despite these challenges, the Department was able to meet its overall immigration and refugee targets for the fourth year in a row by welcoming 221,352 immigrants and refugees as new permanent residents in 2003.

This year, it is anticipated that Citizen and Immigration Canada (CIC) will once again meet its target range. I’m also pleased to say that in 2005, CIC plans to receive 220,000 to 245,000 new permanent residents.

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of continuing to maintain and build upon the necessary infrastructure and support for immigrants and refugees to ensure we achieve those levels. An important step in this process is our focus on consultation and collaboration.

For example, immigration has a profound impact on communities. This makes intergovernmental cooperation vital to the success of the immigration program.

This means working with a broad range of partners, including federal departments and agencies, provincial and territorial governments, municipalities, community service providers from the voluntary sector, international organizations, foreign governments, researchers and other stakeholders.

In 2003, CIC co-chaired a forum of 13 federal departments working together on a comprehensive approach to immigrant labour market integration, including the assessment and recognition of foreign credentials, enhanced language training, labour market information and targeted research. CIC worked with partners to develop new initiatives to help adult immigrants improve their official languages skills and to integrate more easily into the labour market.

Immigrants continue to seek Canada as their home as a result of the quality of life and the opportunities that our country provides. We recognize that it is vital that Canada continues to be a destination of choice for immigrants. To achieve this, we must remove any barriers faced by immigrants who are integrating into their new communities. This will ensure that newcomers make a successful transition into the labour market and can enrich our country both economically and culturally.

As Minister, I am committed to building upon our past success and working closely with our partners to ensure all Canadians share a pride in our country and the opportunities it offers and understand the important role newcomers play in maintaining our future prosperity.

The Honourable Judy Sgro
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Introduction

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and its Regulations were implemented on June 28, 2002. IRPA replaced the Immigration Act of 1976 with comprehensive and coherent legislation to pursue the maximum social, cultural and economic goals of the immigration program. It meets the challenge of balancing a variety of needs, such as making processes faster and procedures more equitable, welcoming families and providing a safe haven for persons needing protection, as well as preventing the entry into Canada of those who pose a threat to the health and safety of Canadians.

Under IRPA, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) must table in Parliament an annual report describing the Department’s immigration activities and listing the federal-provincial/territorial agreements currently in force.

This year’s report is divided into six major sections. The first section covers Canadian immigration in the international context, provides some statistics on international migration and outlines Canada’s role abroad.

The second section focuses on partnerships with the provinces and territories, and outlines the intergovernmental cooperative arrangements implemented by the federal and the provincial/ territorial governments, the agreements in effect and new initiatives.

The activities and initiatives for permanent residents are described in the third section. It provides statistics on the total number of new permanent residents admitted in 2003, the number settled in Quebec, the number admitted from January to August 2004 throughout Canada and the number who obtained permanent resident status based on humanitarian considerations. Statistics are provided on immigration class, gender, linguistic profile, key countries of origin and province of destination within Canada.

Temporary residents are discussed in the fourth section, which provides key information on foreign workers, students and visitors admitted to Canada. A statistical overview of the number of temporary resident permits issued for exceptional circumstances is also included.

The fifth section outlines the immigration plan for 2005 and indicates a target range for the number of permanent residents that CIC expects to welcome in each class.

The final section describes CIC’s strategic framework for gender-based analysis (GBA), the GBA plans for CIC’s branches and GBA activities.

Canadian Immigration in the International Context

In the past two decades, the change in international migration patterns has been influenced by several trend reversals. Many regional geo-political changes have taken place, particularly in central and eastern Europe, and in Asia and Africa. Major legislative and economic changes, some of which have affected the immigration policy of receiving countries, have also occurred.

The diversity in data recording systems and legislation makes international migration statistics difficult to compare. However, if immigration is expressed in terms of a foreign-born population, Canada can be compared to the United States and Australia. In 2001, Australia’s foreign-born population was 4,482,000, or 23 percent of its total population. Canada’s was 5,448,485, or 18.4 percent of its total population. The United States had a foreign-born population of 31,811,000, but this high number represented only 11 percent of its total population.

As it has throughout Canada’s history, the Canadian immigration program gives our country a major competitive advantage and is fundamental to Canada’s growth. Immigration officers are posted throughout the world. CIC employees work in 90 Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates. They process applications for immigration, refugee resettlement, temporary resident visas, study permits and work permits. In addition to these traditional activities and services, CIC monitors the ongoing and increasingly frequent developments regarding discussions on international migration. Canada is a respected player in immigration issues, and CIC, on behalf of the Government of Canada, works with other departments to encourage a balanced dialogue and to promote the advantages of immigration based on planning and government support.

CIC also provides services in its national, regional and local offices. CIC staff, both in Canada and abroad, work in a complex environment to serve a varied clientele and to help build and maintain a stronger Canada.

Immigration has always been fundamental to the growth of Canada as a nation and to our history of achievement. From our earliest days as a nation through to the global transformations of recent years, hard-working people and their families have come to Canada from all over the world. Collectively, they have made a significant contribution to the development of our economy, our society and our culture.

Federal-Provincial/Territorial Partnerships

Because jurisdiction over immigration matters is shared with the provinces, intergovernmental cooperation is critical to achieving CIC’s objectives. Under section 8 of IRPA, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration has the authority to sign agreements with the provinces and territories that will facilitate the coordination and implementation of immigration policies and programs. The provinces and territories also have legislation under which they can enter into such agreements. The agreements with the provinces and territories outline the responsibilities of each party and include mechanisms that enable them to contribute to the development of immigration policies and programs. To date, bilateral agreements have been signed with nine provinces and one territory: Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, Nova Scotia and the Yukon. Table 1 provides a list of these agreements, together with their signature date and the expiry date.

The Canada-Manitoba Immigration Agreement was renewed on June 6, 2003. Among other things, the partners will: develop new initiatives to respond to regional immigration needs; eliminate obstacles in the recognition of foreign credentials; continue to support the settlement and integration of new immigrants; and encourage foreign students and foreign workers to choose Manitoba. The new agreement conserves the important elements of the initial agreement signed in 1996, notably Manitoba’s commitment to offer settlement services in the two official languages and consult the Francophone minority in its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

On October 16, 2003, the Department extended an agreement between Canada and Alberta on the existing PNP to allow the province to attract targeted qualified immigrants to meet their economic development needs. With this agreement, the province plays a more direct role in the selection of immigrants who wish to settle in the province. The extension allows Alberta to nominate qualified candidates with experience to meet provincial needs.

CIC continues to maintain solid bilateral and multilateral partnerships with the provinces and territories, primarily through the annual meeting of ministers responsible for immigration, as well as periodic meetings with deputy ministers, assistant deputy ministers and the Immigration Planning Table.

In January 2004, at their most recent multilateral meeting, the ministers responsible for immigration announced that they will continue to work actively in their respective jurisdictions to find ways to recognize the credentials of newcomers to Canada. They also committed to working harder to encourage employers, professional associations and other regulatory bodies to act on this issue. The ministers discussed strategies for increasing Francophone immigration to official language minority communities and agreed on the need to preserve the flexibility of Canada’s immigration program to continue to meet the specific needs of each province and territory (they cited the PNP and the Quebec selection program as examples of how immigration can be tailored to the specific economic and social needs of various administrative jurisdictions).

Moreover, to facilitate the integration of newcomers into Canada, CIC also continues to work with the provincial and territorial governments, as well as with the private and volunteer sectors, to establish partnerships with communities. With this in mind, the Minister responsible for CIC and her provincial counterparts co-chaired round tables attended by municipal representatives last year in Ontario, New Brunswick and British Columbia.

In the past year, CIC has also signed a number of agreements on pilot projects that allow foreign students who graduate from a college or university in Saskatchewan or Nova Scotia to work in those provinces for an extra year. CIC also signed new pilot projects to allow international students in New Brunswick and Quebec, outside of Montréal and Québec City, to work off-campus.

The Canada-Quebec Accord relating to immigration and the admission of temporary residents, signed in 1991, is the most comprehensive of the 10 agreements on immigration. The agreement stipulates that Quebec has the authority to set its own annual immigration targets and has sole responsibility for selecting immigrants who want to settle in the province (with the exception of refugees whose status is determined and members of the family class). The Government of Quebec also assumes full responsibility for providing orientation and integration services to new permanent residents.

Some of the other agreements relate exclusively to the Provincial Nominee Program, which allows provinces and territories to nominate an agreed-upon number of individuals to fill their regional or local economic needs. CIC retains responsibility for setting national standards and goals, defining immigrant classes and establishing the overall immigration levels each year. The targets established by Quebec are included in the overall immigration levels.

Foreign Nationals as Permanent Residents

The Government of Canada is one of the few countries in the world with a permanent immigration program. The 2001 Census shows that foreign-born persons make up a sizable and growing proportion of the country’s population, reaching 5.4 million in 2001 or 18.4 percent of the Canadian population. In the 1990s, 94 percent of immigrants who came to Canada settled in an urban area; Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver welcomed 73 percent of these immigrants.

Since 1967, Canada’s immigration program has been based on non-discriminatory principles. The immigration program is universal — foreign nationals are assessed according to the same criteria regardless of race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or sex.

CIC strives to take full advantage of the social, cultural and economic benefits of foreign nationals admitted as permanent residents. IRPA defines three classes of foreign nationals as permanent residents, corresponding to the three main objectives of the immigration program.

• The economic class includes skilled workers, business immigrants, provincial nominees, live-in caregivers and their immediate family. For several years, about 60 percent of immigrants to Canada have been economic immigrants.
• The family class includes the following persons: spouses; common-law partners; conjugal partners; dependent children; the sponsor’s parents and grandparents; children under 18 years of age whom the sponsor intends to adopt in Canada; orphaned brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and grandchildren under 18 years of age; and any other relative if the sponsor does not have any of the previously listed relatives abroad or in Canada.
• The protected persons category includes Convention refugees (those selected abroad to resettle in Canada) and persons who were granted permanent residence after claiming asylum once in Canada.

Since December 2003, the Permanent Resident Card is mandatory for permanent residents wishing to re-enter Canada aboard any commercial carrier (airplane, boat, train or bus). A permanent resident is someone who has been allowed to enter Canada as an immigrant but who has not become a Canadian citizen. The Permanent Resident Card demonstrates how technology can be used to protect Canada against the fraudulent use of our immigration documents and, at the same time, protect the privacy of those who wish to make Canada their home.

Selecting Immigrants

Economic Class Immigration

IRPA and its Regulations have modernized Canada’s immigration policy. They are aimed at facilitating entry into Canada for new immigrants who are better prepared to adapt to Canada’s labour market and economy, and at giving Canada the tools it needs to attract workers with more transferable skills.

Since June 28, 2002, people who apply to come to Canada must meet new requirements to be admitted in the skilled workers category. They are assessed according to six selection factors: [note 1] education, knowledge of the official languages, work experience, age, arranged employment in Canada and adaptability. Canada focuses on selecting workers with flexible and transferable skills, rather than on specific occupations or professions. The legislation takes into consideration the needs of the Canadian economy and facilitates the selection of technical workers and university graduates. In addition, it attaches great importance to a knowledge of English or French. These characteristics give Canadian businesses access to the pool of skilled workers they need to continue to grow and prosper in a 21^st century economy.

Canada continues to encourage the admission of business people whose skills and equity will promote the development of a strong and prosperous economy. There are three types of business immigrants: investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed workers.

The Immigrant Investor Program seeks to attract immigrants with business and capital management experience. Applicants must show that they have business experience and have a minimum net worth of $800,000. They must also make an investment of $400,000.

The Entrepreneurial Immigration Program is designed to attract immigrants with business experience that can be utilized in Canada. Certain conditions are imposed on them once they arrive in Canada: they must hold at least 33 1/3 percent of the equity of a Canadian business; they must actively manage the business; and they must employ at least one Canadian citizen or permanent resident. In this way, they create jobs and contribute to the economic development of Canada.

Finally, self-employed persons must demonstrate their intention and ability to be self-employed and make a significant contribution to certain economic activities in Canada, primarily in the areas of culture, sports or farm management.

Another component of economic immigration is the Provincial Nominee Program, which allows provincial governments to actively participate in the immigration process. As mentioned above, a number of provinces have entered into agreements with the federal government to identify and designate the number of nominees needed for the economic development of their respective regions. [note 2] These nominees must also meet federal health and security admission criteria.

The Live-in Caregiver Program is the last component of economic immigration. The purpose of the program is to bring qualified workers to Canada as live-in caregivers when there are not enough Canadians and permanent residents to fill the available positions. Successful candidates will be granted temporary resident status for at least two years before they can apply for permanent resident status from within Canada.

Family Class

The family class is made up of people who join family members already settled in Canada. Accordingly, Canadian citizens and permanent residents residing in Canada, 18 years of age or older, may sponsor close family members who want to become permanent residents of Canada. Sponsors are assessed to ensure they can support the applicant and any accompanying family members for a period of three to ten years, depending on their age and relationship to the sponsor.

Maintaining Canada’s Humanitarian Tradition

In accordance with its humanitarian tradition and international obligations, Canada protects many thousands of people each year, nearly half of whom are refugees selected abroad to resettle in Canada. The other half are persons who have been granted permanent resident status after claiming refugee protection once in Canada. Descriptions of these two groups of persons in need of protection are provided in the following paragraphs.

Canada signed in Geneva the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees. Under the Convention, refugees are protected and cannot be forcibly returned to their country of origin. Convention refugees are persons who

• have a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion;
• are outside their country of nationality and are unable or, by reason of that fear, unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country; or
• not having a country of nationality, are outside the country of their former habitual residence and are unable or, by reason of that fear, unwilling to return to that country. [note 3]

In 2002, in keeping with its humanitarian tradition and international obligations, Canada expanded its definition of refugee protection. In addition to the criteria from the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, refugee claims in Canada are now assessed against criteria from the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, [note 4] and the further criteria of risk to life or risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.

Resettlement

The Canadian refugee and humanitarian resettlement assistance program enables Canada to uphold its humanitarian traditions. The primary group of persons in need of protection consists of refugees selected abroad to resettle in Canada and for whom no other solution is available within a reasonable period. To be eligible for the program, applicants must be unable to return to their country of nationality or of fixed residence, or to remain in the country that has granted them temporary asylum. Applicants must also undergo a medical examination and security and criminal checks. Besides the government’s efforts, private sponsorships enable organizations and groups of individuals to assist refugees and other people in similar circumstances to rebuild their lives in Canada. Special initiatives, in cooperation with provincial governments and the voluntary sector, assist special-needs refugees such as women at risk. These joint assistance sponsorships help when resettlement is urgently needed or when the refugee family needs longer-term support. In these instances, government and non-governmental organizations combine their resources to meet their needs.

CIC offers assistance programs to new immigrants to help them settle and integrate into Canadian society as quickly as possible. Three programs are designed to help refugees and those in similar circumstances rebuild their lives in Canada: the Resettlement Assistance Program, the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program and the Immigrant Loans Program. The first program provides income support for essential household items and for immediate delivery of essential services (such as reception services at the port of entry, temporary accommodation, assistance to find accommodation, and financial advice). Under the second program, Canadian groups take on the responsibility of helping refugees settle in Canada by providing the necessary financial and emotional support. This includes the Joint Assistance Sponsorship Program, in which private sponsors and the government share this responsibility. The third program provides loans to those seeking permanent residence and provides financial assistance to refugees and persons in need of protection. These loans cover the foreign medical examination, transportation costs to Canada and the fees associated with the right of permanent residence.

Asylum

The second group of persons in need of protection includes those who claim asylum by notifying an immigration officer upon or after their arrival in Canada. Claimants can receive protection in Canada if they are found to be refugees, as defined by the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, or “persons in need of protection,” under section 1 of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. A person may be considered in need of protection if returning to his or her country would place him or her at risk of torture, loss of life, or cruel and unusual punishment or treatment. The Immigration and Refugee Board determines whether a claimant is a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection.

A person whose claim for protection has been accepted has 180 days to apply for permanent residence for himself or herself, as well as for his or her family members in Canada or abroad. A person whose claim for protection is refused receives a letter indicating the reasons for the decision and must leave the country. [note 5] If claimants feel that they would be at risk if they returned to their country of origin or of habitual residence, they may apply for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA) before removal from Canada. Successful PRRA applicants may apply for permanent residence in Canada as persons in need of protection.

Certain rights are granted to asylum claimants. For example, they may apply for work permits if they cannot survive without public assistance. [note 6] Claimants may also apply for study permits while waiting for a decision on their claims. Minor children, however, may attend primary and secondary school without a study permit. In addition, CIC’s Interim Federal Health Program [note 7] covers emergency and essential health services for asylum claimants and refugees in Canada not yet covered by provincial health care programs.

International Protection

To protect persons in need of protection, Canada works with a number of international organizations and partners, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, the European Union and the Intergovernmental Consultation on Refugees. CIC also works with other United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations to protect human rights and to promote humanitarian assistance.

Integration of New Permanent Residents

Integrating immigrants is a key factor in meeting IRPA’s objectives. New permanent residents must integrate successfully into Canadian society for Canada to maximize the economic, social and cultural benefits of immigration. Integration is also crucial to maintaining public support for the citizenship and immigration program and for ensuring that new permanent residents enjoy the same quality of life as other Canadians.

Various Programs for Immigrants and Refugees

Every year, many permanent residents receive integration services. CIC offers a number of programs to ease their settlement and integration into Canadian society, including the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program (ISAP), the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program and the Host Program, all of which are described as follows.

Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program
The objective of ISAP is to assist newcomers in settling and integrating into Canadian society so that they can participate in Canadian life as soon as possible. ISAP funds the delivery of direct services to newcomers, such as reception, orientation, translation, interpretation, referral to community resources, para-professional counselling, general information and employment-related services. CIC also offers the Canadian Orientation Abroad program, which provides participants with a realistic view of life in Canada before they arrive. Subjects covered include education, climate, accommodation, cost of living and employment. Orientation sessions are given by non-governmental organizations in Kenya and its neighbouring countries, as well as in Pakistan, Vietnam, Syria, Egypt and the Philippines.

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada
The objective of LINC is to provide basic language instruction to adult newcomers in one of Canada’s two official languages. The program may also include literacy and numeracy training courses. LINC eases the social, cultural and economic integration of immigrants and refugees into Canada. It also provides information that helps acquaint participants with the Canadian way of life, which in turn, enables them to quickly become participating members of Canadian society.

Host Program
The objective of the Host Program is to help newcomers overcome the stress of moving to a new country. Volunteers familiar with life in Canada help newcomers learn about available services and how to use them, practise English or French, make contacts in their field of work and participate in the community. In return, host Canadians learn about new cultures, other countries and different languages while making new friends and strengthening community life.

New Initiatives for Integration

New permanent residents face a number of obstacles, including the lack of recognition of foreign credentials, which hinder their quick and effective integration into the Canadian workforce and their ability to keep jobs that match their skills, education and experience. The CIC Enhanced Language Training initiative will help increase the number of newcomers receiving advanced language training in different regions and communities, including language training courses tailored to their profession. One of the objectives of these courses is to meet the needs of newcomers arriving in Canada who have a basic or intermediate knowledge of English or French but still need to gain a better command of the language. In addition, profession-targeted courses will be offered to some professionals and skilled workers. These newcomers will then be able to find and keep jobs that match their skills.

CIC has also developed the portal project for newcomers as an improvement to the Going to Canada Web site. CIC must make complete and relevant information available to newcomers on the subject of professional requirements so that they can make informed decisions on immigrating to Canada, which in turn will help them integrate socially and economically. To that end, CIC has partnered with Industry Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), Health Canada and Foreign Affairs Canada in a collective effort to improve the current Going to Canada Web site. [note 8] The updated site will provide seamless access to consistent and targeted information and services dealing specifically with labour, education, culture, regions and communities in Canada, evaluation and recognition of foreign credentials, training offered to compensate for the lack of credentials, language evaluation and training, job searching and related training, mentorship, familiarization with Canada, and immigrant and employee success stories. The portal, which is designed to encourage the rapid economic and social integration of newcomers, will help potential new permanent residents make informed decisions about immigrating to Canada and preparing themselves for Canadian life. The project supports regionalization strategies for immigration as well as initiatives for official language minority communities by making new permanent residents aware of them.

Canadian Citizenship

Obtaining citizenship is a significant step in the settlement process for new permanent residents. More than 150,000 people obtain Canadian citizenship every year. Approximately 80 percent of immigrants eventually become Canadian citizens. Canada continues to be a country where newcomers feel welcome and have a sense of opportunity and hope. Welcoming newcomers and helping them integrate into Canada is a community effort.

Canadians have a long tradition of democracy, freedom and respect. The rights and values that all Canadians hold dear can be found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Bill of Rights, and the provincial human rights codes. With those rights come certain responsibilities such as respect for the rights and freedoms of all Canadians.

Statistical Overview of Permanent Residents for 2003 and 2004

New Permanent Residents in Canada in 2003

In 2003, Canada received 221,352 new immigrants as permanent residents. [note 9] That number falls within the target range of 220,000 to 245,000 new permanent residents set out in the Annual Report to Parliament – 2003. Certain international events (such as the SARS epidemic, the war in Iraq and new security measures) had an impact on CIC’s operations in 2003. For example, the closure of the Damascus mission for four months resulted in a slowing down of selection activities.

Table 2 indicates the total number of permanent residents who settled in Canada in 2003 by immigration category and gender. [note 10] Of those 221,352 permanent residents, 55 percent (121,055) were immigrants in the economic class and their dependants; 31 percent (68,863) were in the family class; 12 percent (25,981) were refugees and other protected persons; and 2 percent (5,441) were in the “other” [note 11] category. That distribution differs somewhat from the projected figures for 2003 because there were slightly fewer permanent residents than anticipated in the economic class (the target range was 132,000 to 147,000) and fewer protected persons (the target range was 28,100 to 32,500). Those small decreases allowed Canada to receive more family class immigrants (the target range was between 52,500 and 55,500).

In the economic class, the number of provincial/territorial nominees doubled, jumping from 2,127 in 2002 to 4,418 in 2003. That increase is the result of several agreements between the federal government and most of the provinces and territories.

Table 2 also shows that 48 percent of new permanent residents were men (106,517) and 52 percent were women (114,834). Those totals seem to indicate an equal distribution between the sexes. However, 49.7 percent of women were in the economic class, 36.9 percent were in the family class, 10.6 percent were protected persons, and 3 percent were in the “other” category. In the case of men, 60 percent were in the economic class, 25 percent were in the family class, 13 percent were protected persons, and 2 percent were in the “other” category. Therefore, there are proportionately more women than men in the family class, but fewer women than men in the economic class.

Table 3 provides the number of principal applicants in the economic class who received permanent residence in 2003, by gender. [note 12] These applicants are people who actively sought to resettle in Canada. They were selected or evaluated on the basis of criteria developed to maximize their integration into the labour market or the business world. Analysis of this table reveals a notable gap between men and women: 29 percent (14,735) of principal applicants in the economic class were women, whereas 71 percent (36,951) were men. In the skilled worker, business immigrant, and provincial/territorial nominee classes, there were more men than women. However, more women became permanent residents after entering Canada as live-in caregivers.

Permanent residents came from all over the world — from 214 different countries of origin — to settle in Canada in 2003. Table 4 shows that half (51 percent) of the permanent residents admitted in 2003 came from the Asia and Pacific region, [note 13] 20 percent from Africa and the Middle East, and 17 percent from Europe and the United Kingdom.

Table 5 is more detailed and indicates the country of last permanent residence of new immigrants in 2003. It shows that 54 percent of new immigrants came from 10 countries of origin. The remaining 46 percent came from more than 200 other countries. In 2003, China and India were the leading source countries, representing 27 percent (60,676) of new permanent residents, while Pakistan and the Philippines ranked third and fourth respectively among countries of origin. The other main countries, in descending order, were: Korea, the United States, Iran, Romania, the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.

In 2003, the most popular provinces of destination among new permanent residents were Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. As indicated in Table 6, approximately 90 percent of permanent residents admitted in 2003 settled in one of those three provinces. Of the total 221,352 new permanent residents, 119,741, or just over half (54 percent), went to Ontario. A total of 39,551 (18 percent) new permanent residents chose Quebec, and 35,228 (16 percent) chose British Columbia.

Ontario received 57 percent (39,558) of family class immigrants in 2003, 52 percent (63,187) of economic class immigrants and 53 percent (13,743) of protected persons. British Columbia attracted 18 percent (12,274) of permanent residents in the family class, 17 percent (20,443) of those in the economic class and 7 percent (1,826) of protected persons.

Quebec, which has total responsibility for selecting its own permanent residents, [note 15] received 13 percent (8,815) of permanent residents in the family class, 19 percent (23,560) of those in the economic class and 24 percent (6,176) of protected persons. The total number of permanent residents landed in Quebec in 2003 is thus 39,551, a level which comes very close to the targeted range (40,100 to 43,700) outlined in the plan adopted by the Government of Quebec. Quebec met its target ranges for the economic class (23,800 to 28,700) and for the family class (8,600 to 8,700). In the protected persons category, Quebec did not receive the projected number of 7,600.

In terms of the language profile of new permanent residents admitted in 2003, 56 percent (123,018) stated that they spoke English and/or French, while the remaining 44 percent (98,334) stated that they did not speak English or French on arrival. Following the implementation of IRPA, all principal applicants from the economic class are assessed on their knowledge of official languages, whereas this information is self-declared for immigrants from other classes. Table 7 illustrates the knowledge of official languages among permanent residents admitted in 2003 by immigration category. This table shows that 52 percent of immigrants admitted in the family class knew English and/or French when they arrived, as did 53 percent of protected persons and 78 percent of principal applicants in the economic class. Of the other economic immigrants, 41 percent stated that they spoke English and/or French.

Permanent Resident Status Granted on Humanitarian Grounds in 2003

Under IRPA, when humanitarian grounds or public policy considerations warrant, CIC may grant permanent resident status to foreigners who would not otherwise meet the requirements of the Act. CIC must, however, report such actions in the annual report. Table 2 shows that in 2003, a total of 5,265 people became permanent residents on humanitarian grounds.

Immigration Objectives for 2004

The Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration – 2003 laid out the immigration plan for 2004. CIC had planned to admit between 220,000 and 245,000 new permanent residents to Canada. Table 8 indicates the number of people who became permanent residents between January and August 2004. [note 16] CIC is aiming to meet the 2004 target range. [note 17] The plan underscored the Government of Canada’s commitment to balancing immigration in the economic class, the family class and the protected person’s class, and to maximizing the social and economic benefits to Canada.

Foreign Nationals Admitted as Temporary Residents

Unlike permanent residents, temporary residents are in Canada for a limited time. This group consists of students, foreign workers and visitors, including tourists. Temporary residents contribute to Canada’s economic growth and to the vitality of our educational institutions.

Before coming to Canada, applicants must obtain a temporary resident visa, unless they are coming from a country that is exempt under the IRP Regulations. [note 18] Visa officers consider a number of factors when evaluating temporary residents’ visa applications. For example, they can verify whether the visitor is in good health, has a criminal record, is a security threat to Canada, holds a valid passport or travel document, [note 19] has enough money to live on while in Canada, and will leave voluntarily at the end of his or her stay in Canada. The visa officer evaluates the situation before deciding whether the applicant is a genuine visitor or if he or she might stay in Canada illegally. To that end, the visa officer studies the applicant’s reason for the visit, his or her employment, family situation, and the general economic and political stability of his or her country of origin.

Foreign Workers

Foreign workers make a significant contribution to Canada’s economic development. They help address skill shortages and teach Canadians high-demand qualifications. As a general rule, foreign workers must have an approved job offer and a work permit before arriving in Canada. Once they have received their approved job offer, they must apply for a work permit. Visa officers are responsible for ensuring that applicants qualify for a work permit and meet health and security requirements. Once issued, a work permit is valid for only one type of employment, with a specific employer and for a specific period.

The employer of a foreign worker must apply to have the job offer confirmed by the regional HRSDC office, which can approve or reject the offer. An HRSDC officer evaluates the impact the employment would have on the labour market, focusing particularly on the pay level and working conditions (which must be acceptable for the Canadian labour market), the availability of qualified Canadian workers, and the spin-off for Canada in terms of creating or exchanging beneficial skills and knowledge. If it is determined that the effect on the Canadian labour market will be neutral or positive, the HRSDC officer approves the offer. HRSDC can enter into agreements with Canadian industry sectors experiencing industry-wide labour shortages to help expedite the issuance of the necessary work permits, as has been done for information technology workers. In certain circumstances, foreign nationals in Canada can work with a permit but they do not have to present a job offer to HRSDC — such as spouses and common-law partners of students and some skilled temporary workers.

IRPA allows for cases where employers do not need HRSDC’s opinion on the labour market to hire a foreign worker and where the foreign worker does not need a work permit issued by CIC. [note 20] In addition, specific hiring criteria apply to some sectors and professions, including universities, seasonal agriculture, movie production and performing arts, information technology, live-in caregiving, and pilot projects for positions requiring a high school diploma or on-the-job training.

Foreign Students [note 21]

In recognition of the social and economic benefits that foreign students bring to Canada, the federal government has committed to making our country a destination of choice for talented foreign students. To obtain a study permit, candidates must submit an application to study in Canada. Applications must be submitted to and approved by a visa office outside Canada. The permit indicates the level of study and the intended duration of the visit. In general, foreign students must present an acceptance letter from the institution they want to attend, prove that they have sufficient money to pay their tuition fees and living expenses, satisfy the visa officer that they intend to return to their country of origin at the end of their studies and undergo a medical examination.

Certain groups of people do not require a study permit, namely, those who are taking a course or participating in a short program of study. For example, since IRPA came into effect in 2002, it is no longer necessary to have a study permit for courses and programs lasting less than six months. That is also the case for minor children already in Canada whose parents are not temporary residents in the visitor class, [note 22] and for all family members or employees of foreign representatives in Canada.

Visitors

In addition to being responsible for admitting foreign workers and students, CIC is responsible for admitting visitors. Temporary residents who want to visit Canada for longer than six months without working or studying must obtain a visitor record. Under IRPA, visitors who intend to work but are not required to have a work permit may be issued a visitor record to facilitate their entry. Under IRPA and NAFTA, business visitors providing after-sales service for longer than two days must obtain a visitor record.

Statistical Overview of Temporary Residents in 2003

New Temporary Residents in Canada in 2003

Table 9 shows the entries for all temporary residents and refugee claimants according to their primary status. [note 23] In 2003, Canada received 244,922 new temporary residents. Of that number, 82,151 (34 percent) were admitted as foreign workers, 61,293 (25 percent) as foreign students, 29,364 (12 percent) as humanitarian cases [note 24] and 72,114 (29 percent) as “other.” [note 25]

The majority of the temporary foreign workers admitted were male, representing 68 percent (56,233) as compared to females, who made up only 32 percent (25,906). About a third of foreign workers came from the United States and Mexico, representing 19 percent (15,403) and 13 percent (11,075) respectively of the foreign worker population. For female foreign workers, the leading source countries were the Philippines with 15 percent (3,995), Japan with 13 percent (3,474), and the United States with 13 percent (3,443). Other countries of origin of foreign workers in descending order were Australia, Jamaica, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Philippines, France, India and Germany. [note 27] Ontario received a little under half of all foreign workers (39,512, or 48 percent). British Columbia and Quebec received 16,412 and 12,852 foreign workers (20 percent and 16 percent) respectively. This means that 84 percent of the foreign workers resided temporarily in one of those three provinces.

In 2003, one temporary resident out of four was admitted as a foreign student. [note 28] Of the 61,293 new students, a little more than 40 percent came from China (16,215) and Korea (11,976), the top source countries for both males and females. India continues to grow as a source country for male foreign students, going from 1.8 percent (562) of all male foreign students in 2000 to 5.8 percent (1,857) in 2003. Japan remains a major source country for female foreign students, who represented 68.8 percent (3,539) of those admitted from Japan. The provinces that drew in the most foreign students were Ontario (20,750, or 34 percent), British Columbia (20,045, or 33 percent), and Quebec (9,642, or 16 percent), representing 83 percent of the total foreign students admitted in Canada in 2003.

Temporary Resident Permits Issued in 2003

Subsection 24(1) of IRPA authorizes CIC to issue temporary resident permits to foreign nationals who want to enter Canada for a variety of reasons despite being inadmissible on medical or criminal grounds or for reasons of security, infringement of human or international rights, or organized crime. Issued for a limited period of time and subject to cancellation at any time, temporary resident permits give CIC the flexibility to address exceptional circumstances. Table 10 indicates the number of temporary resident permits issued to people seeking to enter Canada and found to be inadmissible. In 2003, 12,069 temporary resident permits were issued to such people. That figure marks a slight decrease from the 2002 total of 12,630, which represented the number of permits issued and people admitted under the discretionary power of the former act.

The Immigration Plan for 2005

As indicated in last year’s Annual Report, CIC expects to land between 220,000 and 245,000 newcomers in Canada as permanent residents during 2005. The overall range identified in 2003 and 2004 is thus being maintained.

The immigration plan for 2005 underscores the Government of Canada’s ongoing commitment to balance the economic, family reunification and refugee protection components of the immigration program and to maximize the social and economic benefits to Canada.

CIC will continue to aim for a balance between economic and non-economic immigrants. The economic class is comprised of skilled workers, business immigrants, live-in caregivers and provincial nominees, as well as their dependants. The non-economic component is comprised of the family class and the protected persons class, as well as cases decided on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Table 11 provides further details by immigrant category.

While these figures are projections for the entire country, Quebec is responsible for developing and managing its own immigration plan under the Canada-Quebec Accord. Similar to CIC, Quebec [note 29] publishes its own immigration plan each fall for the following calendar year, which includes provincial targets by immigrant sub-category. Subject to revisions to the plan, it is expected that Quebec will welcome 44,400 new permanent residents in 2005. These new arrivals would fall into the following sub-categories: 24,400 skilled workers; 3,200 business immigrants and 200 other economic immigrants; 9,500 family class members; 7,000 refugees; and 100 from the “other” category.

CIC is concerned about the overall decline in immigrant outcomes. In response to this, CIC will continue to work with domestic partners in 2005 on important initiatives to improve immigrant labour market integration, including language training and better recognition of foreign credentials and work experience.

With its federal, provincial and territorial partners, the Department is also developing a National Immigration Framework that will improve multilateral coordination and ensure that Canada maintains a flexible immigration program that meets its policy objectives.

Gender-Based Analysis of the Impact of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

As a public policy tool, gender-based analysis (GBA) focuses on important social and economic differences between men and women, and different groups of men and women, over their life cycles. This approach makes it possible to identify any potential differential impacts of existing or planned legislation, programs and policies, and to make adjustments, where appropriate, to ensure gender equality.

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act includes a legislative requirement to report annually on the impact of the new legislation and the corresponding regulations from the perspective of gender-based analysis.

The IRPA requirement to report on gender-related impacts is unprecedented in federal statutes. This requirement reflects parliamentary concern for increased accountability by departments in implementing equality commitments, including commitments to ensuring that policy and programs support progress towards equality between women and men. The integration of gender-based analysis into policy and program development is a means of strengthening the quality of public policy and programs and of ensuring they meet equity and effectiveness criteria.

A Strategic Framework for Gender-Based Analysis for Citizenship and Immigration Canada

CIC has developed a framework for gender-based analysis to clarify roles and responsibilities in relation to the Department’s commitment to an integrated approach to gender-based analysis and the reporting requirement on gender impacts. The Strategic Framework for Gender-Based Analysis (2005–2010) sets out the Department’s strategic objectives and principles for gender-based analysis and the steps that will be taken to strengthen capacity and performance in this area to 2010.

The Framework outlines four complementary initiatives: (1) the formulation of branch GBA plans that outline practical and feasible steps for the upcoming year at the branch level; (2) the identification of steps to address cross-departmental needs; (3) the preparation of annual IRPA reports that include an analysis of selected issues and a summary report on initiatives to build capacity and skills for gender-based analysis; and (4) an annual stock-taking of progress made, which will serve as a CIC learning and management tool.

GBA Branch Plans

GBA Branch Plans, and actions to implement them, are central to the Strategic Framework and provide the basis for CIC to prepare the required section on gender impacts of the Act for the Annual Report to Parliament. They will assist the Department in identifying the priority issues for attention when preparing gender-based analyses of the impact of IRPA sections related to branch responsibilities, and establish a multiyear schedule for reporting. They will also aid in measuring performance in gender mainstreaming and in reinforcing accountability.

GBA Activities

CIC continues to provide training courses in gender-based analysis and to develop supporting tools to address issues related specifically to immigration and refugee protection for training and policy purposes. In addition to ongoing training, efforts were focused on training to support the development and implementation of GBA Branch Plans. A special training clinic on trafficking in persons was organized for new foreign service officers in Ottawa with the International Region.

The GBA Unit is well placed to support CIC at a strategic level and provide expertise for analyses of gender-related implications of CIC legislative initiatives and strategic directions. Further, it can also provide analyses and recommendations from a gender perspective on the implications of immigration-related government policies and of emerging domestic and international trends. In this capacity, horizontal policy support was provided on the Live-In Caregiver Program, trafficking in persons, remittances, separated children, and refugee reform issues. Input was also provided for a variety of international processes and fora where gender and migration issues were discussed.

Conclusion and Key Challenges

Every year, millions of people embark on a migratory journey. Many of them leave their country to seek a better future for themselves and for their families. Others flee war or persecution. International social, economic and political conditions have a direct impact on Citizenship and Immigration’s programs and policies. CIC is committed to reaping the maximum benefits of international migration and to making Canada a destination of choice for immigrants. In support of that commitment, IRPA lays out four basic social, humanitarian, economic and safety objectives that underscore the immigration program: providing maximum economic and social benefits from migration; protecting refugees and others in need of resettlement; supporting the settlement, adaptation and integration of newcomers into Canadian society; and managing access to Canada with a fair and effective enforcement strategy.

Citizen and Immigration Canada’s ability to set and meet a specific immigration objective depends on a number of factors and would be impossible without intergovernmental cooperation. Therefore, CIC continues to work with its partners. This report outlines the partnerships with the provinces and territories, and highlights the renewed 2003 agreements between CIC and the provinces, in particular, Manitoba and Alberta. It also describes the pilot agreements on off-campus work for foreign students and other agreements specifically related to provincial nominees. In addition, it provides an overview of the last meeting of immigration ministers, where they agreed to continue working together to find a way of recognizing the foreign credentials of newcomers to Canada.

In 2003, Canada welcomed 221,352 new permanent residents; the target range was 220,000 to 245,000. The distribution between economic and non-economic classes differed slightly from the projected figures: there were fewer new permanent residents in the economic class and the protected persons’ class, enabling Canada to receive more permanent residents in the family class.

From January to August 2004, Canada admitted 165,691 new permanent residents, which indicates that the Department is in the process of achieving, once again, its annual immigration targets. Additionally, Canada is aiming to admit between 220,000 and 245,000 newcomers in 2005.

In 2003, CIC issued 12,069 temporary resident permits to persons seeking to enter Canada and found to be inadmissible for various reasons; that figure marks a decrease from the 2002 total of 12,630.

The new initiatives associated with CIC’s Internet portal and Enhanced Language Training will increase the chances for newcomers to find and keep jobs that are consistent with their capabilities. In addition, CIC and its partners will strive to implement the various strategies to eliminate the barriers that prevent immigrants from integrating economically. Immigration has always played a pivotal role in building our country, and it will continue to do so in the future. CIC will continue to develop immigration policies and programs that comply with our international commitments and benefit all Canadians.

Annex A: List of Source Countries Grouped by Region

Annex B: Section 94 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

The following is an extract from the 2002 Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, outlining the requirements for CIC’s Annual Report to Parliament.

Reports to Parliament

94 (1) The Minister must, on or before November 1 of each year or, if a House of Parliament is not then sitting, within the next 30 days on which that House is sitting after that date, table in each House of Parliament a report on the operation of this Act in the preceding calendar year.

(2) The report shall include a description of:

(a) the activities and initiatives taken concerning the selection of foreign nationals, including measures taken in cooperation with the provinces;

(b) in respect of Canada, the number of foreign nationals who became permanent residents, and the number projected to become permanent residents in the following year;

(b.1) in respect of Canada, the linguistic profile of foreign nationals who became permanent residents;

(c) in respect of each province that has entered into a federal-provincial agreement described in subsection 9(1), the number, for each class listed in the agreement, of persons that became permanent residents and that the province projects will become permanent residents there in the following year;

(d) the number of temporary resident permits issued under section 24, categorized according to grounds of inadmissibility, if any;

(e) the number of persons granted permanent resident status under subsection 25(1); and

(f) a gender-based analysis of the impact of this Act.

Annex C: Glossary

The following definitions are based on the glossary compiled for CIC’s on-line publication, The Monitor.

Business Immigrants

Business immigrants include three classes of immigrants — investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed people. Business immigrants become permanent residents on the basis of their ability to become economically established in Canada. Spouses and children of business immigrants are also included in this category.

Convention Refugees

Persons who, by reason of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, are (i) outside their countries of nationality and unable or, by reason of that fear, unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of those countries; or (ii) not having a country of nationality, are outside the country of their former habitual residence and unable or, by reason of that fear, unwilling to return to that country.

Economic Immigrants

People selected as permanent residents for their skills and ability to contribute to Canada’s economy, including skilled workers, business people and provincial nominees.

Entrepreneurs

Immigrants admitted to Canada as permanent residents by demonstrating that they

• have managed and controlled a percentage of equity in a qualifying business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before they apply; and
• have a legally obtained net worth of at least CAN$300,000.

Family Class

A class of immigrants to Canada made up of close relatives of a sponsor in Canada, including a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner; dependent children; parents and grandparents; children under age 18 whom the sponsor intends to adopt in Canada; brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and grandchildren who are orphans under age 18; and any other relative, if the sponsor has no relative as described above, either abroad or in Canada.

Family Members [note 30]

Family members include the spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, and dependent children or the children of dependent children of a landed immigrant. A dependent child is either a biological child or an adopted child. Children are considered dependent if they meet one of the following conditions:

• they are under age 22, unmarried and not in a common-law relationship;
• they have been full-time students since before age 22, attend a post-secondary educational institution and have been substantially dependent on the financial support of a parent since before age 22 and, if married or a common-law partner, since becoming a spouse or a common-law partner; or
• they are age 22 or over and have been substantially dependent on the financial support of a parent since before age 22 because of a physical or mental condition.

Foreign Students

These temporary residents have been approved by an immigration officer to study in Canada. Study permits identify the level of study and the length of time the individual may study in Canada. Students do not need a study permit for courses of six months or less if they will finish the course within the period of stay authorized upon entry, which is usually six months. Before June 28, 2002, students did not need a study permit for English or French as a second language courses of three months or less. Every foreign student must have a student authorization, but may also have been issued other types of permits or authorizations.

Foreign Workers

These foreign nationals have been authorized to enter and remain in Canada, on a temporary basis, as workers. This category excludes foreign students and people who have been issued employment authorizations for humanitarian reasons. Every foreign worker must have an employment authorization, but may also have other types of permits or authorizations.

Government-Assisted Refugees

Government-assisted refugees are people who are selected abroad for resettlement to Canada as Convention refugees under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or as members of the Convention Refugees Abroad Class, and who receive resettlement assistance from the federal government.

Investors

Immigrants admitted to Canada as permanent residents because they

• have business experience as defined in the Regulations;
• have a legally obtained net worth of at least CAN$800,000; and
• have invested CAN$400,000 before receiving a visa.

The Government of Canada allocates the investment to participating provinces and territories, which guarantee the investment and use it to develop their economies and create jobs. The investment is repaid, without interest, after five years.

Landing

The permission given to a person to live in Canada as a permanent resident. An immigrant who has been “landed” is a permanent resident.

Live-in Caregivers

Temporary residents of Canada who have successfully completed the equivalent of Canadian secondary school; have six months of full-time training in a field or occupation related to that for which they are seeking a work permit; are able to speak, read and understand English or French at a level sufficient to communicate effectively in an unsupervised situation; and sign an employment contract with the future employer. Participants in this program may apply for permanent resident status in Canada after completing two years of live-in caregiving employment within three years of arrival in Canada.

Other

This category includes people classified as post-determination refugee claimants or members of the Deferred Removal Order Class.

Permanent Residence for Protected Persons in Canada

People who have been determined to be protected persons by the Immigration and Refugee Board in Canada or through the pre-removal risk assessment, and who have been granted permanent residence as a result.

Principal Applicant (Business Applicant)

The person who best meets the definition for one or more of the types of business immigrants and in whose name the application for immigration is made.

Principal Applicant (Economic Applicant)

The person who is likely to earn the most points in the self-assessment and in whose name the immigration application is made.

Privately Sponsored Refugees

Refugees selected abroad for resettlement to Canada who receive resettlement assistance from private sources.

Provincial Nominees

Immigrants selected by the provinces and territories for specific skills that will contribute to the local economy. The Regulations establish a provincial nominee class, allowing provinces and territories having agreements with CIC to nominate a certain number of workers. A nominee must meet federal admissibility requirements, such as those related to health and security, but is not subject to the selection grid applied to federal skilled workers.

Refugee Protection Claimant

A person who has arrived in Canada and is seeking protection. If such a person receives a final decision that he or she has been determined to be a protected person, he or she may then apply for permanent residence.

Self-Employed Persons

Immigrants who have shown (i) that they can and intend to create their own employment in Canada and (ii) that they can contribute significantly either to the Canadian economy as farmers or to the cultural or athletic life of Canada.

Skilled Workers

Immigrants selected for their skills to help ensure their success in a fast-changing labour market. The Regulations stress education, English or French language abilities and work experience involving certain skills, rather than specific occupations.

_______________

Notes:

1. A points system is associated with these six factors. For more information on skilled workers, see www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/index.html.

2. For more information on the agreements and accords, see the section on federal-provincial/territorial partnerships.

3. The Convention excludes persons who have committed serious crimes, war crimes or crimes against humanity.

4. For more information on this convention, see www.ohchr.org/english/law/cat.htm.

5. A person whose claim is refused and who must leave the country may apply to the Federal Court for a judicial review. A judge of that court decides whether leave will be granted. In most cases, a person has the right to remain in Canada pending the outcome of the judicial review.

6. They must undergo a medical examination.

7. For more information on this program, see www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/ref-sponsor/section-appB.html.

8. For more information on this site, see www.directioncanada.gc.ca.

9. Facts and Figures provides more detailed statistics on immigrants admitted to Canada. For more information, see www.cic.gc.ca/english/research/menu-fact.html.

10. The slight discrepancy between the overall total and the total of the two gender columns is the result of unavailable information. There is one case under ‘Family class – Spouses, partners and children’ for whom the gender was unavailable.

11. ‘Other’ includes claimants not recognized as refugees in Canada, immigrants under stays of removal, permit holders applying for permanent residence, as well as the other cases in IRPA (such as public policy).

12. Table 3 includes eight backlog cases.

13. See Annex A for the list of countries included in this category.

14. Tables 4 and 5 include 12 backlog cases as well as 424 cases where the source country is unknown.

15. With the exception of refugees landed in Canada and members of the family class.

16. The figures for ‘Humanitarian and compassionate grounds, public policy considerations, and permit holders’ and ‘Spouses, partners and children’ are subject to adjustment at year end.

17. The column ‘Percentage of Plan’ has been calculated against the low end of the 2004 plan.

18. For more information on the countries and territories whose citizens require visas in order to enter Canada as visitors, or on the people who are not required to obtain a visitor’s visa to come to Canada, see www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.html.

19. Some exceptions apply. Citizens of the United States do not have to present a passport, but they must provide proof of citizenship. This is the case for permanent residents of the United States arriving from that country or from Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, as well as for French citizens of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and residents of Greenland arriving directly from their country of residence.

20. For more information on these specific cases, see www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/exempt-2.html.

21. More information for foreign students and educational institutions, as well as the requirements to be met and applications, guides and forms can be found at www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.html.

22. For further information about minor children studying in Canada, see www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/

23. These figures are calculated based on the “initial entry” method, which involves each person being counted only on initial entry into the system, and includes foreign students, humanitarian cases and the “other” category. Annual entries of foreign workers are calculated based on the “initial entry” and “seasonal entry” method (which counts their initial entry and each re-entry into the system).

24. Humanitarian cases include all refugee claimants who have not received a permit or authorization from CIC.

25. The “other” cases category includes all individuals who cannot be categorized as foreign workers, foreign students or humanitarian cases. This group is made up primarily of individuals who have only visitor records. None of them has ever received either employment or student authorizations or made a refugee claim.

26. The slight discrepancy between the overall total and the total of the two gender columns is the result of unavailable information for these few cases.

27. Facts and Figures: Statistical Overview of the Temporary Resident and Refugee Claimant Population provides further details on temporary residents; see www.cic.gc.ca/english/research/menu-fact.html.

28. IRPA has new initiatives to facilitate the entry of certain categories of foreign students; for example, students enrolled in a program of six months or less are no longer required to have a study permit.

29. For further details, see the Government of Quebec’s Web site: www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/anglais.

30. Note that IRPA replaced the use of the term “dependants” with “family members.”

For additional copies, contact
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1
Fax: (613) 954-2221

© Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2004
Cat. no. Ci1-2004
ISBN 0-662-68498-2

Available in alternative formats upon request.