TORONTO:

The convergence of Canada's 'temporary' and 'permanent' systems is providing a more flexible and adaptive approach to immigration, according to a Conference Board study, Renewing Immigration: Towards a Convergence and Consolidation of Canada's Immigration Policies and Systems.

"Canada's permanent and temporary immigration systems are changing to better address the needs of business, provinces and migrants themselves," said Douglas Watt, associate director, Organizational Effectiveness and Learning.

In recent years, increasing numbers of temporary workers have been accepted into Canada to fill gaps in labour markets.

Recommendations

The changes demonstrate the convergence between the temporary and permanent systems. They include improvements to Canada's Tem-porary Foreign Worker (TFW) Programme, as well as the increasing use of mechanisms driven by emplo-yer-and regional-demand for skilled workers, particularly the Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP). They also include the newly created Canadian Experience Class; and improvements to the International Student Programme, the Off-Campus Work Permit Programme, and the Post-Graduation Work Permit Programme.

The Conference Board has made a number of recommendations to make Canada's immigrations systems more effective, which reflect the global trends in immigration. They include addressing the growing importance of skills-based migration to meet labour market needs - Australia has been a leader in this area; the federal government's Bill C-50 is a positive move in this direction.

The board also wants Canada to maintain a robust commitment to humanitarian-based immigration while expanding skills-based migration - there is no need for an either/or choice between them.

It also wants the government to take further steps to help temporary foreign workers become permanent employees by creating new and improved pathways to permanent residency.

Growing interest

The Conference Board wants Canada to harness the growing engagement of employers in immigration - the rapid expansion in size and scope of the TFW and the PNP and other programmes demonstrates the growing interest and involvement of employers, but there is scope for greater engagement. It has also recommended:

1. Increase settlement and integration services, especially in urban areas - The size and diversity of immigrant communities, especially within city-regions, has increased the need for greater support for existing immigrant communities.

2. Link immigration programmes and practices to other major government policies and strategies - governments are increasingly linking immigration to overarching social, economic and environmental objectives.

The study, produced under the three-year CanCompete research programme, is unique in setting out the myriad pieces that comprise Canada's permanent and temporary immigration systems. CanCompete, a three-year programme of research and dialogue, is designed to help leading decision makers advance Canada on a path of national competitiveness.

Reprinted from The Weekly Gleaner.

'Canada's permanent and temporary immigration

systems are changing to better address the needs of business, provinces and migrants themselves.'