Revamped Canadian immigration to be more efficient

Initiatives will support employment-related services for racialized women. Image credit: News Canada.

From Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland reiterated the Canadian government’s commitment to immigration, including a plan to draw even more talented, highly skilled people to Canada in her Budget 2021.

Investments in Budget 2021 will support an immigration system that is easier to navigate and more efficient in welcoming dynamic new Canadians.

Digital platform modernization. $428.9 million over five years to develop and deliver an enterprise-wide digital platform that would gradually replace the legacy Global Case Management System. This will enable improved application processing and support for applicants, beginning in 2023.

A new digital platform will enable Canada’s immigration system to function more efficiently behind the scenes, to advance policy priorities, and to deliver digital services that meet heightened client expectations.

Supporting racialized newcomer women and newcomers experiencing gender-based violence. $15 million over two years starting in 2021-2022 to extend the Racialized Newcomer Women Pilot Initiative, which was launched in 2018. This initiative will continue supporting employment-related services for racialized newcomer women in areas such as networking, employment counselling and paid work placements to support their career advancement. Two million dollars over five years starting in 2021-2022 to increase access to information and support for new Canadians facing family and gender-based violence, including enhancing the availability of anti-violence resources.

Enhancing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. $49.5 million over three years starting in 2021-2022 to support migrant worker-centric programs and services.

$54.9 million over three years starting in 2021–2022 to increase inspections of employers and ensure temporary foreign workers have appropriate working conditions and wages.

$6.3 million over three years starting in 2021–2022 to improve service delivery of open work permits for vulnerable workers, helping migrant workers in situations of abuse find a new job.

Enhancing immigration service and support. $74 million over three years to maintain enhanced capacity and service standards within the client support centre, ensuring timely response to inquiries. $29 million over one year to be shared between IRCC and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to maintain enhanced processing capacity for temporary residence applications.

Streamlining Express Entry. Streamlining Canada’s Express Entry system will allow the government to ensure the immigration system responds to Canada’s growing labour force needs.