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New minister hints at immigration changes |
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Canada's new government will not change the total number of immigrants
the country welcomes each year, but changes are likely in the type of
newcomers that it accepts. In his first interview since his surprise appointment as immigration
minister, Monte Solberg told Canadian Press that the mix of immigrants
may need to change to reflect a greater emphasis on labour shortages.
He also floated the idea of getting skilled labour into Canada on
temporary work visas, and if they were found to be doing a good job,
offer them permanent residence.
Solberg said he might work with provinces and industries, especially the resource sector, to get more targeted labour into Canada on short-term work visas.
"Maybe ultimately if they're here for a time and they're doing a good job, well, permanently land them," he said.
Solberg said the new Conservative government did not plan to restrict family reunification.
He however added that there are "big challenges respecting family reunification versus matching immigration to labour shortages." He also said dealing with refugees remains a contentious matter.
Solberg said his initial priorities are those laid out in the Conservative campaign platform: cutting the $975 landing fee; introducing new legislation to ease foreign adoptions; and creating a new federal agency to assist newcomers in getting their education and professional credentials recognized.
"I don't think any of those are necessarily contentious. Those are things we're going to focus on."
This was Solberg's first interview since taking charge of the immigration portfolio. There have been concerns about what the appointment of the Alberta MP might mean to Canada's immigration policies. Solberg, a former broadcaster and finance critic, has no previously expressed views on immigration; and he represents a small town where immigrants are a tiny minority, so his sensitivity to the issues facing newcomers is in question.
His predecessors in the post over the last decade all came from major cities like Toronto and Montreal.
One person to express doubts about Solberg's qualification for the job was Liberal MP and leadership contender Ruby Dhalla.
"I don't recall him asking any questions in the House in the last 18 months that had to do with immigration," Dhalla told the Toronto Star.
"Cosmopolitan cities attract immigrants, and living here you begin associating with individuals and develop an inherent understanding of the issues that our newcomers go through," added Dhalla, who represents Brampton-Springdale, home to Canada's second largest South Asian population.
Solberg's previous concentration on the finance portfolio also raised apprehension, with some fearing he was sent in to do the dirty job of revamping Canada's immigration policy because he holds a safe riding and wouldn't personally face a backlash from immigrant voters.
"His party is known to put its focus on national security rather than human security" of immigrants and refugees, Francisco Rico-Martinez, of Toronto's FCJ Refugee Centre, told the Star. "He's a money guy. He's going to look at the system with a financial perspective. We are very concerned about any potential funding cuts to our immigration and refugee system."
But others, including Ontario Citizenship and Immigration Minister Mike Colle (a Liberal), Mario Calla, executive director of Toronto's COSTI Immigrant Services, and Jim Gurnett, who chairs the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies, were willing to give Solberg the benefit of the doubt.
"I'm very positive on his side that he will be able to get things done on this challenging portfolio," Colle said.
Adding her support for Solberg was Tory MP Diane Ablonczy, who was surprisingly overlooked for the portfolio despite serving as Conservative immigration critic for four years.
Ablonczy, author of the Conservative campaign platform on immigration, acknowledged that Solberg would have a lot to learn quickly, but added that he is "bright, personable and has a good heart for people."
Related:
Tories outline immigration plans
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