Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Prime Minister, has recently disclosed the new mandate letters he presented to his cabinet.
In Canada, the Prime Minister issues mandate letters describing the objectives the Prime Minister expects his or her ministers to accomplish during the federal government’s tenure.Following that, each minister and their separate departments concentrate on achieving the priorities.
Canada’s immigration system is guided by the mandate letter, which is the most significant policy document. Sean Fraser, Canada’s new immigration minister, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be in charge of putting Trudeau’s policy into action.
Given that the federal government is in charge of the country’s immigration system, this will have an impact not just on federal but also on provincial policies.
Immigration Priorities of the New Policy
- Application Processing:Trudeau directs Fraser to “reduce application processing timelines, including to resolve delays caused by COVID-19.”
- Express Entry: Increase the number of permanent residence pathways available to international students and temporary foreign workers through Express Entry.
- Family reunification: Introduce electronic family reunification applications and establish a scheme to offer temporary residence to spouses and children living abroad while their permanent residence applications are processed.
- Create a new Municipal Nominee Program: The MNP’s goal is to aid in the distribution of immigration throughout Canada. It was originally slated as a priority following the 2019 election, but was postponed because to the epidemic. Additionally, Fraser is responsible for ensuring that immigration benefits small and medium-sized communities.
- Fee waiver for Canadian citizenship applications: This was also a priority for Trudeau following the 2019 election, but has been delayed by the epidemic.
- Establish a Trusted Employer system: Fraser has been tasked with collaborating with the Employment Minister to develop a Trusted Employer system for Canadian businesses that hire temporary foreign workers. Additionally, he is being requested to improve the Temporary Foreign Worker Program’s (TFWP) Global Talent Stream by streamlining work permit renewals, adhering to the two-week processing threshold, and establishing an employer hotline.
- Undocumented workers: Leverage current pilot programs to determine the best way to legalize undocumented workers in Canada.
- Francophone immigration:Continue to collaborate with Quebec to support immigrants’ French language skills and to promote the national Francophone immigration plan.
- Afghan refugees: Meet Canada’s resettlement goal of 40,000 Afghan refugees.
