IRCC said that the Canadian Government will conduct a review of the main immigration law. It will be a part of a strategy: An Immigration System For Canada’s Future.
The Strategy outlines changes that IRCC intends to make in the coming years in order to improve processing & create a more comprehensive approach to immigration. The department states that it can accomplish this by actioning items which fall under three pillars, i.e.,
- Aligning immigration with the needs of the labor market.
- Developing a comprehensive as well as coordinated growth plan.
- Creating a more welcoming experience for immigrants/ newcomers.
IRPA is the law which governs the immigration system of Canada & creates the framework for how IRCC operates. Potential changes to IRPA fall under the pillar of creating a more welcoming experience for immigrants moving to Canada. In addition, IRCC states that this implies working to be modern, efficient, fair, transparent, timely, & predictable.
IRCC further explains that it is time to assess the need for legislative amendments/ transitions because IRPA is the legislation which supports most of IRCC’s programs, procedures, & policies. It hasn’t been thoroughly examined since it came into action in 2022.
IRPA’s Final Major Update
IRPA did not exist in its present form until June 2002. Prior to that, the nation had the Immigration Act, which was established in 1976 & underwent numerous revisions throughout its period.
In addition to the review of the main immigration law, IRPA was there for making clear & modern legislation. As a result, this would ensure that Canada’s immigration & refugee protection system can respond to new opportunities & challenges.
Moreover, it also aimed to set out a more precise description of the significant classes of foreign nationals. They are economic class, family class, & convention refugees & individuals in similar circumstances.
How Updating IRPA Can Help
IRPA contains legislation surrounding almost every aspect of Marc Miller’s responsibilities & how they must be executed. The Strategy says a review of IRPA will help diminish barriers to welcoming immigrants that the nation requires for the future.
For instance, IRPA contains legislation making new immigration pathways possible, like the recent introduction of category-based draws. In addition, a review as well as an update would allow for the creation of more specialized pathways for newcomers with relevant in-demand skills.
Moreover, it also dictates how the federal & provincial governments work collaboratively to share responsibility for immigration. IRCC has certain agreements with the territories/ provinces, enabling the provincial governments to nominate economic immigrants via PNP. The Federal Government allocates a specific number of nominations to each province.
In order to decide on how many nominations a province obtains, the Minister needs to consult with the provinces regarding the number of foreign nationals in every class who will become permanent residents. Well, in order to do this, IRPA states that the immigration department needs to consider regional economic & demographic requirements through consultations with relevant stakeholders as well as partners.
Moreover, an update to IRPA can make it necessary to conduct more consultations with other stakeholders, like settlement services, to better understand the nation’s ability & capacity to integrate newcomers. This falls under the Strategy’s target to adopt a government approach to immigration.
Consultations also impact the federal Immigration Levels Plan, which sets the nation’s permanent resident admission targets for the forthcoming three years. Moreover, in the recently released plan for 2024-26, Canada will admit 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 & 500,000 every year in both 2025 & 2026. Marc Miller asserts that the recent plan will grow & stabilize Canada’s economy.
Lastly, IRPA also features legislation concerning how one can submit applications. This includes the format, technology & processes to be followed.
By reviewing & updating the IRPA regulations surrounding the way applications are submitted & processed, IRCC might be able to meet the present rising demand now & into the future.
Express Entry Category-Based Selection
Despite the lack of a large-scale review of the main immigration law, the act has undergone numerous revisions to reflect the recent demand for Canadian immigration.
For instance, IRPA was amended in 2022 in order to grant the Immigration Minister the authority to issue ITAs to Express Entry applicants who have a human capital attribute with the following categories:
- Healthcare
- STEM Professions
- Trades
- Transport
- Agriculture/ Agri-Food
- French-Language Proficiency
These categories also align with IRPA’s objective to permit the nation to pursue the maximum economic benefits of immigration. By selecting newcomers with relevant skills in high-vacancy sectors, the immigration department can help support & strengthen the national economy.