WHAT ALL OTHER COUNTRIES AND NATIONS CAN LEARN FROM CANADA’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES

1. WHAT ALL OTHER COUNTRIES AND NATIONS CAN LEARN FROM CANADA’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES What makes Canada an immigrant friendly country are the transparency of the immigration system and the time it takes to evaluate and process applications. This is why Canada PR... What makes Canada an immigrant friendly country are the transparency of the immigration system and the time it takes to evaluate and process applications. This is why Canada PR program (permanent residency) has become a huge success all over the world, so much so immigration systems of other countries should learn something from Canada. Here are the things other countries should emulate from Canada in their immigration program: Follow a state-based approach: Canada Immigration process gives autonomy to its states which is one thing Australia and other countries can learn from this country. It was during the 1990s when Quebec became the first Canadian state to have a degree of autonomy in Canada PR program. The state had its own levels and a selection criteria for the immigrants. Soon after that, other provinces in Canada followed the same suite. This resulted in higher number of applicants for province based immigration. The Provincial Nominee Program, which lets provinces (except Quebec) nominate their own candidates for immigration, is a result of state-based approach. This system regulates the influx of immigrants in one state and decreases the burden on the other more popular territories. Australia, like Canada, should give more hold to states and territories in case of immigration. Right now, the stress of higher population in Melbourne and Sydney has made the government put a cap on the annual intake of permanent residents. Resultant of which, the number of immigrants selected in Australia are dropping down every year. Last year only 162,417 immigrants were chosen which was the lowest number in th decade. This will help take the pressure off from the bigger cities like Melbourne and Sydney and also help choose skilled immigrants who will be instrumental in the economic growth of the country. Canada PR System encourages rural immigration: Another benefit Canadian Immigration program has enjoyed from giving more autonomy to its provinces is of decreasing the immigration burden on the most settled territories and cities. Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia used to be the most popular immigrant choices till 1997. But after greater roles in immigration target setting were given to provinces, Canada saw immigration settlement outside these territories. While the policy welcomes immigrants to these areas, better work opportunities, education, and health program helped retain these immigrants. In fact, a warm welcome from communities in smaller territories and support programs to immigrants also possibly helped in their retention in these areas.

2. One of the biggest success of launching Provincial Nominee Program is in Manitoba where 13,000 migrants have arrived since 1998. This thinly populated territory not only offered jobs to ninety percent of these immigrants but also managed to retain almost the same number of immigrants. South Australia, Tasmania, and northern territories require more immigrants to settle in these territories. If Australia too, like Canada, is able to provide better employment opportunities, education program, and health benefits to retain immigrants in these areas, it would drastically improve the current immigration scenario. Canada does not politicize immigration policy: One of the things other countries including Australia should learn from Canada PR program is not politicizing the immigration policy. Instead of using congestion and strain on public infrastructure to put a cap on intake of annual immigrants in Sydney and Melbourne, it should follow the footsteps of Canada and distribute the immigrant intake.