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2006 figures:
Overall, immigration to
remain steady next year as backlog of applicants has swelled to 850,000
bruce campion-smith
Canada will accept up to
71,000 immigrants in the family class next year spouses, partners,
dependants, parents and grandparents of immigrants already here, according to the immigration department's newly
released annual report. That's 2,000 more than will be allowed into the
country this year.
Vancouver-based immigration
lawyer Richard Kurland said there are a lot of good
reasons to open the doors to family members of immigrants already here in the
country including politics.
"Nothing is more
personal than immigration in terms of community,"
He said the increase, though
modest, could help Tory fortunes in the multicultural ridings around big cities
like
"It is not done
willy-nilly, happenstance. It is a calculated political marketing move,"
he said of the increase revealed this week. "It's a direct response to the
challenge faced by a minority government lusting for majority. It's good politics
to let Mummy and Daddy into
The department's annual
report reveals that 251,649 permanent residents were admitted in 2006. And
109,524 newcomers had been admitted this year up until June.
Overall,
In a surprise move, it
will allow fewer skilled immigrants to settle in
The cut to so-called
economic-class immigrants a maximum of 154,000 next year, down from 158,000
this year is raising eyebrows among opposition MPs and immigration experts.
New Democrat MP Olivia Chow
(Trinity-Spadina) said
"I think we need to take
a bold step," Chow said yesterday. "I think we need a national
debate."
But
Also, the government is
boosting the number of immigrants allowed in under the provincial nominee program, which allows provinces to fill specific
labour needs.
The report shows that the
backlog of immigration applicants has swelled to more than 850,000.
In 2006, according to the report, the 138,257
economic-class immigrants made up 54.9 per cent of the new arrivals. Just over
28 per cent or 70,506 immigrants were in the family class; 32,492 refugees
and asylum seekers were admitted; and 10,223 were granted permanent resident
status on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.