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| Subject: Tory bill stifles debate |
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ONE OF THE LAWYERS IN TORONTO STATES:
The Harper government is promoting its controversial immigration bill by promising that it will reduce our backlog, produce faster processing times, and make our system more responsive to Canada´s labour market needs.
The Conservatives propose to accomplish this by giving our immigration minister, Diane Finley, unprecedented new powers.
If I believed this, I would easily support this initiative.
In an interview last week with CTV´s Mike Duffy, Finley confirmed that our backlog now stands at about 925,000 applications. The government maintains that the Minister needs these powers to cherry pick applicants who are needed here on a priority basis. She was asked by Duffy, if under the present system, the department was able to fast track, say a welder who was desperately needed in Fort McMurray. Finley answered "The way the law stands now we have to process the oldest application first. If that person is number 600,000 in line we´ve got a lot of applications to get through before that".
This is simply not true.
Our current legislation states that the federal cabinet "may make any regulation ... relating to classes of permanent residents or foreign nationals" including "selection criteria, the weight, if any to be given to all or some of those criteria, the procedures to be followed in evaluating all or some of those criteria ... the number of applications to be processed or approved in a year" etc.
In fact, in the case of Vaziri v. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, the Federal Court held in September 2006 that our current legislation "authorize [s] the Minister to set target levels and to prioritize certain classes of PR applicants" without even a regulation being passed. Accordingly, Finley has more than enough power under our current legislation to make virtually any changes that she wants subject to the Charter.
So why should we care if this bill passes?
Simply, because we already have far too little debate on the kind of immigration program this country needs. Often when I explain some aspect of our immigration law I am asked "who came up with that?" This proposal will push policy-making deeper into the backrooms. The proposal, which really belongs in an immigration bill, is tucked into a budget bill. It can only be defeated if St?phane Dion were willing to defeat the bill and force an election which could easily cost him his job. If successful, Finley would be free to govern by decree, virtually eliminating the need for any legislative debate on immigration policy. The publication of the minister´s "instructions" in the Canada Gazette would be no substitute for an open discussion.
The Minister pledged "I can stand hand on heart and say this is good for immigrants, good for business ... and ... good for the country"
I say that the best way to eliminate the backlog and speed up the immigration process is by dedicating more resources to them, increasing our levels, and/or by simplifying the process. If we need people here quickly, the minister can simply issue work permits to those in line with job offers. This bill does none of that and the transfer of power from the cabinet to the minister will accomplish nothing. Hand on heart!
[14-04-2008,14:54]
[***.50.205.242]
Mike |
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(in reply to: Tory bill stifles debate)
Hey Mike Check This Out
http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/canada/article/38687
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[14-04-2008,21:08]
[**.15.48.133]
Roy |
(in reply to: Tory bill stifles debate)
Mike your funny!!!!!
I had to google Guidy of Mamann and Associates to confirm the article you posted was by him. This being Monday with Guidy column coming out in the Metro News.
He considers me his friend. We do not consider each other competition but the mutual respect runs deep! I wish I was half the business man he is!
I have continually blasted certain Lawyers on this forum but never said one thing bad about Guidy. When my Hong ZHANG lady appeared she had to go to Federal Court I raced to his office and my client got 20% off his normal fee.
You have no idea how many Lawyers would of loved me to send her Federal Court appeal to them if the deferral letter I wrote with his junior Lawyer never was successful.
Guidy has two offices in the GTA both right next to IRB/IAD offices or a CIC Office in Mississauga, ON. I on the other hand am right next to Scarborough CIC. Right next (hundreds of meters0 when he is with in 10 meters.
DID I NOT SAY THE SAME HERE THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS BAD...........
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[14-04-2008,21:28]
[**.15.48.133]
Roy |
(in reply to: Tory bill stifles debate)
Guidy is a great lawyer, no doubt about that. Althought i never had a chance to get his services but i heard a lot of success stories.
Roy you are great consultant as well, there is also no doubt about it. You help people on this forum and give them the right direction, which is a great help that you are offering to needy people like myself free of charge. God Bless You. Amen
[15-04-2008,23:43]
[**.251.73.156]
Mike |
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