ARCHIVED – Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, 2012 – Conclusion

Immigration continues to play a crucial role in shaping Canada’s economic prosperity and sustainability. CIC’s improvements in 2011 to the way it does business, continue to yield multiple benefits—supporting Canada’s economic growth, continuing to reduce application backlogs, increasing protection to potential and new immigrants, and facilitating travel across our borders.

The changes have been much broader in 2012, which can be characterized as a year of transformation at CIC. Numerous changes have been implemented to align efforts with Canada’s evolving economic conditions while keeping the Department’s commitment to create a fast, flexible and responsive immigration system. Of note, the changes and accompanying legislative amendments under Bill C-38 became law on June 29, 2012, providing CIC the ability to select the best applicants and not necessarily the first, among other improvements. Changes introduced to CIC’s sponsorship regulations advance program integrity by deterring people from using marriages of convenience to come to Canada, and by barring recently sponsored spouses and partners from sponsoring a new spouse or partner for five years. Lastly, Canada continues to uphold its humanitarian tradition by continuing to make reforms to its in-Canada refugee system through Bill C-31, which became law on June 28, 2012. This bill introduced much-needed reforms to the asylum system resulting in faster delivery of decisions on refugee claims and deterring abuse, thus enabling Canada to offer more timely protection to those who truly need it.

With 2013 on the horizon, CIC will continue to work toward building a fast, flexible and responsive immigration system that responds to Canada’s labour market needs, upholds its family reunification and humanitarian commitments, while continuing to protect the health, safety and security of all Canadians.

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