March 20, 2019 – Yesterday, the federal government proposed well over $200 million dollars to be spent on Canadian immigration related matters. The Budget 2019 touched five main areas of immigration:
1. Budget 2019 proposed to make the Global Talent Stream a permanent program with an investment of approximately $35.2 million over the next 5 years. The Global Skills Strategy was a two-year pilot project that was initially launched in June of 2017. The program proved to be overwhelmingly successful: it created 40,000 new jobs for Canadians and permanent residents; it developed over 10,000 co-op placements; and employers have invested over $90 million in skills development and training for their workers.
2. Budget 2019 proposed to provide Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) with an additional $42.9 million over the next two years to improve immigration client service by increasing the number of IRCC call centre agents so that enquiries can be responded to more quickly.
3. Budget 2019 addressed the increased global demand to travel to Canada by proposing an investment of $78.6 million to assist with the processing of Canadian visitor visas, work and study permits.
4. An expansion of the mandate of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP to reinforce the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) procedures to hear comments or complaints about the public’s experience with the Agency. To do this, the Government will first need to amend several pieces of legislation to allow the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission to act as an independent review body for the RCMP and the CBSA. Budget 2019 proposed to invest an initial $24.42 million over the next five years to accomplish this goal.
5. The federal government wants to protect newcomers and applicants from unscrupulous Immigration Consultants, Budget 2019 proposes to fund and initial $51.9 million over five years to improve the oversight of immigration consultants and strengthen compliance and enforcement measures.
If you have any questions about budget 2019 please contact us directly to book a consultation.
