The Canadian government plans to update the IRPA law. Immigration and Refugee Protection Act is the main immigration law of Canada. IRCC announced that it will review the immigration law soon as an initiative of the new strategy. This new strategy is called “An Immigration System for Canada’s Future.”
The Canadian government plans to update the IRPA law
The new strategy will dictate the upcoming changes within the immigration system. Furthermore, the changes will enhance the processing and establish a more comprehensive approach. IRCC is all set to accomplish the above goals through the following three pillars:
- Develop a better experience for new immigrants.
- Streamline immigration to meet the labor market requirements.
- Establish a detailed and coordinated progressive plan.
IRPA is Canada’s immigration law that administers the entire immigration system and develops a framework for IRCC’s functioning. The idea of modifying the immigration law revolves around the pillar of offering a welcoming experience to newcomers. The department also claims that the changes within IRPA reflect its aim to be modern, productive, reliable, authentic, fair, and timely.
IRPA is a legislation that governs most of the IRCC’s policies, programs and procedures. This is why it is time now for IRCC to make legislative modifications or reforms. Ever since its conception in 2002, the IRPA law has not been evaluated, and 21 years is indeed a significant time gap.
IRPA’s former update
IRPA comprises legislation revolving around each factor of the responsibilities of the immigration minister. It dictates the implementation of each of these responsibilities. The strategy dictates that the IRPA review will enable the removal of obstacles to invite the right individuals to Canada.
For instance, IRPA comprises legislation that makes it easier to execute the new immigration pathways. This includes the recently introduced Category-based selection draws under Express Entry.
Its reassessment will enable the development of specialized pathways for new immigrants with in-demand skills.
Furthermore, it also elaborates on the process of the provincial and federal governments to function with a mutual immigration responsibility. The department agrees with the provinces and territories to enable provincial governments to select economic immigrants under the PNP. The federal government distributes a fixed number of provincial nominations.
To determine the number of nominations each province receives, the minister must know the number of foreign nationals within each class who seek permanent residency annually. It will also have to consult provinces to understand the number of allocations within Canada.
In order to achieve all of the above, the IRCC must acknowledge regional economic and demographic needs by consulting appropriate stakeholders and partners.
The upcoming IRPA review will make organizing more meetings with stakeholders essential. This indicates settlement services have a deeper understanding of the country’s potential to welcome new immigrants.
This implies the new strategy’s aim to undertake a wholesome approach toward immigration. These consultations influence the immigration targets. The Immigration Levels Plan outlines the targets to admit a certain number of permanent residents for the upcoming three years. The law dictates that IRCC must release the plan every year on November 1. This implies the non-election years. The recent Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026 states that Canada will welcome 485,000 new PRs in 2024 and 500,000 each year in 2025 and 2026.
According to Marc Miller, the Canadian economy will progress and stabilize.
Lastly, IRPA also consists of legislation concerning the process of application submission. As a result, IRCC might find it easier to fulfill the existing increasing demands and the future ones.
Express Entry draws – category-based selection
The legislation has been revised to take into account the current demand for immigration to Canada, even in the absence of a comprehensive review.
For instance, in 2022, IRPA was modified to provide the immigration minister the power to invite candidates for Express Entry to apply if they meet one of the six newly established categories for human capital attributes:
- Healthcare;
- STEM professions;
- Trades;
- Transport;
- Agriculture and agri-food; and
- French language proficiency
These classifications also align with the goal of IRPA, which is to enable Canada to seek the greatest possible economic advantages from immigration. By choosing recent graduates who are still in demand in fields with a high unemployment rate, IRCC may contribute to and enhance the country’s economy.
If you wish to know more about the Canadian immigration process, connect with our immigration experts at MakeHomeCanada. Our considerable experience in the immigration field can help you. You may write to us [email protected]
