Kenney: feds to fast-track Philippines' immigration
By Elizabeth Thompson
SUN MEDIA
Last Updated: 1st October 2009, 6:25pm
OTTAWA Important reforms to Canadas immigration system ranging from changes to refugee asylum to better regulation of immigration consultants are on hold because of the threat of an election, says Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.
Kenney made the comment to reporters as he announced that the government will fast track immigration and visa applications for citizens of the Philippines impacted by this weeks typhoon.
Kenney said the political instability is making it hard to introduce planned immigration reforms.
I have been working on a number of important files, including better regulation of immigration consultants, improvements to the nanny program, the live-in caretaker program and … reform of the asylum system, he said. All of those things have been put on hold, indefinite hold, because of the constant election threats.
Kenney said he still plans to introduce planned reforms but could not give any timetables for them, saying, well let you know in due course.
Meanwhile, the government is moving to help those affected by Typhoon Ketsana by uniting victims with their families in Canada.
New applications for temporary residence who want priority processing should have Philippines prominently written on the mailing envelope.
elizabeth.thompson@sunmedia.ca
