October 2, 2008

How do all these people get into Canada?

Q. Why does it seem that all these illegal immigrants keep getting into the country while good hard working people cannot seem to get in where we need them?

A. Although that can sometime be the perception it is quite difficult to get into Canada. Refugee claimants enter Canada on the basis that they fear for their life if they are returned to their country. They are a special category of persons and not immigrants.

On average approximately 40% of refugee claims are accepted.

Some become landed through other ways (marriage or humanitarian and compassionate applications) but many others are deported. The number of claims has fallen by the tens of thousands over the past few years but is increasing again. It is often this group that is confused as immigrants or illegal immigrants. Canada continues to admit approximately over 200,000 new permanent residents annually but there has been a disconnect between who we are landing and who we need for certain labour shortages. This is an issue that is being worked on as Canada now faces serious labour shortages.