Canada’s immigration department is conducting an online survey and looking for the feedback of those who have participated in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
“Participation in the survey is voluntary and confidential,” notes Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on its website.
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“We only use the information from the survey to help improve our programs and services. Participants’ answers won’t affect any past, current or future applications with IRCC.”
Online survey being conducted until Sept. 3
The online, bilingual survey is being conducted for one month, from Aug. 3 to Sept. 3, to give the IRCC feedback about its services and better meet the needs of newcomers to Canada.
The immigration department is inviting participants through e-mails which will not contain an attachment to take a survey by going to https://ircc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV.
The e-mail will contain instructions on how to complete the survey, which should take about 15 minutes to complete, and an e-mail address to contact immigration officials should participants have any questions.
The IRCC is also sending invitations to complete the survey to some employers who have previously supported a work permit application under the International Mobility Program (IMP) that was approved between Jan. 1, 2018 and June 30 this year.
Under a shared jurisdiction between Ottawa and the provinces, Canada operates a two-tiered immigration system, offering programs for skilled workers, at both federal and provincial levels.
Through a network of PNPs, almost all of Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories can nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada with the specific skills required by their local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.
The employer-led AIP aims to bring candidates to Atlantic Canada to fill jobs when there are no Canadians available to do them. To hire through the AIP, employers don’t need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Instead, they must meet requirements to become designated to make job offers.
Through online surveys, the IRCC has been trying to get feedback about its services,
In March, then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser asked everyone and anyone with an interest in immigration to share his or her view through an online survey that ran until almost the end of April.
“Consulting clients, stakeholders and those with expertise in immigration in Canada is our opportunity to get your feedback on how best to support and strengthen our communities, from coast to coast to coast,” said Fraser.
‘An Immigration System for Canada’s Future’ initiative sought feedback last spring
He encouraged Canadians to share their ideas and perspectives to help shape an immigration system that would contribute to Canada’s success for generations to come.
That survey was part of the former immigration minister’s fact-finding tour, an initiative dubbed An Immigration System for Canada’s Future.
“Immigration is critical to Canada’s long-term success and we need to ensure our policies and programs are aligned with the needs of our communities,” said Fraser.
“That’s why the government of Canada is launching this large-scale engagement initiative, which will provide an opportunity for a wide range of stakeholders and Canadians to share their ideas and perspectives on how we can build a stronger, more adaptive immigration system for Canada’s future.”
That engagement initiative lasted through the spring with the IRCC holding in-person dialogue sessions across the country, thematic workshops and this survey.
Last year, the IRCC data reveals Canada welcomed 437,500 new permanent residents, a level of immigration expected to grow over the coming years.
In its 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan, Ottawa has set the target for 2023 at 465,000 new permanent residents. The country is to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and another 500,000 in 2025.
That’s a total of 1.45 million immigrants to Canada over the coming three years.
