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Section II — Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

Strategic Outcome 1: Migration that significantly benefits Canada’s economic, social and cultural development, while protecting the health, safety and security of Canadians

Performance Indicator Income from all sources (investment, employment earnings, self-employment, employment insurance) for skilled worker principal applicants after three years compared to Canadian benchmark.

Introduction

Migration is a positive force for economic and social development. CIC continues to promote Canada as a destination of choice for talent, innovation, investment and opportunity. Canada’s immigration policy, through CIC’s Immigration and Temporary Resident Programs, facilitates the entry into Canada of new immigrants and temporary residents who have the ability to contribute to the labour market and economy through their skills, their business experience or the capital they invest. Canada also welcomes family class immigrants who are sponsored and thus supported in their initial integration by close family members. Many people sponsored as members of the family class also make a significant economic contribution to Canada. At the same time, the success of these programs requires a balance between welcoming newcomers and protecting the health, safety and security of Canadians.

In 2008–2009, CIC will work with its partners to increase the contribution of the economic immigration stream to supporting Canada’s economic prosperity and competitiveness. The aim is to have a more responsive immigration system that recruits and selects immigrants who best meet labour market and economic objectives, while improving outcomes for new immigrants and maintaining the integrity of the Immigration Program.

CIC will launch a new avenue to permanent immigration: the Canadian Experience Class. The CEC will be a new economic immigration program that will facilitate the immigration of Canadian-educated international graduates and temporary skilled foreign workers already in the country. This new program will aim to attract more skilled persons, including skilled tradespersons, by facilitating the transition to permanent residence, and to retain those with the work or study experience that makes them most likely to succeed. In the coming year, CIC will strengthen partnerships to encourage immigration across Canada. CIC will build on efforts over the last year and continue to work closely with its provincial and territorial partners to select immigrants and temporary workers who meet the provinces’ and territories’ particular needs, and support the development of official language minority communities.

CIC will continue to reunite families by expeditiously processing applications from sponsored spouses and dependent children. The number of applications from parents and grandparents that will be processed will remain consistent with the previous three years. CIC will also continue to play a significant role in maintaining Canada’s humanitarian tradition by offering protection in Canada for refugees and persons in need of protection.

CIC will continue to work with its partners in Canada and overseas to support the admission of temporary and permanent residents. Much of the work involved in making decisions on who is eligible to come to or remain in Canada is based on verification of information provided and checks to ensure that these persons do not pose a security or health risk to Canada. In most cases, CIC’s role begins when an application is submitted at any of the hundreds of points of service in Canada and abroad, and ends when a visa is issued overseas or an application is approved in Canada. CIC therefore controls all but one of the steps that lead to temporary or permanent admission to Canada: namely, when successful applicants and their families decide to travel to Canada. For a number of reasons, not every visa issued results in a person arriving, and in an average year, about 4 percent of visas are not used. For example, in 2006, CIC processed approximately 360,000 applications for permanent residence both overseas and in Canada, some 217,000 visas were issued overseas, and more than 37,000 authorizations for landing were approved in Canada. Altogether, CIC rendered some 1,800,000 final decisions for temporary and permanent resident applications in 2006, and in 2007, preliminary data indicate that this figure rose to more than 1,900,000 final decisions.

Immigration Target Ranges for 2008

Each year, under section 94 of IRPA, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is required to table before Parliament an annual immigration plan outlining the total number of immigrants that Canada aims to receive in the subsequent year. CIC’s commitment is to issue sufficient visas and authorizations to support planned admissions of permanent residents in 2008 within a planning range of 240,000 and 265,000 admissions. In this way, Canada’s Immigration Program will continue to respond to the diverse skill requirements of an expanding and dynamic economy. To meet growing regional needs, the plan aims to admit a record number of provincial nominees. As well, the plan includes the introduction of the CEC. Finally, the plan will maintain the Government’s commitments to support family reunification and humanitarian objectives.

Immigrant Category	2008 Ranges Lower/Upper
Federal Skilled Workers	67,000 – 70,000
Quebec Selected Skilled Workers	25,000 – 28,000
Federal/Quebec Business	11,000 – 13,000
Live-in Caregivers	6,000 – 9,000
Provincial/Territorial Nominees	20,000 – 22,000
Canadian Experience Class	10,000 – 12,000
Total Economic	139,000 – 154,000
Spouses, Partners and Children	50,000 – 52,000
Parents and Grandparents	18,000 – 19,000
Total Family	68,000 – 71,000
Government-assisted Refugees	7,300 – 7,500
Privately Sponsored Refugees	3,300 – 4,500
Protected Persons in Canada	9,400 – 11,300
Dependants Abroad	6,000 – 8,500
Total Protected Persons	26,000 – 31,800
Humanitarian & Compassionate/Public Policy	6,900 – 8,000
Permit Holders	100 – 200
Total Other	7,000 – 8,200
Total	240,000 – 265,000

Activity 1 – Immigration Program

Program Description: Design, develop and implement policies and programs to facilitate the entry of permanent residents in a way that contributes to the economic, social and cultural development of Canada, while protecting the health, safety and security of Canadians. Expected Results: Arrival of permanent residents who contribute to Canada’s economic, social and cultural development, while protecting the health, safety and security of Canadians. Performance Indicators: Labour market participation – employment rates for very recent immigrants (individuals who have been immigrants to Canada for less than five years) compared to Canadian average. Number of A44 Reports resulting in removal orders against permanent residents. Planning range for 2008 based on historical data of 300 annually

 

Planned Spending and Full-Time Equivalents
Planned spending 2008–2009	Planned spending 2009–2010	Planned spending 2010–2011
$164.7M	$164.5M	$164.4M
1,621 FTEs	1,621 FTEs	1,620 FTEs

Immigration policy and program development

In 2008–2009, CIC will continue to design, develop and monitor policies and programs to facilitate the entry of permanent residents in a way that contributes to Canada, while protecting the health, safety and security of Canadians.

Planned Activities: Develop policies and programs to support a sustainable immigration program, including the development of a backlog reduction strategy. Develop policies and programs to support improved labour market responsiveness of the economic classes. Develop policies and programs to support increased sharing of the benefits of immigration throughout the country, such as those that support official language minority communities. Develop policies and programs to reunite family members in Canada and maximize the social benefits of immigration to Canada, including promotion of family reunification and improved program integrity and efficiency. Develop policies associated with immigration representatives, including improving mechanisms to address concerns relating to the alleged misconduct of immigration representatives. Expected Results: Policies and programs ensure program integrity. Performance Indicators: Result of ongoing monitoring and assessment of programs. Results of audits and evaluations. Number of new and/or renewed provincial/ territorial and other agreements. Expected Results: Number of permanent residents is consistent with national, provincial and territorial needs. Performance Indicators: Number of permanent residents arriving in provinces (including through PNP). Number of permanent residents going to Francophone minority communities.

Selection and processing of permanent residents (other than Permanent Resident Card)

CIC will continue to select and process permanent residents in accordance with IRPA and with departmental policies, programs and priorities.

Expected Results: Immigration applicants who meet qualification standards are granted permanent residence. Performance Indicators: Number of permanent resident arrivals by category according to plan. Processing times by category (actual number of months required to process 80 percent of applications).

Activity 2 – Temporary Resident Program

Program Description: Design, develop and implement policies and programs to facilitate the entry of temporary workers, students and visitors in a way that contributes to Canada’s economic, social and cultural development, while protecting the health, safety and security of Canadians. Expected Results: Arrival of temporary residents who contribute to Canada, while protecting the health, safety and security of Canadians. Performance Indicators: Number of foreign workers by skill level (arrivals). 2008 planning range – 125,000 to 150,000 Number of foreign students by level of education (arrivals). 2008 planning range based on historical data of 60,000 annually

 

Planned Spending and Full-Time Equivalents
Planned spending 2008–2009	Planned spending 2009–2010	Planned spending 2010–2011
$60.9M	$64.5M	$54.3M
742 FTEs	758 FTEs	695 FTEs
Explanation of change: Planned spending in 2009–2010 increases by $3M in relation to the previous year primarily because of additional funding to support the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
In 2010–2011, planned spending decreases when compared to the previous year, primarily because of the sunsetting of short-term funding related to the processing of international students. This change also results in decreased FTE levels over the same period.

Temporary resident policy and program development

CIC will continue to design, develop and monitor policies and programs to facilitate the entry of temporary workers, students and visitors in a way that contributes to Canada, while protecting the health, safety and security of Canadians.

Planned Activities: Develop policies to increase the effectiveness of the TFW Program. Develop policies and programs to advance discretionary social programming. Expected Results: Policies and programs ensure program integrity. Performance Indicators: Results of ongoing monitoring and assessment of programs. Results of audits and evaluations. Expected Results: Number of temporary residents is consistent with national, provincial and territorial needs. Performance Indicators: Number of foreign workers by skill level by province/territory. Number of foreign students by education level by province/territory. Number of new or renewed provincial/ territorial and other agreements.

Selection and processing of temporary residents

CIC will continue to select and process temporary workers, students and visitors in accordance with IRPA and departmental policies, programs and priorities.

Expected Results:Applicants who meet qualification standards are granted temporary residence (students, temporary workers, temporary resident permit holders). Performance Indicators: Number of temporary resident arrivals (students, temporary workers, temporary permit holders). Processing times by category.

Strategic Outcome 2: International recognition and acceptance of the principles of managed migration consistent with Canada’s broader foreign policy agenda, and protection of refugees in Canada

Performance Indicators Number of protected persons and Convention refugees granted permanent residence. 2008 planning range – 26,000 to 31,800 Number of positions initiated or supported by Canada that are eventually reflected in international policy debate.

Introduction

Worldwide, a growing number of governments, bilateral and multilateral fora, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and academic and other research institutes are adding issues related to migration, refugees and citizenship to their agendas. This fact highlights not only the importance being attributed to these matters, but also the variety of lenses through which they are viewed. These discussions, which are at varying levels of maturity, are making links between these policy domains and Canada’s broader foreign affairs agenda, notably in such areas as international security, development assistance, trade, health and human capital flows. Canada has a recognized expertise in migration management and is frequently sought after to contribute to these international discussions. CIC aims to expand its leadership role in framing and advancing these important international migration policy and governance dialogues, and coordinating the Government of Canada’s contribution to them. CIC will continue to promote a shared understanding of migration policies and perspectives across departments and encourage mutually beneficial exchanges with other states to increase understanding of migration trends and perspectives. All are part of CIC’s continuing efforts to develop and implement a strategic agenda on global migration and protection, and to identify opportunities for advancing Canada’s policy and program priorities through domestic and international linkages and partnerships.

Partnerships are particularly important for the effective delivery of Canada’s humanitarian programs. CIC will continue to engage with stakeholders, both domestically and internationally, to identify solutions for providing protection where needs are greatest, to streamline procedures, and to develop programming to address the changing needs of resettled refugees. Internationally, Canada is a leader in seeking comprehensive solutions for more refugees, particularly those who have experienced extended periods of exile. Each year, Canada grants protection to many thousands of people, nearly half of whom are refugees selected abroad. The others are persons from within Canada who, after seeking asylum in Canada, are deemed to be in need of protection by the IRB and are then granted permanent residence.

Effective and timely health care is key to successfully integrating protected persons into Canadian society. Providing essential health care and rapidly identifying and managing diseases and illnesses will continue to be important aspects of protecting refugee claimants, other vulnerable immigrants and the health of Canadians.

Activity 3 – Canada’s Role in International Migration and Protection

Program Description: Assert Canada’s position in the context of international migration in order to protect Canada’s right to set its citizenship, immigration and refugee policy; to meet legal and international obligations; to steer the international agenda on migration management issues, including its linkages with other public policy sectors; to contribute to managing migration internationally; and to support development of Canada’s image abroad. Expected Results: Canada influences the international policy debate as part of its international responsibilities with respect to international migration and refugee protection. Performance Indicators: Number and description of new or renewed international agreements and/or other arrangements led, undertaken or established (multilateral, regional, bilateral including international organizations).

 

Planned Spending and Full-Time Equivalents
Planned spending 2008–2009	Planned spending 2009–2010	Planned spending 2010–2011
$4.0M	$4.0M	$4.0M
18 FTEs	18 FTEs	18 FTEs
Note – This activity includes contribution resources related to Migration Policy Development and the IOM, which are shown in the Details on Transfer Payment Programs.

International migration policy development

A continuing focus for CIC in 2008–2009 will be to work with other departments and levels of government in order to assert Canada’s role in international migration and protection. Activities will involve influencing the international migration policy agenda through the development and promotion of Canada’s position on international migration and refugee protection issues and through participation in multilateral, regional and bilateral fora. Interdepartmental and internal policy development will support CIC’s commitment to a strategic agenda for global migration and protection, implemention of an engagement strategy for international partnerships and the Government of Canada’s strategy for the Americas.

Planned Activities: Enhance existing interdepartmental coordination and policy development mechanisms, manage Canada’s participation regarding migration in international fora and encourage exchanges with foreign governments on migration issues in targeted international regions. Expected Results: Government of Canada has developed positions with respect to international policy debate on international migration. Performance Indicators: Number and description of input into international resolutions on migration at international, multilateral, bilateral and regional fora. Number and description of negotiations led or undertaken (bilateral, regional or multilateral, including international organizations).

Contributions to international organizations

Throughout 2008–2009, CIC will continue to develop and promote Canada’s position on international migration policy matters by supporting international engagement and partnerships through investments in certain international organizations.

Planned Activities: Manage Canada’s contribution to and/or membership in the IOM, IGC, Puebla Process and Migration Policy Institute (MPI) and, in consultation with other government departments, define and communicate Canada’s position on migration-related issues under discussion in these fora. Expected Results: Canada influences the international policy debate at the IOM, IGC and Puebla events. Performance Indicators: Frequency and description of federal participation at IOM, IGC and Puebla events.

Activity 4 – Refugee Program

Program Description: Fulfilling Canada’s international obligations by coming to the aid of persons in need of protection in Canada, and maintaining its humanitarian tradition by protecting refugees abroad and resettling them to Canada. Expected Results: Persons in need of protection and Convention refugees are protected by Canada by upholding our international obligations and humanitarian traditions, while protecting the health, safety and security of Canadians. Performance Indicators: Number of protected persons and Convention refugees granted permanent residence by category. Target ranges for 2008: Government-assisted Refugees 7,300 – 7,500 Privately Sponsored Refugees 3,300 – 4,500 Protected Persons in Canada 9,400 – 11,300 Dependants Abroad 6,000 – 8,500

Planned Spending and Full-Time Equivalents
Planned spending 2008–2009	Planned spending 2009–2010	Planned spending 2010–2011
$94.2M	$94.1M	$93.9M
230 FTEs	230 FTEs	229 FTEs

Refugee policy and program development

CIC will continue to play a significant role in maintaining Canada’s humanitarian tradition by protecting refugees and persons in refugee-like situations. The Department develops policies and designs programs for the in-Canada refugee protection system and for the identification and resettlement of refugees from abroad. The Department also represents the interests of the federal government in multilateral and bilateral international refugee protection fora.

Planned Activities: Coordinate efforts to refocus refugee policy and programs to ensure that they are proactive and provide protection and durable solutions. Follow up on the evaluation of the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program, [note 9] particularly with regard to monitoring the activities of private sponsors and assessing the resettlement needs of privately sponsored refugees. Engage internal and external stakeholders regarding Canada’s refugee protection system in order to foster dialogue on refugee protection issues and to inform refugee protection discussions domestically and internationally. Expected Results: Policies and programs ensure program integrity. Performance Indicators: Results of ongoing monitoring and assessment of programs. Results of audits and evaluations.

Selection and processing of resettled protected persons (government-assisted refugees and privately sponsored refugees)

The Department will continue to implement IRPA and departmental policies and programs aimed at providing protection to those in need under the Government-assisted Refugee (GAR) and Privately Sponsored Refugee (PSR) programs.

Expected Results: Government-assisted and privately sponsored refugees are granted protection. Performance Indicators: Number of arrivals of GARs and PSRs. Processing times (GARs and PSRs).

Interim Federal Health Program

The objective of the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) is to provide temporary, essential and emergency health coverage for refugee claimants, asylum seekers, Convention refugees and persons under detention by the CBSA. The IFHP provides coverage for persons who demonstrate financial need and who do not fall within the definition of “insured persons” under the Canada Health Act and therefore do not qualify for provincial/territorial health coverage.

The program provides coverage to approximately 90,000 clients through a network of 30,000 health-care providers across Canada, generating over 500,000 claims per fiscal year.

Planned Activities: Develop and implement service improvement measures for streamlined program administration forms and processes, internal and external communications, and claims processing. Manage stakeholder relations with internal CIC partners and the Federal Health Partnership, the Interim Federal Health Benefits Administrator, the CBSA, service provider organizations and Sponsorship Agreement Holders. Expected Results: Eligible persons have access to temporary health coverage during their settlement period. Performance Indicators: Total number of active clients per year. Total number of claims per year.

Strategic Outcome 3: Successful integration of newcomers into society and promotion of Canadian citizenship

Performance Indicators Income from all sources (investment, employment earnings, self-employment, employment insurance) for all immigration categories after five years and after 10 years compared to Canadian benchmark. Social participation – donor and volunteer rates. Target: 80 percent of immigrants make donations; 20 percent of immigrants volunteer Increased participation of new and established Canadians in citizenship events. Target: 50 off-site events by 2011

 

Introduction

Developing a strong sense of Canadian citizenship demands an ongoing and progressive commitment to active participation in Canadian society. Settlement policies and programs, developed through CIC’s Integration Program, play a key role in setting the stage for newcomers’ contribution to Canada. As newcomers seek to overcome barriers specific to the newcomer experience, settlement programming also plays a crucial role in providing immigrants and refugees with a supportive environment that enables them to maximize their potential and realize their aspirations, eventually leading to fuller participation in Canadian society. In Canada, welcoming newcomers and helping them settle and integrate into our society is a shared effort, with contributions from the federal government, provinces, territories, community organizations and others.

Obtaining Canadian citizenship is a significant step in the settlement process as it enables immigrants to fully participate in Canadian society. New Canadians, as well as Canadians by birth, are encouraged to express their commitment and increase their participation. This encouragement involves providing an environment where civic participation and the expression of identity are fostered through various tools for promoting and celebrating citizenship.

Activity 5 – Integration Program [note 10]

Program Description: Develop policies and programs to support the settlement, resettlement, adaptation and integration of newcomers into Canadian society by delivering orientation, adaptation and language programs for newcomers. Expected Results: Newcomers contribute to the economic, social and cultural development needs of Canada. Performance Indicators: Labour market participation – Employment rate compared to Canadian average after five years and after 10 years.

 

Planned Spending and Full-Time Equivalents
Planned spending 2008–2009	Planned spending 2009–2010	Planned spending 2010–2011
$940.8M	$1,021.0M	$1,026.2M
485 FTEs	478 FTEs	478 FTEs
Explanation of change: In 2009–2010, planned spending rises by $80M over the previous year, primarily because of increased funding of $62M for settlement and integration services across Canada, and additional funding of $18M for the Canada-Quebec Accord. FTEs show a slight decrease over the same period due to a lower operating component for settlement funding.
In 2010–2011, planned spending rises by $5M over the previous year, primarily because of additional funding for the Canada-Quebec Accord.

Settlement/resettlement policy and program development

CIC will continue to support the settlement, resettlement, adaptation and integration of newcomers to Canada by working to enhance the delivery of orientation, adaptation and language programs for newcomers, and undertaking a more focused, outcomes-based approach to settlement programming.

Planned Activities: Revision and development of policies and programs in support of a more focused, outcomes-based approach to settlement programming. Following the formative evaluation of the Enhanced Language Training Program, [note 11] build on the program’s strengths and develop an approach to enable assessment of participant outcomes in the longer term. Expected Results: Policies and programs ensure program integrity. Performance Indicators: Results of ongoing monitoring and assessment of program integrity. Results of audits and evaluations related to program integrity.

Foreign Credentials Referral Office

The FCRO, launched in May 2007, helps internationally trained individuals in Canada and prospective immigrants overseas find the information and the path-finding and referral services they need to put their skills to work. The FCRO offers comprehensive and authoritative information on the Canadian labour market and processes for credential assessment and recognition in Canada through a Web site and through in-person and telephone services in Canada delivered in collaboration with Service Canada. The FCRO also works closely with HRSDC’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program, with partners across jurisdictions, and with employers and other stakeholders to strengthen foreign credential assessment and recognition processes in Canada.

Planned Activities: Develop international strategy to provide information, path-finding and referral services to prospective immigrants still overseas. Continue to work with provinces and territories and other stakeholders (e.g. employers, assessment agencies, regulatory bodies, immigrant-serving organizations) to strengthen foreign credential recognition capacity in Canada. Expected Results: More internationally trained individuals in Canada and prospective immigrants overseas are better informed about employment opportunities and requirements in Canada. Performance Indicators: Proportion of FCRO services users who feel that they know how to proceed to get credentials assessed.* * As this is a new program, data for this indicator will be available in 2009–2010.

Immigration Loan Program

Canada provides loans to refugees in order to help them pay for the costs of medical examinations abroad, travel documents and/or transportation to Canada. This fund is essential since refugees often have few personal financial resources and are unable to access traditional lending institutions. The repayment record for the 50-year-old program is over 90 percent. In 2008–2009, CIC will continue to manage loan collection with due diligence to ensure the recovery rate for repayment remains at this level, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the refugee program. The current limit on the loan fund is $110 million.

Expected Results: Protection received by those otherwise unable to afford medical and transportation costs. Performance Indicators: Number of persons served. Percentage of GARs and PSRs taking out transportation and admissibility loans.

Activity 6 – Citizenship Program

Program Description: Design, develop and implement policies and programs to administer the acquisition of Canadian citizenship, and to enhance the values and promote the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. Expected Results: Full participation in Canadian society of citizens. Performance Indicators: Number and percentage of people who take up citizenship from permanent residence.

Planned Spending and Full-Time Equivalents
Planned spending 2008–2009	Planned spending 2009–2010	Planned spending 2010–2011
$54.0M	$53.8M	$53.7M
508 FTEs	508 FTEs	508 FTEs

Citizenship policy and program development

CIC will continue to design, develop and monitor policies and programs to contribute to the granting of Canadian citizenship and to the development of a modern vision of citizenship that reflects contemporary Canadian reality.

Planned Activities: Develop policy options to support amendments to the Citizenship Act and Regulations. Strengthen the evidence base for policy and program development. Expected Results: Policies and programs ensure program integrity and protect the value of Canadian citizenship. Performance Indicators: Results of ongoing monitoring and assessment of programs. Results of audits and evaluations.

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