Elinor Caplan, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, has introduced a new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act designed to curb criminal abuse of the immigration and refugee systems while expanding policies to attract the world's best and brightest to Canada.

"Closing the back door to those who would abuse the system allows us to ensure that the front door will remain open," said Minister Caplan, "both to genuine refugees and to the immigrants our country will need to grow and prosper in the years ahead."

The Minister also promised supporting regulations over the coming months to keep the "front door" open to refugees and to the increased number of immigrants Canada will need to grow and prosper in the future. These will include a strengthened overseas refugee resettlement program, an
expanded family class, new selection criteria to attract more highly skilled and adaptable independent immigrants, and the creation of an "anaconda" landing class for temporary workers, foreign students and spouses already established in Canada and wishing to stay.

The expanded family class will increase the age at which a dependent child can be sponsored from under 19 to under 22 and allow spouses and children to apply for permanent residence from within Canada. The Minister also expressed her willingness to pursue discussions with the provinces over further expansion of the family class.

Highlights of the new legislation include:

* improving client service
* managing the inventory and clearing up backlogs
* expanding the family class
* facilitating family reunification
* modernizing the selection system for skilled workers
* expanding the temporary worker program

Please note that this is only a tabled Bill and does not have effect in law. Months of consultations with various "stake holders" are expected before this Bill becomes law.