Thought this fit in with our conversation today about the desire to bring in educated and highly-qualified immigrants...

Mon, January 22, 2007
Lengthy wait 'unfair'
Province asks feds to clear books on immigration backlog
By TOM GODFREY, SUN MEDIA




TORONTO -- The federal government is being asked to increase from 250,000 to 350,000 the number of immigrants being accepted in Canada this year to help clear a lengthy backlog.
The province has joined immigration lawyers in seeking more newcomers to clear a backlog of 800,000 cases, many who are parents who've been waiting for years to reunite with their families in Canada.
"It is unfair to have 800,000 people waiting in line for so long," said Ontario Citizenship and Immigration Minister Mike Colle. "It is frustrating for these people and they're going elsewhere."
He said the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are competing for the educated and highly-qualified immigrants.
"There is global competition for these highly-skilled immigrants," Colle said. "People will choose to go elsewhere where they can be processed faster."

He said Ontario accepts about 140,000 newcomers yearly, or about 60% of all new immigrants.
"We would like to do our part to handle more immigrants as long as there's federal funding," Colle said. "We have a flat population growth and our workforce is getting older."
He called for a five-year plan by the federal Conservatives to clear the backlog.
"Canada is an extremely popular place and many people want to come here," Colle said. "We have to get rid of the backlog and clear the books."
Philip Mailhod, a spokesman for recently appointed federal Immigration Minister Diane Finley, said he couldn't comment on the issue.
Toronto immigration lawyer Mendel Green said there are millions of dollars in an immigration account from applicants who have paid $1,100 each to sponsor their parents and have been waiting for years.
"There is a huge backlog in the system," he said last week. "About 25% of our clients had their cases started more than four years ago."
He said about 40,000 parents are sponsored to Canada yearly, leaving 300,000 others waiting abroad for processing.