According to Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Canada is expected to give somewhere between 240 000 and 265 000 new immigrants Canadian citizenship in 2008.

Finley, who announced Canadian immigration targets in late October, also outlined added programs and structures to ameliorate Canada’s immigration system and facilitate settling new immigrants with particular skills in Canada.  

According to Finley, immigration is essential for a strong Canada. “Our government believes that immigration plays an important role in building our communities and growing our economy,” she said. “The immigration targets will help ensure that Canada continues to grow and benefit from all that newcomers and their families bring to our country.”

A Canadian program designed to facilitate immigration called the Canadian Experience Class will also be implemented in 2008. Through the Canadian Experience Class program, temporary skilled workers and individuals with Canadian work experience or university degrees will be able to apply for permanent residence within Canada.

Canadian Experience Class is also working with other programs to facilitate immigration including the Foreign Credentials Office (which helps immigrants transfer their skills and degrees to Canadian requirements), the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the Provincial Nominee Program. The later allows provinces and territories to nominate immigrants based on provincial / territory needs for skilled work. 

According to Finley, an additional $1.3 billion will also top off the $342 billion per year already being spent on improving and expanding Canadian immigration and re-settlement programs.