View Immigration Act: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-2.5/index.html
What is the purpose of this act?
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
How does this act benefit society?
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
Immigration minister to give criteria for denying entry to Canada
By Laura Payton, CBC News, October 16, 2012
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/10/16/pol-jason-kenney-ministerial-power-negative-discretion.html
The article discusses the current minister’s intention to alter the Immigration act’s criteria for denying entry to Canada. Specifically, among other changes, the minister wishes to include inadmissibility on the bases of potential support for hate or violence in order to enhance Canadian security. Ultimately, this proposition has alarmed the question regarding the extent to which the minister is taking advantage of his authority at the expense of future immigrants.
What is the purpose of this act?
- To create a strong, multicultural Canadian society that welcomes immigrant families and individuals to various opportunities on a permanent or temporary stay.
- To ensure that Canada will reach the highest economical potential that immigration can offer in every province.
- The Act aims to guarantee the protection of health care and security within this diverse country.
- In terms of refugee protection, the purpose of the act is to uphold Canada’s humanitarian obligation to ensure the protection of individuals and families from persecution for their religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation and/or other factors.
- The Act emphasizes the intention to support the reunification of immigrant and refugee families.
What powers are conferred on the state or its agents?
- The immigration and refugee Act gives it's agents the authority to make final decisions within an immigration process. The governor in counsel can grant and/or deny residency within the country depending on the abilities and record of the prospective immigrant. They can also grant Visa’s for temporary work and school.
- The act bestows the power to determine the status and protection of refugees on Canadian land.
How does this act benefit society?
- By creating a multicultural community, the celebration and respect for cultural differences emerge, resulting in a more open-minded generation than before.
- Individuals and families from different countries may be surrounded with more opportunity and resources. The presence of immigrants and refugees brings awareness to current affairs outside of North America, resulting in more international connections and initiatives.
List governmental and community based agencies that work within this legislated act.
- From within the Act: The minister of citizenship and immigration, the immigration and refugee board, the governor in council: http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/eng/brdcom/abau/Pages/Index.aspx
What issues may be associated with the administration of this act?
- Unemployment after immigration, specifically, after moving to Canada, due to the harsh realization that their education is no longer valid. As a result, while families may receive financial assistance, immigrants will either struggle to survive financially due to constant unemployment, or find jobs that do not utilize their experience and education.
- The process of acquiring citizenship in the context of the refugee population. While refugees may have enough evidence to claim for protection from persecution, they may not have the proper identification necessary in the application process for citizenship, resulting in an inability to create a living in the country.
- Cultural alienation and segregation. Culture shock is inevitable in cases of immigration. Cultural customs and norms are completely different, therefore the integration into a new community, and culture impacts the individual on psychological and emotional levels.
- Networking and finding a community base is trying at times, establishing a cultural niche within the new city is not only hugely important, but it can be difficult when you are not familiar with the city or the language.
How would you support and advocate for your clients in relationship to this act?
- I would advocate for potential unmet needs within immigrant children and youth's academic institution. They may benefit from academic assistance by a teacher or a tutor as they adjust into a new school in order to ensure their academic success.
- I would strive to establish networks of support in which these children can depend on by working with agencies that can help create a quality of care and that uphold the best interest of the refugee child.
Identify community resources in your area that may assist clients to navigate through legal systems.
- Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS): http://www.vircs.bc.ca/
- Inter-Cultural Association (ICA): http://www.icavictoria.org/
Describe and explain current or historical events as seen through the media that relate to this act, convention or charter. Provide a related link or copy of a newspaper article.
Immigration minister to give criteria for denying entry to Canada
By Laura Payton, CBC News, October 16, 2012
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/10/16/pol-jason-kenney-ministerial-power-negative-discretion.html
The article discusses the current minister’s intention to alter the Immigration act’s criteria for denying entry to Canada. Specifically, among other changes, the minister wishes to include inadmissibility on the bases of potential support for hate or violence in order to enhance Canadian security. Ultimately, this proposition has alarmed the question regarding the extent to which the minister is taking advantage of his authority at the expense of future immigrants.