What we are doing:
Broadening the definition of "dependent child" by increasing the age from
under 19 to under 22.
Opening up adoption provisions in keeping with the principle of the best
interests of the child.
Modernizing the definition of "family" to include common-law and same-sex
partners.
Why we are doing it:
To reflect the high value Canadians place on the family.
To maintain and enhance the family class as an important component of the
overall program.
To reflect the changing nature of social relationships in Canada.
Facilitating Family Reunification
What we are doing:
Creating an in-Canada landing class for sponsored spouses and partners for
both immigrants and refugees.
Exempting sponsored spouses, partners and dependent children from the
admission bar with regard to excessive demand on health or social services.
Reducing the age at which Canadian citizens and permanent residents are
eligible to sponsor from 19 to 18.
Including "parent" in the definition of family class within the Act.
Reducing the length of the sponsorship requirement from 10 years to 3
years for spouses and common-law opposite- and same-sex partners.
Why we are doing it:
To make it easier for families to be reunited as soon as possible.
Incorporating the Best Interests of the Child
What we are doing:
Incorporating the principle of the best interests of the child in appropriate
provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Why we are doing it:
To uphold our international commitments as a signatory to three United
Nations conventions on the rights of the child.
To reflect the high value Canadians place on the well-being of children.
Modernizing the Selection System: Skilled Workers
What we are doing:
Moving away from an occupation-based model to one focused on flexible
and transferable skills.
Assigning more weight to education.
Increasing the relative weight of having knowledge of an official language but
ensuring that language is not a bar to admission.
Creating an "in-Canada landing class" for temporary workers (including
recent graduates from Canadian schools) who have a permanent job offer
and who have been working in Canada.
Why we are doing it:
To attract and keep the highly skilled, adaptable immigrants that Canada
needs to succeed and prosper in the future.
Expanding the Temporary Worker Program
What we are doing:
Facilitating the entry of temporary workers through a more serviceoriented