More than five million people visit Canada every year — and now more of them are going to have a harder time getting in the door.

Every visitor to Canada has to meet some basic requirements. For instance, they must possess a valid travel document, be in good health and convince an immigration officer they will leave Canada at the end of their visit.

For visiting residents of more than 50 countries, such as Barbados, Australia and Japan, this is generally all that’s needed. However, for those visiting from more than 140 other countries, ranging from the Philippines to Chile to Russia, a visa is required.

As of Tuesday, the Czech Republic and Mexico were added to the list of those countries whose citizens require a visa to visit or pass through Canada.

The Czech Republic joins Bulgaria and Romania as the only states out of the 27 that make up the European Union that require visitor visas to Canada.

With the new limitations imposed on Mexican visitors to Canada, the United States is now the only country in the Americas whose citizens are exempt from visitor visas, except for Saint Pierre and Miquelon, French Guiana and the Falkland Islands, all areas in the Americas belonging to either France or England. Of the 10 most populated countries in the world, eight of them require visitor visas — the U.S. and Japan are the exceptions.

“Visa requirements are decisions made in the context of either a desire to control and be aware of everybody who enters the country, or a desire to handle a problem, such as an increase in refugee claims, in the most expeditious way possible. In this case, the visa acts as a disincentive,” said Maureen Molot, professor of international affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Foreigners applying for a Canadian visa complete a two-page application form and submit documents such as a valid passport and financial statements to Citizenship and Immigration. Application fees range from $75 for a single entry visa to $400 for a family.

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To all of our fans, we would like to share with you one of the entries for the “Tell Us Your Immigration Story Contest”

Please share your comments with us, and if you have a favorite story or you would like to participatein the Tell Us Your Immigration Story Contest,
please send your story to askus@akcanada.com

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WHY I WANT STUDY ENGLISH IN CANADA

Every year increasing numbers of international students choose to study English in Canada, because this country has an international reputation for it’s high standard of teaching, along with relatively low living and tuition costs, in conclusion Canada repeatedly is lauded as one of the world’s most livable countries. Added to this are the benefits of living on a large continent place that offers an immense and diverse selection of fascinating locations to visit: The expanse of Canada’s natural beauty, from mountains and glaciers to secluded lakes and forests, is almost unparalleled worldwide. But Canada’s allure is not just the great outdoors, Canada has cosmopolitan cities that are clean, safe, friendly and multicultural.

In general there are many reasons why someone may wish to study the English language, especially if we think and look the world like a global village which all the places are communicate, with the English like the common and best way to live there and be successful. In my case I need study and learn English, as second language, in order to be able to advance in all the areas of my life, that’s mean increase the possibilities of get my golds and penetrate competitively in the professional level in the globalised world.

For the reasons that I mentioned in the last paragraph, I choose Canada like my first and unique option to do reality my dreams and pass to the next level.

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Abrams & Krochak always advises potential immigrants:  apply when you know that you meet eligibility requirements.  As Canadian Immigration laws, regulations and policies are always subject to change at any time without advance notice, we can make no assurances to you whatsoever that you will still qualify if you defer your proposed Canadian Immigration plans to a later date.  This caution is especially true when Canada faces a possible change in government.  That possibility could very soon become a reality.

The minority Harper government is arming for political battle this fall rather than seeking peace, dismissing the chances of a deal with the NDP to avoid an election and warning its defeat would jeopardize a popular home-renovation tax credit.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has shaken up Canada’s political calendar this week by announcing he will now seek to defeat the 10 1/2-month-old Harper government at the first opportunity – a move that could send the country to the polls in October or November.

The New Democrats have offered a lifeline to the Tories, however, saying they’re willing to consider propping up the Conservatives if the government adopts some NDP policies. Jack Layton’s party has not released a wish list but has said its priorities include regulating credit-card interest rates.

But Wednesday, senior Conservative cabinet minister Jason Kenney appeared to rule out a deal with the NDP. He told a Calgary radio station that he cannot envision Mr. Layton and the Tories finding sufficient common ground to reach an agreement that would see the New Democrats prop up the Conservative government. The Prime Minister himself later echoed that sentiment.

“Look. We’ve always tried to demonstrate willingness to co-operate with the opposition parties. We did in the last budget. But we’re not for sale to the highest bidder, least of all the NDP,” Mr. Kenney told Calgary radio-show host Dave Rutherford.

“It’s a party of hard-core left-wing ideologues … It’s not like a moderate, centre-left party. These folks, they drink their own Kool-Aid right? So I don’t think we can see a realistic arrangement with the NDP.”

Even as they eschewed co-operation with the NDP, the Tories were privately spreading the word through the media that they hope to try to engineer events so that the Liberals defeat them by voting against a $1.3-billion home-renovation tax credit this fall.

Such a move would sow confusion about the future of the tax credit – even though the Liberals have vowed to reintroduce it should they form government – and bolster the Tory campaign theme that an election brings uncertainty.

The plan would unfold like this: The Conservatives are planning to introduce a ways and means motion after the House of Commons resumes in mid-September that paves the way for the second budget implementation bill stemming from the January 27 budget. This will contain everything not passed in the first budget bill, including the home-renovation tax credit, a measure the Tories held back from passage earlier this year.

A vote on the budget ways and means motion will be a confidence vote – the defeat of which can topple the government – and the Tories will attempt to force the Liberals to either blink or strike down a motion that gives effect to the tax credit.

The Canada Revenue Agency Wednesday declined to say how this would affect the tax credit but Conservatives plan to argue this would jeopardize the home-renovation measure, which rebates Canadians up to $1,350 for upgrades undertaken. “If that is defeated, then Canada Revenue Agency can no longer administer it,” one senior Tory said.

The Liberals protest that this ploy is dishonest because even if they defeat the Tories on the budget motion they would reintroduce the measure and pass it should they win power.

“This is just a Conservative game,” Liberal finance critic John McCallum said. “We are 100 per cent committed to the home-renovation tax credit and will ensure the appropriate legislation is there so people get their tax credit.”

Toronto Dominion Bank chief economist Don Drummond, a former federal Finance Department official, said an election would create some “uncomfortable” uncertainty regarding the program. However, he says as long as the measure is ultimately approved by Parliament before the 2010 tax filing season, the credit would not be affected.

“If I was the Commissioner [of the Canada Revenue Agency], I would just stay cool and leave it in limbo,” Mr. Drummond said. “People won’t be filing until February, March and April of 2010 anyhow. So I’d probably just say ‘Hey, I’m waiting to see what happens before the end of the year.’ ”

Speaking to reporters in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged opposition parties to support the home-renovation tax credit when it comes up for a vote this fall in the Commons.

“I think we’re all a little bit surprised by some of these developments after support being given to the budget, support is now being withdrawn halfway through the budget year and there are still budget measures to be passed,” he said. “This government remains committed to that tax credit.”

Mr. Harper said he’s also not holding out much hope for a deal with the NDP – one that could keep his party in office and forestall the fourth federal election in sixth years.

The Prime Minister noted that the NDP has regularly voted against measures even when they addressed New Democrat priorities such as skills training.

“The NDP has been very proud of the fact, and Mr. Layton says it over and over again that in four years he has never once supported the government on anything important,” the Prime Minister said.

“So you know, that’s their position. If it changes, you know, if people want to work together on this that will help the economy, we’re willing to do that, but we have no indication of that from Mr. Layton.”

Separately, Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe said he won’t shy away from triggering an election this fall but was non-committal on whether he would help the Liberals bring down the Conservatives.

Jason Kenney, the Conservative citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism minister, held a press conference Friday on behalf of the federal public security ministry to announce more than $220,000 in funding to enhance security for local Jewish community organizations.

“Crime prevention is a priority for our government and we recognize the particular importance of preventing hate-motivated crime,” Kenney said to reporters at Federation CJA headquarters. “The reality today is that Canada isn’t immune from violent acts that targets individuals or groups based on their race, ethnicity, culture, religion or identity.

“According to Statistics Canada, nearly 800 hate crimes were reported across Canada in 2007 alone… Hate-motivated crime often leaves more than just physical damage — it can put an entire community into a state of fear or anxiety.”

The funding is part of the $3 million, three-year Communities At Risk: Security Infrastructure Pilot Program (SIP), which has provided funding to communities that are especially vulnerable or have been attacked by racists and anti-Semites . Over the past few years, Jewish schools like United Talmud Torah in St. Laurent and institutions like the YM-YWHA Jewish Community Centre have been attacked. Other targets here and across the country have included mosques and First Nations institutions.

This year, the federal government is providing funding to Beth Jacob de Rav Hirshprung School in Outremont ($47,000), the girls’ school Beth Rivkah Academy ($9,750), Centre de la Petite Enfance des Écoles Juives populaires et des Écoles Peretz in Côte St. Luc ($14,700), Communauté Sepharade Hekhal-Shalom Synagogue in St. Laurent ($9,550), Congregation Beth Tikvah in Dollard des Ormeaux ($14,618), Hebrew Academy in Côte St. Luc ($25,400), Rabbinat Sépharade du Québec ($12,400), Shaare Zedek Congregation in NDG ($7,285), Solomon Schechter Academy ($11,700) and the YM-YWHA JCC in Snowdon ($70,600).

The government provides part of the funding, while the rest come from the organizations themselves. The funds are for security assessments (25 percent of the total cost), security equipment and hardware, minor construction costs and security training costs.

Adam Atlas, president of Quebec Jewish Congress (formerly Canadian Jewish Congress, Quebec region), praised the funding, saying it made him “especially proud to be a Canadian”.
“We are grateful your government has chosen to invest in the safety and security of all of its citizens. We see this as an expression of a commitment to freedom and liberty.”

article by Joel Goldenberg

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