Canadian Immigration News

Canada Launches Online Consultations to Improve Federal Investor Program

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has recently launched an online consultation campaign to engage the public on ways to improve the federal Immigrant Investor Program.

"We can no longer be a passive player in the global competition for talent and investment. That is why we need to review our immigration programs to create dynamic opportunities that enable immigrants' investments to directly benefit the Canadian economy," said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.

The campaign called "The Economic Action Plan" will reform the current Canadian immigration program to target more active investment for Canadian growth companies.

CIC is looking forward to receiving online submissions from stakeholders and the public on how the department can:

• Increase the economic benefit that immigrant investment capital brings to Canada;
• Attract experienced, international investors with the skills and resources needed to ensure they integrate into Canada's economy; and
• Develop efficient and cost-effective ways of delivering a Canadian immigrant investment program.

"I am open to creative ideas and suggestions from the business community on how to maximize the economic benefits of such programs to Canada," said the Minister.

As part of the announcement Minister Kenney announced that Government of Canada will introduce changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow the Minister of Immigration to rapidly create short-term programs that could have a far greater impact on Canada's economy.

The online consultations are open to the public until September 4th 2012, and CIC says it is planning to re-open the investor program in the beginning of the 2013.