2. Bill C-31 Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act, the Marine Transportation Security Act and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act

3. Bill C-31- Safe Countries Gives the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration sole discretion to designate certain countries of origin as ‘safe’ – eliminates advisory committee which would have included human rights experts Shorter time frames for claimants from ‘safe’ countries (30 days to prove their claim as opposed to 60 for other claimants) Claimants from ‘safe’ countries have no right to appeal a negative decision Would likely include countries in EU such as Hungary and the Czech Republic because of claims made by the Roma population

4. Bill C-31 – Irregular Arrivals Allows the Minister of Public Safety to designate refugees arriving in a group as ‘irregular arrivals’ ‘Irregular arrivals’ automatically held in detention without review for 2 weeks (2 nd review at 6 mos) Children under 16 would choose between detention with their family or state care If successful, cannot sponsor family members, must report regularly to immigration officials, and are not allowed to travel outside of Canada for 5 years Designation retroactive to 31 March 2009

5. Bill C-38 House Government Bill An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in parliament on March 29, 2012 (and other measures)

6. Bill C-38 - Skilled Workers Program Eliminate all skilled worker applications submitted before February 2008 (approximately 280,000 applications) Return application fees to applicants (without interest and not including any related expenses) Freeze all new applications for up to 1 year unless applicant has permanent full-time HRSDC approved job offer or is a current/recently graduated PhD student from a Canadian university Investors Program also frozen

7. Skilled Workers Program – Proposed Changes Rebalance points to emphasize language abilities, Canadian work experience, and age. Require minimum language abilities to qualify Require credential assessment for application Permanent job offers subject to LMO Create Skilled Trades Class with 4 criteria: offer of employment in Canada or provincial skilled trades certificate of qualification; demonstrated language proficiency; work experience; NOC employment requirements are met Change Canadian Experience Class; reduce required amount of Canadian work experience

8. Bill C-38 – Interim Federal Health Program Instead of one program, create 3 levels of health care for refugee claimants based on type of claim: Government assisted refugees have health care providers, hospitals, ambulances, lab and diagnostic work (limited medications) and supplemental benefits including vision, dental, home care and counselling Claimants from non DCOs and accepted refugees have access to health care but no supplemental benefits Claimants from DCOs and rejected claimants have no access to health care unless needed to protect public health and safety

9. Other Sundry Changes Changes to Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship, Spousal Sponsorship, Application Processing, Citizenship Certificates, Permanent Resident Cards and Language Testing Requirements

10. Changes to Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program Freeze all new applications for 2 years starting November 2011 In future, consider limiting sponsorship (to citizens and/or in special cases and/or to parents (not their dependents) and/or those who pass the Balance of Family test Introduce 10 year multiple-entry visa with 2 year stay if visitor has $100,000 medical coverage In future, consider changing financial responsibility commitment from 10 years to lifetime and/or institute $40,000 application fee In future, consider increasing minimum income required to sponsor family members (currently $42,000 over previous 12 month period - family of 4)

11. And Finally … Sponsored Spouses must wait 5 years before sponsoring new spouse. In future, may have to live with sponsor for at least 2 years after arrival or could lose status, be deported and/or face charges People applying for citizenship must now provide strict proof of language proficiency: language tests, secondary or post-secondary education or LINC scores CIC Call Centre now hangs up on clients if no lines are available (after navigating through menu); hard to get through Most CIC applications will be done online PR Cards no longer have to be picked up in person