New test for immigrants looking to Canada

A new English test for immigrants wanting to move to Canada has been criticised as being inflexible and creating unnecessary red tape...

Two English professors who both have PhDs in English literature say it is a waste if time and money for native English speaking people and those who have qualifications to be compelled to take the $280 test.

American Sara Landreth has a job offer to teach English literature at the University of Ottawa, but her visa application will not be processed unless she does the test. Her husband, James Brooke-Smith, a British citizen, also needs to take the test.

The obligatory English test was introduced last month but critics say the change is contrary to Canadian immigration law. They point out that Section 79 of the regulations of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act states that skilled worker applicants may choose to submit to a language test or provide written evidence of their proficiency.

The Department of Citizenship and Immigration says though that the test is needed as part of the plan to create an independently administered test that helps prevent fraud and ensure fair and transparent methods of evaluation.

‘We felt that going to a language test option was the most fair, transparent, objective, consistent and accurate way to evaluate different applicants' language skills,' said a Canadian immigration department spokeswoman.

Last month, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney issued a ministerial instruction, effective immediately, that said only applicants who write a test will be considered.

Landreth and others though pointed out that there should be a clause for those with English as their mother tongue with professional qualifications in the language to be exempt from the test as it is creating unnecessary red tape and costs.

Toronto lawyer Cathryn Sawicki has launched a legal challenge to the new rules in the Federal Courts.

Source: www.expatforum.com

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