The Canadian government is asking its citizens to have a say in its immigration policies. The Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration wants Canadians to give their views on changing labour market trends and how the immigration system should respond to them.

This is part of the immigration system reform initiated in 2008 to cut down the massive immigration applications backlog and also to bring in professional people who are needed in Canada.

There had been a longstanding debate about the fairness and justification of bringing, for example, doctors and engineers who find it difficult to practise while the country is beginning the feel the shortage in fields such as construction workers, plumbers etc.

But what is interesting is that, according to the press release of the ministry, Canadians could also voice their opinion about ‘factors that affect an immigrant’s ability to succeed in Canada’s work force’.

In other words, Canadians could express their sentiments about language and other issues that they think, not necessarily objectively, would affect an immigrant’s successful integration in the workforce.

The ministry has not said how it will evaluate the suggestions.

But what is known is that the ministry says that the consultations will help the government develop instructions to immigration offices to decide which economic immigration applications are eligible for processing.

This consultation is applicable only to those wishing to migrate under the economy class, and not family or other special classes of immigration.

Public can participate in the consultation process by accessing the Citizenship and Immigration Canada special website.