Last week, Immigration Minister John McCallum tabled a bill to repeal stricter language requirements for some immigrants, imposed by his Conservative predecessor.
The new legislation is part of a package of several other changes to the Citizenship Act, and has the support of Steveston-Richmond East MP Joe Peschisolido.
“You want to make it fair for the folks and fair for the community where you have people coming in and (trying to speak) English,” said Peschisolido.
McCallum has proposed that age requirements for an “adequate knowledge” of one of the official languages be loosened.
“I do think that, while the language requirement in general is important, there are many, many immigrants who come here without the Queen’s English, with imperfect English (or French), and yet they contribute to Canada,” said McCallum.
Last year, under the Conservative government, Bill C-24 expanded the age range for people required to take language proficiency tests from 18-54 years of age to 14-64 years of age.
McCallum plans to reverse that decision.
“I don’t think it serves the greater good to restrict these people,” said McCallum.
A statement from the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to the Richmond News, notes: “For younger applicants, learning English or French and having an adequate knowledge of Canada is already achieved through schooling. For the older age group, language skills and knowledge of Canada are offered through a wide range of integration services.”
Peschisolido said the move would make it easier for families to unify. He noted under the Conservative changes his “nonno and nonna,” who came from Italy, would have had a difficult time settling in Canada.
“We will maintain the ability to speak English,” said Peschisolido, who called the language requirements “ludicrously difficult” for youth and seniors.
“There has to be a balance,” he said.
The changes were prompted by outspoken Liberal MPs in B.C., namely Sukh Dhaliwal, for Surrey-Newton, and Jenny Kwan, for Vancouver-East.
The ministry told the News there would be no changes made to the language proficiency testing.
The changes would likely impact Richmond more than most other Canadian cities, as it is an ethnic Chinese enclave and has a high seniors population.
Richmond Centre MP Alice Wong said she disagreed with the move, calling it a ploy to garner votes from immigrants.
“To integrate into this community we need English,” said Wong.
“The point is to make sure (immigrants) integrate,” added Wong.
Wong said she has more concerns about other changes to the act.
Notably, McCallum is reversing the Conservative’s 2015 changes that made it possible to revoke citizenship from dual citizens who have committed terrorism.
Other changes include crediting a prospective citizen with time spent in-country prior to becoming a resident as part of the citizenship requirement, as well as shortening the number of years required to reside in Canada, to become a citizen, from four to three.
The Liberals are also granting authority to citizenship officers to seize documents provided during the administration of the act, if there are reasonable grounds to believe they are fraudulent, or are being used fraudulently.
