Fwd: [Edling] Canada: Language test angers immigration lawyers

[Harold Schiffman]

 Forwarded From: edling at lists.sis.utsa.edu


Toronto Star



Language test angers immigration lawyers



All immigrants applying to come to Canada as skilled workers - even those
who grew up speaking English or French - could soon be required to take a
mandatory language test to prove proficiency in one of Canada's official
languages, the Star has learned. Until now, English- and French-speaking
applicants - including immigrants from the U.S. and England - could bypass
the test by submitting a letter testifying to their language skills.
Officials say the proposed change will make language assessments more
transparent. But immigration lawyers say the change would only increase
delays at a time when the federal government is introducing dramatic changes
to reduce an immigration backlog, especially to smooth the way for those
most likely to succeed in the job market.



Full story:

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/421032
-- 
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+

Harold F. Schiffman

Professor Emeritus of
Dravidian Linguistics and Culture
Dept. of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305

Phone: (215) 898-7475
Fax: (215) 573-2138

Email: haroldfs at gmail.com
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/

-------------------------------------------------
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lgpolicy-list/attachments/20080504/ee07efd2/attachment.htm>