In order to improve the integrity of the immigration system, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney today announced that a new regulatory body is being proposed to oversee immigration consultants.
"The Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council – or ICCRC – has committed to enhancing the protection of the Canadian public and those who use the services of immigration consultants," said Minister Kenney. "I am confident that, with the ICCRC's strong regulation of immigration consultants, people using our immigration processes will be offered quality consultation, representation and advice."
This process is part of a broader strategy to protect from immigration fraud people wanting to immigrate to or stay in Canada. Included in this strategy is Bill C-35, which aims to crack down on crooked consultants. As well, a multilingual domestic advertising campaign warning prospective immigrants, permanent residents and Canadian citizens not to be taken in by crooked immigration consultants was launched in February and an overseas advertising campaign, with the support of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States—members of the Five Country Conference—was launched earlier this week
Minister Kenney raised the issue of immigration consultant fraud in meetings with officials in China, India and the Philippines last fall and more recently in Pakistan. He has urged those governments to protect their citizens from exploitation and abuse by crooked immigration consultants.
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