Paul Henry

1
Mode 4 Through a Canadian Immigration
Policy Lens
Paul Henry Citizenship Immigration Canada
Joint WTO-World Bank Symposium on Movement of
Natural Persons (Mode 4) Under the GATS April
2002
2
Overview

• Introduction
• Policy Contexts Intersect
• Role of Immigration Labour Policy Officials
• Immigration Perspective
• Answers to WTO Secretariat Questions

3
Introduction

• Objectives
• Better understanding of policy contexts trade,
  immigration labour market
• Avoid zero-sum game/adversarial relationships
• Find common interests ways to increase mode 4
  liberalization
• Complementary results serving various interests
  (trade, immigration, labour market, developing
  countries, business)

4
Policy Contexts Intersect
Immigration
Trade
Labour
5
Immigration Labour Policy Officials Role in
Mode 4 Discussions

• Important partners
• Provide better appreciation of mode 4 issues
• Assess commitments
• Explain ineffective commitments
• Decipher national regimes on temporary entry
• Clarify problems cited by business
• Help make progress

6
Immigration Policy Context CIC Business Lines

• Maximizing benefits of international migration
• Selection of economic immigrants
• Family reunification
• Admission of visitors (tourists, foreign
  students temporary workers)
• Upholding Canada's humanitarian tradition
  (refugee determination)
• Promoting integration of newcomers (settlement)
• Managing access to Canada (enforcement)

7
Immigration Trade Policy Contexts
Snapshots
8
CIC Views on International Trade Agreements

• Support for Canadas international trade agenda
• Concerns

• Special rules in trade agreements

• Lack of transparency of commitments

• Preference for general provisions policy
  flexibility

• Willingness to bind for benefit

9
WTO Secretariats Questions Brief Answers

• Changes to facilitate mode 4
• Problems solutions
• Contribution of GATS members

10
Main Points

• Trade, immigration labour officials are
  partners not adversaries

• Immigration/labour officials provide insight
  progress on mode 4 issues

• Trade officials should involve immigration/labour
  officials as much as possible

11
Main Points

• Objective is more effective commitments

• Facilitating temporary entry

• Avoiding increased burden for immigration
  officials business people

• Covering more categories of business people

• Reducing/eliminating labour market tests/work
  permits

• Clearer information for business travelers on
  application processes requirements