The Canadian government has confirmed that new language regulations for immigrants will go into effect starting this November.
Though the changes were announced last year, they will finally be coming into effect on all new applications starting from the first of November. Applicants will now have to submit proof of their proficiency in one of Canada’s two official languages.
Formerly the regulations were more subjective, with language proficiency being determined at the interview stage or even during the citizenship test. The new rules will require that all applicants submit proof of language proficiency in one of three forms, either certified completion of a government training program, independent test results, or documents showing that they completed secondary or post-secondary education in either English or French.
A government report recently found that the new regulations will cost immigrants an additional $70 million per year in testing, as well as an additional $40 million for governments to provide training programs.
However, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney stands by the new policy, stating that the studies also show that proven language proficiency does significantly raise an immigrant’s chance of success upon arrival in Canada.
Source: National Post