Canadian online tool for immigrants hailed a success

Popularity of Come to Canada Wizard continues to rise, say CIC

A year after it was launched, Canada’s online immigration tool Come to Canada Wizard, is being hailed as a huge success.

According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) the popularity of the Web tool, which helps people determine if they are eligible to live, work or study in the country, continues to rise and is reaching new heights with over 1.6 million visits.

Drawing over 100,000 visitors a month, the tool presents users with a series of questions and, based on their answers, matches them with the federal immigration option that best suits their specific circumstances. It then leads them to a page that breaks down the application steps and provides instructions and forms.

‘We want the world’s best and brightest to come to Canada and to help grow our economy,’ said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.

‘This is one way that we are creating a more responsive, transparent and efficient immigration system that benefits applicants, immigrants and Canadians alike,’ he explained.

He added that the clear success of the tool is reflected by the comments CIC has received from users.

‘This is very interesting and easy to use. A very quick way to find whether you qualify or not,’ wrote one user. ‘An amazing tool, it certainly simplified my options, thanks,’ noted another.

CIC is constantly making improvements to its website, from interactive tools for newcomers to enhanced search capabilities. The Department will soon launch an online help centre featuring a data bank of more than 500 answers for users.

Meanwhile there are calls for Canada to open its doors to even more immigrants. Speaking at a conference at the University of Prince Edward Island Professor James McNiven said that Canada needs ‘old fashioned immigrants who come with minimal skills and lots of drive’.

His comments come at a time when major changes have already been made to the country’s immigration system with an emphasis on younger, skilled immigrants who can slot into the system quickly.

But this is not what is needed, according to McNiven.

‘We have a bias towards professionals and what we need are actually unskilled labour, guys who will come here and be industrious and start businesses,’ he explained.