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Immigration Fee Review Should Result in Scrapping Cornwallis Contract and $100,000 Fees |
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Written by NDP
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Friday, 03 February 2006 |
NDP Immigration Critic Kevin Deveaux has written a submission to the contractor who is reviewing the province's immigration nominee program, currently administered by Cornwallis Financial, asking them to recommend scrapping the Cornwallis contract
and the exorbitant fees charged to economic immigrants.
"Nova Scotia wants and needs immigrants and the current administration of this program does nothing but act as a barrier to successfully recruiting and retaining immigrants," Deveaux said. "It is currently the most expensive program in Canada and the results are less than spectacular."
"Forcing potential entrepreneurial immigrants to hand over $100,000 to Nova Scotian companies, plus substantial fees to a private, for-profit company in return for a six-month work placement is tantamount to passports for sale. It is exploitative and morally bankrupt."
Halifax Global Inc. was recently contracted by the provincial government to conduct an independent review of the fees charged under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program. The NDP's submission to the fee review says the fees charged under the program a barrier to successful immigrant recruitment and retention, and recommends the program be revamped and administered by the new fully-staffed Office of Immigration.
"The Office of Immigration is fully staffed and highly qualified. They have the expertise to administer a successful provincial nominee program."
"Simply put, Cornwallis Financial has not met immigration targets, they are not adding value to the process, and the contract should be ended immediately."
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