‘Immigration fraud turns poor into slaves’

Kenney said that he’s more optimistic now because he has received assurances from Indian authorities that the New Delhi will introduce a law this year that will improve regulation of immigration agents.

“The challenge for us is to simply put on the agenda at the national level,what is going on,” Kenney told the media in Canada.

“One of the things I raised with them that I think is very troubling is the connection between this kind of immigration fraud and human trafficking.”

Kenney said Canada has increased efforts to attract skilled labour from India.

For many years,the vast majority of permanent resident visas given to India were in the so-called family class visa category.

But that’s changing. In 2005,55 per cent of the 27,193 permanent resident visas granted to Indians were family-class visas while 27 per cent were economic class visas given to skilled workers.

But from January to March 2010,family class visas accounted for 27 per cent of the 8,288 permanent resident visas issued,while economic class visas accounted for 71 per cent. Statistics also show Canada’s ties to India are broadening outside Punjab.

In 2005,41 per cent of permanent resident visas were given to Indians from Punjab. But during the first quarter of this year,that had slipped to 34 per cent.