Our government is totally supportive of increasing immigration. We want them to succeed. Our whole thing is we want to get more here faster and we want them to succeed sooner. That's why, in our very first budget, we committed $1.3 billion, to which we've added $100 million for settlement funding so that they do have the opportunity to succeed, so that they do find out how to get a job, and so that they do have the level of English or French language that's needed for them to succeed.
We've also introduced the Foreign Credentials Referral Office, which will help immigrants before they even get here to identify any gaps between their professional skills and Canada's standards while they're waiting to come here. They'll then have the opportunity to upgrade or to qualify in a related field because that information is available through the FCRO.
This is a big improvement over a few years ago, when people often arrived without the points in the point system, thinking their credentials were recognized. They were then shocked, stunned, and amazed when they arrived to find out that, no, their credentials weren't recognized, because that's provincial. Then it would take them a couple of years after they landed to get up to speed and go back to school. We're trying to preempt that so that when they arrive here, they have a better chance of success.
Finally, through our reforms we're trying to ensure that we're bringing in people who have a better chance of success--those whose skills are in demand--so that they can get to work in their chosen field and succeed for themselves and their family.