Groups plan rally to protest changes to immigration law

THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO - More than a dozen concerned immigrant groups plan to rally in Toronto today to protest against proposed amendments to the country's immigration law.

Sima Sahar Zerehi of the group Status Now says some visible minorities fear changes being proposed by Ottawa could result in some immigrants being discriminated against and denied entry into Canada.

The proposed legislation would give the federal government power to fast-track certain types of applicants while refusing to even consider others.

Immigration Minister Diane Finley has said the amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act would help attract highly sought after skilled workers, who often give up on Canada as a destination because of long backlogs.

Zeheri, who is Iranian and came to Canada as a refugee, says she's also concerned because the Conservatives included the immigration measures in its larger budget-implementation bill.

Zeheri says she's worried the Liberals will not vote against the immigration amendments because they don't want to face an election any time soon.

© The Canadian Press, 2008