Canada has begun welcoming citizens of South Korea and Israel into the fold. Canada’s previous visa process for these countries had been complicated and laborious, but now citizens can get a fast-tracked residency application online in just 60 minutes!
Canada Welcomes Korean and Israeli Citizens
Since the election of Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister of Canada in 2015, relations between Canada and Korea have been on the upswing. This is in part due to Trudeau’s previous work as a lawyer for the Korean pop singer Se7en and his experience hosting the Israeli show “The Amazing Race Canada.” CANADA VISA FOR SOUTH KOREAN CITIZENS
Canadian officials have also been reaching out to their Korean and Israeli counterparts in an effort to improve bilateral ties. In March 2017, for example, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland met with her South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se to discuss issues such as trade, defence, and North Korea. The next month, Freeland met with her Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman to discuss Middle East peace talks, climate change, and trade.
These meetings come as a response to Trudeau’s election campaign promise that he would be “the most pro-Israel prime minister in Canadian history.” In a speech at the Jerusalem International Convention Center in January 2017, Trudeau announced that Canada would donate CAD $15 million (USD $12 million) over five years to support projects aimed at strengthening Israel’s security and its relationship with its Arab and Muslim neighbours.
Why Is Canada Warming to Israel and South Korea?
Canada is warming to Israel and South Korea because of their strong economic ties, says a report by the Institute for Research on Public Policy. CANADA VISA FOR ISRAELI CITIZENS
“The Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) has been a boon to both countries,” said Irena Pritchett, director of research at the institute. “In 2012, bilateral trade between Canada and Israel totaled CA$2.1 billion, with South Korea coming in at a distant second at CA$508 million.”
Pritchett said that while much of the focus in recent years has been on trade tensions with the United States, Canada has had some success diversifying its trade partners. “South Korea and Israel are two countries that are seen as pillars of stability in an unstable region,” she said.
The warmth between Canada and Israel is also due to shared interests in defence and security, Pritchett said. “Both countries have faced threats from Iran and militant groups like Hezbollah.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Canadian Visa: Is Social Media Bullying Now an Immigration Violation?
Khabib Nurmagomedov, a UFC fighter originally from Russia and now fighting out of Canada, recently became a Canadian citizen. However, some social media users are reporting that they are bully him because he is not “true” Canadian and should not be allowed to stay in the country. Is this bullying an immigration violation?
According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), “The mere fact that someone is a citizen of a foreign country does not automatically mean they do not meet the requirements for immigration to Canada.” CIC stresses that an applicant’s “integrity, character, conduct and relationship with Canada” are all important factors when considering an immigration application. This means that even if someone is originally from another country, if they have strong ties to Canada – such as being a long-time resident or having citizenship – they may be able to gain citizenship through naturalization.
While Khabib Nurmagomedov’s case may be unique, it does raise the question of whether social media bullying against immigrants – especially those who are not “true” Canadians – is now an immigration violation. While there is no specific law addressing this issue, there could
Conclusion
Thank you to everyone who participated in the recent social media campaign welcoming Korean and Israeli citizens to Canada. The response was overwhelming, with Canadians from all corners of the country coming together to show their support for both nations. We are proud to be home to so many talented and friendly people from around the world, and we look forward to building even more close relationships in the years ahead.