Immigration policy is an area of joint jurisdiction between the Federal and Provincial governments. The Federal Government - through the department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada - is responsible for regulating the entry of immigrants and refugees to Canada, and processes applications for visas, residency status and citizenship. The Federal Government also sets refugee policy and sponsors a number of refugees every year from UN Refugee Camps around the world. Other federal laws and policies of note include: the Multiculturalism Act (1971), which recognizes Canadian cultural diversity; the Official Languages Act (1969), which establishes English and French as Canada's official languages; and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982), which assures Canadians' fundamental freedoms, democratic rights and equality rights.
In British Columbia, the Provincial Government allocates federal funding for immigrant settlement and integration services, and also has input into entry determinations through the Provincial Nominee Program, which accelerates permanent residency applications for a certain number of immigrants in response to labour shortages. Municipal governments play a role in setting policy relevant to immigrant groups, particularly in relation to land-use planning, event permits, funding grants to community groups, and local service and program delivery. In recent years, there have been many changes to the external environment of Canadian immigration policy, including increasing criticism of current immigration policy itself, and the emergence of numerous proposals for dealing with current labour market needs and settlement patterns of immigrants.
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