[REAL]http://www.cbc.ca/clips/rm-lo/roussy-immigration-060512.rm[/REAL]
有关文字如下：
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canada needs more immigrants but the Conservative leader stopped short of setting specific target numbers.
Harper made the comments following a speech in Mississauga, Ont., where he announced changes to streamline the immigration system.
"Well I think we need more," Harper said when asked by a reporter whether his government would increase the number of immigrants entering Canada.
But the prime minister appeared cool to the idea of setting specific target numbers, saying the previous Liberal government set targets that were never met.
"Just having a number out there I don't think matters," he said.
Harper said it's more important to make sure applications are processed quickly.
This week, Immigration Minister Monte Solberg seemed to hint that the previous government's target of 300,000 new immigrants to Canada each year was too high.
Harper also announced the federal government will introduce a bill to ease restrictions on foreign adoptions, making it easier for children overseas to become Canadian citizens.
The prime minister reiterated the government's plan to immediately cut the immigrant landing fee from $975 to $490.
"The so-called user fee is just a tax by another name," he said.
He also said the government would create an agency that would help new immigrants through bureaucratic regulations and help recognize their foreign credentials.
"The agency will do just that by working with our partners, the provinces, professional and licensing bodies, employers and immigrants, to make sure newcomers' skills, training and credentials are recognized."
Sharry Aiken, a law professor at Queen's University who specializes in immigration, applauded some of the changes.
She said the cut to the immigrant landing fee is long overdue. But she added the government appears paralyzed on some key systemic issues.
Aiken said a great deal of their emphasis appears to be on clearing up backlog so we can bring in more economic immigrants.
"And I would say we need to look at the overall immigration program, the balance between economic immigrants on the one hand, family members, refugees and other humanitarian classes on the other and not lose sight that those components of the program are equally important and equally in need of being sustained or being furthered."