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Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered a keynote speech in Toronto at the Pearson Convention Centre on Thursday. During his speech, Mr. Harper emphasized that India has become the prime source country for immigration to Canada due to recent changes made by the Canadian government to facilitate immigration from India to Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cImmigration enriches Canada,\u201d said Prime Minister Harper. \u201cToday, India is Canada\u2019s top source country for immigrants. And this explains why Canada\u2019s Indo-Canadian community is over 1.2 million strong and continuing to grow. The Indo-Canadian community has a proud history in our country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Harper referred to the eight Canadian trade and consular offices in India, including New Dehli, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Bangalore. He compared how his Conservative government has made changes to immigration regulations, making it easier for immigrants to come to Canada. \u201cIn 2005, fewer than twenty-five hundred student visas were granted to Indian students,\u201d said Mr. Harper. In 2014, that number has climbed to \u201cnearly 14,000\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister also mentioned Chris Alexander\u2019s recent first visit to India to announce the CAN+ program, under which there is a \u201c95 percent approval rate, making more Indians able to visit Canada or do business\u201d. The program was designed for Indians who have already travelled to Canada or the US.<\/p>\n
Mr. Harper concluded by stating that \u201cMen and women relentlessly pursue their goals to build a better, more prosperous life for themselves and their families, and help this country immensely in the process.\u201d<\/p>\n