CALGARY (CBC) - The federal government will begin holding consultations across the country next week to determine which skilled immigrant workers it should fast track under a new law that gives officials the power to speed up certain applications.

On Monday, the Immigration Ministry will start meeting with businesses, representatives of provincial and territorial governments, non-governmental organizations, academics and the labour industry. After regional talks wrap up, a national roundtable is scheduled for Aug. 15.

Consultations will look at where Canada is experiencing its labour shortages, what skills are needed to fill the gaps and what barriers exist to foreign credential accreditation.

Just over two weeks ago, Parliament approved legislation that allows the immigration minister to decide which applications should be fast-tracked, and which should be rejected, based on the need to fill labour shortages.

Backlog of 900,000 applications

The government says the law will help stop a backlog of 900,000 applications from growing any larger and will allow quick entry for those with skills in demand.

Currently, it can take up to six years for an immigration application to be processed, a time the government aims to reduce to no longer than one year.

"The changes to Canada's immigration law allow us to bring to Canada more quickly those immigrants with the skills that match Canada's labour market needs," Immigration Minister Diane Finley said Thursday in a release.

Based on the advice it receives, the government will develop instructions for immigration officers on determining which applications to identify as priorities.

Immigrant service organizations have decried the Conservative government's changes, saying the measures place too much power in the hands of the minister in charge.

'Not a proper way to run the system'

Winnipeg immigration lawyer David Matas says the government is going about reform of the system backwards, and should have done consultations before changing the law on June 18.

He compared doing so to saying, "We've painted ourselves into a corner, help us get out of it."

To gut the law first and give the minister "the power to do anything and have no idea what we're going to do is arbitrary ... and it's just not a proper way to run the system," Matas said.

Applications submitted before Feb. 27 will continue to be processed, as will submissions from skilled workers who have a job lined up.

But many other applications after that date will be put aside until the government finishes the consultation process and draws up instructions.

The process will not affect applications related to family reunification or refugee protection, the government says.

With files from the Canadian Press

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