Canada India Foundation (CIF).

TORONTO -- Supporting the Harper government's immigration reform legislation, Bill C-150; the Canada India Foundation (CIF) says Canada however, still needs to take several steps to improve immigration services in India.

CIF is urging Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley to establish two new visa processing centres in Mumbai and Chennai.

"In comparison to China and Pakistan, India on a per capita basis, is disproportionately serviced by Immigration Canada," said CIF Convener Ajit Someshwar. "More can and must be done to facilitate skilled accreditation of immigrants if Canada is serious about attracting the best and the brightest."

The Harper government lived to rule another day after they survived another confidence vote Wednesday.

The House voted 201-68 against the NDP motion which called for a rejection of the government's budget implementation bill. The Conservatives and Liberals opposed the motion, while NDP and Bloc Quebecois members supported it.

"Bill C-50 is good for Canada and good for Canadian employers," said Someshwar. "By choosing to prioritize skilled labourers, while protecting family class immigrants and refugees, the Minister is striking the right balance."

Bill C-50 seeks to speed up the processing of the over 900,000 applicants currently in the backlog with significant new funding. It also allows Finley to designate skilled immigrant categories which will be prioritized in consultation with employers. In addition, Finley has stated that family re-unification, refugees and humanitarian cases will not be affected by this Bill.