Canadian Immigration Focused on Women

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has announced increased funding of services provided by women's immigration centres. Funding estimated at $52. million has been provided to a service provider in the Toronto region, and is expected to aid in providing integration help from approximately 1,100 new arrivals in the region. These sections include referrals to community resources, advice and guidance, and employment-related services. This follows findings that greater numbers of women are applying as principal applicants in programs such as the federal skilled worker program.

A number of Canadian studies have demonstrated that migrants who receive more integration support are more likely to progress quicker to jobs consistent with their skills set. This in turn benefits Canada economically.

Canada's Minister of Immigration Eases Employment for Foreign Students

Canada's immigration authorities have announced plans which will east the process of obtaining off-campus employment for foreign students. This will see the introduction of an electronic application system for foreign student wishing to work in Canada while enrolled in full time education. This will include facilities to submit complete applications, including payment of fees, online at any time of day.

This step is part of Canada's government's plans to make a more direct route between attending Canadian schools as a foreign student, obtaining Canadian work experience, and then becoming a Canadian through permanent residence and citizenship. At present, the feeling is that the foreign student program is too detached from the processes of becoming a Canadian.

Canadian Experience Class Enacted

Following the recent announcement of plans to create a new class of Canadian Immigration application, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has announced the formal enacting of the Canadian Experience Class effective September 17 2008. This class of application allows candidates with past and present Canadian education or work experience to seek fast-tracked immigration to Canada, and which does not necessitate that the candidate leave Canada during the process.

“With the Canadian Experience Class fully in place, Canada will be more competitive in attracting and retaining individuals with the skills we need,” said the Minister of Immigration. “It, along with other recent improvements to modernize the immigration system, will go a long way in bringing Canada in line with its global competitors while further spreading the benefits of immigration into smaller centres across Canada.”

An important improvement has been announced since the original plan was described: eligible applicants who have departed Canada will remain qualified to apply in the Canadian Experience Class withing one year of such departure. The intention of this change is to enable qualified candidates to apply, even if they do not any longer possess valid Canadian temporary resident status.