RSS Canadian Immigration News

Canadian Government Funds Immigration Support Services

noreply@blogger.com (RSS) — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:03:00 +0000

Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister has announced $950,000 in funding to provide new immigrants in the city of Hamilton, Ontario settlement services. These will include a variety of services, including language training, job search assistance, and help locating day-care for children.

"We want more immigrants to come to Canada and we are committed to helping immigrants begin their new lives in our country,' said the Haldimand-Norfolk MP. 'Their success is good for Hamilton and good for Canada as a whole."

Government Leaders Opposed Canadian Immigration Changes

noreply@blogger.com (RSS) — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:54:00 +0000

Jack Layton, the opposition leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), has stated that the proposed changes to Canada's immigration legislation will be opposed "every step of the way." The changes, which the Minister of Immigration is seeking to help reduce backlogs for applicants worldwide, also contain some provisions which Layton feels is contrary to Canada's history of multi-culturalism.

Layton, promising cross country consultations with community leaders, feels that the issue is significant enough to force an election. His party opposes the principle of encouraging temporary foreign workers over permanent immigrants, and will likely introduce legislation which will annul the changes sought in the present amendments.

Canadian Permanent Resident Card

noreply@blogger.com (RSS) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:52:00 +0000

Canada's Minister of Immigration has announced changes to the process of applying for renewal of a permanent resident card. Effective April 21 2008, Canadian permanent resident seeking renewal will be able to retain their existing card if it is still valid, and may return it to Citizenship and Immigration Canada when collecting the new card. If the card is already expired, then the card should be returned with the application for renewal.

To be eligible for a PR Card, an individual must be a permanent resident of Canada and be physically present in Canada. A permanent resident who is under an effective removal order may not be found eligible for the card. Permanent residents who are outside Canada and do not have a valid PR Card must apply for a travel document from a Canadian visa office in order to return to Canada.

Minister of Immigration Updates Post-Graduation Work Permit Program

noreply@blogger.com (RSS) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:22:00 +0000

On April 21st, Canada's Minister of Immigration announced changes to the program which allows certain foreign students to work in Canada following their graduation. The program, which is effective immediately, changes the maximum duration of such work permits from two years to three. It also removes the requirement of a job offer consistent with the field of study by allowing for issuance of open work permits.

Program requirements for international students as follows:

Must have studied full-time for at least eight months preceding the completion of their program of studies and have graduated from:

a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, university or CEGEP (in Quebec); or
a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions, and that receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify); or
a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial or territorial statute to confer degrees.

Must apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation (for example, a transcript or an official letter) from the institution that they have met the requirements of the academic program (notice of graduation).
Must have completed and passed the program of study and received a notification that they are eligible to obtain their degree, diploma or certificate.
Must have a valid study permit when they apply for the work permit.

The following foreign students are not eligible for the program:

Students participating in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program or a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
Students receiving funding from the Canadian International Development Agency and participating in a distance learning program.
Students who have previously been issued a post-graduation work permit after any other program of study. However, note that graduates who are already working with a work permit issued under the previous rules are eligible to apply for an extension.

Canadian Government Debates Immigration and Citizenship Changes

noreply@blogger.com (RSS) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:58:00 +0000

Canada's Conservative government and the Minister of Immigration have faced considerable criticism of late in the light of changes currently proposed to the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Proposed changes to the Citizenship Act, to be implemented in the spring of 2009 if approved would change the process by which those born outside Canada to Canadian parents could become eligible for citizenship. Whereas at present such individuals are required to declare or affirm their citizenship by the age of 28, Bill C-37 removes this requirement. At the same time, it removes the possibility of these individuals' children gaining citizenship if born outside Canada.

Meanwhile, the ongoing debate of the proposed amendments to the IRPA continues. The changes, intended to help expedite the processing of eligible applicants, also carries bad news for some whose cases could be closed without processing. A recent vote on the Bill defeated an amendment that would have killed the proposition. Although Canada's Liberal party continues to adamantly oppose the amendments, a decision to bring down the minority government may be needed to shut down the proposition.

Canadian Bar Association Concerned about Immigration Law Amendments

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:45:00 +0000

The chair of the immigration section of the Canadian Bar Association has stated concerns that the organization has over the proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The main concern over the changes is that it permits the Minister to unilaterally implement criteria that can affect the processing of cases already submitted. This can include expediting a case or closing it without processing.

The changes are intended to reduce the backlogs which have only extended since the present government took power, despite promises to do the opposite. While the opponents claims that the changes are undemocratic, the Minister of Immigration maintains that urgent action is required to expedite the admission of skilled workers to Canada and to reunite families.

Immigration Amendment Opposed

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:51:00 +0000

Canadian Members of Parliament are being urged by Canadians and by other politicians to vote against to proposed amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The main concern is that the Conservative party is seeking to much power to close applications that are deemed inconsistent with present labour market requirements. The amendments propose to allow the Immigration Minister to cap the number of applicants in the immigration backlogs and would be able to refuse an application which had already been approved. The Immigration Minister could also make decisions about immigration policy that, under the current system, require regulatory changes.

One Member of Parliament, Olivia Chow, has promised to introduce an amendment to have the immigration proposals removed from the proposed bill. Other groups presently mounting opposition to the amendments include the Chinese Canadian National Council and the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants.

Amendments to Canada's Immigration Act

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:14:00 +0000

The Government of Canada has introduced new legislation that is intended to reduce immigration backlogs, especially in the Skilled Worker program. "The legislation is intended to provide greater flexibility in addressing a range of labour market needs. It will not apply to refugees and does not affect our objectives related to family reunification."

If passed, the new measures will apply to any application received on or following February 27th 2008. Cases which had been received prior to such date will be handled on the existing legislation at that time.

The major change proposed in these amendments is that the immigration department will not necessarily process applications on a first-come first-serve basis. Cases which best match the current needs of the Canadian labour market, as defined by the Minister, may be entitled to expedited processing. The Minister's instructions which govern the priority awarded to certain cases would be published officially. These provisions would not apply to refugee or family class cases.

Canadian Immigration Numbers Released

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:07:00 +0000

Canada's immigration department is set to release figures that state that a total of 251,000 permanent residents were admitted last year. Combined with approximately 178,000 temporary foreign workers, the department is claiming that the 2007 figures are the highest total since 1911.

Canadian Government Increases Immigrant Services Funding

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:19:00 +0000

The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration has announced funding for the Immigrant Settlement Services program in Ontario. The program is dedicated to the development and implementation of programs that support new immigrants in Ontario. Services include employment related assistance, , orientation, interpretation, referrals to community services and general information for new Canadians.

Through the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, a total of $920 million in funding is being allocated to increase settlement assistance in Ontario over a five year period. The Minister, who expects that all national business growth by 2012 will rely on skilled immigrants, feels that the money is well spent.

Criminal Inadmissibility and Rehabilitation

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:17:00 +0000

Increased sharing of criminal databases has recently led to reports of more common refusals for visitor and other temporary resident visas to Canada. Those with sometimes long forgotten indiscretions, such as DUI convictions which may have been treated as misdemeanors in the USA, are being reminded of the impact that his can have under Canada's immigration Regulations.

Those faced with inadmissibility to Canada due to reasons of criminality have a number of options that can permit entrance to Canada. These include a Criminal Rehabilitation application, a Temporary Resident Permit, and Deemed Rehabilitation.

Criminal Rehabilitation

A Criminal Rehabilitation application can only be initiated a minimum of five years following the completion of the sentence for a given crime. The application comprises the provision of suitable documentation to document that the individual is rehabilitated and is therefore not likely to re-offend. These applications often require extensive documentation of the offence, reference letters, and application forms. The process of a criminal rehabilitation application is typically approximately 12 months, but can be longer depending on visa office backlogs.

Temporary Resident Permit

A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) is an immigration document which grants someone temporary admission to Canada who is otherwise considered inadmissible. It is not a permanent removal of inadmissibility, but typically refers to a single admittance for a fixed period of time if the conditions warrant it.

At a port of entry, it is possible to process a Temporary Resident Permit on the spot. In these cases, there is no formal application process, but rather the TRP is considered in the context of the existing application for temporary admission (e.g., visitor, work permit, or study permit). If an immigration official is satisfied that there is a low risk of re-offending while in Canada and that there is a sufficient need for the person's admission to Canada.

An immigration official at a port of entry may refer the case to a visa office if not satisfied. Visa offices will often use the same application form and materials requested for a Criminal Rehabilitation application to decide the case, and it may take between two and twelve months to process depending on the visa office and the case.

Deemed Rehabilitation

Depending on the severity of the offence, and if there are no subsequent offences, individuals may be considered to be deemed rehabilitated after a number of years. This may range from 5 years for less severe offences to 10 years for those that are more serious. If deemed rehabilitated, it would not be necessary to apply for the other measures described.

Ontario Fast-Tracks Immigration

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:12:00 +0000

Ontario's government is seeking to fast-track the immigration process for certain skilled professions and trades in order to help fill shortages in the labour market. In this program, employers may seek to nominate foreign candidates, who then become eligible to seek fast-tracked permanent resident status in Canada.

The nominee program has recently been expanded to include foreign students with a full time permanent offer of employment related to their Canadian studies. To be eligible, foreign students must be nominated by an Ontario employer; have completed at least half of their studies in Canada and graduated from an eligible Canadian college or university; and apply within two years of the date of their Canadian graduation.

Canada's Foreign Student Enrollment Reaches High

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:38:00 +0000

For the fifth consecutive year, foreign student enrollment at Canada's universities has hit record highs. For the 2005-2006 academic year, the last for which national figures are available, enrollment reached over 80,000 students, accounting for a 6% increase over the prior year. The provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec account for the largest numbers of foreign students. These provinces together presently attract approximately 78% of the enrollment.

The report by Statistics Canada suggests that economic growth in certain regions, more attractive immigration policies, and more aggressive marketing by the universities themselves all account for the increases.

Technology Industry Targeting Canadian Immigration

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:10:00 +0000

Technology industry representatives in the province of British Columbia are recruiting overseas for tech jobs. In order to help fill the approximately 10,000 positions which are projected vacant in the province this year, international technology students in the USA who are required to leave the USA are being invited to fairs conducted by the non-profit B.C. Technology Industry Association (BCTIA).

Approximately 400 technology companies participated in the annual TechTalentBC Labour Demand Study, funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education. Although most employers recognized that many of their employment needs would derive from immigration, most were not familiar with the various programs in place to facilitate that.

The BCTIA is trying to promote the region as a permanent and long-term destination for skilled workers. The group suggests that the industry's labour shortage is growing at a faster rate than originally predicted.

Immigrant Association Seeks to Fill Labour Needs

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:54:00 +0000

The Niagara Immigrants Employment Council was launched last month in order to fulfill the goals of attracting new Canadian immigrants to the Niagara, Ontario region and to promote the hiring of such immigrants by local employers. With participation from representatives of the region's leading companies and the presidents of local colleges and universities, the organization believes that it can help reduce local labour shortages.

By 2011, the growth of the Niagara region's labour force will depend mainly on foreign-trained individuals. The Niagara Economic Development Corporation identified a shortage of approximately 35,000 to 48,000 workers by the year 2010. The focus on attracting and retaining new immigrants is seen as a critical step in ensuring the region's continued vitality.

Internship Program for New Canadian Immigrants

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:35:00 +0000

Career Bridge, a program launched in 2003 by non-profit group Career Edge, has helped launch approximately 700 careers with more than 200 Canadian employers in the Toronto area. By partnering with Canadian companies, new Canadians benefit from a valuable foot in the door, gaining Canadian experience and contacts at the same time.

The success of the program has more recently led to its launch in the Vancouver area. Some of the companies that have already joined the effort in this region include Alcan, BC Hydro, CIBC, GE Canada, Canada Trust and Telus.

Increased Canadian Immigration Needed for Calgary Region

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:57:00 +0000

A study by the Calgary Economic Development suggests that the Calgary region will suffer a shortfall of approximately 244,000 workers over the next decade. The group recognizes that this sort of shortfall is a problem being faced by most nations with balanced economies, and that there is increasing competition for skilled workers from around the world.

The Alberta Federation of Labour is calling for more emphasis on the improvement of the processes to enable the permanent immigration of skilled workers. Representatives of Citizenship and Immigration Canada identify various measures that they have been putting in place in order to better attract qualified immigrants. These include measures to facilitate the retention of foreign students in Canada, pilot projects to expedite the admission of certain workers, and programs to expedite the recognition of foreign credentials.

Quebec facing shortages of certain skilled workers

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:38:00 +0000

A study conducted by a Quebec online recruiting portal, Jobboom, suggests that the provinces employers are having difficulty filling certain occupations. The study suggests that this is caused in part by shortfalls in the numbers of new graduates being produced by local educational programs.

This situation is expected to become worse by the year 2012 as Quebec's population ages. Recommended strategies for solving the shortage include the prospect of increased Quebec immigration and seeking to have workers postpone retirement.

Provinces Encourage Canadian Immigration

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:30:00 +0000

British Columbia and Alberta are presently facing labour shortages that are forcing employers to recruit from abroad. Canada's federal government has enacted new rules to facilitate the admission of certain foreign workers to these provinces. In Alberta alone, there is an expected shortfall of 100,000 workers over the next decade.

Under the Expedited Labour Market Opinion Project, certain occupations are fast tracked so that the process can be reduced to as little as five days, as opposed to over five months required in those provinces at present.

Service Canada has recently added occupations in order to facilitate a total of 33 occupations in British Columbia and Alberta:

Carpenters (Journeyman/Woman)
Civil Engineers
Commercial Janitors, Caretakers
Construction Labourers
Crane Operators(Journeyman/Woman)
Delivery Drivers
Dental Technicians
Electrical & Electronics Engineers
Food and Beverage Servers
Food Counter Attendants
Food Service Supervisors
Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
Hotel Front Desk Clerks
Hotel and Hospitality Room Attendants
Industrial Electricians
Industrial Meat Cutters
Ironworkers
Manufacturing & Processing Labourers
Mechanical Engineers
Mechanical Engineering Technologists
Petroleum Engineers
Pharmacists
Registered Nurses
Residential Cleaning and Support Workers
Retail Salespersons and Sales Clerks
Roofers
Ski and Snowboard Instructors
Specialized Cleaners
Steamfitters, Pipefitters
Surveyor Helpers
Tour and Travel Guides
Welders
Machinists

Funding for Canadian Immigration Research

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:33:00 +0000

The city of Vancouver is receiving funding from the federal government and industry groups for diversity research and an upcoming summit on immigrants and jobs.

$7.5 million in funding has been granted by Canada's government for the purpose of conducting research into globalization, immigration and diversity at various centres across the country, including Metro Vancouver. This funding will help support the ongoing Metropolis Project initiated by a Vancouver area university, which started in 1995.

Meanwhile, Vancouver is gearing up for a summit which is intended to investigate ways to best match labour market needs with new immigrants. Participants include business leaders and employer groups, as well as local government officials.

Canadian Immigration for Adoptees Eased

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 19:47:00 +0000

A law has been implemented which will ease the process of gaining citizenship for children adopted by Canadians. Whereas Canadian parents were previously required to apply for permanent resident status in the Family Class and then seek citizenship afterwards, the process has been streamlined to allow for a direct application for citizenship.

With this process, the child can obtain a Canadian passport before ever arriving in Canada. The new process applies only to adoptions carried out abroad, and not to those conducted within Canada.

Canada funds immigration programs

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:44:00 +0000

Canada's immigration department announced increases in funding to the provinces by more than $121 million over a three year period. The increases in funding are aimed at the provinces outside Quebec and Ontario and are intended to help immigrants settle into Canadian society. The increases in funding will bring the total investment to over $1.4 billion over five years.

The province of Saskatchewan is receiving a 40% increase in funding to help close the gap between it and the provinces which traditionally attract more immigrants. The funding, which is used for programs and services such as language and skills training, will help keep immigrants in the smaller provinces and should promote future immigration.

Canadian Province of Saskatchewan Reports High Immigration Levels

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:59:00 +0000

Recent census data by Statistics Canada confirms that the province of Saskatchewan has attracted its highest number of immigrants in 75 years. The new immigrants, who derive primarily from China, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, helped to offset the number of residents who departed the province for locations such as Alberta.

Saskatchewan has joined the oil boom in Canada, and is second only to Alberta in overall Canadian production. The result has been an increase in employment for skilled trades in the region.

Quebec seeks more immigrants

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:06:00 +0000

Quebec's immigration department is implementing a plan to increase the number of immigrants it attracts annually. For 2007, it is estimated that the province will attract 45,000 new immigrants, a shortfall of 3000 compared to the present plan. By 2010, Quebec is seeking to increase this number to 55,000 immigrants annually in response to labour shortages and a declining birth rate.

The government has also pledged to improve its spending of approximately $200 million of federal funding designated for assistance of the integration of new immigrants into Quebec society.

Canadian Industry Seeking more Immigration

noreply@blogger.com (Robinson Sheppard Shapiro) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:47:00 +0000

Industry officials in numerous sectors in Canada are facing crippling labour shortages. Those officials in provinces such as British Columbia, where shortages of as many as 20,000 skilled workers exist, are looking for ways to expedite the immigration process so as to be able to recruit from overseas and meet project requirements. Monte Solberg, Canada's Minister of Human Resources and Social Development states that he is looking for ways to expedite the process of immigration.

Although backlogs can be lengthy in some cases, Canada is still seen as having lenient visa processing rules compared to other Western nations. Faced with continued shortages in its labour force in the USA, for example, software giant Microsoft has set up a division of its company in Canada for the purpose of software development. The company hopes to be able to attract talent from among Canadians and those immigrating to Canada.