Current Canadian Immigration News Stories from Reliable Sources

Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) has recently announced a pilot project that will permit soon-to-be immigrants to have their international credentials recognized before arriving in Canada.  The Foreign Credential Recognition Support for Labour Market Needs in Saskatchewan pilot project will therefore allow newcomers to transition into the workforce more quickly.

Health care professionals from abroad who wish to immigrate and work in Saskatchewan have a new information resource through which they can better prepare ahead of time.  The Internationally Educated Health Professional (IEHP) web portal was launched last week by Rob Norris, Saskatchewan Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour.

The proposed new Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) between Canadian provinces and territories will make it easier for Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents to obtain work outside of their home provinces/territories.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has recently signed a Youth Mobility Agreement with Poland which allows young people from Canada and Poland to travel and work in each other’s country for a one-year period. 

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Minister Diane Finley has begun her cross-Canada tour through which CIC will develop the framework for the new amendments to Canadian immigration legislation.  By way of meetings and video conferences, provincial and territorial governments, as well as representatives from business, labour, and academic and non-government organizations will be consulted.  The goal is to identify critical occupational shortages, the role of immigration in responding to them, and how to deal with any barriers to foreign credential accreditation for these occupations.

Canada is the only country in the world that allows its private citizens to play a role in the resettlement of refugees.  Through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program, groups of Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents can bring refugees and refugee families to Canada.  They pay for all expenses, welcome them to the community, and help them establish their new lives in Canada.

A recent Ipsos-Reid survey asked over 3,000 Canadians five open-ended questions:  What is Canada’s defining person, event, place, symbol, and accomplishment?  Reactions were gathered and respondents were asked to rank their top ten from the list.  While results differed to a certain extent across regions, Canadians were unanimous on certain Canadian icons – the maple leaf for one.  Here are the results: