NEW CHANGES FOR FSW COMING THIS YEAR
Posting some important parts of Kenny interview.
In order to enable a more successful integration for skilled immigrants, Kenney said Ottawa is set to change the “points grid” of the immigrant selection system to bring in newcomers who don't have university degrees or language proficiency, but whose job skills are in demand in Canada.
The federal government also plans to further raise the language requirements for those who apply to immigrate here with professional designations such as doctors, engineers, accountants and scientists to ensure their success in the country.
Kenney said he hoped to make those changes later this year.
“We need to be more flexible . . . skilled trades people who don't have university degrees or who have very limited English or French language proficiency typically cannot make it through the points grid, but we have a huge and growing need for skilled trade people,” said Kenney.
“Rather than locking them out of the skilled worker program, I'm looking at ways we can accommodate people who don't have university degrees, who don't have full language proficiency to come through that program.”
Currently, a skilled immigrant applicant is assessed based on education levels, language skills and work experience among other factors, and must earn 67 points to qualify for the federal skilled worker program.
“Foreign trained professionals find the biggest barrier to employment is limited language proficiency, so we may look at additional ways to encourage foreign trained professionals with high levels of English or French proficiency,” said Kenney.
He said the aim is to “select the people who are most likely to succeed and give them the tools to succeed once they get here.”
