OWP holders: joke or real intent?

[dobes]

New on the CIC website:

"A fee of $100 will be collected, also starting February 21, 2015, from open work permit applicants. This fee will be paid at the same time as the work permit processing fee and can be paid online. The fees collected will offset the cost of new initiatives to improve data collection on the role of open work permit holders in the Canadian labour market, as well as increased promotional activities to encourage open work permit holders to apply for permanent residence."

I'm a little confused by this, as Express Entry is kind of giving OWP holders the shaft as far as applying for pr right now! Is it really their intent to keep us? I'd like to feel heartened by it!

 

[mf4361]

I lol'd when I read that line. they "intended to encourage" OWP holders to apply, while raising the bar of getting invited to level next to impossible. I don't think OWP needs to be encouraged to apply PR...

Besides, charging fees after fees is a much larger discouragement than any promotional activities.

 

[Phil89]

Yeah I laughed too.