Whats New in Canada-Update on CA

[gwynemalazarte]

Ontario advisory body recommends increase in immigration

The Ontario Expert Round Table on Immigration, a committee established to advise the Ontario provincial government on immigration policy, has issued a report saying that Ontario should increase its immigration level to 1% of its population (or 135,000 people) annually.

The Expert Round Table comprised businesspeople, academics and representatives of the not-for-profit sector and the province's settlement services. Its report is titled Expanding Our Routes To Success. The report states that the numbers of immigrants settling in Ontario fell from 89,079 in 2001 to 36,939 in 2011. Because Ontario has never had an immigration strategy, it is not attracting those with the greatest skills, the Round Table says.

Because of its ageing population, a workforce forecast to shrink in the near future and a severe skills shortage, the report recommends that the province should establish an active immigration policy to attract highly skilled workers. 'Immigration is key to Ontario's future prosperity and the development of an immigration strategy should be an integral part of the province's overall economic strategy.'

The report says that immigration policy must be integrated across all ministries of the provincial government. The report comes up with 32 recommendations, the first of which is to increase annual immigration to 135,000.

Other recommendations include:
• Immigration policy should be fair and foster diversity
• Most immigration should come via the Federal Skilled Worker Program
• The cap on immigration via Ontario Provincial Nominee Program should be raised from 1,000 to 5,000
• The Federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program should be used to recruit highly skilled temporary foreign workers in the skilled trades
• Greater efforts to be made to attract entrepreneurs to the province
• Employers and communities must help immigrants to become integrated members of Ontario society
• The government must continue to honour its traditional commitment to refugees'

Provincial immigration minister Charles Sousa said 'I would like to thank the expert roundtable for their work; It will help us develop Ontario's first immigration strategy that will support economic development in the province.'

 

[L7]

Eligibility for Saskatchewan immigration points system
October 26, 2012

Canada, 26th October: Are you desirous of moving to Saskatchewan and want to know the eligibility criteria for Saskatchewan immigration program?

Here we provide detailed information about various requirements for Saskatchewan immigrant nominee program.

Saskatchewan immigrant nominee program—This immigration program has been quite popular among foreigners wanting to come to Saskatchewan. Immigrants from various corners of the world come every year to settle or work in Saskatchewan.

It offers a faster means of immigration to Saskatchewan to foreigners. No wonder, the percentage of immigrant workforce in Saskatchewan is nearly 3.8 percent in the labor market of this province.

Commonly known as SINP (Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program), it works under Canada’s economic stream of immigration. It aims at addressing the demographic and economic needs of Saskatchewan.

Assessment rating/Eligibility under Points system for SINP—For skilled workers or professionals wanting to come to Saskatchewan, there is a points system under which points are granted to the concerned applicant on several factors.

These factors are—

• Age—Maximum 10 points;

• Language ability--up to 10 points for ability in any official language and 5 for second official language);

• Education and Training—maximum points are 15 with 10 points for master’s/Doctorate/post-degree professional designation; 8 for university degree or equivalent, 8 for occupational/trade certification(along with one year full-time post-secondary training/apprenticeship), and 5 for experience and skills to work in intended occupation(without any formal accreditation);

• Work Experience—maximum of 10 points with 2 points for each year of work experience in their intended occupation; • Saskatchewan Suitability—Maximum points are 15

• Family Support—Maximum 10 points for providing proof of having a supporting family relationship in Saskatchewan;

• Financial Resources—maximum 5 points for personal net worth of $40,000 and above to be transferred to Canada.

• Community Support—Additional points for community support for SINP assessment to those whose settlement aids Saskatchewan community;

Confirmed offer of employment—All applicants need to possess a (confirmed) offer of permanent (full-time) job/employment from an employer in Saskatchewan in any occupation enlisted in —

The National Occupational Classification Matrix code level A/B/; or

• An apprentice-able trade in Saskatchewan; or

• A management level job falling in National Occupational Classification Matrix code level 0.

Applicants also need to possess the desired education qualifications and the skills needed for performing the job.

Another requirement is getting a score of a minimum of 35 points on the assessment.

However, getting a minimum score of 35 for nomination does not guarantee any applicant’s selection under Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program.

A point worth notable here is that the usual educational requirement for occupations included in the NOC level A as well as Level B is college, university or technical school education/apprenticeship training.

 

[L7]

News Release — “The Jig is Up on Marriage Fraud,” says Minister Kenney

Mississauga, October 26, 2012 — In an ongoing effort to deter people from using marriages of convenience to cheat their way into Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) introduced a new regulation that requires certain sponsored spouses live in a legitimate relationship with their sponsor for two years or they risk losing their permanent resident status.

“There are countless cases of marriage fraud across the country,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “I have consulted widely with Canadians, and especially with victims of marriage fraud, who have told me clearly that we must take action to stop this abuse of our immigration system. Sometimes the sponsor in Canada is being duped and sometimes it's a commercial transaction. Implementing a two-year conditional permanent residence period will help deter marriage fraud, prevent the callous victimization of innocent Canadians and help us put an end to these scams.”

The new regulations apply to spouses or partners in a relationship of two years or less and who have no children in common with their sponsor at the time they submit their sponsorship application. The spouse or partner must live in a legitimate relationship with their sponsor for two years from the day on which they receive their permanent resident status in Canada. The status of the sponsored spouse or partner may be revoked if they do not remain in the relationship.

Minister Kenney was joined at today’s announcement by representatives of Canadians Against Immigration Fraud (CAIF). Sam Benet, President of CAIF stated: “We applaud Minister Kenney for taking bold steps to address the growing problem of marriage fraud and for protecting the integrity of our immigration system.”

“I think it is a very good measure,” added Palwinder Singh Gill, founder of the Canadian Marriage Fraud Victims Society. “Canada’s generous family sponsorship program was being abused because many people were marrying only to get a permanent resident card and then leave their partners. With this rule, those abusing the system will think twice.”

The regulations include an exception for sponsored spouses or partners suffering abuse or neglect. The conditional measure would cease to apply in instances where there is evidence of abuse or neglect by the sponsor or if the sponsor fails to protect the sponsored spouse or partner from abuse or neglect. This abuse or neglect could be perpetrated by the sponsor or a person related to the sponsor, whether or not the abusive party is living in the household or not during the conditional period. The exception would also apply in the event of the death of the sponsor.

The conditional measure is now in force, which means that it applies to permanent residents in relationships of two years or less, with no children in common, whose applications are received on or after October 25, 2012.

Conditional permanent residence does not differ from regular permanent residence other than the need to satisfy the two-year requirement.

These regulations bring Canadian policy in line with that of many other countries including Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, all of whom use a form of conditional status as a deterrent against marriage fraud. The lack of such a measure increased Canada’s vulnerability to this type of unlawful activity. It is expected that by implementing a conditional permanent residence measure of two years as a means to deter marriage fraud, Canada will no longer be considered a “soft target” by individuals considering a marriage of convenience to circumvent Canada’s immigration laws.

“Canadians are generous and welcoming, but they have no tolerance for fraudsters who lie and cheat to jump the queue,” said Minister Kenney. “This measure will help strengthen the integrity of our immigration system and prevent the victimization of innocent Canadians.”

In addition to conditional permanent residence, CIC introduced, in March of this past year, a measure that prohibits sponsored spouses from sponsoring a new spouse for five years following the date they become a permanent resident. Along with a multilingual advertising campaign, CIC released a short video warning people not to be duped into committing marriage fraud. The video directs people to a specific page on the CIC website (www.immigration.gc.ca/antifraud) for advice on how to immigrate to Canada “the right way.”

 

[mayankpandya]

News Release — An Immigration System That Works For Canada's Economy



Moving to a Fast, Flexible Just-in-Time Immigration System

Toronto, November 2, 2012 — Today, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced that by the end of 2013, Canada's immigration system will be transformed from one that was plagued by backlogs into one that is fast, flexible, and responsive to the labour market.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced today it will admit up to 55,300 persons in the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) category in 2013. Combined with previous actions taken to manage the backlog, this means by the end of 2013 we will be able to process new applications as they are received – a “just in time” system – and aim to process them in less than a year, instead of up to eight years under the old FSW program. In addition, CIC expects to clear the FSW applications received to date by the end of 2014, three years earlier than originally expected.

This will allow for the introduction of an Expression of Interest (EOI) system to be put in place for FSW and possibly other economic immigration streams. CIC is moving to a just-in-time system that recruits people with the right skills to meet Canada's labour market needs, fast tracks their applications, and gets them working in a period of months, instead of years.

“The Government's number one priority remains the economy and job growth,” said Minister Kenney. “Immigration backlogs are detrimental to our ability to attract the world's top talent. With the decisive actions we've taken to tackle the backlog, we will finally be able to select immigrants who better meet the needs of the Canadian labour market. We will aim to process their applications in less than 12 months.”

The volume of FSW applications has been a longstanding dilemma, since the number of applications received inevitably exceeded the space available within the Immigration Levels Plan each year. As a result, wait times in the FSW program were as high as eight years.

Over the past few years, CIC has taken concrete measures to tackle this problem, including the following:

Under the 2008 Action Plan for Faster Immigration, CIC began to limit FSW application intake to priority occupations.
In 2010, the Department added caps to the number of new applications.
In June 2012, the Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act eliminated most of the remaining FSW applications received before February 27, 2008.
In July 2012, CIC issued a temporary pause on new FSW applications, excluding candidates with a qualifying job offer or those applying under the PhD stream.
Taken together, these efforts have dramatically reduced the total number of people waiting in the FSW backlog from a height of 640,000 people in 2008 to approximately 100,000 today, even with new applications received since the 2008 Action Plan.

“By tackling the backlog to make way for a faster, more flexible just-in-time immigration system, newcomers to Canada will be able to fully participate in the economy more quickly,” said Minister Kenney. “Immigration plays a vital role in our country's long-term prosperity. By improving our economic immigration system, we can ensure that Canada is competitive on the world stage.”

In 2013, CIC plans to admit between 53,500 to 55,300 Federal Skilled Workers, including their spouses and dependants. CIC intends to lift the current pause on FSW applications in 2013, when the new selection criteria are expected to take effect. The final regulatory changes will be available in the Canada Gazette later this year.

Photo of Minister Kenney will be available later today at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/photos/high-res/index.asp.

 

[Can10]

Census statistics show Canada is changing due to immigration

Canadian government census figures show that there are now 200 languages spoken in Canada.

The first Canadian census was held in 1871. Since 1956, censuses have been held every five years. The most recent was held in 2011. Analysis of the census data shows that there are now more than 200 languages spoken. 20% of the population (6.6m people) mainly speak a language other than French or English at home. Of these, 6.4m speak 'immigrant languages' and 213,000 speak aboriginal Canadian languages.

90% of those who speak 'immigrant languages' at home live in Canada's cities.
80% live in the six largest cities in Canada.

• 1.7m live in Toronto. This is 32.4% of the city population. The most commonly spoken immigrant languages spoken there are Chinese languages and Punjabi
• 626,045 live in Montreal (16.5%) Most common languages: Arabic, Spanish, Italian
• 711,515 live in Vancouver (31%) Chinese, Punjabi
• Calgary 227,515 (18.9%) Punjabi, Tagalog, Chinese
• Edmonton 165,145 (14.5%) Tagalog, Punjabi, Chinese
• Ottawa-Gatineau 140,675 (11.5%) Arabic, Chinese, Spanish

The census found that a majority of the population (58%, 19.2m people) speak English at home. 18.2% of the population (6m people) speak French at home. The majority of these live in Quebec. However, the percentage of the population of Quebec which speaks French at home is declining. In 2001, 77% of Quebecois spoke French at home. In 2011, this figure had fallen to 72.8%.

A statement issued by Statistics Canada which conducted the census said that English and French 'exert a strong pull as languages of convergence and integration into Canadian society, especially as languages of work, education and the provision of government services.'

Doug Norris of Environics Analysis told the Montreal Gazette 'the immigration patterns we have seen evolve over the last two or three decades that shift away from the European immigration and toward Asia and Latin America….The fact that we ourselves are becoming more diverse…is a real asset to us as a country…I think it strengthens us as a nation.'

Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2012-10-25/census-statistics-show-canada-is-changing-due-to-immigration

 

[Can10]

Canada seeking to attract more IT professionals

The Canadian IT sector is thriving. Montreal is a global centre for video game companies for example. Last year (2011) alone, the sector grew by 21% creating 8,000 new jobs.

However, the Information Technology Association of Canada has warned that Canada must attract the best global talent in order to thrive. In a recent report, it said 'For knowledge-based industries, access to a rich and diverse talent pool is as vital as a sustainable supply of trees is to forestry. Finding these people is a growing and chronic challenge due to the coming demographic crunch and an increasing labour market imbalance. Our industry currently runs at virtually full employment and [we expect] that we will be dealing with 106,000 unfilled jobs over the next four years.'

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the Canadian government department with responsibility for immigration, says that there are various paths which would enable skilled IT workers to work in Canada.

CIC recommends that IT professionals should apply for permanent resident status via one of the following routes

The Quebec Skilled Workers Program
This program was largely suspended in June 2012. However, if you
• Are a temporary resident in Quebec
• Have recently obtained a diploma from a Quebec teaching institution
• Hold a qualification recognised by Quebec
You may still be eligible to apply. According to the Quebec provincial government's Immigration et Communautés Culturelles website, 'Knowledge of French is an important asset'. The site recommends 'If in doubt, we strongly recommend that you check your level of knowledge of French with a recognized organization.

The Federal Skilled Worker Class
This program was suspended in July 2012. However skilled workers who achieve the required score as measured by the Canadian points-based grid system will be able to apply for permanent residency when the Class re-opens, probably in January 2013. In order to qualify for permanent residence in this class an applicant must either
• have an offer of employment in Canada or
• be skilled in one of a list of 29 trades and skills listed on the CIC website

There are also three routes to apply for a temporary work visa

• The Quebec Facilitated Labour Market Opinion (LMO) Process
(Before an employer can employ overseas staff, it must acquire a Labour Market Opinion (LMO). A positive LMO will show that there is a need for the foreign worker to fill the job you offer and that there is no Canadian worker available to do the job.)
Employers in IT, along with various other sectors, will be able to receive a positive LMO which will entitle them to employ a skilled foreign worker, without having to advertise jobs locally.

• Temporary Work Permit
Any skilled worker who has a job offer from a Canadian employer will be allowed to apply for a Canadian Temporary Work Permit, providing that that employer has received an LMO.

• NAFTA Professionals
US citizens can take advantage of the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Area) Professionals program and may receive a Temporary Work Permit if offered a job by a Canadian employer. There is no need for the employer to receive an LMO first. These NAFTA citizens must have experience in IT.

Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2012-10-24/canada-seeking-to-attract-more-it-professionals

 

[siddharth_pharma84]

News Release — Minister Kenney addresses regulators conference on need to help newcomers succeed in Canadian labour market

l

Ottawa, November 8, 2012 — The Government of Canada needs the cooperation of regulators to help trained newcomers find meaningful work in Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said today.

“Our Government’s top priorities are job creation, economic growth and long-term prosperity,” said Minister Kenney, speaking to the Canadian Network of National Associations of Regulators Conference. “Attracting and retaining the best international talent to fill skills shortages in key occupations is critical to Canada’s economic success. Our regulatory partners are vital to ensuring newcomers can start working in their fields faster.”

The Government of Canada has worked with provincial and territorial governments, and the regulatory community to improve foreign credential recognition. In 2010, service standards were established allowing internationally trained professionals in eight priority occupations to have their qualifications assessed within one year, anywhere in Canada. The Government of Canada is currently improving foreign qualification recognition for six more target occupations.

Earlier this year, Minister Kenney and the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, launched a three-year pilot project that will develop and test innovative projects to provide financial assistance, commonly known as micro-loans, to internationally trained professionals.

This past spring, Minister Kenney announced a proposed new requirement whereby applicants wanting to immigrate as Federal Skilled Workers will have their foreign education credentials assessed and verified by designated organizations before they arrive in Canada. This is an important step to address the problem of immigrants arriving and not being able to work in their field.

“Our improvements will help immigrants position themselves to succeed in our economy,” said Minister Kenney. “We will continue to work with regulators to improve the process for assessing and recognizing newcomers’ qualifications for licensure in their professions soon after they arrive in Canada. Working together, we can speed up the integration of newcomers into the Canadian labour market.”

 

[Can10]

Canada will issue 35,000 parents and grandparents visas in 2013

10 November 2012

Jason Kenney, the Canadian immigration minister, has announced that Canada intends to grant visas to 35,000 parents and grandparents of immigrants in 2013. This is the same number as were granted visas in 2012 and, Mr Kenney told reporters in Mississauga, Ontario on November 5th 2012, it is the highest number for 20 years. Mr Kenney said that this figure is 60% higher than the number for 2010.

The Canadian government instigated the Action Plan for Faster Family reunification in late 2011. Its intention was to process new applications from parents and grandparents of citizens and residents who wanted to visit Canada faster and to wipe out the backlog of historic applications in a reasonable time period. The backlog at that time stood at 165,000 applications and there was a waiting list of nearly eight years.

To that end, Mr Kenney announced that no new applications from citizens or residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents would be accepted for 24 months at least. CIC staff were then able to concentrate on reducing the backlog. Citizenship and Immigration Canada says that it hopes to have reduced that by more than 30,000 (around 20%) in the 13 months to the end of 2012.

Mr Kenney told reporters at his press conference on Tuesday 5th November that he was also continuing to work on creating a new system so that the system would operate more quickly in future and prevent the backlog from building up again.

CIC launched a national consultation in March 2012 and continued to run online consultations until May 25th 2012. The results of these consultations will be published soon on the CIC website, according to a statement released by CIC.

Mr Kenney told reporters that, on top of the 25,000 visas granted to parents on the PGP applications backlog, CIC also expects to issue around 10,000 Parent and Grandparent Super Visas by the end of the year. These visas were first issued in December 2011 and entitle the parents and grandparents of Canadian residents or citizens to come to visit their relative in Canada providing the relative has an income above a modest amount (the amount of income required varies depending on the number of children the relative has).

The parent or grandparent must also complete a medical examination and purchase health insurance for one year. They must also pay a fee. The advantage for grandparents and parents is that they can stay for up to two years in Canada, rather than and will therefore pay fewer fees. They will also find that the waiting time for a super visa should be eight weeks, rather than the eight years some people still have to wait on the PGP list.

Mr Kenney said that 10,000 super visas should be granted in 2013 as well.

Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2012-11-10/canada-will-issue-35000-parents-and-grandparents-visas-in-2013

 

[Can10]

Live-In Caregivers contribute to Filipino immigration in Canada

16 November 2012

The 2011 Canadian census shows that Tagalog, a language spoken in the Philippines, is the fastest growing language in Canada. It is now the fifth most commonly spoken language among Canadians at home. The number of people speaking Tagalog at home rose by 64% between the last Canadian census in 2006 and 2011. The results of the 2011 census showed that there were nearly 280,000 people who spoke Tagalog at home living in Canada. In 2006, there were only 170,000 Tagalog speakers.

The rise is due to the growing number of Filipinos now living in Canada. The Commission on Filipinos Overseas says that 667,674 Filipinos now live in Canada. A large number of them have moved there as part of the Live-In Caregiver Program. This programme allows people to travel to Canada as nannies and carers for the ill, the disabled and the elderly. More people from the Philippines apply for temporary residence visas under this programme than from any other country. Nearly 35,000 Filipino (mainly) women applied in 2011 alone.

Those applying to travel to Canada under the Live-In Caregiver Program must first
• Have acquired a positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO) from Service Canada which states
o That there is a need for this job and the employer can employ a foreign worker
o The wages and working conditions meet provincial employment standards
• Have obtained a contract of employment in Canada
• Have completed the equivalent of Canadian secondary education
• Have completed six months' training or twelve months' work as a caregiver in the last three years
• Speak good English or French

If they fulfil these criteria, they can then apply for a Live-In Caregiver work permit and a temporary residence visa. They will then have four years in which they can work in Canada. During that time, they are entitled to leave their employer to work elsewhere for personal reasons. They must obtain a record of employment from their first employer and a record of their overtime. Only their employer can give them this document.

No less than 30 days before starting the new job, Live-In Caregivers must apply for a new work permit. This must be supported by a positive Labour Market Opinion and a copy of the new employment contract.

Once the Live-In Caregiver has completed
• 24 months of authorized full-time employment, or
• 3,900 hours of authorized full-time employment.
he or she can apply for permanent resident status. The employment must be completed in no less than 22 months and in no more than four years.

There are concerns that the Live-In Care Giver Program is open to abuse. Because caregivers who live in Canada as part of the programme are often isolated and are entirely dependent on their employer/sponsors for their continuing right to remain when first they arrive, there are fears that some employers abuse their position.

There are reports of Live-In Caregivers suffering abuse but failing to report it because they fear losing their position and, with it, the right to remain in Canada. Activists hoped that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper would mention this abuse during a visit to the Philippines this week. He did not do so.

Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2012-11-16/live-in-caregivers-contribute-to-filipino-immigration-in-canada

 

[Can10]

Canada to cut Federal Skilled Worker Program Numbers

16 November 2012

Canada's immigration minister Jason Kenney announced further changes to Canadian immigration policy on 2nd November 2012. Mr Kenney said that the Canadian immigration system would be transformed by the end of 2013.

His headline announcement was that, by the end of 2013, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) backlog would be eliminated well ahead of schedule. Mr Kenney had previously announced that the backlog would be cleared by the end of 2017.

Thereafter, Federal Skilled Worker Program applications will be considered as they are received and should be processed in under a year. 55,300 people will be admitted under the FSWP in 2013, a slight reduction on the 2012 figure. At the same time, the Canadian Experience Class will be expanded to include 10,000 people, compared to only 6,000 in 2012. The overall immigration figure will remain unchanged at around 260,000.

The Canadian Experience Class allows skilled workers from overseas who have been working in Canada in a skilled occupation to apply for permanent resident status.

Mr Kenney says that the changes he had announced would help Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), his governmental department, to eliminate the backlog in the Federal Skilled Worker Class completely by the end of 2014 and allow the introduction of an 'Expression of Interest' system similar to that which is operated by the Australian immigration authorities. It is expected to be known as the Federal Skilled Worker Pool. Mr Kenney said 'the government's number one priority remains the economy and job growth. Immigration backlogs are detrimental to our ability to attract the world's top talent.

The Expression of Interest system would allow those considering emigrating to Canada to register their interest at a central database, the Federal Skilled Worker Pool. Details of their skills, qualifications and so forth would be held on the database. The database would be accessible by Canadian regional governments and by businesses who could then cherry pick the applicants whose skills best matched their requirements. Those people who were selected would then be invited to apply for a Canadian visa.

Mr Kenney said last year 'Employers are best positioned to decide who can best fill the open jobs rather than a passive and bureaucratic system. 'it's not about privatising the immigration system. It's more about a more active role of recruitment for people so they have jobs when they show up.'

The Canadian government has struggled with the Federal Skilled Worker Program backlog for many years. In June 2012, Mr Kenney took the dramatic decision to annul all applications made before 2008 and to refund application fees to all applicants. 280,000 people were affected. This was a controversial move. Some applicants had been waiting for seven years for their cases to be considered.
Many of the pre-2008 applicants have refused to accept Mr Kenney's decision to annul their claims. They are hoping to bring a class action against the Canadian government in order to have their claims reinstated. A preliminary hearing in their case will be heard in the Canadian courts later in November. Solicitors for the applicants will ask the Canadian courts for permission to bring the action against the government.

A lawyer representing the applicants, Lorne Waldman, told Postmedia News last year that Mr Kenney's decision had been unconstitutional and should be reversed, 'These applicants applied in good faith, some as long as seven years ago. They paid their fees and were told that their applications would be processed. We are arguing that it (the decision) is inconsistent with our charter and our Bill of Rights,' he said.

Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2012-11-16/canada-to-cut-federal-skilled-worker-program-numbers

 

[Can10]

Canadian pressure groups protest against award for immigration minister

22 November 2012

There was a demonstration in Toronto on Sunday 4th November against Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney.

Mr Kenney was receiving an honorary philosophy degree from Israel's Haifa University on Sunday at a ceremony in the Royal York Hotel, Toronto. The Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper attended the event. Mr Kenney was honoured by the Israeli university for 'his steadfast position against anti-Semitism, racism and intolerance'.

However, outside the hotel, a group of protesters demonstrated against the award on the grounds that to give Mr Kenney an honorary degree was 'a celebration of war, racism, corporate profit, displacement, apartheid and anti-migrant xenophobia'.

The demonstration was organised by a range of pressure groups including Afghans for Peace, the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid, the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Justice for Migrant Workers, The Toronto Sex Workers Action Project, New Socialist Group, No One Is Illegal - Toronto, Queers Against Israeli Apartheid, Queers for Social Justice, Toronto Immigration Legal Committee, Women in Solidarity with Palestine and many more.

The various groups put out a joint statement. In it, they described Mr Kenney as 'Canada's most infamous and despised minister'. The statement continued 'It is well-known across Canada that Jason Kenney – Minister of Censorship and Deportation – is a key player in advancing the Harper government's austerity and policing agenda. Their agenda is transparent and their racist, xenophobic, neoliberal policy agenda is clear.'

The statement accuses the Canadian government, and Mr Kenney in particular, of 'expanding an already exclusionary and racist immigration system by increasing temporary work programs, citizenship rejections, detentions and deportations while cutting off refugee status, migrant sex workers, family reunification and access to full services for many, particularly undocumented residents.'

The traffic in Toronto was disrupted by the demonstration which attracted 200 demonstrators.

Mr Kenney responded to the protesters as he left the award ceremony. He said '"I can understand some disagreements on some of what we are doing but fundamentally, I think that we are reflecting a broad public consensus in favour of positive immigration, refugee protection but also ensuring that our system is based on fair rules and that people are not abusing Canada's generosity."

Last month, Mr Kenney responded to similar allegations that he was responsible for running a racist immigration system which were made in UK newspaper The Guardian. Mr Kenney said that Canadian immigration was at its highest ever level and was, per capita, the greatest rate of immigration in the developed world. He said that his government has also committed itself to accepting more refugees than ever before. He also said that Canada continues to fund health services for refugees.

Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2012-11-22/canadian-pressure-groups-protest-against-award-for-immigration-minister

 

[Can10]

immigrants granted Canadian visas after computer error

29 November 2012

Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney has confirmed that about 150 people will be granted permanent Canadian resident status after a computer error led to them incorrectly being given immigrant visas.

The error came to light when a Moroccan family arrived at Montreal airport on Friday 16th November 2012 believing that they had been granted Canadian permanent resident visas. At the airport they were told that the visas were invalid. A check has revealed that a computer error led to them being told that they had visas. The Canadian government accepts that they flew to Canada in good faith.

The government says that similar errors have been made in the cases of about 50 applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program who are now entitled to bring their immediate family with them. A total of about 150 people are affected. Mr Kenney said 'I think it would be fundamentally unfair to the people who have received visas, who wrapped up their affairs in their home country, acted in good faith, some apparently have come to Canada, to tell them to leave.'

The FSWP applicants all applied before February 27th 2008. In June 2012, Mr Kenney announced that he was going to annul all applications to the FSWP made before that date in an effort to get rid of the backlog of cases in the system.

However, a computer error led to letters being sent to the 50 applicants saying that their applications had been approved. Mr Kenney told journalists that it was right that Canadian immigration should now grant visas to those affected. He also said that it was not surprising that some errors were made from time to time.

Mr Kenney said that his department, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, had installed a new computer system which had some teething problems. 'We make over 2 million decisions a year; about 7,000 a day. We are making a major IT change so I think it's understandable that a small error of this nature would be made' he said. He said that all those who were to be granted permanent resident visas because of the computer error had passed their security screening.

In June 2012, Mr Kenney announced that about 280,000 applicants under the FSWP who had applied before February 28th 2008 would have their application fees returned. He said that their applications would not now be considered and, if they wanted to enter Canada under the FSWP, they would have to apply again. Many of those applicants have launched class action legal proceedings against the Canadian government.

Jenny Sims, who speaks on immigration for the Canadian opposition New Democratic Party, said that she welcomed Mr Kenney's decision to grant permanent resident visas to those affected by the computer error but said 'the real mistake was the deletion of all those files in a very unfair manner.'

The first hearing in the cases in the class action brought by people whose pre-2008 applications were annulled will be held before Christmas this year.

Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2012-11-29/immigrants-granted-canadian-visas-after-computer-error

 

[Can10]

Leaked Canadian government report recommends more immigration

A leaked report prepared for the Canadian government recommends a rise in immigration levels of 6% annually between 2014 and 2018. This would take the annual immigration target from about 253,000 at present to 337,000 in 2018. The immigration target figure has been held at 253,000 since 2007.

The report, 'Literature review and expert advice to inform Canada's immigration levels planning', was leaked to Postmedia News, a Canadian press agency, which revealed its findings on 28th November 2012. The report makes recommendations for the Canadian immigration system over the next ten years up to 2021. It was circulated to federal, provincial and territorial immigration ministers before a meeting in August and is thought that it will influence Canadian federal government policy.

The report recommends that the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) should be kept at its current level. About 55,000 people are granted permanent residence under the FSWP every year. The FSWP is Canada's main programme for skilled workers to gain Canadian visas. Applicants are measured against a 'points grid' and must score adequate points to be considered. Points are awarded for various factors such as qualifications, experience, ability in English and French and age. If applicants achieve the required number of points, they can apply for a permanent resident visa. The system is currently closed to new offers for people who do not have Canadian job offers already. It is being reformed but is expected to open again in January 2013.

The report is lukewarm in its support for the 'Expression of Interest' system that the Canadian immigration minister, Jason Kenney, is known to favour. Mr Kenney has looked at the Australian system which operates on the Expression of Interest principle. Under the EOI system, those interested in emigrating to Canada would register their details on a government website. Canadian businesses and provincial and territorial governments could then search the database and invite suitable applicants to apply for a visa. Citizenship and Immigration Canada would then carry out the necessary checks and then, if the applicant proved suitable, would grant them a visa. The report says that a 'greater reliance on employment offers' would not necessarily increase the levels of economic success and integration among first generation immigrants.

In recent years, the FSWP had been scaled back and some of its immigration quota has been reallocated to other programs such as the Canadian Experience Class. The report says that the changes to the FSWP have made it 'more responsive both to Canada's medium and long-term economic needs'.

The recommendation to maintain the FSWP will disappoint Canadian provincial and territorial governments which had hoped for an expansion of the provincial nominee programs which allow the ten provinces and three territories that make up Canada to nominate some applicants for permanent resident visas. About 42,000 people annually are granted Canadian permanent residence under the provincial nominee programs but, at a meeting last week in Halifax Nova Scotia, provincial and territorial premiers called for it to be expanded further.

Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty told a press conference on 25th November 2012, 'We want greater flexibility….Nobody understands our needs and our capacity to accommodate and our capacity to develop new Canadians, so that they can contribute to their fullest, than the provinces themselves.'

But the report says 'It is not immediately apparent that a further shift is needed. A guiding principle should be that immigration is essentially a means for addressing long-term human resources rather than short or medium-term needs'. These, longer-term needs are, it seems, better appreciated and managed at the federal level.

The report says that economic migrants, including those who come in under the FSWP, the provincial nominee programs and the Canadian Experience Class, which allows foreign nationals who have had a year's experience in a skilled position in Canada to apply for permanent resident status, should continue to make up about 63% of the total number of immigrant each year.

The report also notes that the number of Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) has trebled in the last decade. There are now 300,000 TFWs in Canada. The report says that this may be contributing to the problem that some first generation immigrants have in finding and keeping work. It may therefore be preventing permanent residents from integrating properly. The report recommends that further research is done to assist with the formulation of policy in future.

Source: http://www.workpermit.com/news/2012-12-05/leaked-canadia-government-report-recommends-more-immigration

 

[Can10]

Windsor, the most affordable city in Canada
Written by Jemima Codrington
Wednesday, 28 November 2012 02:03

According to the annual Home Listing Report released by Coldwell Banker, Windsor's housing market is the most affordable in Canada.

The average price in Windsor came in at $170,991, above second-place Rimbey, Alta., with a list price of $201,950. The country's most expensive market was Vancouver, with the average price slated at a whopping $1,876,414.

According to President of Coldwell Banker Canada John Geha, the report is positive reinforcement for homebuyers. "Our home listing report captures an insightful look at local market conditions and emerging trends in real estate," he says. "Although home prices have reached record highs in many markets across Canada, there are still affordable options available to homebuyers, especially those who are able to work from home, or who make the decision to trade location for commute. We recognize buying a home is a significant life decision, so each year we do this apples-to-apples comparison of similar homes to provide homebuyers with useful information about the many great opportunities that exist across Canada, as well as in the U.S."

Five of the top ten affordable markets were found in Ontario, with prices in Hamilton and Niagara particularly attractive to buyers. The report brings good news particularly to first-time investors looking for affordable property in some of the country's hottest investor markets, including Hamilton, which ranked 12th with an average price of $245,292. The report surveyed over 2,500 markets across North America, 74 of them in Canada, and looked at four-bedroom, two-bathroom homes between January and June 2012.

Source: http://canadianrealestatemagazine.ca/news/item/1449-windsor-the-most-affordable-city-in-canada

 

[L7]

New Federal Skilled Trades Stream to Begin Accepting Applications on January 2, 2013

Mississauga, December 10, 2012 — To address Canada’s growing demand for skilled tradespersons, a new Federal Skilled Trades Program is being launched on January 2, 2013, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

“The new Skilled Trades Stream will help address serious labour shortages in some regions of the country, and support economic growth,” Minister Kenney said. “For too long, Canada’s immigration system has not been open to these in-demand skilled workers. These changes are long overdue and will help us move to a fast and flexible immigration system that works for Canada’s economy.”

The program criteria are built around four requirements that ensure applicants will have the right skills and experience needed to succeed here in Canada. In order to qualify, applicants will need to:

have an offer of employment in Canada or a certificate of qualification from a province or territory to ensure that applicants are “job ready” upon arrival;
meet a basic language requirement;
have a minimum of two years of work experience as a skilled tradesperson, to ensure that the applicant has recent and relevant practice as a qualified journeyman; and
have the skills and experience that match those set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC B) system, showing that they have performed the essential duties of the occupation.
In order to manage intake, avoid backlogs and ensure fast processing times, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will accept up to a maximum of 3,000 applications in the first year of the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Minister Kenney was joined at today’s announcement by Michael Atkinson, President of the Canadian Construction Association. “The introduction of a dedicated and streamlined program for skilled trades addresses many of the shortcomings from the current Federal Skilled Worker Program,” said Michael Atkinson. “The new program ensures greater consideration is given to the needs of industry when processing eligible immigration applications.”

“Ensuring Canada’s immigration system works for small employers in need of skilled trades’ people has been a concern for some time,” said Dan Kelly, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. “With the shortage of qualified labour in many parts of Canada growing once again, the launch of the Skilled Trades immigration stream is very welcome news.”

Eligible occupations will include electricians, welders, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, and pipefitters, among others. CIC is currently working with the provinces, territories and federal government partners on the list of skilled trades’ occupations that are experiencing acute labour shortages and which will qualify under the program. This list will be announced prior to the program opening on January 2, 2013.

The Federal Skilled Trades Program will complement other avenues already in place for skilled tradespersons to immigrate to Canada, such as the Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Programs.

“As promised in Economic Action Plan 2012, we are creating a new immigration stream to facilitate entry of skilled tradespersons,” added Minister Kenney. “The Federal Skilled Trades Program will help transform Canada’s immigration system into a fast and flexible system focused on jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.”

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Photo of Minister Kenney will be available later today at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/photos/high-res/index.asp.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Alexis Pavlich
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca