1. 2010 Immigration Plan
2. Canada expecting
less foreign workers in 2009
3. Immigration fuels Canadian population growth
4. Daily
Wages per hour increased
5. Canada may soon Reduce Immigration Numbers
6. Saskatchewan leads Canadian provinces in economic growth: "Thousands of jobs"
7. Minister Kenney annouces immigration levels for 2009; issues instructions
8. Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
1.
2010 Immigration Plan
Ottawa, October 30, 2009 — Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, tabled Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s 2009 Annual Report today in Parliament.
“While other countries have cut back immigration levels as a short-term response to the global economic downturn, our government is actually maintaining its immigration levels to meet the country’s medium- to long-term economic needs,” said Minister Kenney.
“Canada plans to welcome between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents in 2010, the same number of immigrants as in recent years. In 2010, Canada will again welcome more new permanent residents than the average annual intake during the 1990s,” said Minister Kenney. “The focus of the 2010 plan is on economic immigration to support Canada’s economy during and beyond the current economic recovery.”
In particular, the admission ranges for immigrants nominated by the provinces and territories have been increased. Provinces and territories are in the best position to understand how Canada’s immigration intake can be aligned to their labour market needs. Second, by increasing the admission ranges in the Provincial Nominee Program, the Government of Canada is helping to ensure that the benefits of immigration are distributed across this country. Canada and the provinces will work together to manage growth in the provincial nominee program. Increasing the total number of immigrants processed under the economic category will also allow CIC to continue reducing the backlog of federal skilled worker applicants as part of the Action Plan for Faster Immigration.
Although the Action Plan has been in place for less than a year, early indications are that it is paying off. “People applying now under the federal skilled worker program can expect to receive a decision within six to twelve months, compared to up to six years under the old system,” said Minister Kenney. “We’ve also brought the backlog of federal skilled worker applicants down from over 630,000 to 425,000—a reduction of more than 30%.”
The backlog consists of people who applied before February 27, 2008, the date the Action Plan took effect. Since then, almost 240,000 people have applied to the new federal skilled worker program under the Action Plan. But even with those additional applicants, the total number of people currently awaiting a decision on their application is still 12% lower than when the Action Plan took effect.
“Before we changed the system, we had to process every application received. Since many more people applied every year than could be accepted, a backlog was created,” said Minister Kenney. “Now that we are processing only those applications that meet specified criteria, our Government is making significant progress in reducing the backlog.”
Improving the federal skilled worker program is part of the Government of Canada’s overall commitment to modernizing the immigration system to maximize its contribution to our overall economic growth.
“The Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces, territories and stakeholders to make sure immigration meets the needs of communities, employers and families now and in the future,” concluded the Minister.
----------------------------------------------
2.
Canada expecting less foreign workers in 2009
The recent economic downturn is
expected to significantly impact Canadas foreign worker program
in the coming year, according to experts in employment and immigration.
In January, Services Canada announced that it will augment its requirements on employers when it comes to foreign recruitment. Compared to previous years, the government will require increased proof of a company’s effort to recruit within Canada before they will be granted permits to bring in labour from outside nations.
Furthermore, the downturn is expected to incite thousands of layoffs of foreign workers who are already within the country. In places such as Alberta, which brought in approximately 38,000 temporary workers last year, such forecasts could have serious repercussions on non-citizens.
While the above policy changes are intended to protect Canadians who may be facing unemployment and economic hardship, many advocates are arguing that the rights of foreign workers are not being respected.
My main concern is that employers treat the foreign workers
fairly,” said Evelyn Ackah, an immigrant advocate based
out of a Calgary law firm who advises employers to, give them
[foreign workers] notice, abide by the Employment Standards
Act and perhaps help them find other employment to stay here.”
Employers should be concerned not only out of ethical motivation but also for their reputation. A company may have difficulty recruiting in the future if they become known for prematurely sending back workers before their permits have expired.
----------------------------------------------
3. Immigration fuels Canadian population growth
Statistics Canada recently released population growth numbers for the last quarter of 2008. The 0.19 per cent increase is the fastest fourth-quarter growth rate since 1992 and can be largely attributed to net international migration, says the agency.
Canada's population now sits at 33,504,700 people, up 63,400 from October 1, 2008. 35,700 of this rise was due to net international migration, which represents an increase of 7,700 people over the same period in 2007.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada has also announced that immigration application processing times improved slightly in 2008, with a 12 per cent reduction in wait times over 2007 figures.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada has also announced that immigration application processing times improved slightly in 2008, with a 12 per cent reduction in wait times over 2007 figures.
Statistics Canada figures show a population increase in every province and territory, except for Prince Edward Island and the Northwest Territories.
----------------------------------------------
4. Daily Wages per hour increaseds
Ontario
is bringing in the sixth consecutive annual increase to the
minimum wage raising it to $9.50, effective March 31, 2009.
The McGuinty government began implementing annual increases in 2004. Minimum wage:
* Increased from $6.85 in 2004 to $8.75 in 2008
* Will reach $10.25 in 2010, a 50 per cent increase since 2004
----------------------------------------------
5. Canada may soon Reduce Immigration Numbers
Citing economic uncertainty, the Canadian government recently announced the possibility of a reduction in the number of immigrants to be admitted to Canada in 2009.
Canada's Minister of Immigration intends to meet with Federal and Provincial officials during the month of March to analyze the economic situation and to decide if changes to immigration levels are warranted. The current Canadian target for 2009 is between 240,000 and 265,000 admissions.
The Minister noted that in the face of the worldwide economic downturn, Canada is the only highly developed nation that has so far not decreased its immigration numbers. It remains to be seen if Canada can still make this claim in the weeks ahead.
What does this mean for potential new applicants?
Canada's Minister of Immigration has the authority to make changes to the immigration selection system in order to increase or decrease immigration numbers. As a general rule, such changes are made without any advance warnings or delay, out of concern that there would be a flood of new applications if applicants knew that the Canadian immigration regulations were about to change. In this instance however, the Canadian government has signaled that modifications may lie ahead in the near future.
So, if you have been thinking about immigrating to Canada and you are qualified for a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa under the current selection system then it is certainly in your best interest to submit an application now. Any changes that are made to the immigration regulations may make it more difficult, or impossible, for you to qualify in the future.
----------------------------------------------
6. Saskatchewan leads Canadian provinces in economic growth: "Thousands of jobs"
"It's a great time to come to Saskatchewan," says Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, citing abundant job openings and solid economic growth in the province, amid economic uncertainty in other regions of Canada and around the world.
"For those losing their jobs, we need them to know we have thousands of jobs open right now in both the private and public sector," said Wall. "We have a powerful story to tell, a story of success and that's something we want to share with those who are struggling."
Saskatchewan was the only province to record a decline in unemployment rates from 4.2 in December to 4.1 in January; and more Saskatchewan jobs are on the way. Premier Wall announced a $500 million infrastructure plan to keep the economy strong.
Oil, uranium, and potash production are among the province's strongest industries. According to Premier Wall, Saskatchewan is also diversifying its resources and developing new projects.
Because of infrastructure development and tax reductions, Saskatchewan will likely continue to lead the nation in economic growth, according to a recently released Conference Board of Canada report.
"It's a beautiful, big place where life is great right now and there's also opportunity," said Wall.
----------------------------------------------
7. Minister Kenney annouces immigration levels for 2009; issues instructions on processing federal
skilled workers.
Ottawa, November 28, 2008 — Canada will stay the course on immigration in 2009, welcoming between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents, Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, announced today.
The 2009 plan includes up to 156,600 immigrants in the economic category; 71,000 in the family category; and 37,400 in the humanitarian category.
The Action Plan for Faster Immigration includes issuing instructions to visa officers reviewing new federal skilled worker applications to process those from candidates who either:
* are in 38 high-demand occupations such as health, skilled trades, finance and resource extraction;
* or have an offer of arranged employment or have already been living legally in Canada or
* one year as a temporary foreign worker or international student.
----------------------------------------------
8. Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
Saskatchewan PNP - Skilled Workers
To qualify as a Skilled Worker, an applicant must have a permanent full-time Saskatchewan job offer either:
* As a skilled worker/professional/managerial position or in a designated trade; or
* As a worker who has already worked in Saskatchewan for a minimum of six months on a temporary work permit.
* You can begin your job search for employment in Saskatchewan with our free Canada Job Search Tool.
Saskatchewan PNP - Family Members
To qualify as a under this category, an applicant must have a family member in Saskatchewan who is a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident and has been residing in Saskatchewan for at least one year. Supporting family members include: parents, sisters/brothers, daughters/sons, aunts/uncles, nieces/nephews, grandparents, first cousins, step-family members or in-laws of the same relationship. The applicant must:
* Have a signed affidavit of support from one or more family
members in Saskatchewan that indicates they will provide
settlement assistance;
* Be between the ages of 18-49;
* Have completed at least one year of post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship and have received a diploma, certificate or degree;
* Have at least one year of work experience in their field of education/training;
* Have sufficient language capa bility to be employable in Saskatchewan; and
* Have a full-time permanent job offer from an employer in Saskatchewan or, intend to find work in Saskatchewan and have adequate funds to live in the province after arrival.
|
