Quebec Announces $20m Spending For Immigrant Settlement Services

Canada immigration news: Quebec is going to invest more than $20 million into its settlement services for immigrants over three years, announced Immigration Minister Nadine Girault this week.

“The integration of immigrants is our collective responsibility and requires that all stakeholders in Quebecois society work together,” said Girault, the minister responsible for the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), in French.

“Our government is deeply committed to helping these people participate fully in our labour force and in society. In conjunction with community and non-profit organizations, we can create an environment conducive to immigration that enhances the economic and social vitality of all the regions of Quebec.”


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This second round of funding includes $7.4 million for 78 projects for immigrants in 17 regions of the province through its Community Support Program, the Programme d’appui aux collectivités (PAC) which was announced in late February. 

Within the last two years, Quebec has invested in settlement services for immigrants through 74 service centres spread out throughout the province. 

Newcomers Vital To Business Growth

Earlier this year, Quebec earmarked $15 million in extra funding for settlement services in the province’s regions. That funding was part of the $246 million invested into programs to attract and retain immigrants.

“Attracting and retaining immigrants to our communities, particularly those in the outlying regions, allows businesses to grow due to these skilled workers and helps resolve labour shortages in several of our economic sectors,” said Girault.

Quebec, which is bullish on immigration, has lately doubled the limit on the percentage of temporary foreign workers that businesses in some sectors of the economy can hire, going to 20 per cent of the workforce from 10 per cent.

“The recruitment of temporary foreign workers is one of the options Quebec businesses will now have to deal with the labour shortage,” Quebec Labour Minister Jean Boulet said in French in a statement.

“With this flexibility in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, we are supporting businesses suffering from an urgent need for workers.”

Temporary Work Permits Up For Grabs

Quebec is also offering up Temporary Open Work Permits, (the Permis de travail ouvert transitoire – PTOT) to those who have submitted an application for permanent residence as skilled workers. These are two-year work permits that can be renewed for an additional year, provided the worker remains in Quebec.

These work permits are also offered to the applicant’s spouses regardless of that spouse’s type of employment.

The province has also announced a new pathway to permanent residency under the International Mobility Program that will allow 7,000 workers per year to be brought in without having to complete a Labour Market Impact Assessment.

“We have listened to temporary foreign workers and Quebec businesses,” said Quebec Immigration Minister Nadine Girault. “As a result of these agreements, we have taken an important step in supporting economic development in Quebec, its businesses and its regions, to make things easier for foreign workers applying for immigration.”

Last month, Quebec immigration issued 536 invitations to educators and healthcare workers with job offers outside the Montreal Urban Community Thursday in its second major draw in September through the Arrima Expression of Interest system.

The province required a minimum score of 562 in the Quebec Expression of Interest points system in that latest draw, 63 points higher than the draw on Sept. 2.

Quebec has now issued 2,655 invitations since August 12, having previously issued only 545 invitations in the whole of 2021.

British Columbia Draw: Province Invites 409 Immigration Candidates Through BC PNP

Canada immigration news: British Columbia immigration has issued invitations to a total of 409 candidates in two new draws through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.

The October 12 draws featured a general draw, and a second draw targeting two NOC codes: 0621 for Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers and 0631 for Restaurant and Food Service Managers.

In the general draw, the province issued 365 invitations across five streams, with minimum scores ranging from 69 to 91.

In the NOC-specific draw, 101 invites were issued through four streams, all featuring minimum scores of 104.


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Latest General B.C. Immigration Draw

Date

Category

Minimum Score

Invitations Issued

12-Oct-21

SI – Skilled Worker

91

Total: 308

 

SI – International Graduate

78

SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled

69

 

EEBC – Skilled Worker

87

 

EEBC – International Graduate

76

Source: www.welcomebc.ca


B.C. Draw Targeting NOCs 0621, 0631

Date

Category

Minimum Score

Invitations Issued

12-Oct-21

SI – Skilled Worker

104

Total: 101

 

SI – International Graduate

104

 

EEBC – Skilled Worker

104

 

EEBC – International Graduate

104


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Welcome Back, Canadians! U.S. Plans To Re-Open Border In November

Canada immigration news: The United States is planning to open its borders to fully-vaccinated Canadians starting in November after almost 19 months – but the exact date has not been determined.

“At long last, there is action by the U.S. to open the doors and welcome back our Canadian neighbours beginning in November,” tweeted New York Congressman Brian Higgins today.

“This is good news for businesses and families that have suffered under the continued border shutdown.”


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In a statement, Higgins lambasted Washington for not re-opening the border sooner. 

Canada’s Strong Vaccination Program Made Re-Opening Possible

“Strong vaccination rates in Canada made the continued border shutdown absurd and unjustifiable,” he said. 

“For months now, we’ve heard from businesses that are suffering and families distraught over the separation imposed by the continued border shutdown. The sigh of relief coming from northern border communities following this announcement is so loud it can practically be heard on either end of the Peace Bridge.”

The United States Department of Homeland Security is going to amend its Title 19 regulations to allow non-essential travelers who have been fully-vaccinated for Covid-19 and have documentation to prove it to enter the country at land and ferry ports of entry. 

The move comes at the recommendation of the Center for Disease Control and public health experts in the United States and was announced by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

“In alignment with the new international air travel system that will be implemented in November, we will begin allowing travelers from Mexico and Canada who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to enter the United States for non-essential purposes, including to visit friends and family or for tourism, via land and ferry border crossings,” he said.

“Cross-border travel creates significant economic activity in our border communities and benefits our broader economy. We are pleased to be taking steps to resume regular travel in a safe and sustainable manner.”

The U.S. is also planning to allow in fully-vaccinated foreign nationals starting in early January. 

Details of Re-Opening Being Discussed

Although the exact date for the re-opening of the Canada-U.S. border has not yet been set, Canadian officials are working with their counterparts south of the border to finalize things.

“We are working to clarify and finalize all the details with our American partners,” Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s deputy prime minister, reportedly said.

While support for the re-opening was immediate on social media, that enthusiasm was also tempered with caution as stakeholders on both sides of the border wait to learn of the details.

The Future Borders Coalition, an organization promoting efficiency and security at the border, supported the re-opening Wednesday but indicated it wants more information on how everything will play out.

“We await details on testing protocols and other entry requirements. Adequate Customs Border Patrol staffing at the border and proof of vaccination solutions are essential to avoid delays,” the organization tweeted.

Let Us Reunite, a volunteer organization that’s been lobbying for travel exemptions to allow families to reunite across the Canada-U.S. border, echoed those sentiments.

“We look forward to an official briefing that includes details on the implementation date, clarity on those who received vaccine mixed doses, and for children under 12 who are unable to be vaccinated,” the organization tweeted.