Shorter Processing Times, More Pathways To PR: Liberal Government’s Plan For Immigration

Colin Singer
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Shorter Processing Times, More Pathways To PR: Liberal Government’s Plan For Immigration

Canada immigration news: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government got the vote of confidence it needed from Canadians Monday, paving the way for an even greater push for more immigration to the country.

The ruling Liberal Party of Canada pledged many improvements to the immigration system on the campaign trail.

As it became clear on Monday evening – voting day in this federal election – that the Liberals were on their way to a minority government, congratulations from the party’s supporters started to pour in, including for the re-elected minister of immigration, Marco Mendicino.

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 The final ballots had not yet been counted when the congratulations started coming in, some mixed with even more demands on the immigration minister.

Congratulations, Now Get Back To The Job

“Congratulations for the historic win, well deserved. Wish you more success,” one Twitter user wrote to the immigration minister. “Please don’t forget us as we are still stuck in Kabul with email visas in hand.”

Another pressed Mendicino to cut immigration application delays.

“All the best and kindly expedite the immigration process,” wrote that Twitter user. “People, life and families are at stake! Hope you understand the situation, tons of 1,000s of people at stake because humongous delays. Appreciate if you look and expedite, minister.”

The not-so-subtle nudges to speed up the Canadian immigration process were, however, largely unnecessary as these were already part of the Liberals’ campaign promises. 

Government Bullish On Immigration

Trudeau’s Liberal government is bullish on immigration, vowing to meet its target of 401,000 new immigrants this year, 411,000 in 2022 and 421,000 in 2023.

The immigration minister has been adamant that Ottawa will be able to hit its immigration target this year.

“I am confident that we are doing everything we can to meet that target and we will meet that target and the reason it is important to hit that target is that immigrants create jobs … and allow us to meet our workforce needs,” Mendicino said earlier this year.

On the campaign trail, the Liberals pledged to do many things to speed up the immigration system, including improvements to the  Global Talent Stream (GTS) of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) through which Canadian work permits and visa applications are to be processed within two weeks to fill labour shortages.

Liberal Win Means More Efforts To Attract Immigrants

With their new mandate, the Liberals want to simplify work permit renewals under the GTS and establish an employer hotline to allow Canadian companies to attract and hire highly skilled workers.

Ottawa’s goal will be to reduce processing times that have been impacted by COVID-19 to less than 12 months.

Mendicino, who is a strong proponent of a fully digital and online immigration system, also wants to introduce electronic applications for family reunification.

Those families may be able to get back together even more quickly under a proposal for a program that would see Canada issue visas to spouses and children abroad while they are still waiting for the processing of their permanent residency applications.

Ottawa is also planning to:

  • build on the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) and welcome 2,000 skilled refugees to fill labour shortages in in-demand sectors such as healthcare;
  • reform economic immigration programs to expand pathways to permanent residence for temporary foreign workers and former international students through the Express Entry points system;
  • create a trusted-employer system to streamline the application process for Canadian companies hiring temporary foreign workers to fill labour shortages that cannot be filled by Canadian workers, and;
  • work with provinces, territories, and regulatory bodies to improve foreign credential recognition.

Foreign nationals who want to immigrate to Canada under economic immigration programs can avail themselves of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, Canadian Experience, Caregiver, Skilled Trade and SkilledWorker programs.

Under the Liberals, processing fees for permanent residency applications are also to be scrapped. 

“Permanent residents are deeply committed members of our communities. They work hard, start new businesses, pay taxes, raise their families, and do so in hope that they will one day be full citizens,” the Liberals stated in their platform during the election campaign.

“Becoming a citizen allows new immigrants to fully participate in Canadian society. It should not be subject to a user fee.”

Canada Extends India Flight Ban, But Preparing For Return Of Services

Colin Singer
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0
Canada Extends India Flight Ban, But Preparing For Return Of Services

Canada immigration news: Canada has announced an extension to the ban on direct flights from India, put in place due to COVID-19, but says it is preparing for the return of services.

Transport Canada said Tuesday the ban would be extended until midnight on September 26, 2021.

However, the statement also said three direct flights would be arriving on September 22 to test new measures planned for flights from India once the ban is lifted.

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Those measures are:

  • Travellers must have proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test from the approved Genestrings Laboratory at the Delhi airport taken within 18 hours of the scheduled departure of their direct flight to Canada.
  • Prior to boarding, air operators will be checking the travellers’ test results ensuring they are eligible to come to Canada, and that fully vaccinated travellers have uploaded their information into the ArriveCAN mobile app or website. Travellers who are unable to meet these requirements will be denied boarding.

Everyone aboard the September 22 flights will be tested for COVID-19 on arrival.

The statement also warned that passengers coming to Canada from India indirectly would still need a negative molecular test obtained within 72 hours of departure from a third country.

Ban On Indian Flights Put In Place When COVID-19 Was Out of Control

When Canada first put a halt to flights from India, that country was struggling with what appeared to be an out-of-control second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patty Hajdu, Canada’s health minister, said in April that Indian citizens then represented 20 percent of international arrivals, but 50 percent of positive tests conducted by airport staff.

“By eliminating direct travel from (India), public health experts will have the time to evaluate the ongoing epidemiology of that region and to reassess the situation,” she said.

While the move has been praised by those grateful for any measures to curb the spread of the variant currently responsible for most of the new cases of COVID-19, others have criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government for what they consider to be an ineffective measure.

Four Ontario Immigration Draws See Province Issue 995 Invitations

Colin Singer
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0
Four Ontario Immigration Draws See Province Issue 995 Invitations

Canada immigration news: Four Expression of Interest draws through Ontario’s Employer Job Offer streams for Foreign Workers and International Students saw the province issue 995 invitations.

Two draws under each stream were conducted on September 21, 2021.

Under the Foreign Worker stream, a general draw saw 406 candidates invited, with a minimum score of 37 points on the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program points grid. A further targeted draw for Regional Immigration Pilot candidates saw 36 invitations issued.

For the International Student stream, a general draw saw 523 invitations issued, with a minimum score of 61, while a Regional Immigration Pilot draw featured 30 invitations.

To qualify for each draw, candidates needed to have created profiles between April 28 and September 21, 2021.

Full requirements for all the mentioned streams are included further down this article.

Ontario Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream Expression of Interest Draw

Date issued

Number of invitations issued

Date profiles created

Score range

Notes

September 21, 2021

36

April 28 – September 21, 2021

N/A

Targeted draw for Regional Immigration Pilot candidates.

406

37 and above

General draw

Ontario Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream Expression of Interest Draw

Date issued

Number of invitations issued

Date profiles created

Score range

Notes

September 21, 2021

30

April 28 – September 21, 2021

N/A

Targeted draw for Regional Immigration Pilot candidates.

523

61 and above

General draw

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The Ontario EOI system manages application intake for the following streams:

Ontario Expression of Interest Ranking System

Points are awarded based on the following attributes:

  1. Level and field of education and where they completed their studies.
  2. Proficiency in English or French.
  3. Intention to settle outside of the Greater Toronto Area.
  4. Skill and work experience level, earnings history, other factors relevant to prospects in Ontario job market.
  5. Labour market needs in the province or region of the province.

Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

To qualify under this stream, applicants must have:

  • A permanent and full-time job offer under NOC 0, A or B that meets the median wage levels for Ontario, and in a position that is necessary to the business;
    • For those already working in the position, the proposed wage must be equal or greater than the current wage being paid
  • Two cumulative years of relevant work experience in the previous five years before the date of application;
  • Relevant mandatory licensing in Ontario, if the position so requires;
  • Live abroad, or be working, studying or visiting Canada on a valid permit;
  • Intention to settle in Ontario.

Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

To qualify under this stream, applicants must have:

  • A permanent and full-time job offer under NOC 0, A or B that meets low wage levels for Ontario, and in a position that is necessary to the business;
    • For those already working in the position, the proposed wage must be equal or greater than the current wage being paid
  • Either
    • Graduated or met requirements of a full-time minimum two-year degree from a publicly-funded Canadian college or university; OR
    • Graduated or met requirements of a full-time minimum one-year post-graduate diploma program from a publicly-funded Canadian college or university.
  • Completed at least half the studies in Canada;
  • Apply within two years from the date you completed the above course
  • Legal status in Ontario
  • Intention to settle in Ontario.

Regional Immigration Pilot

The Regional Immigration Pilot is designed to use the OINP to bring skilled labour not available locally to smaller Ontario communities.

To qualify candidates must have a permanent job offer from one of the three participating communities:

  • Chatham-Kent.
  • Cornwall.
  • Quinte West/Belleville.

Candidates must also meet the criteria for one of the Ontario Employer Job Offer streams, namely:

  • Foreign Worker.
  • International Student.
  • In-Demand Skills.

Candidate Requirements

  • Full-time and permanent job offer from an employer in one of the participating communities.
  • Meet the criteria for one of the Employer Job Offer category streams (see below).

Number of Nominations

Approximately 150 Employer Job Offer nominations have been set aside for the pilot.

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