Rise In Enrolment To Schools In Ontario’s North-East Thanks To Immigration

Many school boards in northeastern Ontario have experience a boost in enrolment this fall thanks to immigration. This shift is unprecedented to say the least, owing to the decades-long decrease in student numbers at schools in the region.

Northeastern Ontario’s education system was centered around the thousands of children during the peak of the baby boom, when the region in question was extensively involved in mines and mills.

With circumstances having changed since then, schools had started putting locks on their doors at alarmingly increasing rates.

This changed in the fall of 2023, however, with many school boards experiencing a reversal of the aforementioned trend. The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board, for example, has reported 180 more students than the preceding year.

Education director Danny Viotto says that there is a need for more staff and renovations, but that they are “excited, because this hasn’t happened in several years.”


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Other school boards in the region are experiencing a similar shift. The Rainbow District School Board reported a student body population of 14,285 (up 250 from 2022), and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board says that it has 188 more school desks this year, 134 of which are for elementary students.

The Near North District School Board has 34 more students, with a 10,044-strong student body this fall.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

Foreign workers, international students, and others with the right skills can immigrate to Ontario through OINP, which is the province’s economic immigration program in partnership with the Government of Canada through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The program identifies and nominates those people for Canada permanent residence (PR) who have the skills that the provincial economy requires.

It uses two intake systems to manage applications. Before applying for the program, applicants must register in either the Expression of Interest system or the Express Entry system to let OINP know about their wish to receive an invitation to apply.

There are nine OINP streams candidates may qualify for.

Candidates with a job offer in Ontario can apply to:

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

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Candidates with a Master’s or PhD from an Ontario university can apply to:

  • Masters Graduate Stream
  • PhD Graduate Stream

Candidates who are foreign entrepreneurs can apply to:

Candidates with required skills and experience can apply through the following Express Entry streams:

  • Human Capital Priorities Stream
  • Skilled Trades Stream
  • French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream

To receive an ITA or notification of interest through one of the Expression of Interest streams, applicants must first register in the Expression of Interest system and receive an ITA.

To receive an ITA or notification of interest through one of the Federal EE streams, candidates must first register in the EE system and receive a notification of interest before applying.

E-filing changes: My Ontario Integration

It announced on November 10, 2023, that Ontario changed the way the OINP e-Filing portal is accessed by clients. If they have an existing application or expression of interest with the OINP, they will need to migrate their One-key account to a My Ontario account starting November 12, 2023.

Canadian Businesses See Prosperous Year Ahead

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As the rate of inflation slows and many of them are looking to hire more staff, business owners in Canada are bullish about their prospects over the coming year.

“When asked about their firm’s current state, eight in ten, 80 per cent, of business leaders describe their business as being in growth mode,” reports Kyle Braid, an Ipsos senior vice president.

“Looking to the future, three-quarters, 76 per cent, of business leaders are optimistic about their business performance in the next five years. Two thirds, 67 per cent, of Canadian business leaders also believe that their business is doing better compared to other businesses in their industry.”

That optimism from business leaders comes despite a slowdown in job growth, the housing crisis, and the GDP’s rate of growth falling flat.

According to Statistics Canada, 65.9 per cent of businesses reported being either very optimistic or somewhat optimistic about their future outlook over the next 12 months, virtually unchanged from the third quarter and 15.7 per cent of businesses expected their sales of goods and services offered to increase over the next three months.


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Foreign investors who share that business optimism can  apply for permanent residence in Canada through the country’s Start-Up Visa (SUV) program.

The SUV, which began as a five-year pilot program in 2013, was made permanent in 2018 and has launched some 200 start-ups, including edtech unicorn ApplyBoard, founded by brothers Martin, Massi and Meti Basiri, who moved from Iran to Canada for school, and who now employ more than 500 people.

Under the SUV, entrepreneurs who want to benefit by starting businesses in Canada can get their Canadian permanent residence.

Three types of private-sector investors are considered under the program: angel investorsventure capital funds, and business incubators.


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A designated angel investor group must invest at least $75,000 into the qualifying business. Candidates can also qualify with two or more investments from angel investor groups totaling $75,000.

A designated venture capital fund must confirm that it is investing at least $200,000 into the qualifying business. Candidates can also qualify with two or more commitments from designated venture capital funds totaling $200,000.

A designated business incubator must accept the applicant into its business incubator program.

It is up to the immigrant investor to develop a viable business plan that will meet the due diligence requirements of these government-approved designated entities.

SUV Applicants Must Have A Qualifying Business

That’s usually done with the help of business consultants in Canada’s start-up ecosystem and experienced corporate business immigration lawyers who can ensure a start-up’s business plan meets all industry-required terms and conditions.

Candidates to the SUV program can initially come to Canada on a work permit supported by their designated Canadian investor before qualifying for permanent residence once their business is up and running.

Investing and the development of the business is usually done with the help of business consultants in Canada’s start-up ecosystem with oversight from experienced corporate business immigration lawyers who can ensure a start-up’s business concept meets all industry-required terms and conditions.

The basic government-imposed candidate eligibility requirements for the SUV are:

Ottawa does not give financial support to new SUV immigrants.

When candidates apply, they need to give a proof they have the money to support themselves and their dependents in Canada. This money cannot be borrowed.

The amount needed depends on the size of the candidate’s family.

Settlement Funds Needed Under Start-Up Visa Program

Number of family members Funds required
1 $13,757
2 $17,127
3 $21,055
4 $25,564
5 $28,994
6 $32,700
7 $36,407
Each additional family member $3,706

In the past few years, the SUV’s rapid access to permanent residency has made it surge in popularity.

By the end of September, Canada had welcomed 800 new permanent residents through the SUV this year, putting the country on track – if the current levels of SUV immigration continue through to the end of the year – for up to 1,067 new permanent residents to settle in the country under the SUV by the end of 2023.

That level of SUV immigration would be 78.6 per cent higher than the 575 new permanent residents who immigrated to Canada under that program in 2022.

British Columbia PNP Draw: Province Issues 185 Invitations

British Columbia has conducted a new draw through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program, issuing 185 invitations.

A November 16 draw saw invitations issued in four different categories.

A general draw, which included tech occupations, saw 80 invitations issued through five BC PNP streams for skilled workers and international graduates. Minimum scores ranged from 94 to 116 points.

In a further targeted draw, 49 invitations were issued to skilled workers and international graduates scoring at least 60 points in a draw targeting Early Childhood Educators and Assistants under NOC 42202.

Construction workers, recently added as priority occupations for the BC PNP, received 27 invitations with a minimum score of 75.

A draw targeted at Healthcare workers saw 32 invitations issued to skilled workers and international graduates, also with a minimum score of 60 points.


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Latest B.C. Immigration Draws

General Draw

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued Description
28-11-23 Skilled Worker 114 80 General draw (includes tech occupations)
Skilled Worker – EEBC 114
International Graduate 116
International Graduate – EEBC 116
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 94

Targeted Draw

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued Description
28-11-23  

 

 

Skilled Worker, International Graduate

60 49 Targeted draw: Childcare: Early childhood educators (NOC 42202)
75 27 Construction
60 29 Targeted draw: Healthcare

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