Ontario Retailers Worried Not Enough Workers To Fill Jobs Heading Towards Christmas Season

Colin Singer
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Ontario Retailers Worried Not Enough Workers To Fill Jobs Heading Towards Christmas Season

As the number of Canada jobs going begging for a lack of workers climbs ahead of the Christmas shopping season, Ontario retailers are getting worried.

Statistics Canada figures reveal the number of job vacancies in Ontario jumped almost 46.4 per cent from 264,530 during the second quarter of last year to 387,235 for the same period this year.

And that’s despite there being many more Ontarians holding down jobs.

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The number of payroll employees in Ontario climbed more than 8.6 per cent, by 506,895 workers, from almost 5.9 million in the second quarter of last year to almost 6.4 million during the comparable quarter this year. 

The labour shortage also seems to be getting worse in Canada’s biggest province, with job vacancies rising almost 15 per cent from the first to the second quarter of this year. 

“With some of the busiest shopping months upon us, retailers are particularly concerned with this issue,” Retail Council of Canada spokesperson Michelle Wasylyshen reportedly told CBC News.

Ontario Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Rocco Rossi agrees.

In early August, he fired off a letter to Ontario Immigration Minister Monte McNaughton, urging him to make pilot immigration programs permanent.

“Employers in small and rural communities who are unable to attract residents from major urban centres are often denied the opportunity to hire temporary foreign workers because Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) show that sufficient talent is available within Ontario to fill the role, even if these individuals are unwilling to relocate to that area,” wrote Rossi.

“Regional pilots have been introduced to help fill local labour shortages and support economic growth in select rural and small communities. We believe these pilots should be made permanent.”

Business Groups Wants To See Higher Allocations Under OINP

The chamber president also called on the immigration minister to boost the province’s allocation under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). 

“In Canada, the federal government gives each province a set allocation of economic immigrants they are allowed to accept each year,” wrote Rossi.

“In 2021, that allocation to Ontario was 9,000, wholly insufficient given the available opportunities in Ontario for gainful employment. While the province has called on the federal government to double the amount, the actual need is likely much higher.”

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Across Canada, there are close to a million jobs going begging for a lack of workers to fill them in Canada and many employers are turning to foreign nationals through the country’s economic immigration programs.

“In nearly every Canadian industry and across every sector, a historic labour shortage is hitting companies hard,” noted RBC in a report earlier this year.

In Proof Point: Canada’s Labour Shortages Will Outlive A Recession, economists Claire Fen and Nathan Janzen and economics writer Naomi Powell outlined the grim reality for Canadian employers in late July.

“As of June 2022, businesses posted almost 70 per cent more job openings in Canada than pre-pandemic,” they noted. “But these firms were competing for 13 per cent fewer unemployed workers than were available in February 2020. 

Half Of Canadian Businesses Hurting Due To Labour Shortages

“The impact is severe: more than half of Canadian businesses say labour shortages are limiting their ability to increase production – up from 40 per cent before the pandemic and 30 per cent a decade ago.”

Employers hoping to hire a foreign national can avail themselves of this international talent and labour through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), and; the International Mobility Program (IMP).

The Global Talent Stream (GTS), a part of the (TFWP), can under normal processing situations lead to the granting of Canadian work permits and the processing of visa applications within two weeks.

Employers can also bring in foreign nationals to fill available positions through the Express Entry system, which receives immigration applications online.

Applicants who meet eligibility criteria submit an online profile known as an Expression of interest (EOI), under one of three federal immigration programs or a participating provincial immigration program, to the Express Entry Pool.

The candidates’ profiles then are ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranked candidates are considered for Invitations to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a full application and pay processing fees within a delay of 90 days.

University Of Toronto Ranked Best In Canada By Maclean’s

Colin Singer
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University Of Toronto Ranked Best In Canada By Maclean’s

Canada’s University of Toronto has been named the best university in the country by Maclean’s news magazine.

In second place overall was the University of Waterloo and in the third spot was the University of British Columbia.

The news magazine also ranked the universities by subcategories, including the highest quality of education. In that subcategory, McGill came out at the top of the pack with the University of Toronto in second place, followed by the University of Waterloo.

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Maclean’s also ranked the Canadian universities based on degree of innovation. In that subcategory, the University of Waterloo placed first, followed by the University of Toronto, and the University of British Columbia came in third.

Earlier this year, McGill University, the University of Toronto, and the University of British Columbia all made the cut of the best 50 universities in the world, according to QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a provider of analytics and insight to the global higher-education sector.

The QS Top Universities ranking also named another 11 other Canadian universities, for a total of 14, in the top 25 per cent of the more than 1,400 universities ranked by Quacquarelli Symonds in its list.

McGill, based in what was described as the most student-friendly city in the world in the QS Best Student Cities 2017 ranking, has 50 research centres and institutes, more than 400 programs, and an alumni network of more than 250,000 around the world.

“Based in Montreal, McGill University ranks among Canada’s most prestigious universities, attracting thousands of international students from over 150 countries every year, and the highest percentage of PhD students of any Canadian research university,” noted Quacquarelli Symonds.

Toronto Offers About 700 Undergrad Programs, 280 Graduate Programs

Graduates are highly sought after by employers, with the following percentages of graduates in education or employment two years after graduation:

  • 81 per cent of art graduates;
  • 95 per cent of engineering graduates;
  • 91 per cent of medicine graduates;
  • 84 per cent of science graduates, and;
  • 92 per cent of all PhD respondents.

McGill ranked 27th on the list with an overall score of 81.9, only narrowly beating out the University of Toronto for the bragging rights to the best university in Canada, according to the international organization.

The University of Toronto ranked 34th with a score of 81.5. 

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At the undergraduate level, that university offers about 700 programs in humanities and social sciences, life sciences, physical and mathematical sciences, commerce and management, computer science, engineering, kinesiology and physical education, music and architecture. It also offers second-entry professional programs in education, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, law and medicine.

At the master’s level. UofT offers over 280 graduate programs in a wide variety of fields, including more than 60 professional graduate programs and 76 combined programs that include professional master’s components. The university has 40 collaborative programs and three diploma programs.

The University of British Columbia, the third most highly rated Canadian university on the QS list, placed 47th globally with a score of 77.

UBC Lauded For Its Global Impact, Excellence In Teaching

“The University of British Columbia is recognized internationally for excellence in teaching and research as well as global impact. Since 1915, UBC has been opening doors of opportunity for people with the curiosity, drive and vision to shape a better world,” noted the report from Quacquarelli Symonds.

“UBC  is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion to strengthen its community, the quality, relevance and impact of its research,  and the opportunities for the full pool of potential participants in the research ecosystem. UBC is  also  the first university in North America to commit to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”

The other 11 Canadian universities among the 14 ranked in the top 25 per cent of all these post-secondary learning institutions throughout the world are:

  • University of Alberta, ranked 110 with a score of 56.9;
  • Université de Montreal, ranked 116 with a score of 55.9;
  • McMaster University, ranked 152 with a score of 50.4;
  • University of Waterloo, ranked 154 with a score of 50;
  • Western University, ranked 172 with a score of 46.7;
  • University of Ottawa, ranked 237 with a score of 39.4;
  • University of Calgary, ranked 242 with a score of 39;
  • Queen’s University at Kingston, ranked 246 with a score of 38.8;
  • Dalhousie University, ranked 308 with a score of 34.3;
  • Simon Fraser University, ranked 328 with a score of 32.9, and;
  • University of Victoria, ranked 359 with a score of 30.5.

Most of the roughly 350,000 foreign nationals who come to study at Canadian universities must apply for study permits. 

A study permit, once issued, allows a foreign national to study in Canada at an approved institute for the duration of the specified course or program.

There are exceptions. Foreign nationals do not require a study permit to go to school in Canada under the following conditions:

  • the course or program of study is less than six months in duration;
  • the student is a family member or staff of a foreign representative to Canada, or;
  • the student is a member of a foreign armed force.

To be eligible to study in Canada students must:

  • have been accepted by a school, college, university or other educational institution in Canada;
  • have proven they have enough money to pay for their tuition fees, living expenses, and return transportation for themselves and any family members who come with them to Canada.
  • be law-abiding citizens with no criminal record and not a risk to the security of Canada. They may have to provide a police certificate;
  • be in good health and willing to complete a medical examination, if necessary, and;
  • satisfy an immigration officer they will leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay.

A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) may also be required if the student is a citizen of a country from which such visas are required for entry into Canada. This is not required for citizens of visa-exempt countries.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allows students to work while studying in Canada.

A student may be able to work in Canada during his or her studies under the following categories:

Spouses or common-law partners of foreign students are also eligible for work permits for the duration of the study permit.

Upon graduation, a foreign student may apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. Under this program, the work permit may be issued for the length of the study program, up to a maximum of three years. 

British Columbia PNP Draw: Province Issues At Least 231 Canada Immigration Invitations

Colin Singer
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British Columbia PNP Draw: Province Issues At Least 231 Canada Immigration Invitations

British Columbia has issued at least 231 invitations in new draws through multiple streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.

The October 4 draws were split into two categories: general and targeted.

In the general draw, which included tech occupations, 184 invitations were issued through five BC PNP streams for skilled workers and international graduates. Minimum scores ranged from 82 to 120 points.

In the targeted draw, a further 32 invitations were issued to skilled workers and international graduates scoring at least 60 points in the draw targeting Early Childhood Educators and Assistants under NOC 4214.

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A draw targeted at Healthcare workers saw 13 invitations issued to skilled workers, international graduates and entry level and semi-skilled workers, also with a minimum score of 60 points.

A further set of ‘less than 5’ invitations went to entry level and semi-skilled workers targeted specifically at Healthcare Assistants under NOC 3413, with a minimum score of 60. The number of invitations was listed as ‘less than 5’ to protect the identity of those who were invited. 

The final set of ‘less than 5’ targeted invitations went to skilled workers and international graduates under NOCs 3114 and 3213 for veterinarians and animal health technologists and veterinary technicians respectively, with a minimum score of 60. 

Latest B.C. Immigration Draws

General Draw

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued Description
04-Oct-22  Skilled Worker 120 184 General draw (includes tech occupations)
Skilled Worker – EEBC 120
International Graduate 105
International Graduate – EEBC 105
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 82

Targeted Draw

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued Description
04-Oct-22 Skilled Worker, International Graduate 60 32 Targeted draw: Childcare: Early childhood educators (NOC 4214)
Skilled Worker, International Graduate, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 60 13 Targeted draw: Healthcare
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 60 <5 Targeted draw: Healthcare assistants (NOC 3413)
Skilled Worker, International Graduate 60 <5 Targeted draw: Other priority occupations (NOCs 3114, 3213)

Video:

Ontario Skilled Trades Draw: Province Issues Over 1,340 Canada Immigration NOIs

Colin Singer
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Ontario Skilled Trades Draw: Province Issues Over 1,340 Canada Immigration NOIs

Ontario has conducted a new draw through the Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream, issuing 1,340 Canada immigration Notifications of Interest.

The September 29 draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 266.

Candidates were required to have submitted Express Entry profiles into the federal pool within the 12 months preceding the draw date to qualify.

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Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream 2022

Date NOIs  CRS Score Range Express Entry profile submission date
29-09-2022 1,340 266 and above September 29, 2021 – September 29, 2022
07-09-2022 1,521 320 and above September 7, 2021 – September 7, 2022
14-Jul-22 755 310 and above July 14, 2021 – July 14, 2022
26-May-22 535 295-461 May 26, 2021 – May 26, 2022
26-Apr-22 1,034 300-461 April 26, 2021 – April 26, 2022
24-Mar-22 471 350-600 March 24, 2021 – March 24, 2022
24-Feb-22 818 359-600 February 24, 2021 – February 24, 2022
27-Jan-22 1,032 381-461 January 27, 2021 – January 27, 2022

Video

Ontario Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream

The Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream targets skilled trades workers in the construction and agricultural sectors but could be expanded in the future.

To qualify applicants must have:

  • Pending application under the Federal Express Entry system;
  • At least 12 months of paid cumulative or continuous Ontario work experience with the last two years prior to your Notification of Interest in National Occupation Classification 633, or major groups 72, 73 or 82;
  • Proof of Ontario license or certification if your occupation so requires;
  • A valid work permit and be resident in Ontario at the time of application;
  • English or French-language level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 or above in reading, writing, listening and speaking;
  • Proof of settlement fund to cover you and your dependents, with the minimum amount determined by official Low-Income Cut-Offs.

International Students Can Work Unlimited Hours Off-Campus, Says Canada

Colin Singer
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International Students Can Work Unlimited Hours Off-Campus, Says Canada

The limit on the number of hours Canada international students can work off-campus during their studies is to be lifted.

The move, announced on Friday by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, is designed to help with the chronic labour shortage currently being felt across the country.

Instead of being limited to 20 hours per week, from November 15, post-secondary international students will be able to work as much as they like. The temporary measure will be in place until December 31, 2023.

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Candidates who have already submitted a Study Permit application are included in the new measure if they are approved.

“With the economy growing at a faster rate than employers can hire new workers, Canada needs to look at every option so that we have the skills and workforce needed to fuel our growth,” Fraser said. 

‘Immigration will be crucial to addressing our labour shortage. 

“By allowing international students to work more while they study, we can help ease pressing needs in many sectors across the country, while providing more opportunities for international students to gain valuable Canadian work experience and continue contributing to our short-term recovery and long-term prosperity.”

The step is designed to benefit Canadian employers and provide international students with an opportunity to amass more Canadian work experience, particularly if their long-term goal is to transition to permanent residence.

With more than 500,000 international students already in Canada, the decision will provide an immediate boost to the struggling labour market.

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Meanwhile, Canada has also announced a pilot project to process Study Permit extensions automatically.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) say the project will include applications will a high approval rate, given all the candidates have previously studied in Canada.

The decision is aimed at helping cut the huge backlog of applications currently with the IRCC.

“Should the pilot be successful, it will be expanded in order to help reduce processing times and allow officers to focus on more complex applications,” IRCC said.

These latest measures to benefit international students are one of many introduced by Canada recently, as it looks to maintain its reputation as one of the best countries in the world to study.

It recently extended a Covid-19 measure to allow candidates studying online from abroad to count that time towards a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Meanwhile, those with expired or expiring PGWPs have been made eligible for an 18-month open work permit, to give them an extra chance to build the work experience required for a permanent residence application.

Canada processed more than 450,000 study permit applications between January and August, IRCC says, up from 367,000 in the same period of 2021.

Economist Urges Canada To Improve Foreign Credential Recognition And Increase Immigration

Colin Singer
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Economist Urges Canada To Improve Foreign Credential Recognition And Increase Immigration

Canada needs to beef up both immigration and the accreditation process for foreign nationals looking to immigrate here, says a leading tax, auditing and consulting services firm.

“There’s … a fundamental shift in the demographic of Canada’s labour force, causing policymakers to explore ambitious immigration goals to address the labour gap,” says economist Tu Nguyen, the environmental, social and governance director with RSM Canada.

“But government, industry associations and organizations will actually need to go further and streamline the accreditation process so that workers educated abroad can fill much-needed roles in Canada. Only then can Canada hope to have more meaningful growth in labour supply and productivity.”

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The Canadian labour market is very tight.

In Proof Point: Canada’s Labour Shortages Will Outlive A Recession, RBC economists Claire Fen and Nathan Janzen and economics writer Naomi Powell outlined the grim reality for Canadian employers in late July. 

“As of June 2022, businesses posted almost 70 per cent more job openings in Canada than pre-pandemic,” they noted. “But these firms were competing for 13 per cent fewer unemployed workers than were available in February 2020.

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“The impact is severe: more than half of Canadian businesses say labour shortages are limiting their ability to increase production – up from 40 per cent before the pandemic and 30 per cent a decade ago.”

The historic labour shortage is hitting companies hard. 

“Despite a robust recovery from the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian economic growth will continue slowing down due to persistent inflation and a historically tight labour market,” says Nguyen.

 “But the real long-term challenge will be the labour shortage, with declining worker participation hitting the health care, hospitality and food services industries particularly hard.”

Expect A Recession In 2023 And Higher Bank Of Canada Rates, Warn Economists

In its latest snapshot of the performance of the Canadian economy, its The Real Economy, Canada report, RSM Canada is bullish on even more immigration to help resolve Canada’s labour shortages.

RSM Canada argues the country’s aging population and declining fertility rates mean immigration will be vital to any attempts to replenish the labour pool. 

Without robust immigration and the boost to productivity that comes from a steady flow of immigrants, Canada could wind up being dead last for labour productivity among the 38 countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development within as little as a decade, warns RSM Canada.

In its report, the firm also forecasts the possibility of a recession early in 2023 with continued inflation and the possibility of a Bank of Canada rate increase putting a further squeeze on Canadian businesses.

On main streets across Canada, things seem as if it’s business as usual.

But help wanted signs to seem to be everywhere and many entrepreneurs are limiting their companies’ hours or putting off planned expansions due to a lack of qualified labour.

Statistics Canada Reported 997,000 Jobs Going Begging For Workers In Second Quarter Of 2022

In its latest quarterly job vacancies report, Statistics Canada reported that Canadian companies were trying to fill 997,000 vacant positions during the second quarter of this year.

That’s the highest number of job vacancies in any quarter of any year on record in Canada.

“Vacancies were up 4.7 per cent, with 45,000 more vacancies, from the first quarter, and 42.3 per cent, 296,500 jobs, higher than in the second quarter of 2021,” noted Statistics Canada.

“The job vacancy rate, which corresponds to the number of vacant positions as a proportion of total labour demand (the sum of filled and vacant positions), was 5.7 per cent in the second quarter, also an all-time high.”

Under the Express Entry system, immigrants can apply for permanent residency online if they meet the eligibility criteria for one of three federal immigration programs, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST), and Canada Experience Class Program (CEC),  or a participating provincial immigration program.

Candidates’ profiles are then ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranked candidates will be considered for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a complete application and pay processing fees, within a delay of 90-days.

Through a Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) network, almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can also nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada when they have the specific skills required by local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.

Immigrant investors can also come to Canada under the Start-up Visa program which can grant them Canadian permanent residence.

That program aims to recruit innovative entrepreneurs to Canada and link them with Canadian private sector businesses, such as angel investor groups, venture capital funds or business incubators, and facilitate the establishment of their start-up business in Canada.

Rural And Northern Immigration Pilot Extended, Pleasing Thunder Bay Business Leaders

Colin Singer
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Rural And Northern Immigration Pilot Extended, Pleasing Thunder Bay Business Leaders

An extension to the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) has thrilled Thunder Bay’s business leaders and economic development officers.

“Thrilled to see the extension and expansion of the RNIP for Thunder Bay and other regional communities,” tweeted Charla Robinson, president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.

“Thanks to Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC), chamber network and Leah Nord for being part of the many voices that advocated our Members of Parliament and Immigration Minister Sean Fraser for this change.

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This year, the economic development commission has already recommended 175 candidates for permanent residence, putting it on track to at least meet its target of 250 recommended candidates this year and likely ensuring an increase in its allotment for next year. 

With the extension, Fraser also announced several improvements starting this autumn with the RNIP supporting community partners, employers and candidates by:

  • expanding the geographic boundaries of seven of the participating communities, including North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Thunder Bay, Moose Jaw, West Kootenay and Vernon;
  • making it easier to fill labour market needs in the healthcare and trades sectors, by expanding the range of job offers available to candidates, with specific work experience;
  • allowing communities to participate for a longer period, until August 2024, when the pilot comes to an end;
  • helping community partners provide greater support to candidates and employers;
  • reducing the amount of settlement funds participants are required to have, and;
  • strengthening the program’s integrity.

“Rural and northern communities face unique economic and demographic challenges, and the expansion of RNIP announced … makes it that much easier for communities to fill their critical labour market needs,” said Fraser earlier this year.

RNIP Allowed 1,130 Newcomers to Settle in 11 Communities in the First Half of 2022

“They also expand community boundaries so employers in remote areas can access the program, helping to support economic development and growth in smaller communities across the country.”

Within the first six months of this year, 1,130 newcomers had settled in one of the 11 RNIP communities, which also include Sault Ste. Marie, Brandon, Altona/Rhineland and Claresholm.

The RNIP, which is modelled on the highly-successful Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), has a ceiling cap of 2,750 principal applicants per year.

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The program, which encourages foreign nationals applying for permanent residence to settle in rural regions of the country, has been a boon for employers there looking for workers and is growing in popularity.

In the first year of the RNIP, in 2020, Canada welcomed 50 new permanent residents through the program. Last year, that skyrocketed to 555, a growth of 1,010 per cent. 

Under the RNIP, communities must have the following:

  • a population of 50,000 or less and be located at least 75 km from the downtown of a major city, or;
  • a population of up to 200,000 people and be considered remote from other, larger cities.

Foreign nationals who want to immigrate to Canada through the RNIP need to meet both federal and community-specific eligibility requirements, get a job with an employer in a participating community, submit an application for a recommendation from the community, and then apply for permanent residence.

Ottawa requires RNIP applicants to have either qualifying work experience or a diploma or degree from a college or university in the community.

1,560 Hours Of Full-Time, Paid Work Needed Under The RNIP Criteria

The required work experience has to be the equivalent of one year of paid, full-time work, 1,560 hours, in the same occupation but can have been gained by working part-time jobs over the last three years. The applicant then has to demonstrate he or she did all of the main and essential duties listed in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system’s description for that occupation.

International students can be exempt from that requirement for work experience if they were studying as full-time undergrads for the full duration of two or more years in a college or university in the recommending community and graduated no more than 18 months before applying for permanent residence. 

In that case, they have to have been living in the community for at least 16 months during the two years of their studies.

Those international students who graduated with a master’s degree or higher are also exempt from the requirement to have work experience provided they spent the duration of their studies in the community and graduated no more than 18 months before applying for permanent residence.

Although a break on work experience is given to candidates who have post-secondary education, foreign nationals can apply to the RNIP with no more than a high school diploma or an equivalent foreign credential with an accredited educational credential assessment (ECA) report.

All candidates under the RNIP must meet the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level required under the NOC for their job. The RNIP demands language skills of CLB/NCLC 6 for NOC 0 and A level jobs, language skills of CLB/NCLC 5 for those jobs in the NOC B category, and CLB/NCLC 4 for the NOC C and D occupations.

In a bid to ensure immigrants to Canada under this program will not be a burden to the country’s public safety net, applicants are also required to show they have enough money to take care of themselves and any dependants.

“You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you get to Canada unless you’re already working in Canada with a valid work permit,” notes the IRCC.

“You can’t borrow this money from another person. You must be able to use this money to pay the costs of living for your family (even if they’re not coming with you).”

Acceptable proof of these funds can consist of:

  • bank account statements;
  • documents that show real property or other investments (such as stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills, etc.), or;
  • documents that guarantee payment of a set amount of money payable to the recipient (such as banker’s drafts, cheques, traveller’s cheques or money orders).

Canada’s Guide To Temporary Foreign Workers’ Rights To Be Published In Five More Languages

Colin Singer
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Canada’s Guide To Temporary Foreign Workers’ Rights To Be Published In Five More Languages

Canada’s online guide to temporary foreign workers’ rights is to be published in five additional languages in the wake of Ontario and Quebec’s efforts to ramp up inspections of working conditions.

On its website, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has already published that guide, ‘Temporary Foreign Workers: Your Rights Are Protected’, in English, French and Spanish.

It outlines the rights of foreign nationals living and working in Canada in terms of healthcare services, workplace injuries, workplace health and safety, working conditions and housing rights and where to get help.

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But now, Ottawa is working on releasing that guide in several other languages.

“We are currently completing Tagalog, Korean, Thai, Hindi and Chinese (simplified) languages and will make them available in the coming weeks,” notes the ESDC on its website. 

Temporary foreign workers who are asked to do dangerous work or face unsafe working conditions – or who have been injured because of their work – are encouraged to contact provincial or territorial workplace health and safety offices at:

  • Alberta: 1-866-415-8690
  • British Columbia: 1-888-621-7233
  • Manitoba: 1-855-957-7233
  • New Brunswick: 1-800-222-9775
  • Newfoundland and Labrador: 1-800-563-5471
  • Northwest Territories: 1-800-661-0792
  • Nova Scotia: 1-800-952-2687
  • Nunavut: 1-877-404-4407
  • Ontario: 1-877-202-0008
  • Prince Edward Island: 1-800-237-5049
  • Quebec: 1-844-838-0808
  • Saskatchewan: 1-800-567-7233
  • Yukon: 1-800-661-0443

In Canada, governments are increasingly taking steps to ensure temporary foreign workers are treated right and not abused at work. 

Quebec Expanded Inspections Of Workplaces Of TFWs Earlier This Year

Earlier this year, the francophone central Canadian province of Quebec began to deploy inspectors to ensure the health and safety of temporary foreign workers throughout Quebec as a program previously limited to agricultural workers expanded to include six sectors of the economy.

“Temporary foreign workers no longer work only in agriculture,” said then-Quebec Immigration Minister Jean Boulet in May. “With the relaxation of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the government of Quebec needed to improve the health and safety resources available to temporary foreign workers and their employers.

“Deploying this squad (of health and safety inspectors) will raise awareness in workplaces about the rights and obligations of workers and their employers.”

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Under the province’s initiative, its health and safety commission, the Commission des Normes, de l’Équité, de la Santé et de la Sécurité du Travail (CNESST), is also offering consulting services to the employers of temporary foreign workers to help them meet their obligations.

“Temporary foreign workers are important to help meet the challenges posed by the labour shortages and so it is vital that all efforts be made to ensure they are being well treated,” said Boulet.

Quebec has had a squad of workplace health and safety inspectors for temporary foreign workers in the agricultural sector for the last three years, since 2019, because they then comprised the lion’s share of temporary foreign workers in the province. 

That program, though, was seasonal. 

Ontario Boosted The Number Of Inspections To Safeguard The Health Of TFWs During The Pandemic

Under the expanded version of the program, the new squad of health and safety inspectors offers services throughout the year to several additional sectors in addition to agriculture, including:

  • retail;
  • manufacturing;
  • hospitality;
  • food processing, and;
  • healthcare.

Quebec’s efforts to ensure temporary foreign workers are treated properly came a little more than a year after Ontario, Canada’s biggest province, upped the number of inspections on farms, greenhouses and other agribusinesses during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the health and safety of temporary foreign workers there.

“Our government is taking action to protect essential temporary foreign workers TFW who may be at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 during the upcoming growing season,” said Labour, Training and Skills Development Minister Monte McNaughton.

“We rely on these workers to ensure our grocery store shelves remain stocked and families have food on the table. These inspections will help stop the spread of COVID-19 on farms, and in our communities.”

Advocates for migrant workers in Canada are adamant that migrant workers need to be given full protection under Canadian labour laws.

“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who must grant permanent status to all now so that migrants actually have the power to protect themselves and assert their rights,” said Syed Hussan, executive director of Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, in January last year.

Canada Named Third Best Country In The World By New Report

Colin Singer
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Canada Named Third Best Country In The World By New Report

The U.S. News & World Report has ranked Canada as the third best country in the world behind only Switzerland and Germany, and beating the U.S.

“The rankings report is based on how global perceptions define countries in terms of a number of qualitative characteristics – impressions that have the potential to drive trade, travel and investment, and directly affect national economies,” said U.S. News.

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The countries were also given 10 sub rankings for their:

  • adventure; 
  • agility; 
  • cultural influence; 
  • entrepreneurship; 
  • heritage; 
  • movers; 
  • openness for business; 
  • power; 
  • social purpose, and; 
  • quality of life.

“Canada is a high-tech industrial society with a high standard of living. Trade agreements in the 1980s and 1990s dramatically bolstered trade with the U.S., and now the two counties are each other’s largest trading partner,” said the report.

“While the service sector is Canada’s biggest economic driver, the country is a significant exporter of energy, food and minerals. Canada ranks third in the world in proven oil reserves and is the world’s fourth-largest oil producer.”

The report commends Canada for its commitment to multiculturalism and its long list of accomplished writers and artists, its system of government, and its participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions throughout the world.

Canada snagged an overall score of 97.8 in the rankings with high marks for its agility, quality of life and social purpose and openness to business but scored badly in terms of its perceived unpreparedness to weather the coming challenges posed by the global economy. 

The rankings also revealed a rather ho-hum view of Canada’s heritage which only got a score of 39.9 and the country’s perceived power which was given a score of a paltry 43.3. 

In other recent rankings, Canada has regularly come out near the top for the quality of its universities and the livability of its cities. 

Earlier this year, three Canadian cities – Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto – were deemed to be among the top 10 most liveable cities in the world by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

Calgary, Vancouver And Toronto Among The Top 10 Most Livable Cities In The World

“The top 10 of our rankings remains dominated by western European cities, along with several from Canada,” said the EIU. “In second place, behind Vienna, is Copenhagen, while Calgary has jumped from 18th (owing to the removal of COVID-19 restrictions) to join Zurich in joint third.”

Bragging rights for being the most livable city in Canada went to Calgary, which tied with Zurich for the third spot globally. Vancouver came in second in Canada and fifth in the world – there was no fourth-place finisher – while Toronto officially became the third most livable city in Canada and the eighth best in the world.

Mid-sized cities – in contrast to the mega-metropolises – in wealthy counties fared very well in the survey of 173 cities throughout the world dubbed The Global Liveability Index 2022: Recovery and Hardship.

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“The top 10 cities are also among those with few COVID-19 restrictions,” said the report. “Shops, restaurants and museums have reopened, as have schools, and pandemic-led hospitalisation has declined, leading to less stress on healthcare resources and services, and even the requirement to wear masks is no longer in force in most situations.

“As a result, cities that were towards the top of our rankings before the pandemic have rebounded on the back of their stability, good infrastructure and services, as well as enjoyable leisure activities.”

In the world of higher education, a ranking by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a provider of analytics and insight to the global higher education sector, has proclaimed the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia are among the best 50 universities in the world. 

Toronto And British Columbia Among The World’s 50 Best Universities

In its annual QS Top Universities ranking, the organization also placed the University of Calgary and Simon Fraser University, in Vancouver, among the top quarter of universities in the world.

And in terms of immigration, the Anholt-Ipsos Nation Brands Index (NBI) ranked Canada last year as the top country in the world for its immigration practices and investment climate.

“First place rankings on the governance, people, and immigration and investment indices, as well as relatively steady rankings on exports, tourism, and culture contributed to Canada’s record ranking in 2021,” said the report by Ipsos, the world’s third largest Insights and analytics company.

A key strategy in Canada’s plan to recover economically in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is immigration.

In its Immigration Levels Plan for 2022 to 2024, Canada is aiming to bring in 431,645 immigrants this year, 447,055 next year, and 451,000 in 2024.

“Immigration has helped shape Canada into the country it is today. From farming and fishing to manufacturing, healthcare and the transportation sector, Canada relies on immigrants,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser earlier this year.

“We are focused on economic recovery, and immigration is the key to getting there. Setting bold new immigration targets, as outlined in the 2022-2024 Levels Plan, will further help bring the immeasurable contribution of immigrants to our communities and across all sectors of the economy.”

Canada’s Fastest Population Growth Rate Since End Of Second World War Driven By Immigration

Colin Singer
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Canada’s Fastest Population Growth Rate Since End Of Second World War Driven By Immigration

Canada has witnessed its fastest quarterly population growth since Newfoundland and Labrador joined the confederation at the end of the Second World War in 1949, thanks in large part to immigration.

“Canada’s population was estimated at 38,929,902 people on July 1, an increase of 284,982, or up 0.7 per cent, from April 1,” said the statistical and demographic services agency.

“The growth over the second quarter represents an increase of more than 3,100 people per day. This was the highest growth in the number of people in Canada of any quarter since the addition of Newfoundland to the confederation in 1949.”

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In its Canada’s Population Estimates, Second Quarter 2022, Statistics Canada chalks up 94.5 per cent of that population growth to immigration which led to an increase of 269,305 people. 

“This was the highest increase from international migration since comparable records have existed and were 93,000 higher than in the third quarter of 2019, which saw an increase of 175,907, the next highest quarter on record,” said Statistics Canada.

Under its Immigration Levels Plan for 2022-2024, Ottawa had planned to welcome 431,645 permanent residents this year, 447,055 next year, and 451,000 in 2024.

But at the current rate of immigration, Canada is poised to exceed not only its targets for this year and the next but even the proposed target for 2024 – and that one by 4.5 per cent.

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The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals the country welcomed 274,980 new permanent residents in the first seven months of this year.

That puts Canada on track to see immigration hit 471,394 new permanent residents in 2022, or 16.1 per cent more than the record-breaking 406,025 new permanent residents to Canada last year.

“The number of immigrants observed in the second quarter of 2022, at 118,114, was the highest in any second quarter since comparable records have existed,” said Statistics Canada. 

“This follows recent increases in IRCC targets and could be the result of catch-up in growth following lower levels of immigration early in the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Canada Welcomed 157,310 Temporary Residents During The Second Quarter Of This Year

With a boom in the number of refugees and temporary residents coming here with study permits and work permits, Canada saw growth of 157,310 non-permanent residents during the second quarter of this year.

Record-breaking immigration to Canada is expected to change the country’s demographic make-up over the next couple of decades, leading to a much more diverse society than exists today.

“In 2041, the proportion of immigrants in the Canadian population could reach from 29.1 per cent to 34 per cent, depending on the selected scenario, up from 21.9 per cent in 2016,” said Statistics Canada earlier this year. “This would be a record-high level since the 1867 Canadian confederation.”

In a forecast entitled Canada in 2041: A Larger, More Diverse Population With Greater Differences Between Regions, the federal agency said immigrants and their children will likely be the majority in Canada by 2041.

“According to the reference scenario, the Canadian population would reach 47.7 million in 2041, and 25 million of them would be immigrants or children of immigrants born in Canada, accounting for 52.4 per cent of the total population,” said the federal agency.

Basing itself on currently planned levels of immigration, Statistics Canada projects one in four Canadians will have been born in either Asia or Africa by 2041.

“Considering these trends and the fact that population growth in the coming decades will depend primarily on international immigration, the Canadian population in 2041 is projected to include 9.9 million to 13.9 million people born in Asia or Africa, depending on the projection scenario,” said Statistics Canada. 

“These people alone could account for 23.1 per cent to 26.9 per cent of the total Canadian population in 2041, up from 13.5 per cent in 2016.”

Express Entry Is One Of Five Main Ways To Immigrate To Canada

There are five main ways to immigrate to Canada.

Under the Express Entry system, Canada receives immigration applications online. Applicants who meet eligibility criteria submit an online profile known as an Expression of interest (EOI), under one of three federal immigration programs or a participating provincial immigration program, to the Express Entry Pool.

Candidates’ profiles then are ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranked candidates will be considered for an ITA for permanent residence. Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a full application and pay processing fees, within a delay of 90-days.

Then, there are the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). 

Under a shared jurisdiction between Ottawa and the provinces, Canada operates a two-tiered immigration system, offering programs for skilled workers, at both federal and provincial levels.

Through a network of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada with the specific skills required by their local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.

Immigrant investors can also come to Canada under the Start-up Visa program which can grant them Canadian permanent residence.

The program aims to recruit innovative entrepreneurs to Canada and link them with the Canadian private sector businesses, such as angel investor groups, venture capital funds or business incubators, and facilitate the establishment of their start-up business in Canada.

Students Can Come To Canada On A Study Permit, Get A PGWP And Then Permanent Residence

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 totalling $200,000. A designated angel investor group must invest at least $75,000 into the qualifying business.

International students can also eventually get their permanent residence in Canada by first coming under a Study Permit, then applying for a Post-graduation Work Permit, and finally seeking their permanent residents by applying through the Express Entry system.

Canada welcomes more than 350,000 international students every year. To be eligible to study in Canada these students must demonstrate that they:

  • have been accepted by a school, college, university or other educational institution in Canada;
  • have enough money to pay for their tuition fees, living expenses, and return transportation;
  • are law-abiding citizens with no criminal records;
  • are in good health and willing to complete a medical examination, and;
  • can satisfy an immigration officer that they will leave Canada at the end of their authorized stays.

Once issued a study permit, these students can work in Canada under the following categories:

  • on campus without a work permit;
  • off campus with a work permit;
  • in co-op and internship programs, where work experience is part of the curriculum, with a work permit.

Upon graduation, a foreign student may apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. Under this program, the work permit may be issued for the length of the study program, up to a maximum of three years.

The valuable work experience gained while an international grad works in Canada under a Post-Graduation Work Permit can count towards a permanent residence application through Canada Express Entry system.

Under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) used by Express Entry system programs, applicants for immigration are assigned points based on:

  • Skills;
  • Work experience;
  • Language ability;
  • Language ability and education of the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner;
  • Possession of a job offer supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment;
  • Possession of a provincial government nomination for permanent residence, and;
  • Certain combinations of language skills, education and work experience that result in a higher chance of the applicant becoming employed (skill transferability).  
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