In a bid to curb what he is calling Canada’s addiction to temporary foreign workers, Immigration Minister Marc Miller is reportedly mulling over cuts to the number of hours international students will be allowed to work off campus.
“We have gotten addicted to temporary foreign workers,” Miller reportedly told Bloomberg News
“Any large industry trying to make ends meet will look at the ability to drive down wages. There is an incentive to drive labour costs down. It’s something that’ll require a larger discussion.”
Last month, the immigration minister limited study permits to be handed out to international students in the coming year by saying Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) would only accept 606,250 study permit applications in 2024.
“The intent of these Instructions is to ensure the number of study permit applications accepted into processing by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration … within the scope of the instructions does not exceed 606,250 study permit applications for one year beginning on the date of signature,” the Canada Gazette reported on Feb. 3.
The cap on study permit applications is expected to reduce the number of study permits by more than a third, The Globe and Mail has reported.
“The cap is expected to result in approximately 364,000 approved study permits, a decrease of 35 per cent from 2023,” the immigration minister has reportedly said. “In the spirit of fairness, we are also allocating the cap space by province, based on population.”
Under the cap on study permits, it is expected the provinces and territories will each have a limit on their ability to welcome new international students. The national newspaper reports those proposed limits will allow some provinces to increase their international student population while dramatically cutting it in other provinces, including Ontario.
Watch Video:
The cap on study permits and proposed reductions in the hours international students will be allowed to work off campus and other, suggested tweaks to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to reduce the number of low-wage workers, though, have some business leaders worried.
At the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), president Dan Kelly has openly wondered whether the government is now operating in panic mode as it attempts to deflect from criticism that record immigration has fuelled inflation and caused much of the housing crisis.
Business Leaders Say Smaller Communities Have Come To Depend On Immigration
He is hoping the government will properly think through the ramifications of changes to the TFWP, particularly for smaller and rural communities, as many businesses have come to rely on immigrants.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the hours international students could work off-campus were increased from 20 to 40 per week to help resolve acute labour shortages.
Miller is reportedly considering a reduction in those hours now that the pandemic is under control and is thought to be considering a weekly limit in hours worked off campus that will be somewhere between 20 and 40 hours.
The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) closed last year up by 3.7 per cent, less than half the rate of growth for overall immigration to Canada.
By the end of December last year, 28,280 parents and grandparents had become new permanent residents of Canda through that family sponsorship program, up from 27,270 in 2022.
Overall immigration to Canada, though, set a new record last year as 471,550 foreign nationals became new permanent residents, a bump up of 7.8 per cent from the 437,595 new permanent residents to Canada the previous year.
The PGP’s performance softened in the final two months of last year, dropping 32 per cent in November, to only 1,720 new permanent residents from 2,530 in October – and then sagging an additional 5.2 per cent in December when the number of new permanent residents under the program slipped to only 1,630.
Canada’s most populous province, Ontario, once again saw the greatest number of arrivals under the PGP last year with 13,345 parents and grandparents settling there.
The other provinces and territories attracted the following number of new permanent residents under the PGP during that period:
Newfoundland and Labrador – 55
Prince Edward Island – 10
Nova Scotia – 190
New Brunswick – 60
Quebec – 2,435
Manitoba – 1,175
Saskatchewan – 780
Alberta – 5,485
British Columbia – 4,705
Yukon – 25
Northwest Territories – 15
Nunavut – 0
Across the country, Nova Scotia saw the biggest gains in PGP immigration of all the provinces last year as the number of new permanent residents through the program rose 35.7 per cent. The Yukon saw the greatest percentage increase in PGP immigration last year, 66.7 per cent, but that was on a very small base with only 25 parents and grandparents arriving in the territory under that program in 2023.
A few provinces saw declines in PGP immigration in 2023.
Among them, Prince Edward Island saw a third fewer parents and grandparents arrive last year than in 2022. PGP immigration also slipped by 13.3 per cent in Saskatchewan and 4.7 per cent in Quebec.
With growing total immigration to Canada, it seems likely PGP immigration will rise in tandem over the coming years.
Under its 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan, Ottawa had set its immigration target for 2023 at 465,000 new permanent residents.
Watch Video
Under the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada is now planning to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024, 500,000 in 2025 and then hold the line on immigration in 2026 with another 500,000 newcomers.
That’s a total of 1.485 million immigrants to Canada over those three years.
Under the PGP, applicants pay $1,050 to sponsor a parent or grandparent and the process takes up to 23 months, with the people being sponsored required to provide biometrics after they apply. That processing time includes the time to provide those biometrics.
Once a Canadian citizen or permanent resident has submitted an interest in sponsoring these relatives, he or she is sent an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and must then submit two applications to the PGP:
the sponsorship application, and;
the permanent residence application.
If those applications get the green light, the sponsor signs an agreement called an undertaking which starts on the day the sponsoree becomes a permanent resident of Canada.
Among the several requirements which need to be met to determine eligibility to sponsor a parent or grandparent, are:
a receipt of an Invitation to Apply;
being at least 18 years old;
Canadian residency;
being a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act;
sufficient funds to support the parent or grandparent;
proof of income, although a spouse or common-law partner can co-sign to combine their income with that of the sponsor, and;
meeting all other requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Sponsors Ink Deal With Government To Financially Support Parents And Grandparents
All sponsors living outside of the province of Quebec, which has its own immigration system, must promise to financially support the sponsorees for a period of time.
This undertaking commits the sponsor to:
providing financial support for sponsored family members for 20 years, starting when they become permanent residents;
repaying any provincial social assistance (money from the government) sponsored family members get during that time, and;
agreeing to certain responsibilities during the undertaking period in a sponsorship agreement.
That sponsorship agreement means that the sponsor will provide the basic needs of the sponsoree, including:
food;
clothing;
utilities;
personal requirements;
shelter;
fuel;
household supplies, and;
healthcare not covered by public health insurance, such as eye and dental care.
Sponsors Remain Financial Responsible For Relatives Even In Tough Times
The sponsorship agreement is not one to be entered into lightly as it is obliges the sponsor to meet those requirements even in the case of:
separation or divorce;
family rifts;
unemployment;
change in finances, and even;
death of the main applicant.
Sponsors who live in Quebec must meet that province’s immigration sponsorship requirements after the IRCC approves of the sponsor. The length of the undertaking is 10 years for Quebec.
Due to the need for sponsors to accept responsibility for their parents and grandparents through sponsorship agreements under the PGP, past criminality and serious financial troubles can render a Canadian citizen or permanent resident ineligible for this program.
Applicants may not be eligible to sponsor their parents or grandparents if the sponsors:
are in a jail, prison or penitentiary;
didn’t pay back an immigration loan or performance bond;
failed to make court-ordered family support payments such as alimony or child support;
didn’t give the financial support specified under a sponsorship agreement to sponsor someone else in the past;
declared bankruptcy and are not discharged;
receive social assistance for a reason other than a disability;
were convicted of a violent criminal offence, any offence against a relative or any sexual offence inside or outside Canada, or;
can’t legally stay in Canada and must leave the country because they received a removal order.
The applicant cannot sponsor his or her spouse’s parents or grandparents, aka their in-laws, but can be a co-signer on that spouse’s application to bring to Canada his or her parents and grandparents.
The PGP program also does not allow a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor someone who is otherwise inadmissible to come to Canada.
The PGP is restricted to the applicant’s own parents and grandparents, related by blood or adoption.
IRCC Urges Applicants To Keep Their Information Current To Avoid Delays
“In case of divorce, you’ll need to submit separate applications if you sponsor divorced parents and grandparents,” notes the IRCC on its website.
“If your divorced parents or grandparents have a current spouse, common-law partner or a conjugal partner, these people become dependants on the application and can immigrate to Canada with your parents and grandparents, if approved.”
A PGP application can include the sponsor’s own brothers and sisters, or half-brothers and sisters, or step-brothers and step-sisters – but only if they qualify as dependent children of the sponsor’s parents.
Delays in processing can quickly occur when the IRCC is faced with information which is no longer accurate and so Canadian immigration officials encourage applicants to keep their contact information and application details up to date.
Important information which must be updated includes:
changes in relationship status;
birth or adoption of a child;
death of an applicant or dependant;
contact information such as e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses.
The applicant is responsible for going into the application and updating it with this information him or herself.
“Don’t mail us changes to your contact or application information,” notes the IRCC. “If you do, we won’t acknowledge your request and we won’t update your application.”
Canadian immigration officials notify applicants under the PGP as soon as they begin to process the application, sending them both an application number and an acknowledgement of receipt of the application.
The IRCC then assesses both the applicant’s eligibility as a sponsor and the person being sponsored for permanent residence.
“If we refuse you as a sponsor, you can choose to have us keep processing the application for permanent residence for your family members,” notes the IRCC.
Choosing to have the IRCC continue processing the application at that point means the sponsor forgoes all fees which have been paid.
By choosing to withdraw the application in the eventuality of being deemed ineligible to sponsor, the applicant can get all of his or her fees back, minus the $75 sponsorship fee.
Once Canadian immigration officials have approved a sponsor under the PGP, they then turn their attention to the people being sponsored to determine their eligibility under the program.
The IRCC will typically request documents from those being sponsored, including:
medical exam results;
police certificates, and;
biometrics.
Letters requesting that biometric information are sent to the parents or grandparents and their dependent children as named in the application and they then have 30 days to provide the biometric information at the closest collection point.
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) data shows thousands of people who were sent deportation letters by the are still living in Canada years after receiving them.
“A person found to be illegally in Canada and being placed on the deportation list should be prioritized for removal,” Tom Kmiec, the Conservatives’ immigration critic, reportedly told the reports The Globe and Mail.
“Lack of enforcement like this contributes to the growing uncertainty and drop in support on the historic immigration consensus across all parties.”
The Opposition politician reportedly obtained CBSA data as part of an answer he posed in Parliament in May last year.
That information reportedly indicates the CBSA had sent out 14,609 deportation letters from 2016 to May last year and almost 63.8 per cent of those who had received those letters, or 9,317 of them, were still living in Canada last year.
Those slated to be deported but still living in Canada last year reportedly included 2,188 people who had been sent deportation letters as far back as 2016 and 2017, more than six years ago.
The data also reportedly reveals that only 3,087 people, or barely more than one in five of those sent deportation letters, had actually been removed from the country.
Kmiec maintains this shows the Canadian immigration system is broken. But the CBSA points out the deportation process can take a considerable amount of time.
“Everyone ordered removed from Canada is entitled to due process before the law, and all removal orders are subject to various levels of appeal, including judicial review,” the CBSA reportedly responded.
Watch Video:
“Once all legal avenues have been exhausted, foreign nationals are processed for removal.”
In its report, the national newspaper maintains there are as many as 600,000 people in Canada who do not have valid documents and now face possible deportation because of that lack of formal immigration status.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller is reportedly preparing a pathway to permanent residency for those who have lived and worked in Canada illegally for years and is thought to be likely to present it to the government this spring.
Temporary Foreign Workers And International Students To Be Offered Pathway To Permanent Residence
Among those who may be offered that pathway to permanent residency are thought to be international students and temporary foreign workers who entered the country legally but then stayed after their study visas and work permits expired.
Under the Express Entry system, immigrants can apply for permanent residency online and their 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 Invitation 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.
Through a network of PNPs, 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.
The draws targeted healthcare and construction occupations.
A February 6 draw targeting healthcare workers with an Alberta job offer saw 44 candidates invited. It had a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 302.
On January 30, a draw with the same parameters saw 22 invitations issued and a lowest score of 312.
A further draw on February 1 targeted construction occupations with an Alberta job offer. It saw 80 invitations issued with a minimum score of 382.
Alberta reached its allocation of 9,750 provincial nominations for 2023. It is yet to received its allocation for 2024, although it is expected to be more than 10,000.
Manitoba stated that 26 of the 282 candidates invited had valid Express Entry IDs and job seeker validation codes.
For detailed requirements of all the streams featured in this draw, please see below.
In a further draw, Manitoba invited 117 candidates through its pathway aimed at Ukrainians wishing to flee the war with Russia.
Candidates needed to meet the following requirements:
Be a citizen of Ukraine;
Have a minimum of CLB 4 in each language band;
Have established connection to Manitoba (close relative, family-like, community, previous employment or studies in Manitoba);
Have a valid language test;
Score at least 60 points according to MPNP assessment criteria; and
Satisfy all other requirements of the Skilled Worker Overseas Pathway, including sufficient settlement funds.
Latest Manitoba Draw
Stream
Sub-Stream
Letters of Advice to Apply
Score of Lowest Ranked Candidate
1) Skilled Workers in Manitoba
Close relative in Manitoba
151
619
2) International Education Stream
83
–
3) Skilled Workers Overseas
Strategic Recruitment Initiative
48
713
Manitoba Ukraine Pathway Draw
Stream
Sub-Stream
Letters of Advice to Apply
Score of Lowest Ranked Candidate
Skilled Worker Overseas Pathway
Ukraine
117
60
Watch Video
How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream?
The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream (SWM) is based on the specific needs of Manitoba employers. SWM selects foreign-trained workers with the required skills and nominates them for Canada permanent residence. The stream prioritizes candidates with a strong attachment to Manitoba, with two pathways to Manitoba immigration.
a) Manitoba Work Experience Pathway
For applicants currently working in Manitoba on temporary work permits, through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or as international graduates from any province. Candidates do not need to be working in In-Demand Occupations.
b) Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway
For applicants from overseas with job offers from approved Manitoba employers.
How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream?
The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream (SWO) includes both a dedicated Canada Express Entry Pathway and a direct provincial pathway.
It is aimed at international skilled workers with skills and training in Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Priority is given to applicants and spouses with close family connections, plus the language proficiency, training and experience to find jobs quickly.
a) Manitoba Express Entry Pathway
For international candidates eligible under another MPNP stream, who also meet Express Entry criteria and have an active Express Entry profile. Candidates need skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations, and a strong family connection to the province.
b) Human Capital Pathway
For international skilled workers with skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Candidates must demonstrate potential to find employment soon after they arrive in Manitoba.
What Are The Requirements For the International Education Stream?
The International Education Stream (IES) is dedicated to international graduates from Manitoba colleges and universities. Under IES, candidates are no longer required to work for six months in their field before applying for an MPNP nomination. It has three pathways:
1) Career Employment Pathway
Eligibility requirements include:
Completed a one-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution within three years of submission of application.
Have a full-time job offer in a Manitoba In-Demand occupation related to the completed degree
Resident of Manitoba
2) Graduate Internship Pathway
Masters and Doctoral degree holders who have completed Mitacs Accelerate or Elevate internships can apply for nomination through internships even without a job offer in the province.
3) Student Entrepreneur Pathway
Eligibility requirements include:
Completed a two-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution
Six months business operation experience in Manitoba
Resident of Manitoba since graduation.
No specific minimum personal net worth requirement
Statistics Canada figures show the employment rate slipped in Canada in January despite 37,000 people landing jobs because the country’s population grew twice as fast as the number of the employed.
“The Canadian job market is witnessing a mix of subdued hiring activity, influenced by weaker demand, and a robust increase in labour supply, driven by high levels of international migration,” notes the Conference Board of Canada.
“This dynamic has led to a more balanced job market. However, the past year has been particularly challenging for young workers, with a marked decrease in participation rates and a significant increase in unemployment among those aged 15 to 24.
“This trend is more pronounced in certain racialized groups, such as Black Canadian youth, who have seen a 4.4 percentage point rise in unemployment in 2023.”
In its Labour Force Survey, January 2024, the statistical and demographic services agency notes Black people continue to face barriers in the workplace, including lower employment rates and lower wages.
“The employment rate of Black Canadians in the core working age was 77.7 per cent in January 2024, down from 79.8 per cent a year earlier. In comparison, the employment rate for the overall core-aged population in January fell from 84.8 per cent to 84.3 per cent over that same period,” notes Statistics Canada.”
Black Canadians still earn less than the Canadian average but the wage gap is narrowing.
“In 2023, the average hourly wage for core-aged Black Canadians was $30.83, compared with $36.27 for the total population. From 2022 to 2023, the average hourly wage for core-aged Black Canadians rose by 5.3 per cent, while for the total population it rose by five per cent.”
In January, the provinces of Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and Nova Scotia all saw increases in the number of their residents holding down paying jobs.
Ontario saw employment growth of 0.3 per cent, Newfoundland and Labrador of 3.2 per cent, Manitoba of one per cent and Nova Scotia of 0.7 per cent.
There was a drop of employment of one per cent in Saskatchewan.
“There were employment gains spread across several industries in the services-producing sector, led by wholesale and retail trade, up 31,000 or 1.1 per cent, as well as finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, up 28,000 or 2.1 per cent,” notes Statistics Canada.
Wholesale And Retail Trade Among Sectors To Add Jobs
“There were declines in other industries, led by accommodation and food services which shed 30,000 jobs, down 2.7 per cent.
Total hours worked in January rose 1.1 per cent from one year earlier and were up 0.6 per cent for the month. Average hourly wages among employees rose 5.3 per cent on a year-over-year basis in January, up $1.74 to $34.75, following an increase of 5.4 per cent in December 2023.
The employment rate, defined as the proportion of the working-age population that is employed, fell to for the fourth consecutive month in January to 61.6 per cent as the population aged 15 and older in the Labour Force Survey grew by 126,000 that month.
“On a year-over-year basis, employment rose by 345,000, up 1.7 per cent, while the working-age population, driven by permanent and temporary immigration, rose by one million, or 3.1 per cent, pushing the employment rate down 0.8 percentage points,” notes Statistics Canada.
The Global Talent Stream (GTS), a part of the TFWP, can under normal processing situations lead to the granting of Canadian work permits and 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.
Ontario has issued 4,552 invitations for Canada immigration to general candidates and those in healthcare and technology occupations in a three new draws through its PNP Expression of Interest system and through the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream.
The PNP draw saw two categories of candidates invited through the Employer Job Offer International Student stream.
In a general draw, 1,182 invitations were issued to candidates scoring 78 and above.
In a targeted draw for those with job offers in health and tech occupations, 1,252 candidates were invited with a minimum score of 73 points.
The draw targeted the following occupations:
Health occupations
NOC 30010 – Managers in health care
NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
NOC 31103 – Veterinarians
NOC 31110 – Dentists
NOC 31111 – Optometrists
NOC 31112 – Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
NOC 31120 – Pharmacists
NOC 31121 – Dietitians and nutritionists
NOC 21200 – Psychologists
NOC 31201 – Chiropractors
NOC 31202 – Physiotherapists
NOC 31203 – Occupational therapists
NOC 31204 – Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
NOC 31209 – Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
NOC 31300 – Nursing coordinators and supervisors
NOC 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
NOC 31302 – Nurse practitioners
NOC 31303 – Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
NOC 32100 – Opticians
NOC 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
NOC 32102 – Paramedical occupations
NOC 32103 – Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
NOC 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
NOC 32109 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
NOC 32110 – Denturists
NOC 32111 – Dental hygienists and dental therapists
NOC 32112 – Dental technologists and technicians
NOC 32120 – Medical laboratory technologists
NOC 32121 – Medical radiation technologists
NOC 32122 – Medical sonographers
NOC 32123 – Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
NOC 32124 – Pharmacy technicians
NOC 32129 – Other medical technologists and technicians
NOC 32200 – Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
NOC 32201 – Massage therapists
NOC 32209 – Other practitioners of natural healing
NOC 33100 – Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
NOC 33101 – Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
NOC 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
NOC 33103 – Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
NOC 33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
Tech occupations
NOC 20012 – Computer and information systems managers
NOC 21211 – Data Scientists
NOC 21220 – Cybersecurity specialists
NOC 21221 – Business system analysts
NOC 21222 – Information systems specialists
NOC 21223 – Database analysts and data administrators
NOC 21230 – Computer systems developers and programmers
NOC 21231 – Software engineers and designers
NOC 21232 – Software developers and programmers
NOC 21233 – Web designers
NOC 21234 – Web developers and programmers
NOC 21311 – Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
NOC 22220 – Computer network technicians
NOC 22221 – User support technicians
NOC 22222 – Information systems testing technicians
In a further draw through the Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream, 2,118 candidates were invited with a Comprehensive Ranking System score range of 471 to 480.
The draw targeted candidates with skills and experience in the following tech occupations:
NOC 20012 – Computer and information systems managers
NOC 21211 – Data Scientists
NOC 21220 – Cybersecurity specialists
NOC 21221 – Business systems specialists
NOC 21222 – Information systems specialists
NOC 21223 – Database analysts and data administrators
NOC 21230 – Computer systems developers and programmers
NOC 21231 – Software engineers and designers
NOC 21232 – Software developers and programmers
NOC 21233 – Web designers
NOC 21234 – Web developers and programmers
NOC 21311 – Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
NOC 22220 – Computer network technicians
NOC 22221 – User support technicians
NOC 22222 – Information systems testing technicians
Candidates selected from the Express Entry pool receive a Notification of Interest via their Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) account.
They then have 45 days to submit a full application.
Latest Ontario Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream Draws
What Are The Requirements For the Ontario Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities Stream?
To qualify applicants must have:
Ongoing profile under the Federal Express Entry system and be qualified for either the FSWP or the CEC.
Hold a minimum of 1 year of full-time, or full-time equivalent work experience under NOC TEER Category 0, 1, 2 or 3 in the past five years if applying under the FSWP or in the past three years if applying under CEC.
Hold the equivalent of a Canadian bachelor degree or higher.
Show language proficiency of minimum CLB/NCLC level 7 in English or in French.
Intention to reside in the province of Ontario.
Residing with legal status in Canada, if applicable.
Proof of required settlement funds.
Minimum Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System score as determined by director under periodic draws.
Factors such as timely graduation and international tuition revenues will be considered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to determine whether colleges and universities can be trusted to bring international students to Canada.
The “Trusted Institutions Framework,” which will be introduced this fall, will sort through “designated learning institutions” based on these criteria and speed up the processing of study permits from “trusted” schools as an incentive for the sector to be more responsible in admitting international students.
It would “incentivize post-secondary educational institutions to meet higher standards with regards to international students,” according to the IRCC Minister Transition Binder 2023: International Student Program.
The 11-page proposal for a Trusted Institutions Framework obtained by the Star said that “the rapid growth intake has disrupted processing times and service standards.”
“There are concerns that many (designated learning institutions) have become increasingly dependent on international students for tuition revenue, in some cases, not providing international students a positive education experience in Canada.”
“There is a belief that processing times are impacting Canada’s ability to attract top international students, and that, compounded with the reported cases of international student exploitation, this may harm Canada’s reputation as a destination of choice.”
The Star’s Nicholas Keung reported that the Immigration department had developed a matrix to determine which institutions would be eligible. It would be based on seven indicators, including an institution’s:
Percentage of students who remain in the original program after their first year in Canada;
Percentage of students who complete their program within the expected length of study;
Percentage of total revenue that is derived from international enrolment;
Dollar value and percentage of total scholarships and grants to students from less developed countries;
Dollar value in mental health support as well as career and immigration counselling per international student versus the average tuition they pay;
Total number and percentage of international students living in housing they administered; and
Average teacher-student ratio for the 10 courses with the highest international enrolment.
The plan wants only “genuine” learners to be recruited, high quality education to be supported, and graduates to demonstrate strong outcomes.
The idea for a Trusted Institutions Framework pre-dated even the decision to cap the number of international students coming to Canada, according to the Toronto Star. The International Student Program Review section from the Transition Binder suggested that it came into being after consultations with Provincial and Territorial (PT) ministries of education and immigration and education sector stakeholders.
The International Student Program Review, as discussed in the Binder, had other areas highlighted for the government to work on. They were:
Tackling Bad Actors – Strengthening program integrity and enhancing protections to address student vulnerability, unethical recruitment and non-genuine actors in the program, ultimately better protecting international students and Canada’s interests;
Equitable Access – Removing systemic barriers for international students to improve equitable access to the program and ensuring diversification of international student populations, including French-speaking students studying in Francophone Minority Communities;
Compatible Work Pathways – Streamlining and clarifying the approach to co-op work opportunities, and making adjustments to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP) eligibility and duration to better target labour market needs; and
Watch Video
It said that reform in the International Student Program is being implemented for these reasons:
Unsustainable application volumes undermine program integrity and contribute to processing backlogs in all IRCC business lines.
The Program has moved away from education focus to fulfill economic incentives of institutions and for students to work more than study.
Temporary migration of students is not calibrated with permanent residence planning and the pool of long-term post-graduation work permit holders far exceeds available immigration levels space.
Greater student vulnerability is apparent with more students in precarious situations, including financial hardship and mental health crises.
Barriers for diverse students: various factors contribute to higher study permit refusal rates in some regions, creating barriers for equitable access to the program.
After doubling the cost-of-living financial requirement for new students and introducing a new verification system of college admission letters, Miller imposed a two-year cap on study permits issued, with the goal of reducing the number by 35 per cent from 2023’s level, to 364,000.
“We’ve got two years to actually get the ship in order,” said Miller.
“It’s a bit of a mess and it’s time to rein it in.”
New Brunswick immigration is putting a strain on its schools which are constantly adding classrooms and staff to handle that population growth.
It’s an unusual challenge for the Atlantic Canadian province which had for decades been experiencing population declines until the COVID-19 pandemic and its handling of it prompted many Canadians to move there.
“Not long ago, we were closing schools, and now we’re keeping some open even that we announced we would be closing,’” Ryan Donaghy, the province’s deputy minister of education for the anglophone sector, reportedly told the standing committee on public accounts.
“It’s a lot better to be managing growth than decline, but it doesn’t come without its difficulties.”
The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals New Brunswick welcomed 11,455 new permanent residents last year.
With that growth in the student population of the province, New Brunswick’s department of education has had to add 37 education support teachers since 2021 to work with students for whom English is a second language and invest $3 million in tutoring these students in the past fiscal year.
Candidates can qualify through one of five categories, the:
New Brunswick Express Entry stream;
New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream;
New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream for Truck Drivers;
New Brunswick Entrepreneurial stream, and;
New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial stream.
The New Brunswick Express Entry stream targets candidates with profiles in the federal Express Entry pool who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the provincial economy.
Those profiles in the Express Entry pool are assessed and scored on six factors:
age;
education,
language skills;
work experience;
job offer, and;
adaptability.
Skilled Worker stream helps foreign nationals with jobs in New Brunswick immigrate to Canada
The New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream is for those between 19 and 55 years of age with a permanent, full-time job offer from a New Brunswick employer and who intend to live in the province.
The New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream for Truck Drivers is geared to truckers. It was launched in 2020 to deal with an acute labour shortage.
Important eligibility requirements include two years of work experience in the last five, with nine months in New Brunswick, plus a full-time, permanent trucking job. Candidates must also have a valid New Brunswick Class 1 Driving License and intend to live in the province.
Entrepreneurs who want to immigrate to New Brunswick can do so through the NB PNP Entrepreneurial Stream.
It’s for those aged between 22 and 55 with an eligible connection to New Brunswick and a minimum two-year, post-secondary education degree or diploma who score at least level 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark exam for speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French.
These entrepreneurs have to be ready to invest $250,000 of their $600,000 or more net worth in a New Brunswick business and take ownership of at least 33 percent of it. These experienced entrepreneurs or managers also have to ink a Business Performance Agreement with the province and pay a deposit of $100,000.
Watch Video
The first step for these entrepreneurs is to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and wait to be sent an Invitation to Apply (ITA) after which they will have 90 days to submit an immigration application to the New Brunswick immigration department.
Approved candidates receive a letter with instructions for submitting a signed and dated Business Performance Agreement and the deposit of $100,000 to the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour. This must be done within 60 days of receiving the letter.
The last stream, the New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream, is for international graduates from recognized New Brunswick universities or community colleges who are aged 22 to 40 years old.
They need to have started or acquired a New Brunswick business and operated it for at least one year, while holding a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
Then, there is the Atlantic Immigration Program, which operates as a partnership between Canada’s federal government and the four provinces in the region.
Atlantic Immigration Program Requirements
1. Work Experience
In the last five years, candidates must have worked at least 1,560 hours, equivalent to 30 hours per week for one year, in an occupation under National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4.
2. International Graduates
Candidates do not need to meet the work experience requirements if they are an international graduate who:
has a degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship certification requiring at least two years of studies in a recognized institution in one of the four Atlantic provinces.
was a full-time student for the entire time they were studying.
lived in one of the four provinces for at least 16 months.
3. Education
Candidates with a job offer in NOC TEER 0 or 1 must have at least a Canadian one-year post-secondary educational credential or equivalent from outside Canada.
Candidates with a job offer in NOC TEER 2, 3 or 4 must have a Canadian high school diploma or the equivalent from outside Canada.
4. Language
Level 5 in English or French for TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
A survey has revealed how Icelanders fed up with the high cost of living there are the most likely people in the world to be scouring the web for information about moving to Canada.
Using online searches to identify the top 10 countries most interested in moving to Canada, researchers for TopMove.ca, a website about all matters related to moving, looked at the motivations behind people’s desire to relocate to Canada.
Despite Canada’s higher cost of living than 80 per cent of the countries which comprised the Top 10 Most Interested Countries In Relocating To Canada, the Great White North’s high quality of life was a powerful draw.
Lebanon, which has the lowest quality of life of the top 10 countries on the list, was the country with the second-highest rate of residents looking for information on how to relocate to Canada.
In third place was Ireland which has both a lower quality of life and higher cost of living compared to Canada, as determined by the researchers.
“Additionally, the absence of a language barrier adds to Canada’s appeal as a destination for moving (for the Irish),” notes the report.
New Zealand, fourth on the list, boasts a higher quality of life than Canada but that comes with a higher cost of living and so residents there are clearly looking for a more affordable place to live.
Singaporeans and residents of the United Kingdom which ranked fifth and sixth respectively on the list of countries whose residents were most interested in moving to Canada seemed to also be drawn by the same reason. Affordability.
Israel, which is currently embroiled in a war with Hamas in Palestine, ranked seventh.
Google Searches For ‘Move To Canada’
Countries
Searches “move to Canada”
Population
Searches per 100000
Quality of Life
Cost of living
Iceland
950
375,318
253.1
191.1
87.7
Lebanon
6,250
5,293,298
118.1
82.4
53.1
Ireland
5,490
5,056,935
108.6
153.2
70.4
New Zealand
5,620
5,228,100
107.5
170.9
70.7
Singapore
6,210
6,014,723
103.2
153.2
85.9
United Kingdom
51,540
67,736,802
76.1
164.2
63.6
Israel
5,380
9,174,520
58.6
147.2
70
Finland
2,560
5,545,475
46.2
188.1
68.7
Norway
2,490
5,474,360
45.5
181.8
82.2
Saudi Arabia
16,630
36,947,025
45.0
150.7
50.1
“Aside from the geopolitical situation, the main driving factors behind this interest are a higher quality of life and reduced living costs that Canada presents,” notes the report.
On the Scandinavian Peninsula, Finland and Norway ranked eighth and ninth respectively.
“Finnish residents, while enjoying a high quality of life (ranking second), are drawn to Canada for its economic opportunities, given the more affordable cost of living,” notes the report.
Saudi Arabia completes the list of the countries whose residents are most interested in moving to Canada with five times less interest than in the leading Iceland.
Canada Operates A Two-Tier Immigration System With Feds And Provinces Working Together
Under the Express Entry system, immigrants can apply for permanent residency online and their profiles then are ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Watch Video
The highest-ranked candidates will be considered for an Invitation 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.
Through a network of PNPs, 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.
Work In Canada
Canada also offers options for those wishing to come here to work.
Temporary workers come to Canada via a number of channels, including the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for those who require a Labour Market Impact Assessment and the International Mobility Program for those who do not.
A positive LMIA confirms there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job at hand and that no Canadian worker is available to do the job.
The IMP allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers without the need for an LMIA. It includes intra-company transferees, those entering Canada as part of trade treaties, such as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) or the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) and those who qualify for an open work permit.
The TFWP is made up of high-skilled workers, low-skilled worker and, the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.
The Global Talent Stream also falls under the TFWP, through which employers can access two-week processing for a list of technology occupations.
With Canadian experience, candidates in Canada on a work permit can often qualify for permanent residence.
