Immigrate To Canada In 2022: 5 Pathways To Permanent Residence

Colin Singer
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0
Immigrate To Canada In 2022: 5 Pathways To Permanent Residence

Canada immigration news: Canada is set to welcome even more new permanent residents to Canada this year than it did in the record-breaking 2021, driven by acute labour shortages across many sectors.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced near the end of December that Canada had reached its target of 401,000 new permanent residents for the year, breaking a record for immigration that was set 108 years ago, in 1913.

“Last year, we set an ambitious goal,” said Fraser a week before the end of the year. “Today, we achieved it.

“This is a historic moment for our country, as we welcome the highest number of newcomers in one year in our history.”

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In 2022, Ottawa is eyeing an even higher target: 411,000 new permanent residents to Canada.

That influx of newcomers, many of them coming under economic immigration programs, will let many small business owners breathe a little easier.

A Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) report released in December reveals 55 per cent of small businesses in Canada cannot get all the staff they need for current operations or to meet new demand. Another 16 per cent of small businesses are able to address the challenge but at a significant additional cost.

Video

Small Businesses Relying Heavily On Temporary Foreign Workers

In ‘Labour Shortages Are Back With A Vengeance’, the CFIB noted most employers are offering higher wages in efforts to outbid one another and attract the employees they need.

Others are hiring Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) and putting in place automated systems to cope with the labour shortages.

“Small businesses were already experiencing a very significant shortage of labour at the beginning of 2020, and the pandemic has made the situation only more complex,” said Simon Gaudreault, CFIB vice-president of national research.

“Industries that were locked down for long periods of time, like hospitality, have seen a mass exodus as workers upskilled or switched to other jobs, and virtually all sectors are facing major demographic upheavals with not enough new workers coming in to replace those who are retiring.”

That means there will be a lot of opportunities in Canada in 2022 for foreign nationals seeking to gain their permanent residency here.

Here are five ways those foreign nationals can come to Canada to seek permanent residence in 2022:

  1. Express Entry

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.

  1. Provincial Nominee Program

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.

  1. Start-Up Visa Program

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.

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.

  1. Canada Study Permit

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.

  1. Post-Graduation Work Permit

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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Canada Welcomes Nearly 11,500 New Permanent Residents Through TR to PR pathway

Colin Singer
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0
Canada Welcomes Nearly 11,500 New Permanent Residents Through TR to PR pathway

Canada immigration news: A new, one-time pathway to permanent residency for foreign nationals already living in Canada this year has chiefly benefitted Ontario and British Columbia.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data reveals 11,425 temporary residents in Canada had already snagged their permanent residency under the TR to PR Pathway by the end of October.

Many more are undoubtedly still waiting to have their applications processed.

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Prior to its closure on Nov. 5 of this year, the temporary to permanent resident program launched on May 2 had received 84,177 applications under its six streams, including three for francophones only and another three for both anglophones and francophones.

84,177 Applied For Permanent Residence Under Pathway

In the streams accepting both anglophones and francophones, the program reached the maximum number of 30,000 applications for the Workers in Canada: Essential, Non-healthcare stream and also the maximum number of 40,000 applications under its Recent International Graduates From A Canadian Institution stream.

The program received 7,155 applications out of a possible 20,000 that could have been submitted under the Workers In Canada: Healthcare stream open to both francophones and anglophones.

The streams reserved only for francophones did not have a ceiling on the number of applications allowed but still received far fewer applications.

The French-speaking Workers In Canada: Healthcare stream received 271 applications.

The French-speaking Workers In Canada: Essential, Non-Healthcare stream got 2,054 applications and 4,697 people applied under the French-speaking Recent International Graduates From A Canadian Institution stream.

Ontario Welcomes More Than Half Of New Permanent Residents Under Pathway

The IRCC data does not break down where those who gained their permanent residency settled by stream.

But the data shows Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, snagged the lion’s share of these new permanent residents.

In the first 10 months of this year, 5,990, or 52.4 per cent of all those who had become new permanent residents of Canada under this program, settled in Ontario.

British Columbia also did well under this program, with 3,235, or 28.3 per cent of new permanent residents through these streams in the first 10 months of this year, settling in Canada’s westernmost province.

The francophone province of Quebec, which has its own immigration system, was not part of this program.

The remaining new permanent residents to Canada under this program in the first 10 months of 2021 settled in the remaining provinces and territories as follows:

  • Newfoundland and Labrador 35
  • Prince Edward Island 70
  • Nova Scotia 395
  • New Brunswick 180
  • Manitoba 510
  • Saskatchewan 200
  • Alberta 770
  • Yukon 20
  • Northwest Territories 20

Canada is bullish on immigration and is hoping to welcome more than 1.2 million newcomers between 2021 and 2023 with 401,000 new permanent residents to Canada in 2021, 411,000 in 2022 and 421,000 in 2023.

Canada Targeting 401,000 New Permanent Residents By End Of 2021

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced near the end of December that Canada had reached its target of 401,000 new permanent residents for the year, breaking a record for immigration that was set 108 years ago, in 1913.

“Last year, we set an ambitious goal,” said Fraser a week before the end of the year. “Today, we achieved it.

“This is a historic moment for our country, as we welcome the highest number of newcomers in one year in our history.”

In 2022, Ottawa is eyeing an even higher target: 411,000 new permanent residents to Canada.

COVID-19: Canada Immigration Medical Exam Exemption Extended Until March 31

Colin Singer
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0
COVID-19: Canada Immigration Medical Exam Exemption Extended Until March 31

Canada immigration news: Canada immigration applicants are being given a three-month extension to a policy that removed the need for additional medical exams if they pose a low risk to the health of Canadians.

The policy, originally announced in June, 2021, was set to expire on Tuesday this week, Dec. 28, 2021.

It has been extended to March 31, 2022.

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“These measures will help streamline application processing for low-risk, in-Canada applicants, while effectively managing public health risks,” states Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

“They will also help provide better client service, support faster application timelines, and ensure foreign nationals can more quickly receive permanent resident status. This will help them in turn more quickly contribute fully to the Canadian economy and the communities in which they live.”

When applying for permanent residence or for a permanent resident visa, applicants must still provide an immigration medical exam or a unique medical identifier number from their previous medical exam. IRCC will contact those who are not eligible for the exemption to discuss next steps.

Ottawa Lifted Need For Extra Medical Exams As Country Seemed To Recover From COVID-19

The lifting of the need for the additional medical exam usually required for the immigration process came last summer as Canada appeared to have hit the level of COVID-19 vaccination many thoughts were needed for herd immunity.

Since then, though, the Omicron variant has emerged, infecting even those who have had two shots of the COVID-19 vaccines and making many of them sick enough to warrant hospitalization. The vaccines do, however, still prevent the vaccinated from suffering the more severe symptoms of COVID-19.

Health experts are now calling on Canadians to receive booster shots of the vaccines and programs have started in several provinces to begin vaccinating children as young as five years of age.

“With (the) highly-transmissible Delta variant predominating and Omicron looming, we must maximize layers of protection: full series of COVID-19 vaccines PLUS booster doses as recommended PLUS (ensuring face masks are washed and fit well and there is good ventilation),” tweeted Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief medical officer, shortly before the holiday season.

Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination information website shows that 87.25 per cent of Canadians aged 12 and older were fully vaccinated as of Dec. 30, 2021 and 1.29 per cent of children aged five to 11 years of age were also fully-vaccinated.

More than a third of children aged five to 11 years of age in Canada, 39.51 per cent, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 90.01 per cent of those aged 12 and older had also gotten at least one dose of these vaccines at that time.

Vast Majority Of Canadians Fully Vaccinated

More than three quarters of the Canadian population, or 76.49 per cent had by Dec. 30 received two shots of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Despite that high level of vaccination in Canada, there were still 212,318 cases of COVID-19 as the year drew to a close and the country had seen 30,248 deaths among the more than 2.1 million people who had been infected with the coronavirus.

Cases were then spiking in many parts of the country as the Omicron variant spread.

That compares to only 330 active cases of COVID-19 across the country in late June, 2021.

The IRCC’s temporary public policy to no longer require the additional medical exam for immigration to low-risk applicants applies only to foreign nationals who are already in Canada and who:

  • have submitted a new application for permanent residence or for a permanent resident visa or have a pending application for permanent residence and have not yet completed a new immigration medical exam;
  • have completed an immigration medical exam within the last five years and were found to pose no risk to public health or safety, or complied with a requirement to report to public health authorities for monitoring, and;
  • have not left Canada for more than six months in the last year to live in a country that has a higher incidence of a serious communicable disease than Canada, as outlined in the list of countries requiring an immigration medical exam.

Family members of foreign nationals who are applying for immigration can also be exempt from the need for the additional medical exam provided they meet those conditions.

Population Grew Despite Pandemic Due To Immigration

Statistics Canada, the country’s statistical analysis agency, noted in early July that Canada’s population still managed to grow despite the COVID-19 pandemic, albeit at a slower rate.

Immigration was responsible for 74.9 per cent of Canada’s population growth in the year that ended July 1, 2021 and the country remains bullish on increasing immigration even further in the coming year.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced near the end of December that Canada had reached its target of 401,000 new permanent residents for the year, breaking a record for immigration that was set 108 years ago, in 1913.

“Last year, we set an ambitious goal,” said Fraser a week before the end of the year. “Today, we achieved it.

“This is a historic moment for our country, as we welcome the highest number of newcomers in one year in our history.”

In 2022, Ottawa is eyeing an even higher target: 411,000 new permanent residents to Canada.

 

All You Need To Know To Immigrate To Canadian Province Of Alberta

Colin Singer
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0
All You Need To Know To Immigrate To Canadian Province Of Alberta

Canada immigration news: Energy-rich Alberta is growing and looking for Canada immigrants to fill many jobs as the oil and gas, housing construction, and retail sales sectors take off.

“Happy days are here again!” Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews reportedly said in November while presenting his 2021-22 Mid-year Fiscal Update and Economic Statement.

“The skies above are clear again, let us sing a song of cheer again, happy days are here again!”

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The Alberta Activity Index, which measures the health of the provincial economy, was up 9.4 per cent at the end of September.

High Energy Prices Fueling Oil Production

“High energy prices are boosting drilling activity and oil production, while business output remains solid. Housing activity continues to be robust, while private sector construction spending is picking up,” the fiscal update states.

“There have been a number of large investment projects announced recently, including Amazon Web Services’ $4.3-billion cloud computing hub in Calgary and Northern Petrochemical Corp.’s $2.5-billion petrochemical facility in Grand Prairie.”

In its latest provincial outlook, TD Economics forecast the provincial economy will have grown by 5.3 per cent by the end of this year and the real GDP will grow by another 4.6 per cent next year.

“Alberta has seen a solid revival in housing activity this year, with home resales expected to rise at the strongest pace in the country,” wrote TD Economists economists Beata Caranci, Derek Burleton, Rishi Sondhi, and Omar Abdelrahman in that provincial outlook.

“Housing starts are also coming in strong, providing a boost to the construction industry.”

The economists are also encouraged by the strong recovery in the energy sector.

“Looking ahead, only a modest downtrend in (West Texas Intermediate crude) oil prices is expected as additional (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) supply comes online. Oil production has already risen more than 7.4 per cent year-to-date, year over year,” note the economists.

Exports From Alberta Expected To Rise

“But more growth appears to be in the cards, with exports expected to rise on robust U.S. demand. And it’s not just oil. Natural gas prices have also surged this year, providing an added boost to incomes and government coffers.”

Although the fourth wave of Covid-19 to hit Alberta did put a damper on its population growth, that wave now seems to have passed – and immigration is starting to pick up again.

“Immigration into the province is recovering from last year’s pandemic lows as travel restrictions are lifting and application processing is ramping up,” states the province’s fiscal update.

In the first nine months of this year alone, Alberta has already welcomed 25,650 new permanent residents to the province, roughly 11.7 per cent more than the 22,955 new permanent residents that settled there last year.

Ahead of the pandemic, immigration to Alberta was hovering between 42,000 and 44,000 for about three years.

Then, Covid-19 hit in Canada early last year. Borders were closed. Travel to and from other countries became difficult. In some cases, non-essential travel was virtually impossible.

Immigration to Alberta plummeted, dropping by almost 47.5 per cent in 2020 compared to the previous year.

But, at the current rate of immigration to the province, Alberta could see 34,200 new permanent residents this year. That would still be 21.7 per cent off the pre-pandemic, 2019 level of immigration to the province.

It would, though, be about 50 per cent more new permanent residents to the province than Alberta received last year.

Two New Graduate Entrepreneur Programs

Alberta remains bullish on immigration, launching two new programs to attract international graduate entrepreneurs during the first year of the pandemic.

The International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream opened in late October last year and the Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream, which is aimed at graduates from American universities, opened in January this year.

“Alberta has more than 25,000 foreign post-secondary students, the highest number of any of Prairie province. And we want more of them to stay after they graduate so they don’t take their ideas for new businesses elsewhere,” said then-Alberta Immigration Minister Jason Copping.

“With this new stream, international graduates can apply to stay and launch new ventures and start-ups, creating new jobs for Albertans and bringing much-needed investment to our province,” he said.

The two Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) streams are designed to assist Alberta’s economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

The new International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream works on an Expressions of Interest system and is aimed at international graduates from Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to establish or operate a business in the province.

Candidates must initially establish or operate their business for at least 12 months while in Alberta on a work permit before being nominated for permanent residence once the terms of a Business Performance Agreement are met.

The other new stream, the Foreign Graduate Start-up Visa, is to attract talented international graduates from top American universities and colleges to start businesses and settle in Alberta communities.

Through the AINP, the province welcomes immigrants with the skills and abilities to fill labour shortages in Alberta.

Economic immigration programs typically draw almost half of the new permanent residents to the province every year and their importance has only grown as a source of new immigrants since the start of the pandemic.

Economic Immigration Growing In Importance

In the first nine months of this year, 55.2 per cent of all new permanent residents to Alberta came under economic immigration programs.

In addition to the two new streams to encourage entrepreneurship in the province by attracting new international graduates, the AINP has three other streams.

Alberta Opportunity Stream is designed to simplify the AINP application process, reduce wait times and make the system fairer for candidates who meet the residency, work permit and occupational requirements and their employers.

The Express Entry Stream allows the province to nominate a limited number of qualified candidates from the federal Express Entry pool through periodic draws.

In its first Express Entry draw in six months, Alberta issued invitations to 50 candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System scores as low as 406 in early January this year. It was the first draw under this stream since mid-June last year.

The Self-Employed Farmer Stream is managed by the AINP in close collaboration with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and targets applicants with farm management skills and sufficient financial resources to invest in a farming business in Alberta.

Earlier this year, The Western Investor reported farmland in Alberta is more expensive than similar land in either Saskatchewan or Manitoba but still a deal compared to acreage in British Columbia.

In May, an acre of Manitoba farmland was reportedly selling for an average price of $2,280 and an acre in Saskatchewan for $1,588.

In Alberta, the same acre was then going for an average price of $3,012.

The price of an acre of farmland in British Columbia, though, was more than twice as much with an average price of $6,675.

Unlike some of the other provinces, the AINP does not reward candidates whose occupations appear on a certain list. Rather, the province publishes a list of ineligible occupations.

Alberta immigration issues periodic Notifications of Interest, inviting candidates to apply for nomination under the AINP Express Entry stream. The details of each draw are typically published about one month after the date of draw.

Top 10 Source Countries Of Immigration to Canada in 2021

Colin Singer
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0
Top 10 Source Countries Of Immigration to Canada in 2021

Canada immigration news: Immigration to Canada from India hit a new high this year despite international border closures and waves of COVID-19 and their public health restrictions.

That makes India the only country of the three most important sources of new permanent residents to Canada to have sent more immigrants this year than it did in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic.

By the end of October, Canada had already welcomed 96,660 new permanent residents from India. That’s 53,795, or upwards of 125 per cent more, than in all of 2020, figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveal.

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Admittedly, last year was a tough year for immigration to Canada.

The number of new permanent residents to Canada in 2020 fell by almost 45.9 per cent, to 184,585 from 341,175 in 2019, the last full year before the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The number of new permanent residents to Canada from India in the first 10 months of this year was also already more than 12.9 per cent higher than the total number of Indians who made Canada their home in 2019.

Canada Upped Immigration Targets For 2021 and Beyond

Throughout the pandemic, the Canadian government has remained bullish on immigration.

In late October 2020, Canada boldly upped its immigration targets and announced it would be welcoming 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, 411,000 in 2022 and 421,000 in 2023.

Prior to the pandemic, the previous plan set targets of 351,000 in 2021 and 361,000 in 2022.

“Immigration is essential to getting us through the pandemic, but also to our short-term economic recovery and our long-term economic growth,” said Marco Mendicino, who was then Canada’s minister of immigration, in the first year of the pandemic.

“Canadians have seen how newcomers are playing an outsized role in our hospitals and care homes, and helping us to keep food on the table.

“As we look to recovery, newcomers create jobs not just by giving our businesses the skills they need to thrive, but also by starting businesses themselves,” he said. “Our plan will help to address some of our most acute labour shortages and to grow our population to keep Canada competitive on the world stage.”

Immigration To Canada Hits Yearly Target

Canada hit its 2021 target of 401,000 newcomers in December. The last time it welcomed so many new immigrants was 1913.

Although Ottawa announced the total for 2021 had been reached, official monthly figures are only available up to Octoberr.

The Top 10 Biggest Sources Of New Permanent Residents To Canada in 2021 are:

India: 96,660

China: 24,995

Philippines: 13,310

Nigeria: 12,500

France: 10,510

United States: 9,525

Brazil: 9,270

Iran: 8,930

Pakistan: 6,625

South Korea: 6,590

Although the top four most important sources of new permanent residents to Canada remained the same, India, China, the Philippines and Nigeria, the fifth place spot this year went to France instead of Pakistan which moved down in the rankings to number nine.

South Korea, which was in the number nine spot last year, slid to the tenth position this year but remained in the Top 10.

Not so for Syria and Eritrea.

India Delivers More Permanent Residents Than Expected, Not So China And The Philippines

The two countries lost the seventh and eighth spots they occupied last year, giving way to Brazil and Iran who made it onto the list this year.

Although the final immigration figures for this year are not yet available, projections indicate India will have contributed 15 per cent more new permanent residents to Canada by the end of this year than last year’s trends suggested it would.

The situation is almost completely reversed for China and the Philippines.

Based on the projections, China will have provided 15.6 per cent fewer new permanent residents than expected to Canada by the end of this year. The projected contribution of new permanent residents from the Philippines is down 51.1 per cent over the anticipated number.

Pakistan, too, is projected to end the year having provided 37.4 per cent fewer new permanent residents to Canada than expected.

Based on last year’s trends, Nigeria was expected to provide 14,805 new permanent residents to Canada in 2021 and is forecast to hit that level of immigration – and slightly surpass it by 195 people.

Most New Permanent Residents Arrive Through Economic Immigration Programs

South Korea and the United States, too, are now forecast to end 2021 having provided slightly more than the expected new permanent residents to Canada.

Economic immigration programs were the most popular way for foreign nationals to immigrate to Canada in 2021 with 197,865, or 63 per cent, of the 313,880 new permanent residents to the country in the first 10 months of the year making the move through these programs.

Family sponsorship programs helped 62,245 foreign nationals become permanent residents of Canada during those first 10 months of 2021. They represent another 19.8 per cent of all new permanent residents to Canada during that period.

Canada also welcomed 44,150 refugees and protected persons in the first 10 months of this year, a little less than 14.1 per cent of the total of new permanent residents to the country during that time.

Together, those three broad categories of programs accounted for 96.9 per cent of all new permanent residents to Canada in the first 10 months of 2021.

Canada Passes 2021 Target Of 401,000 Immigrants, Welcomes Most Newcomers In Its History

Colin Singer
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0
Canada Passes 2021 Target Of 401,000 Immigrants, Welcomes Most Newcomers In Its History

Canada immigration news: Canada has made history by reaching its target of 401,000 immigrants in 2021 – the highest total in a calendar year in its history.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced the record on Thursday, as permanent resident numbers surpassed the previous record set in 1913.

The milestone, which comes despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, was achieved by tapping candidates who were already in Canada on a temporary basis.

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“This is a historic moment for our country, as we welcome the highest number of newcomers in a century,” Fraser said.

“I can’t wait to see the incredible contributions that our 401,000 new neighbours make in communities across the country,” he added.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) turned the immigration system on its head in response to the pandemic, with thousands of temporary residents – workers, students and visitors – offered a pathway to permanent residence.

IRCC says it processed a record 500,000 applications this year, by adding resources, using technology and taking more processes online.

The changes are all permanent, meaning Canada’s processing ability has been dramatically enhanced over the last year.

However, that has not stopped the development of a huge processing backlog, put at 1.8 million permanent and temporary residence, and citizenship applications. Ottawa will invest $85 million over the next two years to tackle this backlog.

Ottawa’s immigration target was met by switching the Express Entry system to focus on Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program candidates, and by launching a new TR to PR Pathway for health care workers, other essential workers and international graduates, as well as French speakers.

Family reunification and refugee immigration also enhanced the numbers.

“Canada needs immigration to drive our economy, enrich our society and support our aging population,” said an IRCC press release.

“One in three Canadian businesses is owned by an immigrant, and one in four health care workers is a newcomer.

“Business, labour market experts and economists all agree that immigration creates jobs, spurs innovation and helps address labour shortages.

“New Canadians contribute to communities across our country every day, and we will continue welcoming more of them as we build the Canada of tomorrow.”

The 401,000 total comes after Canada welcomed just 184,500 newcomers in 2020, at the height of COVID-19 restrictions.

Canada’s reliance on immigration is staggering. It represents nearly 100 percent of labour force growth and 75 percent of population growth. Estimates suggest immigrants will make up 30 percent of Canada’s population by 2036.

Many of the people trusted with helping Canadians through the pandemic are immigrants.  Immigrants make up 37 percent of pharmacists, 36 percent of physicians, 39 percent of dentists, 23 percent of registered nurses, and 35 percent of nurse aides and related occupations.

New British Columbia Draws See Province Issue 243 Canada Immigration Invitations

Colin Singer
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0
New British Columbia Draws See Province Issue 243 Canada Immigration Invitations

Canada immigration news: Two new draws through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program saw the province issue Canada immigration invitations to a total of 243 candidates.

The December 21 draws featured a general draw, and a second draw targeting two NOC codes: 0621 for Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers and 0631 for Restaurant and Food Service Managers.

In the general draw, the province issued 194 invitations across five streams, with minimum scores ranging from 74 to 106.

In the NOC-specific draw, 49 invites were issued through four streams, all featuring minimum scores of 106.

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Latest General B.C. Immigration Draw

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued
21-Dec-21 SI – Skilled Worker 100 Total: 194
  SI – International Graduate 88
  SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 74
  EEBC – Skilled Worker 106
  EEBC – International Graduate 92

Source: www.welcomebc.ca

B.C. Draw Targeting NOCs 0621, 0631

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued
21-Dec-21 SI – Skilled Worker 106 Total: 49
  SI – International Graduate 106
  EEBC – Skilled Worker 106
  EEBC – International Graduate 106

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Nova Scotia Reaches One Million Population Milestone Thanks To Immigration

Colin Singer
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0
Nova Scotia Reaches One Million Population Milestone Thanks To Immigration

Canada immigration news: Immigrants are being credited with helping Canada’s Maritime province of Nova Scotia with hitting a major population milestone: surpassing one million people.

In the first quarter of this year alone, 5,696 people moved to Nova Scotia from other countries and other parts of Canada, pushing up the province’s population by 2,877.

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada figures (IRCC) show that more than a third of that growth, 34.5 per cent, came from 995 new permanent residents moving to Nova Scotia during the first quarter of this year.

Immigration Boosted Nova Scotia Population By 6,170 In 10 Months

Immigration grew Nova Scotia’s population by 6,170 new permanent residents in the first 10 months of this year alone with most of those newcomers arriving from India, China, the Philippines, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

Bridgewater resident Sasha Raz is one of those who chose to make Nova Scotia home.

“Since moving here from Israel in 2020, I’ve rejoiced again and again over the spectacular natural beauty that is literally around every corner in Nova Scotia,” said Raz. “But most of all, I love the people here.

“They are sincere, kind, friendly, with a lot of sensitivity to others’ emotions and a genuine willingness to help anyone. That is the real treasure of our province.”

The province already retains about 71 per cent of immigrants that come to its shores, the highest retention rate of any of the Atlantic Canadian provinces.

But Nova Scotia is preparing to launch a $2.5-million marketing initiative to support its new provincial immigration and migration targets and attract newcomers from across Canada.

“Nova Scotia is steadily growing, and we want to encourage those living across the country and around the world to build a life in our beautiful province,” said provincial Immigration Minister Jill Balser.

“With a growing population comes increased opportunities,” she said. “Newcomers fuel our economy, fill labour gaps and enrich our communities. We look forward to welcoming new people to Nova Scotia with open arms and experiencing the benefits of newcomers in all parts of the province.”

Nova Scotia Wants To Double Population By 2060

Nova Scotia is hoping to double its population over the next 38 years by attracting 25,000 newcomers per year both through immigration and by attracting newcomers from other parts of Canada.

The province’s Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration is working with employers to find innovative ways to resolve labour shortages and streamline the immigration process.

“Reaching the one million mark is a significant moment in our province’s history,” said Premier Tim Houston. “After years of a declining population, the world is learning how special Nova Scotia is. We have momentum and are growing.”

The provincial premier sees population growth as a key to boosting Nova Scotia’s economy.

“We all benefit from this growth with a greater tax base, new businesses and jobs, greater diversity and culture and improved infrastructure,” he said. “I ask our citizens, employers, communities, schools and workplaces to open their arms to new Nova Scotians and provide a warm welcome to all who choose our spectacular province as their home.”

In its latest Provincial Economic Outlook, TD Economics forecast the Nova Scotian economy would grow by 4.2 per cent by the end of this year and 2.4 per cent in 2022.

Immigration to Nova Scotia has been steadily increasing, from 3,405 new permanent residents in 2015 to 5,485 the following year. The influx of newcomers slowed somewhat in 2017 with only 4,515 new permanent residents but picked up again in 2018 with 5,965 new arrivals.

Then, immigration jumped by almost 27.1 per cent in 2019 to hit 7,580 new permanent residents.

New Pathways To Permanent Residence

In its bid to draw more immigrants to its shores, Nova Scotia is doing more than just marketing itself. It is also introducing new pathways to permanent residency.

This year, Nova Scotia immigration  launched a new Provincial Nominee Program stream targeting international graduates, the International Graduates In Demand stream of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP).

It is open to workers with permanent job offers in one of two National Occupational Classification codes:

  • NOC 3413 – Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates, and;
  • NOC 4214 – Early childhood educators and assistants.

As well as a job offer from a Nova Scotia employer that corresponds with their fields of study, international graduates must also have completed at least half of their courses in the Atlantic province.

The NSNP has a total of nine different streams with a target processing time for applications of three months.

The nine streams are:

  • Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry;
  • Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities: Express Entry;
  • Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities For Physicians: Express Entry;
  • Skilled Worker;
  • Physician;
  • Occupations In Demand;
  • International Graduates In Demand;
  • Entrepreneur, and;
  • International Graduate Entrepreneur.

Nova Scotia also operates the Study and Stay program which is aimed at helping international students from China, India and the Philippines stay and build careers in the region after they graduate.

The province previously operated a Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream, but this was closed permanently as of Jan. 4, 2021.

Then, there’s the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, an employer-driven group of three programs:

  • the Atlantic High-Skilled Program;
  • the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program, and;
  • the Atlantic International Graduate Program.

The Atlantic High-Skilled Program is aimed at skilled workers with management, professional or technical/skilled job experience with job offers of at least one year.

Those with offers for permanent jobs requiring a high school education and/or job-specific training can apply under the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program.

The Atlantic International Graduate Program is aimed at candidates who have a degree, diploma or other credential from a publicly-funded institution in an Atlantic province and an offer for a job that will last at least one year but no work experience.

Each job offer made through the AIP requires provincial endorsement. The application for endorsement is handled by the employer after the candidate has their Settlement Plan.

Canada Job Vacancies Continue To Grow Amid COVID-19 Recovery

Colin Singer
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0
Canada Job Vacancies Continue To Grow Amid COVID-19 Recovery

Canada immigration news: Foreign nationals have tremendous opportunities to immigrate to Canada and gain their permanent residency as Statistics Canada’s latest employment figures reveal labour shortages are growing ever more acute.

“The number of job vacancies in Canada reached an all-time high of 912,600 in the third quarter of 2021, as employers and workers continued to adjust to easing public health restrictions and rapidly-evolving economic conditions,” reports the national agency which provides demographic data in Canada.

“Like other economies recovering from the labour market impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, record-high job vacancies coincided with growth in overall employment and falling unemployment.”

Read More Canada Immigration News

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A quick solution for many employers facing labour shortages is the Global Talent Stream (GTS) of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) under which Canadian work permits and visa applications are processed within two weeks.

Express Entry and Global Talent Stream

Launched in 2017, the GTS was made a permanent program two years later, after proving to be hugely popular with some of Canada’s largest technology companies.

Another good way for foreign workers to immigrate to Canada is through the Express Entry system, which manages Canada’s immigration applications intake and allows applicants who meet eligibility criteria to submit an online profile, known as an Expression of interest (EOI), under one of three federal Canada immigration programs or a participating provincial immigration program to the Express Entry Pool.

If you are a candidate looking for a Canada job, or an employer looking to recruit foreign talent from abroad, immigration.ca can help. Access our expertise through our in-house recruitment enterprises, www.grnmontreal.com and our newest asset, www.skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.

Candidates’ profiles are then 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 (ITAs) for permanent residence. Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a full application and pay the processing fees, within a delay of 60 days.

The federal government aims to process these permanent residency applications in six months.

Job Vacancies Hit All-Time High

With the total number of job vacancies in Canada hitting an all-time high of 912,000 in the third quarter of 2021, many Canadian businesses have an urgent need for workers.

Job vacancies in Canada in the third quarter of 2021 were 62.1 per cent higher than in the same quarter in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The job vacancy rate, the number of job vacancies as a proportion of labour demand … was 5.4 per cent (during that period), also a record high and 2.1 percentage points higher than in the third quarter of 2019,” reports Statistics Canada.

The boom in available jobs in Canada is being felt across the country and in almost all sectors of the economy.

The biggest percentage growth in available jobs from the third quarter of 2019 to the same period in 2021 was in the Prairie province of Saskatchewan which saw a surge of 82.7 per cent in open positions. The francophone province of Quebec came in second with growth in job vacancies for the period of 73.1 per cent, followed by Ontario at 64.5 per cent.

Out of 20 industry sectors, 18 saw growth in job vacancies.

Five industry sectors saw the biggest growth in available jobs.

Restaurants, catering and hotel businesses more than doubled their vacant positions during that time period with 86,400 job vacancies, a growth of 112.8 per cent. Healthcare and social assistance job vacancies rose by 78.8 per cent, or 52,100 positions. The construction sector’s vacant jobs increased by 83.7 per cent, or 34,300 positions, retail by 45.2 per cent or 32,400 job openings, and the manufacturing sector by 62.4 per cent or 31,200 open jobs.

“Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and real estate and rental and leasing were the only sectors where vacancies were not up in the third quarter compared with the same period two years earlier,” noted Statistics Canada.

Nurses and Orderlies In Big Demand

Hospitals and clinics in Canada are now all but screaming for nurses and orderlies.

“In the healthcare and social assistance sector … payroll employment from the Survey of Employment, Payrolls, and Hours had reached its pre-COVID level in December 2020, indicating that this sector was facing challenges including unmet labour demand in the context of increasing economic activity,” noted Statistics Canada.

“Prior to the unprecedented demands placed on the healthcare system by the pandemic, employment in the sector had been increasing steadily since the third quarter of 2017, partly the result of an aging population. Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (which saw an increase in open positions of 24,100) as well as registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (where vacancies rose by 22,800) in the third quarter were among the occupations with the most vacancies.”

In the food services and hospitality sector, the labour shortage in the third quarter of this year was due to restaurants, bars and hotels ramping up operations again as they re-opened or increased business after COVID-19 public health restrictions, including lockdowns, during the pandemic.

Construction firms looking for workers are having a hard time in many cases because those with the needed skills and experience are quite simply not where the companies want them to be.

“Increased vacancies (in the construction sector) were due in part to labour market imbalances such as shortages of specific skills or geographic mismatches between vacant positions and the workers available to fill them,” noted Statistics Canada. “Within the sector, the largest two-year increases were recorded in the economic regions of the Lower Mainland-Southwest in British Columbia … and Toronto.”

Wages For More Than Half Of Open Jobs Rise Faster Than Consumer Price Index

Due to the labour shortages, Canadian employers are left with no other option but to up the wages they offer. In more than half of the positions that were open in the third quarter of this year, the higher wages gave workers more purchasing power than they would have had two years ago.

But the labour situation is not just a one-way street with only the employers giving more. Hiring managers are also demanding their workers have solid job skills.

“As demand for skills shifts, the ability of employers to find workers to fill vacant positions is influenced by a number of factors, including the extent to which positions require specialized skills,” notes Statistics Canada.

“Of the 495 occupations included in the National Occupation Classification (NOC) for which skills profiles are available, 226 require at least one specific technical skill for the performance of the job. For example, computer programmers and interactive media developers require technical skills related to programming and operations analysis, while electricians require technical skills related to troubleshooting, repairing and quality control analysis.”

Job vacancies in those 226 occupations combined were up 56.7 per cent, to 242,200 in the third quarter of 2021 compared with the same period two years earlier, and they accounted for 25.1 per cent of the total two-year increase in job vacancies.

There is, however, also plenty of opportunity for less-skilled workers in Canada.

“In contrast to occupations requiring specific technical skills, 40 occupations in the NOC require no technical skills and five or fewer non-technical skills. Vacancies in these occupations, which include food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support, construction trades helpers and labourers, and light-duty cleaners, increased by 73.7 per cent to 234,600 on a two-year basis in the third quarter of 2021, and accounted for 28.5 per cent of the all-industries two-year increase.”

Alberta Issues 6,250 Canada Immigration Nominations, Reaches 2021 Allocation

Colin Singer
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0
Alberta Issues 6,250 Canada Immigration Nominations, Reaches 2021 Allocation

Canada immigration news: Alberta has reached its 2021 Canada immigration nomination allocation through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).

In a December 20 update, the province confirmed it had issued 6,250 nominations in 2021, with no further nominations to be issued until January.

Nomination limits are set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

There remains 475 Alberta Opportunity Stream applications and 775 expression of interest applications in the Alberta Express Entry pool, the province said in the update.

Read More Canada Immigration News

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Alberta Express Entry 2021 Draws

Draw Date NOI Letters Sent CRS Score of Lowest-Ranked Candidate
24-Nov-21 100 350
09-Nov-21 200 343
26-Oct-21 248 300
12-Oct-21 293 300
30-Sep-21 275 300
21-Sep-21 450 300
14-Sep-21 385 300
07-Sep-21 500 300
30-Aug-21 400 301
23-Aug-21 450 300
10-Aug-21 396 300
27-Jul-21 148 300
14-Jul-21 181 301
29-Jun-21 148 302
16-Jun-21 184 300
05-Jun-21 191 300
18-May-21 250 301
05-May-21 250 300
20-Apr-21 200 301
06-Apr-21 200 302
26-Mar-21 300 301
02-Mar-21 200 301
16-Feb-21 159 352
10-Feb-21 200 301
28-Jan-21 100 360
08-Jan-21 50 406

Source: www.alberta.ca

Video

High Number of Applications

Alberta says a high number of AINP applications have been received in the following occupations, meaning they may take longer to process:

  • 6311 – Food service supervisors
  • 6211 – Retail sales supervisors
  • 3211 – Medical laboratory technologists
  • 0211 – Engineering managers
  • 1123 – Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
  • 2131 – Civil engineers
  • 6322 – Cooks
  • 7511 – Transport truck drivers
  • 2282 – User support technicians
  • 1241 – Administrative assistants

What are the Requirements for Alberta Express Entry?

In order to be eligible to receive a notification of interest, candidates must:

  • Have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool.
  • Have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta.
  • Be working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification.
  • Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300 points.

Factors that may improve a candidate’s chances of receiving a notification of interest:

  • A job offer from an Albertan employer and/or work experience in Alberta.
  • Having graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution.
  • Having a relative that is living in Alberta: parent, child and/or sibling.

Factors that decrease a candidate’s chances of receiving a notification of interest:

 

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