Make it Easier to Hire Foreign Workers, Canada Restaurateurs Tell Ottawa

Canada immigration news: As Canada’s economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurateurs facing extreme labour shortages are turning to international students and temporary foreign workers to pick up the slack.

And the industry’s main lobbying organization wants Ottawa to make it easier to hire immigrants.

“Restaurants are key to bringing Canadians back to work, but precarious conditions over the past 18-plus months have created unprecedented hiring challenges,” says Todd Barclay, president and chief executive officer of the industry association Restaurants Canada. 


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That organization’s latest survey shows that 80 per cent of restaurateurs are having trouble hiring kitchen staff and 67 per cent are having difficulty finding servers and staff to bus tables.

Easier Access To TFWs Would Jump-Start Economy

“As Canada’s fourth-largest private-sector employer, typically employing 1.2 million people, the hard-hit foodservice industry deserves a plan to recover remaining pandemic job losses and avoid a long-term labour crisis,” says Barclay.

With Canada in the middle of a federal election campaign, Restaurants Canada is urging all the political parties to make resolving this labour shortage a top priority.

Newcomer Associations Helping Restaurants With Labour Shortages

At the Association for New Canadians’ employment division of Axis Career Services, employment development manager Sheri Abbott says there are about 25 newcomers willing to work for restaurants in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“It’s not a large pool but we have some and we are talking with restaurants almost daily and trying to match them up,” she told The Telegram, St. John’s daily newspaper

Restaurants Canada reports more than 800,000 restaurant workers lost their jobs or had their hours reduced to zero between March and April last year. Many of those workers have since found other jobs and are no longer available for restaurants to re-hire.

Filling Restaurants Jobs Would Get Employment Back To Pre-Pandemic Levels

The latest Labour Force Survey data from Statistics Canada shows foodservice and accommodation accounted for close to half of all jobs added to the Canadian economy in June and July, 136,100 of 325,000, but there are still nearly 230,000 fewer workers in the foodservice sector than before the pandemic.

Bringing Canadians back to work in restaurants would fill nearly all of the 246,000 jobs still missing from the Canadian economy since February 2020.

Restaurants Canada is calling for a National Foodservice Labour Development Strategy, including measures such as:

  • Support for the expansion of impactful labour pilot programs, such as the Atlantic Immigration Program and Alberta Foodservice Labour Connections;
  • An increase in federal funding to ensure efficient and effective processing of immigration applications by reducing wait times, administrative burdens, and increasing information-sharing between sponsors;
  • An extension of work visas for a full year and suspension of fees until 2022, and;
  • The addition of a foodservice stream into the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to address seasonal and long-term labour shortages, as well as a redesign of the national occupational classification structure to broaden the categories of positions that foodservice employers can use the TFWP to help fill, as well as a lower administrative burden on small businesses who use the TFWP.

Canada Extends COVID-19 Policy Offering Work Permit Applications For Visitors

Canada immigration news: Canada’s COVID-19 policy that allows visitors to get work permits without having to leave the country has been extended for a second time.

An announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on Tuesday said the temporary public policy would be extended until February 28, 2022.

The policy was first implemented on August 24, 2020, and was limited to only those arriving in Canada after that date.

It was first extended on April 1, 2021, when IRCC also tweaked the criteria of the policy to allow visitors with a job offer to apply for an employer-specific work permit, regardless of when they initially entered Canada. 

As of April 1, 2021, candidates looking to benefit from the policy must:

  • Have valid status in Canada as a visitor on the day they apply.
  • Have remained in Canada with valid status.
  • Have a valid job offer.
  • Submit an in-Canada application for an employer-specific work permit that is supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment, no later than August 31, 2021.
  • Meet all other standard admissibility criteria.

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Candidates who meet the criteria and held a valid work permit within the last year can begin working for their new employer while their work permit application is processed.

The policy is designed to help people in a number of different situations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

  • Visitors who have been unable to leave.
  • Foreign workers who had to change their status to visitor because their work permit was expiring and they didn’t have a job offer to be able to apply for a new work permit. 
  • Employers facing ongoing labour and skills shortages during the pandemic.

The policy is open to any visitor who meets the criteria, including super visa holders, business visitors and those who entered via a Global Skills Strategy work permit exemption.

IRCC said in the first 8 months of the policy, more than 1,000 people with visitor status applied for a work permit.

Canada Records Lowest Unemployment Since Before COVID

Canada immigration news: The Canada jobs picture took another step forwards in August as unemployment reached its lowest level since before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

The Statistics Canada Labour Market Survey recorded an unemployment rate of 7.1 percent, down 0.4 percentage points on July, as Canada’s economic recovery continued.

As unemployment fell, employment rose for the third consecutive month, with Canada adding 90,200 jobs to move within 99.2 percent of its February 2020 level.


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”.


The gains were concentrated in full-time work, where 69,000 jobs were added.

Demographically, employment for men aged 25 to 54 increased by 24,000 in August, but stayed the same for core-aged women. Overall, employment for the core-aged population was 84,000 jobs behind pre-COVID levels. 

Canadians aged 55 and older saw employment rise by 28,000 in August, while young people aged 15 to 24 saw employment rise by 22,000 jobs.


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What Are The Labour Force Survey Highlights?

Unemployment rate (%) 7.1
Employment rate (%) 60.5
Labour force participation rate (%) 65.1
Number unemployed 1,440,000
Number working 18,974,100
Youth (15-24) unemployment rate (%) 11.6
Men (over 25) unemployment rate (%) 6.6
Women (over 25) unemployment rate (%) 6.0

Source: Statistics Canada


Provincial Canada Jobs Picture

Provincially, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia saw the biggest gains in August. 

British Columbia remains the only province with employment levels above those seen in February 2020.

Ontario saw employment gains for the third consecutive month, adding 53,000 jobs in August. Canada’s most populous province has now added 242,000 jobs since May 2021. “The accommodation and food services industry contributed the bulk of the employment increase, while educational services and information, culture and recreation also had notable gains,” the Statistics Canada report states.


Unemployment Rates In Canada’s Provinces

Jobs change in last month Unemployment rate (%)
British Columbia 14,400 6.2
Alberta 19,500 7.9
Saskatchewan 10,100 7.0
Manitoba -1,300 5.7
Ontario 53,000 7.6
Quebec -11,000 5.8
New Brunswick -500 9.3
Nova Scotia 3,900 7.8
Prince Edward Island 100 10.6
Newfoundland & Labrador 2,100 12.1
CANADA 90,200 7.1

Source: Statistics Canada


In Alberta, employment rose by 20,000 for the first gains since March, while the unemployment rate fell to 7.9 percent, compared to 7.5 percent pre-pandemic. Transportation and warehousing, information, culture and recreation, and accommodation and food services all saw gains.

Saskatchewan added 10,000 jobs to offset previous losses, while Nova Scotia added 3,900 jobs for an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent.

Saskatchewan Immigration Draw: Province Targets 16 Jobs With 528 Invitations

Canada immigration news: Saskatchewan immigration has issued 528 invitations to apply across two streams in a new Expression of Interest draw.

In the September 8 Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program draw, Occupations In-Demand candidates with skills and experience in one of 16 National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes received 212 invitations, with a minimum score of 66 points, four lower than the previous draw.

A further 316 invitations went to Express Entry candidates with skills and experience in the same NOC codes, also with a minimum score of 66 points.

Detailed requirements for the streams featured in this draw are included later in this article.


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Latest Saskatchewan Expression of Interest Draws

Draw date Category Minimum score Invites issued Other considerations
08-Sept-21 Occupations In-Demand 66 212 Invited candidates had Educational Credential Assessments. 

NOCs included: 0911, 0821, 3211, 3234, 9232, 4151, 9212, 3216, 3215, 3143, 8255, 2225, 9226, 0822, 3122, 9231

Express Entry 66 316

Video


What is the Process for Saskatchewan Expression of Interest?

  1. Submit EOI profile.
  2. Enter EOI candidate pool.
  3. EOI candidates selected.
  4. Invitations to Apply issued via regular draws.
  5. Candidates submit full application within 60 days.
  6. SINP officials assess applications and make decision.

What Are the Requirements for The Occupation-In-Demand Sub-Category?

  • Score a minimum of 60 points on the SINP points assessment grid;
  • Have a language score of at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4. Employers and regulatory bodies may ask for higher;
  • Have completed one year of post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship comparable to the Canadian education system. You must have earned a diploma, certificate or degree.
    • Degrees and diplomas obtained outside Canada subject to an Educational Credential Assessment;
  • At least one-year work experience in the past 10 years:
    • In your field of education or training occupation, and
    • In an eligible occupation in NOC A, B, 0. See the excluded occupations list.
  • Obtain the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan if your field so requires, as the authorities will not process an application without the licensure.
  • Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.
  • Pay a non-refundable $300 application fee online.

What Are the Requirements for The Saskatchewan Express Entry Sub-Category?

Candidates from outside Canada, or with legal status in Canada, qualify for this Saskatchewan immigration category, provided they are not refugee claimant.

Additionally, candidates must:

  • Have a profile in the Express Entry Pool, with profile number and job seeker validation code;
  • Score a minimum of 60 points on the SINP points assessment grid;
  • Provide valid language test results from a designated testing agency matching those in the Express Entry profile;
  • Have completed one year of post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship comparable to the Canadian education system. You must have earned a diploma, certificate or degree.
    • Degrees and diplomas obtained outside Canada subject to an Educational Credential Assessment;
  • Have at least one of the following experience requirements in your field of education or training occupation:
    • One year of work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled profession (non-trades);
    • Two years of work experience in a skilled trade in the past five years; or
    • One year of work experience in Canada in the past three years (trades and non-trades).
  • Have work experience in a high-skilled, eligible occupation in NOC A, B, 0. See the excluded occupations list.
  • Obtain the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan where your profession is regulated, or a skilled trade. For skilled trades, a certificate is required from the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission.
  • Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.
  • Pay a non-refundable $300 application fee online.

Temporary Foreign Workers Can Now Get Quebec Bridging Open Work Permit

Canada immigration news: A deal between the Quebec and federal governments means temporary foreign workers living in Quebec who has applied for permanent residency are now also able to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).

Applications first opened up on Sept. 1, several months after Ottawa and Quebec first announced in May they were working on such an agreement to offer these BOWPs.


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Eligible temporary foreign workers have to have their Quebec Certificate of Selection (CSQ) to show they qualify for the BOWPs. These allow them to take whatever jobs they please as they wait for the application for permanent residency to be processed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

New Open Work Permits Buy Temporary Foreign Workers Time

Spouses and common-law partners of the principal applicants for permanent residency are also eligible for the BOWPs under the province’s deal with Ottawa.  

“This new initiative aims to increase the mobility of workers selected by Quebec and make it easier for them to find employment as they wait to get their permanent resident status,” states the Quebec immigration department, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), on its website.

The BOWP is available to those temporary foreign workers who:

  • intend to live in Quebec;
  • hold a CSQ;
  • are the principal applicant on their permanent residence application, and;
  • have passed a completeness check for permanent residence, as well as;
  • either:
    • have a valid work permit;
    • have an expired work permit but with the status as a worker maintained, or;
    • be eligible to restore their status and get a work permit.

When submitting their BOWP applications, temporary foreign workers must include:

  • the supporting documents listed in the document checklist;
  • a copy of their CSQ, and;
  • a copy of their acknowledgment of receipt letter.

In May, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino expressed his pleasure that Quebec was willing to participate in this type of open work permit program which was by then already in place for economic immigrants in other Canadian provinces and territories.

Quebec Employer Gives Thumbs Up To New Work Permit

Employers in the francophone province expressed their support for the bridging open work permit in August.

“Both levels of government have understood the urgency and shown they are capable of working together to come up with a solution that is appropriate for Quebec,” said Karl Blackburn, president and chief executive officer of the Conseil du patronat du Québec (Quebec Council of Employers).

Despite Ottawa and Quebec’s latest initiative, the employer association says there needs to be much more done to boost immigration levels in Quebec. In the past six years, the number of immigrants coming to the province has never gone above 53,000 while the employer’s group considers there to be a need for at least 60,000.

“The problem of these low levels of immigration must be immediately corrected since these immigration levels have only gone down and there are now more available jobs to be filled than ever in all sectors of the economy,” said Blackburn.

New Quebec Immigration Draw Sees 517 Arrima Expression of Interest Invitations Issued

Canada immigration news: A new major draw through the Arrima Expression of Interest system, saw Quebec immigration issue invitations to 517 candidates. 

The September 2 draw required a minimum score of 499 in the Quebec Expression of Interest points system, 18 points lower than the previous week’s draw. A maximum of 1,320 points are available.

Quebec has now issued 2,119 invitations since August 12, having previously issued only 545 invitations in the whole of 2021.

The draw targeted candidates with a job offer outside the Montreal Metropolitan Area.

It also targeted those with skills and experience in one of 17 National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes:

NOC code Professions
0213 IT systems managers
2133 Electrical and electronics engineers
2141 Industrial and manufacturing engineers
2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
2171 IT Analysts and Consultants
2172 Database analysts and data administrators
2173 Software engineers and designers
2174 Computer Programmers And Interactive Media Developers
2175 Web designers and developers
2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
2281 Computer network technicians
2282 User support agents
2283 Computer systems assessors
5131 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
5223 Graphic design technicians
5241 Graphic designers and illustrators
6221 Technical sales specialists – wholesale

Candidates receiving an invitation have 60 days to submit a full application to the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.


Quebec Expression Of Interest Draws 2021

Date of invitations Invites Issued Minimum Score Date of extraction from Arrima bank
02-Sep-21 517 499 September 1, 2021 at 6.30am
26-Aug-21 585 517 August 23, 2021 at 6.30am
19-Aug-21 502 548 August 16, 2021 at 6.30am
12-Aug-21 515 591 August 9, 2021 at 6.30am
17-Jun-21 69 N/A June 16, 2021 at 6.30am
27-May-21 90 N/A May 26, 2021 at 6.30am
29-Apr-21 83 N/A April 28, 2021 at 6.30am
30-Mar-21 208 N/A March 29, 2021 at 6.30am
26-Jan-21 95 N/A January 25, 2021 at 6.30am

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Video


How Does Quebec Expression of Interest Work?

  1. Candidates submit an online expression of interest profile via Arrima.
  2. Profiles enter into an Expression of Interest pool, where they are ranked against each other using a points system and are valid for 12-months.
  3. The highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for a Quebec Certificate of Selection under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program via periodic draws.
  4. Candidates receiving an invitation have 60 days to submit a full application.
  5. Approved candidates who receive a nomination certificate (CSQ) may then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.

Quebec Expression of Interest Points System

The Quebec Expression of Interest points system is used to rank profiles submitted via Arrima to the Expression of Interest bank, with the highest-ranked profiles invited to apply for Quebec immigration under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

Candidates and their spouse or common-law partner can score up to 1,320 points based on human capital and Quebec labour market factors.

What Are the Requirements for Quebec Expression of Interest?

The Quebec Expression of Interest points system involves points in two categories, with some including points for the spouse of common law partner of the principal candidate.

  • Human capital factors:
    • French language ability.
    • French and English combined.
    • Age.
    • Work experience.
    • Education.
  • Quebec labour market factors:
    • Work experience in a field with a labour shortage.
    • Qualifications in one of Quebec’s areas of training.
    • Level of Quebec education.
    • Professional experience in Quebec.
    • Professional experience in the rest of Canada.
    • Job offer inside or outside Greater Montreal.

Quebec publishes lists of High Demand Occupations and Areas of Training that weigh considerably in the assessment.

New BC PNP Tech Draw Sees Province Issue 34 Immigration Invitations

Canada immigration news: A new BC PNP Tech draw saw British Columbia immigration issue 34 invitations to skilled workers and international graduates.

The September 7 draw featured invitations through four streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program. 

Minimum scores were 80 for all four streams. The featured streams were:

  • SI – Skilled Worker
  • SI – International Graduate
  • EEBC – Skilled Worker
  • EEBC – International Graduate

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Did You Get Invited in the Latest B.C. Immigration Draw?

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued
07-09-21 SI – Skilled Worker 80 Total: 34
  SI – International Graduate 80
  EEBC – Skilled Worker 80
  EEBC – International Graduate 80

Source: www.welcomebc.ca


Video: Insights on Express Entry

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The BC PNP Tech Pilot has been renamed BC PNP Tech and converted to a permanent immigration stream. It was initially launched in 2017. It has a list of 29 target occupations with relaxed duration requirements.

BC PNP draws aimed specifically at technology workers started in May 2017. The province has a thriving technology industry with some big names of the tech world basing themselves in Canada’s westernmost province.

What Are The BC PNP Tech Job Requirements?

  • Job offer must be for one of the 29 targeted occupations (see below)
  • Job offer must be for at least one-year duration
  • Job offer must be valid for at least 120 days at time of application

What Are The 29 Target Occupations Under BC PNP Tech?

NOC Code Job Title
0131 Telecommunication carriers’ managers
0213 Computer and information systems managers
0512 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
2131 Civil engineers
2132 Mechanical engineers
2133 Electrical and electronics engineers
2134 Chemical engineers
2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
2172 Database analysts and data administrators
2173 Software engineers and designers
2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
2175 Web designers and developers
2221 Biological technologists and technicians
2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
2242 Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
2243 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
2281 Computer network technicians
2282 User support technicians
2283 Information systems testing technicians
5121 Authors and writers
5122 Editors
5125 Translators, terminologists and interpreters
5224 Broadcast technicians
5225 Audio and video recording technicians
5227 Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and the performing arts
5226 Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
5241 Graphic designers and illustrators
6221 Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade

A coveted provincial nomination effectively guarantees selection under the Canada Express Entry System, worth 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.

Canada Now Open To Fully-Vaccinated International Travellers

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Canada immigration news: As Ottawa takes the next step in lifting restrictions despite rising COVID-19 cases, fully-vaccinated international travellers can enter Canada as of Tuesday, September 7.

As of 12.01 am, anyone fully vaccinated is not required to quarantine, but is required to produced a negative PCR test within 24 hours of departure to board a flight.

On arrival in Canada, vaccinated travellers do not require a further test unless they are randomly selected at the border.


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Those who are not fully vaccinated are still required to take a test on arrival.

Vaccination details and other information such as a viable backup quarantine plan must still be entered on the ArriveCan app before travel.

With the rise in cases driven by the Delta variant, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says it pushed ahead with the reopening plan because it was supported by statistics.

Canada saw a 0.19 percent positivity rate among vaccinated travellers from August 9 to 26, representing 112 positive results from 58,878 tests.

The move to lift international travel restrictions comes after the same freedom to travel was extended to fully-vaccinated Americans a month ago.

Controversially, the U.S. is yet to extend the same freedoms to fully-vaccinated Canadians, who are still unable to cross the border for non-essential travel. The current ban expires on September 21, with many Canadians hopeful it will be allowed to expire.

Canada’s India Flight Ban

Meanwhile, Canada continues to have in place a ban on direct passenger flights from India, which also expires on September 21.

The decision to extend the ban for a fifth month in August also proved controversial. The ban was initially put in place when India was at the height of a deadly surge in COVID-19 cases.

The ban does not apply to cargo-only or military flights or medical transfers.

Indians travelling via third countries are still able to enter Canada, but they require a negative PCR test before the flight arrives in Canada.

“This means that passengers who depart India to Canada via an indirect route will continue to be required to obtain a valid COVID-19 pre-departure test from a third country – other than India – before continuing their journey to Canada,” Transport Canada notes on its website.

Overseas Candidates Included As Manitoba Immigration Draw Sees 602 LAAs Issued

Canada immigration news: Overseas candidates were included as Manitoba immigration conducted a new draw through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, issuing 602 Letters of Advice to Apply.

The September 2 draw saw LAAs issued through three MPNP streams.

Skilled Workers in Manitoba received 463 LAAs, with the lowest ranked candidates scoring 445 points.

International Education Stream candidates received 55 LAAs.

The remaining 84 LAAs went to Skilled Workers Overseas candidates through a Strategic Recruitment Initiative, with a minimum score of 698.


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Manitoba stated that 101 of the 602 candidates had valid Express Entry IDs and job seeker validation codes.

For detailed requirements of all the streams featured in this draw, please see below.

This was the 125th draw in the history of the MPNP.


What Were the Details of the Latest Manitoba Draw?

Stream Sub-Stream Letters of Advice to Apply Score of Lowest Ranked Candidate
1) Skilled Workers in Manitoba 463 445
2) International Education Stream 55
3) Skilled Workers Overseas Strategic Recruitment Initiative 84 698

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

Canada’s Economy Comes Back To Life With More Than 800,000 Job Vacancies

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Canada immigration news: This is one the best times for temporary foreign workers to immigrate to Canada, with job openings in restaurants, bars and the entertainment and recreation industries rampant in as the country revives its economy after COVID-19.

“Canadian employers were actively recruiting for an estimated 815,800 positions in June 2021, as public health measures related to the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly eased,” Statistics Canada reported in late August.

“The job vacancy rate, which measures vacant positions as a proportion of all positions (vacant and occupied), reached five per cent in June. This was the highest job vacancy rate since monthly job vacancy estimates became available in October 2020.”


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The single biggest need for workers in Canada in June, based solely on the number of jobs available, was in the food services industry. Think restaurants, catering companies, food preparation, and pubs.

Restaurants and Hotels Struggling For Workers

“The number of job vacancies in accommodation and food services, at 129,100, surpassed that in health care and social assistance, 109,300, which had previously led all sectors since November, 2020. Retail trade at 94,300, had the third-highest number of job vacancies.”

Restaurants in Canada are desperate for servers as they try to rebuild their serving staff after lockdowns due to Covid-19 public health restrictions.

“It’s unprecedented times out there,” Luc Erjavec, Restaurants Canada’s vice president for Atlantic Canada, reportedly told The Telegram. “I’ve heard of restaurants changing their hours, closing earlier … The staff they have is burning out.”

These entrepreneurs often cannot simply call up their former employees as many of these have moved on.

“They have left the industry and gone into other industries that were just booming during the pandemic,” said Erjavec.

The same sort of thing has happened in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector. It had a job vacancy rate of 8.3 per cent in June.

Demand For Trades Still High

Construction companies too are in hiring mode with a job vacancy rate of 6.1 for the sector but that shortage of skilled workers predates the pandemic. Good tradespeople always seem to be in high demand.

Boosted by the need for extra cleaning and the safe disposal of materials during the pandemic, the waste management and remediation services sector is also having a hard time hiring enough workers with a job vacancy rate of 6.5 per cent in June.

The entire service sector is screaming for workers in Canada. In its report entitled Payroll Employment, Earnings And Hours, And Job Vacancies, June 2021, Statistics Canada noted on Aug. 26 that the “other services” category showed a job vacancy rate of 6.1 per cent during that month.

Among the provinces, the highest numbers of jobs going begging for candidates in June were in British Columbia and Quebec. The provinces with the lowest job vacancy rates that month were Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

In addition to the economic impact of the pandemic, the demand for immigrants to fill jobs is also expected to skyrocket this year because employees will start retiring and quitting their jobs in much greater numbers than they did last year, said a senior economist.

In his latest report, Will A Return To Pre-Pandemic Retirement And Job Quitting Levels Worsen Emerging Labour Shortages In Canada?, Bank of Canada senior economist Andrew Agopsowicz revealed in mid-August that fewer people were ready to leave their jobs during the height of the pandemic.

Healthier Economy Likely To Fuel More Retirements

“Labour market uncertainty during the pandemic led to a significant decline in voluntary job departures,” writes Agopsowicz.

“Retirements fell 20 per cent compared to the pre-pandemic period (March 2019 to February 2020) while the number of people quitting jobs due to dissatisfaction dropped 40 per cent over the same time frame.”

With the economy now bouncing back, many people are re-thinking their options and choosing to retire or quit their jobs.

“As the job market recovers, these measures are beginning to climb back to pre-crisis levels,” writes the economist.

Three Times More Workers Quit Their Jobs This June

In June alone, nearly three times as many workers quit their jobs, a total of 16,700, compared to the same month a year earlier.

In the second half of this year, the Bank of Canada senior economist figures 125,000 workers in Canada are likely to retire.

Add to that the growing number of job vacancies – about 550,000 in the first quarter of this year – and it all spells opportunity for foreign nationals hoping to immigrate to Canada under economic programs.

A quick solution for employers facing labour shortages to may be 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.

“Significant pressure (on the labour market) may be felt in industries already back at previous employment levels,” notes Agopsowicz.

“The vacancy rate in the professional, scientific, and technical services industry, for example, has already reached serious highs. And the Bank of Canada’s Business Outlook Survey indicates that while we are still in a period of labour market slack, availability of skilled workers is tightening.”

Canada Set To Re-Open To International Travel

Canada’s border is set to re-open to non-essential international travel on Sept. 7 provided COVID-19 cases remain low. Until that border is fully re-opened, immigration is unlikely to result in a quick fix for employers facing a shortage of workers, says Agopsowicz.

“As shortages grow, so will the urgency for Canada to turn to new and under-utilized sources of labour force growth, including immigration, women, and visible minorities,” he says.

“However, these will not provide much relief in the short-run.

“While the government has lifted the number of new permanent residents to pre-pandemic levels, most of this only reflects a change of status from temporary to permanent. It won’t increase the population overall.  Still, with the border now open to more immigrants we can expect the flow of newcomers to reduce the pressure on labour markets.”

In Ottawa, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino remains confident Canada will be able to hit its immigration target of 401,000 new permanent residents this year.

“Against all odds, Canada continues to lead the world in immigration,” Mendicino reportedly told The Globe and Mail in July. “We are going to make good on our commitment to land 401,000 new permanent residents.”

Ottawa Planning To Bring In 401,000 Immigrants

Ottawa’s own figures, though, show the country only welcomed 108,730 new permanent residents in the first five months of this year. According to the national daily newspaper, Canada welcomed another 35,600 into the country in June, bringing the total for the first half of the year to 144,330.

The country’s 2021‒2023 Immigration Levels Plan set immigration targets of about one per cent of the Canadian population for three years starting this year. Next year, Canada is hoping to welcome 411,000 new permanent residents and another 421,000 in 2023.

The federal government’s previous plan set targets of 351,000 in 2021 and 361,000 in 2022.

The Bank of Canada’s Business Outlook Survey indicates that while Canada is still in a period of labour market slack, the availability of skilled workers is tightening.

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