Canada Immigration News

Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Draw: Province Issues 30 Invitations Through 2 Streams

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September 23, 2021

Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Draw: Province Issues 30 Invitations Through 2 Streams

Canada immigration news: Nova Scotia immigration has issued 30 invitations through two streams in a new business immigration draw through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program.

The September 13 draw saw 28 invitations issued through the Entrepreneur stream, with a minimum score of 120.

It also saw two invitations issued through the International Graduate Entrepreneur stream, this time with a minimum score of 57 points.

Nova Scotia Entrepreneur 2021 Draws

Draw date	Stream	Number of invitations	Score of lowest-ranked candidate invited
13-Sep-21	Entrepreneur	28	120
13-Sep-21	International Graduate Entrepreneur	2	57
03-May-21	International Graduate Entrepreneur	2	44
24-Feb-21	Entrepreneur	43	118

Read More Canada Immigration News

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New Nova Scotia Immigration Stream Targets International Graduates in Demand
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Watch the Video

Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Stream

The Nova Scotia Entrepreneur stream targets candidates with business ownership or senior management experience. They must live in Nova Scotia, either start a new business or buy an existing business, and actively participate in the day-to-day management of that business.

Under the Entrepreneur stream, candidates are first issued a temporary work permit before applying for permanent residence after operating the business for a year. The stream uses an Expression of Interest format, where candidates in a pool are invited to apply.

How Do I Qualify For The Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Stream?

Expression of Interest
Invitation to Apply
In Person Interview and Business Performance Agreement
Work Permit and Business Establishment in Nova Scotia
Request for Nomination
Apply for Permanent Residence

Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Stream: Candidate Requirements

Be aged 21 or older.
Want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business.
Minimum net worth of $600,000.
Minimum investment of $150,000 to establish or purchase a business in Nova Scotia.
Minimum 3 years of experience actively managing and owning a business (33 per cent ownership minimum) OR more than 5 years of experience in a senior business management role.
Score minimum of 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French.

Nova Scotia International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

The International Graduate Entrepreneur stream is similar to the Entrepreneur stream, only aimed at recent graduates from a Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College. They must have started or purchased a Nova Scotia business and operated it for a year on a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

Candidates are nominated for permanent residence if they intend to settle in the province. The stream works on an Expression of Interest format similar to the Entrepreneur stream.

International Graduate Entrepreneur: Steps

Expression of Interest
Invitation to Apply
In-Person Interview and Nomination
Apply for Permanent Residence

International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: Candidate Requirements

Want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business.
Minimum one year of continuous experience actively managing and owning your current Nova Scotia business (100 per cent ownership).
Have completed a degree or diploma including minimum 2 academic years of full-time, in-person study at a Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College.
Valid post-graduation work permit.
Minimum score of 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French.

New Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Stream Draw Sees 41 Invitations Issued

Colin Singer

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September 23, 2021

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New Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Stream Draw Sees 41 Invitations Issued

Canada immigration news: Saskatchewan immigration has issued 41 invitations with a minimum score of 110 in a new Entrepreneur stream draw.

The September 2 draw is the second since they resumed for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) suspended draws as of March 2020, the month the deadly virus first swept through Canada, forcing governments to impose restrictions.

A further draw is planned for November 4.

Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Stream 2021 Draws

Date	Lowest score	Average score	Highest score	Number of invitations
02-Sep-21	110	115	125	41
12-Jul-21	120	125	155	28

Source: https://www.saskatchewan.ca

Entrepreneur Stream Future 2021 Draw Dates

November 4

Saskatchewan prioritizes three selection factors to separate candidates with the same score on the Entrepreneur stream points grid.

The three factors, in order of priority, are:

Official language ability.
Those with businesses planned for a key economic sector.
Completion of an exploratory visit.

New Ontario In-Demand Skills Stream Draw Sees 72 Immigration Invitations Issued

Colin Singer

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September 23, 2021

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New Ontario In-Demand Skills Stream Draw Sees 72 Immigration Invitations Issued

Canada immigration news: A new draw under Ontario immigration’s Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills stream saw the province issue 72 Invitations To Apply (ITA) through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

The September 22 draw saw the province target 19 National Occupational Classification codes with 65 invitations through its Expression of Interest system.

It also targeted Regional Immigration Pilot candidates with 7 invitations.

Read More Canada Immigration News

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The following occupations were targeted:

Health and Agricultural

NOC 3413 – nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates.
NOC 4412 – home support workers and related occupations, excluding housekeepers.
NOC 8431 – general farmworkers.
NOC 8432 – nursery and greenhouse workers.
NOC 8611 – harvesting labourers.
NOC 9462 – industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers.

Manufacturing (outside GTA only)

NOC 9411 – machine operators, mineral and metal processing
NOC 9416 – metalworking and forging machine operators
NOC 9417 – machining tool operators
NOC 9418 – other metal products machine operators
NOC 9421 – chemical plant machine operators
NOC 9422 – plastics processing machine operators
NOC 9437 – woodworking machine operators
NOC 9446 – industrial sewing machine operators
NOC 9461 – process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing
NOC 9523 – electronics assemblers, fabricators, inspectors and testers
NOC 9526 – mechanical assemblers and inspectors
NOC 9536 – industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators
NOC 9537 – other products assemblers, finishers and inspectors

With this latest draw, the Employer Job Offer In-Demand stream of the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) has now issued 175 ITAs this year.

Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

This stream targets candidates with specific skilled in-demand in Ontario. To qualify, applicants must have:

A permanent and full-time job offer under certain occupations in the agriculture or construction sector and meets the median wage in Ontario for the occupation (see table below), and in a position that is necessary to the business.
- For those already working in the position, the proposed wage must be equal or greater than the current wage being paid.
9 months of cumulative work experience in the last three years in one of the eligible occupations. Experience must be paid and full time or the equivalent amount in part-time work in Ontario.
- Seasonal work does not count.
Equivalent of Canadian high school education or higher.
Valid certificate or license at the time of application for any claimed work experience that requires it.
Minimum CLB/NCLC 4 in English or French in all language competencies.
Live abroad, or be working, studying or visiting Canada on a valid permit;
Intention to settle in Ontario.

Regional Immigration Pilot

The Regional Immigration Pilot is designed to use the OINP to bring skilled labour not available locally to smaller Ontario communities.

To qualify candidates must have a permanent job offer from one of the three participating communities:

Chatham-Kent.
Cornwall.
Quinte West/Belleville.

Candidates must also meet the criteria for one of the Ontario Employer Job Offer streams, namely:

Foreign Worker.
International Student.
In-Demand Skills.

Candidate Requirements

Full-time and permanent job offer from an employer in one of the participating communities.
Meet the criteria for one of the Employer Job Offer category streams (see below).

Number of Nominations

Approximately 150 Employer Job Offer nominations have been set aside for the pilot.

New BC PNP Tech Draw Sees 74 Immigration Invitations Issued

Colin Singer

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September 22, 2021

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New BC PNP Tech Draw Sees 74 Immigration Invitations Issued

Canada immigration news: British Columbia immigration has conducted a new BC PNP Tech draw, issuing 74 invitations to skilled workers and international graduates.

The September 21 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

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

Date	Category	Minimum Score	Invitations Issued
21-Sept-21	SI – Skilled Worker	80	Total: 74
	SI – International Graduate	80
	EEBC – Skilled Worker	80
	EEBC – International Graduate	80

Source: www.welcomebc.ca

Video: Insights on Express Entry

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.

International Experience Canada: Fully-Vaccinated Applicants Do Not Need Job Offer

COVID-19 in Canada

Colin Singer

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September 22, 2021

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International Experience Canada: Fully-Vaccinated Applicants Do Not Need Job Offer

Canada immigration news: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says fully-vaccinated foreign nationals who want to come to Canada for working holidays do not need to have job offers.

Under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, the fully-vaccinated need only have their port of entry letter – and their negative pre-entry COVID-19 test result – to enter Canada.

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That proof of vaccination must be entered into Canada’s ArriveCan app and applicants should also bring a paper copy of that document with them.

That’s a much-easier process than those who have refused to get the jab.

“Due to current travel restrictions,” says IRCC, “Unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated working holiday candidates will have to:

provide proof of a valid job offer when they arrive in Canada;
be required to quarantine.”

The IEC program is best known to young Canadians as the way they can go live and work in any one of 34 countries.

Those countries, though, also have reciprocal agreements with Ottawa, allowing their young people aged 18 to 35 years of age to come and work in Canada under three categories:

the working holiday;
the international co-op or internship, and;
the young professionals category.

The IEC program also allows young people to come to Canada through the use of a recognized organization that will provide services for a fee to both Canadians going abroad and foreign nationals coming to Canada.

Those services might include help finding a job, somewhere to live, or travel arrangements.

The organizations are either Canadian with offices overseas, or international outfits with offices in Canada.

The recognized organizations under the IEC program include:

Employer-Specific Work Permit Only

International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)
Association for the International Exchange of Students in Economics and Commerce (AIESEC)
Academic Internship Council (AIC)
Mennonite Central Committee of Canada / International Volunteer Exchange Program (MCC/IVEP)
Canadian Host Family Association (CHFA) with Communicating for Agriculture Education Programs (CAEP)
International Rural Exchange (IRE)
University of Alberta
University of New Brunswick

Open Work Permit Only

SWAP Working Holidays
Go International

Both Categories

INTERNeX International Exchange
Stepwest

“You must also meet the eligibility requirements for your country or territory of citizenship and the pool you’re applying for,” states the IRCC on its website.

“Some countries only allow you to participate once. Others allow you to participate twice, but in different pools. Because each country is different, it’s important that you check to see if you’re eligible to apply.”

Through the working holiday category of the IEC, applicants can work for more than one employer, in more than one location, and earn some money while they travel due to the issuance of an Open Work Permit.

That type of work permit allows the holder to work at most jobs in Canada but some of those positions may require a medical exam first.

Countries that are part of the IEC program include:

Australia;
Hong Kong;
Portugal
Austria;
Ireland;
San Marino;
Belgium;
Italy;
Slovakia;
Chile;
Japan;
Slovenia
Costa Rica;
South Korea;
Spain
Croatia;
Latvia;
Sweden
Czech Republic;
Lithuania;
Switzerland
Denmark;
Mexico;
Taiwan;
Estonia;
Netherlands;
Ukraine;
France;
New Zealand;
United Kingdom;
Germany, and;
Norway.

The first step in the process for anyone interested in the IEC program is to find out if they meet the entrance requirements for Canada.

A roughly 10-minute questionnaire is then filled out to see if the applicant meets the criteria for the various IEC categories. That questionnaire asks about:

country of citizenship;
country of permanent residence;
country of residence;
student status, and;
job offer.

Once the applicant has completed his or her online IEC profile, he or she will be given a personal reference code and be able to create their account with it, creating a profile in the process and paying the required fees.

That profile is then used to determine which candidates will be issued Invitations To Apply for a work permit and sent a port of entry letter of introduction.

“Your dependants aren’t eligible to accompany you to Canada under the IEC program. However, they may apply to visit, study or work in Canada,” notes the IRCC. “Your application will be examined separately from theirs.”

Shorter Processing Times, More Pathways To PR: Liberal Government’s Plan For Immigration

Canada election

Colin Singer

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September 22, 2021

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Shorter Processing Times, More Pathways To PR: Liberal Government’s Plan For Immigration

Canada immigration news: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government got the vote of confidence it needed from Canadians Monday, paving the way for an even greater push for more immigration to the country.

The ruling Liberal Party of Canada pledged many improvements to the immigration system on the campaign trail.

As it became clear on Monday evening – voting day in this federal election – that the Liberals were on their way to a minority government, congratulations from the party’s supporters started to pour in, including for the re-elected minister of immigration, Marco Mendicino.

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The final ballots had not yet been counted when the congratulations started coming in, some mixed with even more demands on the immigration minister.

Congratulations, Now Get Back To The Job

“Congratulations for the historic win, well deserved. Wish you more success,” one Twitter user wrote to the immigration minister. “Please don’t forget us as we are still stuck in Kabul with email visas in hand.”

Another pressed Mendicino to cut immigration application delays.

“All the best and kindly expedite the immigration process,” wrote that Twitter user. “People, life and families are at stake! Hope you understand the situation, tons of 1,000s of people at stake because humongous delays. Appreciate if you look and expedite, minister.”

The not-so-subtle nudges to speed up the Canadian immigration process were, however, largely unnecessary as these were already part of the Liberals’ campaign promises.

Government Bullish On Immigration

Trudeau’s Liberal government is bullish on immigration, vowing to meet its target of 401,000 new immigrants this year, 411,000 in 2022 and 421,000 in 2023.

The immigration minister has been adamant that Ottawa will be able to hit its immigration target this year.

“I am confident that we are doing everything we can to meet that target and we will meet that target and the reason it is important to hit that target is that immigrants create jobs … and allow us to meet our workforce needs,” Mendicino said earlier this year.

On the campaign trail, the Liberals pledged to do many things to speed up the immigration system, including improvements to the Global Talent Stream (GTS) of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) through which Canadian work permits and visa applications are to be processed within two weeks to fill labour shortages.

Liberal Win Means More Efforts To Attract Immigrants

With their new mandate, the Liberals want to simplify work permit renewals under the GTS and establish an employer hotline to allow Canadian companies to attract and hire highly skilled workers.

Ottawa’s goal will be to reduce processing times that have been impacted by COVID-19 to less than 12 months.

Mendicino, who is a strong proponent of a fully digital and online immigration system, also wants to introduce electronic applications for family reunification.

Those families may be able to get back together even more quickly under a proposal for a program that would see Canada issue visas to spouses and children abroad while they are still waiting for the processing of their permanent residency applications.

Ottawa is also planning to:

build on the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) and welcome 2,000 skilled refugees to fill labour shortages in in-demand sectors such as healthcare;
reform economic immigration programs to expand pathways to permanent residence for temporary foreign workers and former international students through the Express Entry points system;
create a trusted-employer system to streamline the application process for Canadian companies hiring temporary foreign workers to fill labour shortages that cannot be filled by Canadian workers, and;
work with provinces, territories, and regulatory bodies to improve foreign credential recognition.

Foreign nationals who want to immigrate to Canada under economic immigration programs can avail themselves of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, Canadian Experience, Caregiver, Skilled Trade and SkilledWorker programs.

Under the Liberals, processing fees for permanent residency applications are also to be scrapped.

“Permanent residents are deeply committed members of our communities. They work hard, start new businesses, pay taxes, raise their families, and do so in hope that they will one day be full citizens,” the Liberals stated in their platform during the election campaign.

“Becoming a citizen allows new immigrants to fully participate in Canadian society. It should not be subject to a user fee.”

Canada Extends India Flight Ban, But Preparing For Return Of Services

COVID-19 in Canada

Colin Singer

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September 22, 2021

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Canada Extends India Flight Ban, But Preparing For Return Of Services

Canada immigration news: Canada has announced an extension to the ban on direct flights from India, put in place due to COVID-19, but says it is preparing for the return of services.

Transport Canada said Tuesday the ban would be extended until midnight on September 26, 2021.

However, the statement also said three direct flights would be arriving on September 22 to test new measures planned for flights from India once the ban is lifted.

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Those measures are:

Travellers must have proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test from the approved Genestrings Laboratory at the Delhi airport taken within 18 hours of the scheduled departure of their direct flight to Canada.
Prior to boarding, air operators will be checking the travellers’ test results ensuring they are eligible to come to Canada, and that fully vaccinated travellers have uploaded their information into the ArriveCAN mobile app or website. Travellers who are unable to meet these requirements will be denied boarding.

Everyone aboard the September 22 flights will be tested for COVID-19 on arrival.

The statement also warned that passengers coming to Canada from India indirectly would still need a negative molecular test obtained within 72 hours of departure from a third country.

Ban On Indian Flights Put In Place When COVID-19 Was Out of Control

When Canada first put a halt to flights from India, that country was struggling with what appeared to be an out-of-control second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patty Hajdu, Canada’s health minister, said in April that Indian citizens then represented 20 percent of international arrivals, but 50 percent of positive tests conducted by airport staff.

“By eliminating direct travel from (India), public health experts will have the time to evaluate the ongoing epidemiology of that region and to reassess the situation,” she said.

While the move has been praised by those grateful for any measures to curb the spread of the variant currently responsible for most of the new cases of COVID-19, others have criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government for what they consider to be an ineffective measure.

Four Ontario Immigration Draws See Province Issue 995 Invitations

Colin Singer

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September 22, 2021

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Four Ontario Immigration Draws See Province Issue 995 Invitations

Canada immigration news: Four Expression of Interest draws through Ontario’s Employer Job Offer streams for Foreign Workers and International Students saw the province issue 995 invitations.

Two draws under each stream were conducted on September 21, 2021.

Under the Foreign Worker stream, a general draw saw 406 candidates invited, with a minimum score of 37 points on the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program points grid. A further targeted draw for Regional Immigration Pilot candidates saw 36 invitations issued.

For the International Student stream, a general draw saw 523 invitations issued, with a minimum score of 61, while a Regional Immigration Pilot draw featured 30 invitations.

To qualify for each draw, candidates needed to have created profiles between April 28 and September 21, 2021.

Full requirements for all the mentioned streams are included further down this article.

Ontario Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream Expression of Interest Draw

Date issued	Number of invitations issued	Date profiles created	Score range	Notes
September 21, 2021	36	April 28 – September 21, 2021	N/A	Targeted draw for Regional Immigration Pilot candidates.
September 21, 2021	406	April 28 – September 21, 2021	37 and above	General draw

Ontario Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream Expression of Interest Draw

Date issued	Number of invitations issued	Date profiles created	Score range	Notes
September 21, 2021	30	April 28 – September 21, 2021	N/A	Targeted draw for Regional Immigration Pilot candidates.
September 21, 2021	523	April 28 – September 21, 2021	61 and above	General draw

Ontario Expression of Interest Ranking System

Points are awarded based on the following attributes:

Level and field of education and where they completed their studies.
Proficiency in English or French.
Intention to settle outside of the Greater Toronto Area.
Skill and work experience level, earnings history, other factors relevant to prospects in Ontario job market.
Labour market needs in the province or region of the province.

Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

To qualify under this stream, applicants must have:

A permanent and full-time job offer under NOC 0, A or B that meets the median wage levels for Ontario, and in a position that is necessary to the business;
- For those already working in the position, the proposed wage must be equal or greater than the current wage being paid
Two cumulative years of relevant work experience in the previous five years before the date of application;
Relevant mandatory licensing in Ontario, if the position so requires;
Live abroad, or be working, studying or visiting Canada on a valid permit;
Intention to settle in Ontario.

Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

To qualify under this stream, applicants must have:

A permanent and full-time job offer under NOC 0, A or B that meets low wage levels for Ontario, and in a position that is necessary to the business;
- For those already working in the position, the proposed wage must be equal or greater than the current wage being paid
Either
- Graduated or met requirements of a full-time minimum two-year degree from a publicly-funded Canadian college or university; OR
- Graduated or met requirements of a full-time minimum one-year post-graduate diploma program from a publicly-funded Canadian college or university.
Completed at least half the studies in Canada;
Apply within two years from the date you completed the above course
Legal status in Ontario
Intention to settle in Ontario.

Regional Immigration Pilot

The Regional Immigration Pilot is designed to use the OINP to bring skilled labour not available locally to smaller Ontario communities.

To qualify candidates must have a permanent job offer from one of the three participating communities:

Chatham-Kent.
Cornwall.
Quinte West/Belleville.

Candidates must also meet the criteria for one of the Ontario Employer Job Offer streams, namely:

Foreign Worker.
International Student.
In-Demand Skills.

Candidate Requirements

Full-time and permanent job offer from an employer in one of the participating communities.
Meet the criteria for one of the Employer Job Offer category streams (see below).

Number of Nominations

Approximately 150 Employer Job Offer nominations have been set aside for the pilot.

U.S. Extends Closure of Land Border With Canada Until October 21

COVID-19 in Canada

Colin Singer

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September 21, 2021

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U.S. Extends Closure of Land Border With Canada Until October 21

Canada immigration news: The U.S. has once again extended its closure of the land border with Canada as part of measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Despite Canada having opened up to fully vaccinated Americans since the beginning of August, U.S. land borders with both Canada and Mexico will remain closed until October 21.

The borders were closed in March 2020 as coronavirus spread throughout the continent.

While land borders remain closed, the U.S. has eased restrictions on air travel as of November for fully vaccinated foreigners.

Read More Canada Immigration News

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Under the relaxed rules, air travellers to the U.S. will need proof of full vaccination and a negative test within 72 hours of boarding.

The move represents a move to an individual-based approach and away from a country-based approach, which the White House described as ‘a stronger system’.

It means countries like the U.K., China and India will no longer have targeted travel restrictions.

Meanwhile, the new rules will also see unvaccinated Americans require a test one day before travelling to or leaving the country. Furthermore, vaccinated travellers will be exempt from quarantine.

The decision to extend the land border closure come despite calls from American officials to allow Canadians to cross into the U.S.

All fully-vaccinated Americans have been allowed to travel to Canada since August 9, provided the have a negative test in the last 72 hours, are resident in the U.S. and had their second COVID-19 shot at least two weeks before. All details must be uploaded on the ArriveCAN app.

Meanwhile, as of September 7, Canada started allowing in all fully vaccinated international travellers with a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their flight. Again, details must upload to ArriveCAN.

Canadian immigration officials are telling anyone who applied for a visitor visa before September 7 to re-apply if their situation has changed and they are coming for one of 10 reasons.

Those reasons include coming to Canada:

to be reunited with an immediate family member who is a Canadian citizen, a person registered under Canada’s Indian Act or a permanent resident of Canada;
to be reunited with an immediate family member who is in Canada temporarily;
to be reunited with an extended family member who is a Canadian citizen, a person registered under Canada’s Indian Act or a permanent resident of Canada;
to visit for business (meeting, special event, training);
to attend an end-of-life ceremony or a funeral;
to be present during the final moments of the life of a loved one;
to provide care to a critically ill person;
to join a vessel as a marine crew member;
to assume a posting as a diplomat or to travel as an accompanying immediate family member of a diplomat arriving on posting who will also be accredited in Canada, or;
to handle the affairs of a victim of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752.

COVID-19 Creates Major Worker Shortage in Canadian Ski Towns

Canada jobs

Colin Singer

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September 21, 2021

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COVID-19 Creates Major Worker Shortage in Canadian Ski Towns

Canada immigration news: The number of job vacancies in western Canada’s ski towns is soaring as the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions prevent many of the foreign nationals who usually work there from travelling.

That’s an opportunity for young people looking for a working holiday through International Experience Canada (IEC) and economic migrants.

“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” Michel Dufresne, director of the Job Resource Centre in Banff and Canmore, reportedly said.

“Everyone has pitched up wages, but it doesn’t matter what you pay; there’s nobody to take the job.”

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Five years ago, as many as 2,500 foreign workers used to find jobs in Alberta’s Bow Valley for the seasonal work. They comprised up to a third of the local hospitality sector’s workforce.

Immigrants Who Can Travel Finding a Job-Hunter’s Paradise

Most of them, though, were laid off when COVID-19 led to lockdowns in March last year. Many of these workers returned home to the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Many of them can’t come back due to travel restrictions in their home countries. Australians, for example, are not yet allowed to leave their country for non-essential travel.

“We have a very low inventory of job-seekers at this point,” Dufresne reportedly said. “High volume of job postings for everything in hospitality. This year is worse because we don’t have the foreigners, we don’t have the eastern Canadian. We don’t have the out-of-area traffic we used to get.”

The surge in available jobs in Alberta’s hospitality sector now presents an opportunity for those foreign nationals who can travel to Canada and more easily than ever find employment which can lead to permanent residency in the country.

There are many pathways for workers to get jobs and live in Canada, including the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

As vaccination rates rise and the Canadian economy recovers, the country is seeing huge job growth and opportunities for new Canadians and temporary foreign workers and new opportunities for those who want to immigrate to Canada.

Canadian Companies In Full-Scale Hiring Mode

“Employment rose by 90,000, up 0.5 percent, in August, the third consecutive monthly increase,” reported Statistics Canada. “Employment is within 156,000 jobs, down only 0.8 percent, of its February 2020 level, the closest since the onset of the pandemic.”

Even more encouraging is that the new jobs are primarily full-time, not part-time. In August, Canada added 69,000 full-time jobs, up 0.4 percent.

The sectors showing the most growth were the hotels, motels, and restaurants where there is currently a massive labour shortage in Canada.

The latest figures also show that immigrants who arrived in Canada within the last five years are enjoying better employment prospects since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with their employment rate hitting 70.4 percent last month.

That’s 6.1 percentage points higher than in the same month in 2019, before the start of the pandemic.

Many of these immigrants would likely have come to Canada under economic immigration programs, including the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, Canadian Experience, Caregiver, Skilled Trade and Skilled Worker programs, which would have greatly increased their employment prospects.

The labour shortage in Canada is now so pronounced that many employers have little choice but to up their compensation packages, offering more in wages and benefits.

Amazon Canada Looking To Hire 15,000 Workers

Jordan Irwin, general manager at High Country Inn in Alberta, reportedly said his hotel has increased wages and is now offering bonuses.

He’s not alone.

Giant online retailer Amazon Canada is planning to hire 15,000 employees this autumn and is hoping to entice more people to sign up by upping its starting wage for its Canadian employees on the front line to somewhere between $17 and $21.65 per hour.

The company currently starts employees at about $16 an hour, making this a raise of between 6.25 to 35.3 percent on the current base wages.

The new jobs represent an increase of about 60 percent to Amazon Canada’s existing workforce of 25,000, making this a huge vote of confidence by Amazon Canada in the Canadian economy.

“We have a job for just about everyone,” said Ardine Williams, vice-president of human development, in an interview with Bloomberg.

These new jobs will be warehouse and distribution positions in communities across the country.

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