Canada needs to make sure that immigrants are contributing to not only GDP growth, but also to GDP per capita growth, AIMCo Chair and former CPPIB CEO Mark Wiseman has said.
In sharing his economic outlook for 2024 with Bloomberg, Wiseman said that “I don’t think we’re out of the woods yet, particularly in this country.”
“There continues to be strong growth in the US, apparently with lower inflation, at least for the time being. So that’s a good signal.
“Canada – we’re behind.
“The productivity gap continues in this country, doesn’t seem to be abating, and I think slower Canadian growth relative to our brother in the South is going to be a continuing problem for the Canadian economy.”
According to him, Canadian productivity – which is reflected in GDP per capita, income, and Canadians’ wealth – is 27 percent lower than that in the US.
A multitude of issues that cause lower productivity in Canada thus need to be addressed. According to Wiseman, Canada needs two things – it needs to “double down” on its comparative advantages, and it needs a higher degree of competition, both within Canada and with the rest of the world.
Immigration is one of Canada’s greatest comparative advantages in the form of human capital. However, that human capital needs to become more productive.
This, he posits, can be achieved through a few means. Firstly, people need to be educated for the “jobs of the future.” This spans jobs in a variety of sectors, with a special focus on tech – especially artificial intelligence.
Secondly, people need to be allowed to freely work across provinces, with little to no barriers to employment or barriers to trade across the country.
Thirdly, it needs to be ensured that Canadian companies are spending on both physical and human capital in continuous improvement.
The immigrants coming to Canada, he added, are positively adding to the economy, and it needs to be ensured that they are contributing positively to not only GDP, but also GDP per capita, which is defined as a country’s total gross domestic output divided by its total population.
Immigrants do jobs that many Canadians do not want to do, and it needs to be ensured that they are productive, said Wiseman.
It needs to be ensured that students to Canada are actually studying and intend to stay productively.
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The statistics are positive, but it should not be the case that immigrants are solely used as cheap labor to replace capital productivity improvements in Canada. If this is not achieved, Canada is going to become relatively poorer in comparison to other countries, especially the United States.
“We have to fight against complacency. We have to benchmark ourselves to a higher standard. And I think that there is no higher standard, and no better standard, than the United States,” concluded Wiseman.
“And so, we need to be asking ourselves, ‘are our businesses as competitive as similar businesses in the US?’ Are our workers as productive as similar workers in the United States? Are our companies spending on research and development and innovation at the same level as their American counterparts?’ And if the answer to those questions is no, what’s going to happen is that at a relative scale, Canadians are going to become poorer and poorer next to their cousins in the United States.”
In a separate draw on December 21 Manitoba issued 1,113 invitations through the Skilled Worker Overseas stream, with a minimum score of 601.
Manitoba stated that 529 of the candidates invited had valid Express Entry IDs and job seeker validation codes.
For detailed requirements of all the streams featured in this draw, please see below.
Manitoba Draw: December 28
Stream
Sub-Stream
Letters of Advice to Apply
Score of Lowest Ranked Candidate
1) Skilled Workers in Manitoba
Close relative in Manitoba selection
160
612
2) International Education Stream
67
–
3) Skilled Workers Overseas
Strategic Recruitment Initiative
27
698
Manitoba Draw: December 21
Stream
Sub-Stream
Letters of Advice to Apply
Score of Lowest Ranked Candidate
Skilled Worker Overseas
1,113
601
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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
The December 19 draws were targeted at specific occupations.
In a tech draw, 107 invitations were issued to skilled workers and international graduates with a minimum score of 95 points.
A further 62 invitations were issued to skilled workers and international graduates scoring at least 60 points in a draw targeting Early Childhood Educators and Assistants under NOC 42202.
The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals that immigrant entrepreneurship through the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program bounced back in October, putting Canada on track to welcome 1,200 new permanent residents through that program by the end of this year based on the current trend.
In October, Canada welcomed 200 new permanent residents to Canada through the SUV, up 37.9 per cent over the 145 new permanent residents in September.
That uptick in immigrant entrepreneurship in October comes on the heels of a drop of 17.1 per cent, from 175 new permanent residents, through the SUV from August to September.
IRCC has allocated substantial planned admissions for permanent residence to Start-Up Visa applicants. Whereas this number has only been 1,000 per year during the past few years, in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 this number will increase dramatically to 3,500, 5,000, 6,000 and 6,000 respectively.
The latest surge in SUV immigration sets a new record for monthly immigration through the program for this year, with the previous record being established in July.
After welcoming 65 new permanent residents under the entrepreneurship program in June, Canada saw a boom in SUV immigration of 107.7 per cent in July.
By the end of October, Canada had welcomed 1,000 new permanent residents through the SUV this year, putting the country on track – if the current levels of SUV immigration continue through to the end of the year – for up to 1,200 new permanent residents to settle in Canada under the SUV by the end of the year.
That level of SUV immigration would be 108.7 per cent higher than the 575 new permanent residents who immigrated to Canada under that program last year.
In the first 10 months of the SUV this year, the program has welcomed 90.5 per cent more new permanent residents than it did during the comparable period last year.
The most popular destinations for immigrant entrepreneurs arriving under the SUV so far this year have been Ontario and British Columbia.
Ontario had received 635 new permanent residents through the program at the end of the first 10 months of this year and British Columbia had welcomed 240 through that immigration program during the same period.
Alberta had added 20 new permanent residents through the program by the end of October, showing no change from the previous month, and Manitoba had welcomed 95 immigrant entrepreneurs through the SUV in the first 10 months this year.
Ontario Saw The Most SUV Entrepreneurs Arrive, Nova Scotia The Least
The only other province to see the arrival of immigrant entrepreneurs through the SUV this year has been Nova Scotia which had by the end of October welcomed 10, unchanged from the previous month.
None of the other provinces or territories added any new permanent residents through the SUV in the first 10 months of this year.
Due to these smaller numbers, the monthly fluctuations in the number of new permanent residents under the SUV can sometimes seem exaggerated when examined in percentage terms.
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Candidates applying under the SUV program can initially come to Canada on a work permit supported by their designated Canadian investor before their application for permanent residence is finalized.
The entire process of applying for permanent residence to Canada through the SUV is currently estimated by the IRCC to take 37 months.
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. Candidates can also qualify with two or more investments from angel investor groups totalling $75,000.
A designated business incubator must accept the applicant into its business incubator program. It is up to the immigrant investor to develop a viable business plan that will meet the due diligence requirements of these government-approved designated entities.
Immigration Lawyers Can Help Immigrant Entrepreneurs Navigate Canada’s Start-Up Eco-System
That investing and the development of the business is usually done with the help of business consultants in Canada’s start-up ecosystem with oversight from experienced corporate business immigration lawyers who can ensure a start-up’s business concept meets all industry-required terms and conditions.
The basic government-imposed candidate eligibility requirements for the SUV are:
sufficient unencumbered, available and transferable settlement funds to meet settlement funding, and;
proficiency in English or French at the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark level 5. However, it frequently occurs that higher levels of English are needed to meet due diligence requirements imposed by designated entities.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Canada is spending $21 million to help Afghans who have fled to central Asia and Pakistan to escape the Taliban Afghanistan – and is also planning to resettle over 136,000 refugees in the next three years.
“With over 114 million people displaced globally, we have a responsibility to step up and take action to address the global migration crisis,” said Miller at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, Switzerland.
“The forum has been an opportunity to connect with other government leaders, refugees, international business leaders, non-governmental organizations and international organizations, all driven by a deep sense of individual and collective responsibility and commitment to do more.
“Canada will continue to do our part by making meaningful, life-saving pledges that give more opportunity and hope to refugees and displaced people around the world.”
In 2022, Canada resettled over 46,500 refugees from 80 countries. This was the fourth straight year that Canada was the top receiving country of refugees.
Canada’s commitment to refugees includes protection to those the country considers to be the most vulnerable, including women in precarious situations, ethnic and religious minorities, members of LGBTQI+ communities, Rohingya refugees and human rights defenders.
Tsering Thonsur, an advisor to the Refugee Advisory Network of Canada, was born a stateless Tibetan refugee in India and is proud of Canada’s leadership in refugee protection.
“Recognition of the expertise of refugees is vital in strengthening refugee responses at all levels,” said Thonsur.
“Refugees are resourceful partners. I hope that commitments made at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum lead to more equitable, expedited responses for refugees.”
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Building on Canada’s recent work to welcome over 40,000 vulnerable Afghans, which has been achieved and exceeded, the new funds announced by the immigration minister will go to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to help neighbouring countries with these refugees become better equipped to support them and respond to their needs.
Miller has announced that the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), a refugee labour mobility pathway, will become a permanent economic immigration program.
In late December, 2022, Ottawa demonstrated its support for the EMPP with an additional investment of $6.2 million to help partner organizations run six projects and bring more skilled refugees to Canada.
EMPP To Become A Permanent Immigration Program, Says Immigration Minister
“Resettlement provides refugees with the opportunity to live in safety and rebuild their lives but it shouldn’t mean their career experience gets overlooked in the process,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
“Through this ground-breaking program, our government is highlighting skilled refugees’ professional achievements by allowing them to continue their career in Canada while giving employers access to a pool of global talent.”
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is now also hoping to create an education pathway for eligible refugees and displaced students to study in Canada.
At the forum, Canada also co-sponsored the Securing Sustainable Futures mega-pledge to help all refugee children receive a quality education, including access to well-supported national education systems.
Canada and its partners provide pre-arrival and post-arrival support services to help refugees prepare and successfully integrate into their new communities in Canada.
The country is providing $14 million to support the IOM in continuing to deliver its pre-arrival services for refugees, such as transportation and accommodation grants, interpretation, travel costs, meals and childminding, through the Canadian Orientation Abroad Program (COAP)
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says Canadian businesses are losing out on up to $38 billion in contracts and sales because of labour shortages plaguing the country.
In its latest report, Small Businesses in Canada Hit Hard: The Big Financial Toll of Labour Shortages, the 97,000-strong organization representing small and medium-sized businesses in Canada claims a lack of workers is hitting business hard – and warns the situation could get even worse in the future.
“Challenging demographics and a failure to truly rise to the moment from governments also mean the current situation could deteriorate further in the future,” notes the CFIB in that report.
Through a network of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), almost all of Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories can nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada when they have the specific skills required by local economies.
Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.
The Global Talent Stream (GTS), a part of the TFWP, can under normal processing situations lead to the granting of Canadian work permits and processing of visa applications within two weeks.
Despite record-breaking immigration to Canada, though, many employers are still struggling to find workers, one of the reasons Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently upped the immigration targets for the coming years.
Under its newly-released 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada is planning to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024, 500,000 in 2025 and then hold the line on immigration in 2026 with another 500,000 new permanent residents.
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That’s a total of 1.485 million immigrants to Canada over those three years.
The Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) is bullish on boosting immigration to resolve labour challenges throughout the country.
“Immigration is critical to addressing labour shortages, attracting new investment, and supporting Canada’s economic growth,” said FMRI provincial-territorial co-chair Jeremy Harrison, the minister of immigration and career training, in November.
Without Enough Staff, Employers Are Forced To Work Longer Hours Themselves
“Provinces and territories play a key role in ensuring that immigration is responsive to employers’ labour needs and benefits all regions of the country. Several provinces and territories are also taking steps to improve foreign qualification recognition to ensure newcomers can work in occupations aligned with their skills and experience.”
The money lost in potential sales and contracts due to labour shortages is something the CFIB considers to be “ a significant amount that could have been a major boon for small businesses, helping them address staffing issues through investments in automation or the still challenging post-COVID recovery on Main Street.”
In a presentation before a standing committee of the Nova Scotia government, CFIB senior policy analyst Duncan Robertson said business owners are working long hours to compensate for labour shortages that amount to 59 hours a week per business.
“There is no doubt based on our data and the lived experiences of our members that over the last two years, inflation and labour challenges have been at the forefront of most business owners’ realities,” Robertson said.
Canada has made it a priority to ease Indigenous Peoples’ mobility and migration rights, says Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who was previously Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations for five years.
This is reflected in the section to “advance reconciliation as we welcome newcomers” in IRCC’s recent report on the current state of Canadian immigration. It says that in staying consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan 2023–2028, IRCC pursue legislative amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, amendments to relevant regulations and revisions to policies.
These will be aimed at addressing complex border crossing and migration challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples divided by Canada’s international borders, including options to amend Canada’s right of entry provision, and work and study permit requirements.
“Our aim to improve services won’t only stop with newcomers,” said Miller to reporters. “We’re also addressing border crossings for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.”
These proposed exemptions from post-colonial immigration rules could be of benefit to several First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples who are currently bound to regular border rules and restrictions, despite having engaged in a years-long battle to be able to travel freely across an ancestral land that now spans parts of Canada, Greenland, Russia, and the US.
“The imposition of the Canada-US border has been, in the eyes of First Nations, destructive of family, cultural, governance and other connections with US Tribes which are of great importance to their identity as well as to their cultural survival,” read an independent report by Ottawa from 2017.
“The normal flow of family and cultural practices as well as of governmental and membership alliances has been disrupted by current immigration rules.”
Canada – unlike its Southern neighbor – does not recognize the Jay’s Treaty, which allows American Indians to move across borders freely. Indigenous people with Indian status (50% American Indian blood) can thus freely travel from Canada to the US to work, live, and study, but not vice versa.
The problem with mobility is even more exacerbated for the Inuit, who are not recognized as Indian. Respondent to this, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has submitted suggestions to change the wording of the immigration act from “Indians” to “Indigenous Peoples.”
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It further recommends a special “Indigenous Peoples’ Class” so that Indigenous people who are not Canadians can work and live within their homeland in Canada, reported the Toronto Star.
IRCC’s report acknowledged the historic systemic racism and discrimination faced by Indigenous Peoples by saying that it will respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 93 by reflecting and more accurate and inclusive history of Indigenous Peoples to newcomers to Canada.
This will include information about the Treaty and the history of Canada’s residential schools.
International students coming to study in Canada no longer need to go through the lengthy but temporary processes to protect public health which were implemented earlier during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the coronavirus which causes this respiratory illness is still present in Canada, the situation has come under control enough for Ottawa to lift as of Oct. 1, 2022 its public health and travel measures put in place to curb the spread of the illness.
These included:
submitting public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website;
providing proof of vaccination;
undergoing pre- or on-arrival testing;
carrying out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation, and;
monitoring and reporting signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada.
Transport Canada also removed COVID-19 travel requirements on the same day, which means travellers no longer need to:
undergo health checks for travel on air and rail, or;
wear masks on planes and trains.
“Thanks largely to Canadians who have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated, we have reached the point where we can safely lift the sanitary measures at the border,” said then-Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos late last year.
“However, we expect COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses will continue to circulate over the cold months, so I encourage everyone to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses and exercise individual public health measures.”
Canada does not require that international students come within a set time frame before beginning their studies and only advises them to allow for a reasonable amount of time to prepare ahead of starting school.
International students are not allowed to work on or off campus until they do begin their studies in Canada.
Any international students who want to change schools must also be aware that to do so they must submit a new study permit application with a new letter of acceptance and pay all the fees for the new application.
First Step To Studying In Canada Is To Find The Right School And Program
When an international student starts thinking about studying in Canada, the first step is to find a world-class school or program by doing research on those schools and programs which are right for him or her.
“Consider where you’d like to live in Canada’s provinces and territories,” advises EduCanada, the official federal government source about studying in Canada for international students and researchers.
“Across the country, you can choose from small, welcoming rural communities and large vibrant cities.”
EduCanada’s search tool allows international students to get information about colleges and universities but these students can also learn about elementary schools, high schools, and language schools by contacting them directly.
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“If you want to study in Canada, the good news is that tuition fees are generally less expensive than in other major anglophone destinations like the United States, United Kingdom and Australia,” notes QS Top Universities.
EduCanada also provides an online tool to help international students calculate the tuition and living costs based on the program in which they are enrolled.
“You can use our search tool to search and compare tuition and living costs for different college and university programs across Canada,” notes EduCanada.
“Depending on where you choose to study, your costs will be different. To help prepare your budget, use the search tool to get cost estimates for:
food;
housing;
transportation, and;
health insurance.”
EduCanada Tool Helps International Students Get Scholarships
In addition to any financial assistance from mom and dad, friends and other family members, the cost of studying in Canada can be offset through scholarship, fellowships and grants as well as by working during one’s studies.
Among the most notable scholarship and fellowship programs are:
the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) for students;
the Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program;
the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program;
the Study in Canada Scholarships;
the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships;
the Organization of American States Academic Scholarship Program, and;
the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships.
Many students also work while pursuing their studies in Canada and then apply for a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) which allows them to remain and work in the country upon graduation and pick up valuable experience which counts towards any application they might make for permanent residence in Canada.
Once an international student has decided to come to Canada for his or her studies, the next step is to apply to a school.
“When applying to your chosen school, be sure to provide accurate information and the requested documents,” advises EduCanada.
“Your school will tell you which documents you need and the next steps to follow. Keep in mind that the application fee will vary for each institution. Be sure to apply well in advance.”
Schools in Canada will check the international student’s credentials and qualifications and ask him or her to provide documents, including their:
report cards;
transcripts, and;
academic credentials.
Passports Will Be Requested By IRCC When The Study Permit Is Approved
When a college or university or other school sends the international student his or her letter of acceptance, you will then need to get a study permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). That process can sometimes be completed more quickly by applying through the Student Direct Stream (SDS).
Since the start of December this year, the IRCC has a new version of its study permit application form which must be used by anyone applying through their secure IRCC account.
“Generally, you must apply for a study permit before you come to Canada,” notes the IRCC’s website.
“Some people can apply for a study permit from within Canada. In some cases, you can apply when you arrive in Canada at the port of entry. Make sure you understand which option is available to you.”
The documents an international student needs to apply for a study permit include not only a letter of acceptance from the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) they will be attending but as many of the documents needed for a complete application as possible.
“We won’t be able to finalize your study permit until you’ve submitted a complete application,” notes the IRCC.
In the even that any documents are missing due to COVID-19, the IRCC will require a letter of explanation.
“If you plan to study in Quebec, you must provide a valid attestation of issuance of your Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ),” notes the IRCC.
Canadian immigration officials will ask the international student to send them his or her passport once the study permit application is approved. The IRCC sends that passport back to the international student with the study permit along with a letter of introduction.
“When you travel to Canada, bring this letter with you and show it at the Canada Border Services officer. If you have been approved, the officer will then give you your study permit,” advises EduCanada.
Ahead of arriving in Canada, international students should also arrange for the housing needs and find out what kind of travel and health insurance they will need.
“Canadian students often choose to live on campus during their first year of post-secondary education. As an international student, this option may appeal to you, too. It’s a great way to meet friends and connect with other students,” advises EduCanada.
Getting The Right Health Insurance Vital For International Students
“If you’re sending your child to Canada for high school or an exchange program, they’ll likely stay with a Canadian family as part of a homestay program. Some private high schools in Canada offer dormitory housing to allow students to live, eat and sleep at the school.”
A very important part of any international student’s preparations should be ensuring they have the health insurance they will need in Canada as it can be very distressing to be sick in a foreign country and not know where to go for healthcare or how to pay for it.
“Provinces and territories that offer free health care to international students may require a period of residency in Canada before you are granted free health coverage,” notes EduCanada.
“As an international student, you need to determine whether your province or territory extends healthcare coverage to you. If so, you’ll be able to access doctors and hospitals in that province or territory. This kind of health insurance does not cover dentists, chiropractors, physiotherapy and other similar services.”
There are provinces in Canada, though, where international students cannot count on any free healthcare coverage. In those places, they must buy private medical insurance.
“In Ontario, for example, all international students must have health coverage provided by University Health Insurance Plan,” notes EduCanada.
Travel health insurance is somewhat different from basic health insurance and is generally useful for those who intend to spend less than a year in Canada and live in different parts of the country.
Once those preparations are done, it’s time for an international student to book his or her flight, find out about baggage limits and customs rules – and be sure to bring a small amount of Canadian or U.S. cash with them. They can also download the ArriveCan mobile app on their phones for a faster boarding experience.
“Make sure you have all documents you need to bring with you, such as: the letter of acceptance from your school; medical and immunization records, and; any documents your school asks you to bring,” advises EduCanada.
New immigration measures to support the families of Canadian citizens and permanent residents affected by the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza have been announced.
Study Permits and Open Work Permits are available without application fees for family members of citizens and permanent residents who have left Israel and the Palestinian territories. The same permits are available to Israelis and Palestinians already in Canada who feel it is unsafe to return.
The measures were announced by Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Thursday.
“The scale of this humanitarian crisis is devastating and the situation on the ground is challenging,” Miller said.
“Israelis and Palestinians in Canada will continue to find safety here and we will do what we can to help loved ones who have fled the region, as well as eligible family members who remain in Gaza.
“We will continue to remain flexible with our response so we can meet the unique needs of those who require our support.”
Gaza has been gripped by war since Israel retaliated to a Hamas terror attack on October 7 that killed 1,200 Israelis. The Palestinian Health Ministry says more than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli air and ground incursion in the densely populated enclave.
Fee-exempt Study or Open Work Permits
To be eligible to apply for fee-exempt study or open work permits, immediate family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents and Israelis or Palestinians already in Canada must have valid temporary resident status.
Permanent residents and family members of permanent residents and Canadian citizens who came to Canada following their assisted departure from Gaza may be eligible to apply online for time-limited medical coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program to support immediate medical needs upon arrival.
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For Those With Loved Ones Living In Gaza
Eligible applicants include the spouse, common-law partner, child (regardless of age), grandchild, sibling, parent or grandparent of a Canadian anchor, as well as their immediate family members (spouse, common-law partner, dependent child, and dependent child of a dependent child). The Canadian citizen or permanent resident must be currently residing in Canada.
Proof of relationship documents may include:
a copy of the child’s or grandchild’s birth certificate
a copy of the child’s or grandchild’s baptismal certificate
another official document naming the applicant as the parent or grandparent, such as their family book or civil registration documents.
Are you a candidate with skills and qualifications in one of Canada’s 82 jobs for occupation-specific Express Entry draws? We want to help you move to Canada. Please submit your CV here.
A new Statistics Canada report shows employers were looking for fewer workers across much of Canada in the third quarter of this year compared to the previous three months as job vacancies fell and unemployment rose.
That’s the fifth consecutive quarter that job vacancies have declined in Canada and a clear indicator that the tightness in the labour market is easing off.
“Job vacancies fell by 69,900, down nine per cent, to 706,100 in the third quarter, marking the fifth straight quarterly decline from the record high reached in the second quarter of 2022 at 990,900 job vacancies,” reports the statistical and demographic services agency in its Job Vacancies, Third Quarter 2023 report.
“The number of unemployed persons … increased by 79,500. As a result, there were 1.7 unemployed persons for every job vacancy in the third quarter, up from 1.4 in the previous quarter, and 1.1 in the third quarter of 2022.”
Due to population growth, most of which is driven by immigration in Canada, the drop in job vacancies and rise in unemployment also came with a bump up in the number of workers with paying jobs.
“Payroll employment rose by 117,600, up 0.7 per cent, in the third quarter of 2023, the 10th consecutive quarterly increase. However, payroll employment has increased at a slower pace than the population aged 15 years and older since the fourth quarter of 2022.”
The hardest-hit workers looking for jobs were those with the least amount of education in the third quarter of this year.
Largest proportional decline in vacancies for positions requiring high school diploma or less
“Positions requiring a high school diploma or less … saw the largest year-over-year declines in vacancies,” notes Statistics Canada.
Job vacancies for these positions fell by 31.3 per cent on a year-over-year basis in the third quarter.
“In comparison, the number of vacancies for positions requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher fell 15.2 per cent … over the same period,” reports Statistics Canada.
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“The average offered hourly wage for vacant positions requiring a high school diploma or less grew 5.2 per cent year over year to $20.40 in the third quarter of 2023. In contrast, the average offered hourly wage for the positions requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher was little changed at $39.95 in the third quarter.”
The biggest drop in job vacancies in the third quarter compared to the previous three months was again in sales and service where the demand fell by 14.3 per cent.
Sales And Service Sector Saw Biggest Drop In Job Vacancies In Q3
“The number of vacant positions in business, finance and administration occupations fell by 8,100, down 9.4 per cent, to 77,500 in the third quarter, following three consecutive quarterly declines from the peak of 105,000 vacancies in the second and third quarters of 2022,” reports Statistics Canada.
“There were also fewer job vacancies in five other broad occupational groups in the third quarter of 2023, while the number of vacant positions was little changed in health occupations … and in education, law and social, community and government services.”
On a year-over-year basis, job vacancies fell the most in manufacturing and utilities with a 46.9 decline to 25,900, followed by natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations which were down 35 per cent to 15,600 and natural and applied sciences and related occupations which were down 34.6p per cent to 44,500.
“Over the same period, the lowest proportional annual drop was recorded in occupations in education, law and social, community and government services down 3.9 per cent to 64,800, followed by health occupations, down 6.1 per cent to 89,400, which saw their first year-over-year decline in vacancies since the first quarter of 2015, the earliest quarter for which comparable data are available.
“The year-over-year drop in vacancies in health occupations in the third quarter of 2023 was driven by nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates … and other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health). These declines were partially offset by more vacancies for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses … which saw the largest annual increase in vacancies in the third quarter.”
Across the country, job vacancies fell the most in Ontario, followed by Quebec and British Columbia during the third quarter. Year over year, job vacancies fell in nine provinces and were little changed in Saskatchewan.
Foreign nationals can gain their permanent residency in Canada by immigrating through the country’s many economic immigration programs.
PNPs Offer Route To Economic Immigration For Skilled Workers
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 Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a full application and pay processing fees, within a delay of 90-days.
Through a network of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can also nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada when they have the specific skills required by local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.
The Global Talent Stream (GTS), a part of the TFWP, can under normal processing situations lead to the granting of Canadian work permits and processing of visa applications within two weeks.
