Canada Express Entry Draw To Target Truck Drivers Among 10 Transport Jobs

Colin Singer
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0
Canada Express Entry Draw To Target Truck Drivers Among 10 Transport Jobs

We are recruiting long haul (HGV) drivers for a major employer in Canada.  If you have a valid Class 1 license equivalent in your country, please submit your CV here.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Canada will hold its first occupation-targeted Express Entry draw for transport Canada jobs, including truck drivers, this week.

“As Canada grows its economy, we’re committed to improving transport and infrastructure to ensure the safe and efficient movement of goods and passengers across the country,” said Miller.

“Category-based selection helps us invite newcomers with experience in transport occupations to fill significant labour gaps and ensure the future success of the Canadian transport sector.

“I look forward to welcoming more skilled workers to our country, as their knowledge and expertise are invaluable, to meet our labour market needs.”

Details of this draw had yet to be announced on Monday but the immigration minister did state the draw would see commercial truck drivers, pilots and aircraft assembly workers sent Invitations to Apply (ITA).

Read More Canada Immigration News

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Under the changes announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at the end of May, the Express Entry streams, including the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as parts of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) are now more responsive to labour market needs and allow for occupation-targeted draws.

Candidates hoping to immigrate through Express Entry occupation-targeted draws need at least six months of continuous work experience in Canada or abroad within the past three years in one of these occupations to be eligible, experience that can have been gained while working in Canada as temporary foreign workers with a work permits or as an international student with a student visa.

Express Entry Transport Occupations

Occupation  2021 NOC code  2021 TEER category 
Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors 93200 3
Transport truck drivers 73300 3
Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators 72604 2
Engineer officers, water transport 72603 2
Deck officers, water transport 72602 2
Air traffic controllers and related occupations 72601 2
Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors 72600 2
Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors 72404 2
Railway carmen/women 72403 2
Managers in transportation 70020 0

The changes to Canada’s immigration policies were put in place to help the country address labour shortages and support economic goals by inviting candidates with specific work experience or French language ability to apply for permanent residence.

Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez says it is vital for Canada’s economic growth to keep goods flowing freely.

“The transportation sector is crucial to our economy and, if we want to keep things moving, we need to invest in the people that move travellers and transport our goods,” said Rodriguez.

Are you an employer looking to hire foreign workers in Canada? Immigration.ca can help through its sister company, skilledworker.com. We provide a comprehensive recruitment package to help you identify and hire the best individuals from abroad. Contact us now.

“With this new initiative, we are helping address a critical skills shortage while also attracting new, talented people to communities across Canada. Truck drivers, pilots, aviation mechanical engineers and seafarers play a critical role in our economy and Canadians’ lives. Filling vacancies in these professions will boost economic growth and create stronger and more resilient supply chains.”

With the arrival of occupation-targeted draws, the IRCC identified 82 occupations eligible for these new Express Entry draws.

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 enterprise skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.

Canada first signalled its intention to start occupation-specific draws through Express Entry in June last year, when changes were made to the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act to allow invitations based on occupations and other attributes, such as language ability.

Federal High-Skilled Draws Brought In Up To 40 Per Cent Of French-Speaking Immigrants

The majority of Canada’s provinces have been issuing occupation-specific invitations for several years.

Under the changes to the act, the immigration minister is required to consult provinces and territories, members of industry, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners, before announcing new categories.

IRCC must also report to parliament each year on the categories that were chosen and the reason for the choices.

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Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) says the number of occupations facing shortages doubled between 2019 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022, federal high skilled admissions accounted for between 34 and 40 per cent of overall French-speaking admissions outside Quebec, which manages its own immigration intake.

Under the Canada–Quebec Accord, Quebec establishes its own immigration levels. From 2018 to 2022, admissions under the federal high-skilled programs accounted for 34 to 40 per cent of overall French-speaking admissions outside Quebec.

Are you ready to live and work in Canada? Fill out our free evaluation form to find out if you are eligible.

Become the right candidate with the job you always wanted with our online IELTS and EECP packages at skilledworker.com.

We are accepting international entrepreneurs to join our Start-Up Visa projects in Canada. Read more here.

Canada To Build More Homes After Announcing Landmark Agreements

Colin Singer
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0
Canada To Build More Homes After Announcing Landmark Agreements

The first municipal agreement under the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund have been declared by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The announcement is in relation to a $74-million deal with London, Ontario to fast-track the construction of upwards of 2,000 houses in the city over the next three years – a precursor to thousands of further projects in the years to follow.

The anticipated units are set to include high-density development without the need for re-zoning, and would clear the way for the development of more duplexes, triplexes, and small apartment buildings close to public transit on city land.

As per Rachel Aiello of CTV News, the Liberal Party is framing this as an example of their promised “multi-pronged housing strategy” to tackle the Canada housing issue that has become so pervasive in the lives of locals and immigrants alike; moreover, they are arguing that 100,000 more housing units would be created across the country than what would have been built in the Fund’s absence by streamlining land-use planning and development approvals.

Further additions to Ottawa’s solution are to be “illuminated in the months ahead.”

Read More Canada Immigration News

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“This landmark agreement with London will be the first of many, and we look forward to working with all orders of government to help everyone find a place to call their own,” Trudeau said in a statement.

“Housing is a solvable problem, and we’re all going to solve it if we work together. Canada has done it before, and we’re going to do it again.”

London Mayor Josh Morgan, according to CBC, said he wants the agreement to set an example for the rest of Canada when it comes to housing unit construction.

“This is the most significant housing and housing-related infrastructure investment in London’s history,” he said, thanking his staff and council for their work on the deal.

First announced in the 2021 election campaign and first introduced in the 2022 federal budget as part of a $10-billion housing-focused package, the Housing Accelerator Fund allocates $4 billion in funding until 2026-2027 to prompt more homebuilding in cities.

The fund was officially launched in March 2023.

A statement from the prime minister’s office (PMO) said that the monetary amount of $74-million will help the city:

  • Encourage home-building by allowing four units to be constructed on a single property in low-density neighbourhoods
  • Dispose of city-owned land for more streamlined development
  • Create partnerships with non-for-profits

When questioned by CTV News regarding the delay in money flows, Trudeau briefly remarked that the responsibility for housing is shared jurisdiction, before passing the question to Housing Minister Sean Fraser.

Municipal governments with 10,000-plus population pools apply to take part by pitching initiatives that will increase the annual rate of home-building in their cities by at least 10 percent.

The PMO statement, as per CBC, says that the fund encourages cities to construct high-density apartments around public transit to help seniors, students, families.

Trudeau issued a challenge after the announcement by urging, in his own words, “mayors right across the country to step up with their proposals to so we can get building more homes, increasing supply and lowering the prices for families.”

Watch video: 

On being asked whether he wants to see housing prices come down, he said that they “cannot continue to go up.”

Pressure on Trudeau’s government to deal with the housing shortage has ramped up in recent months, and the necessity to deliver a fitting policy response on the same has scaled even further after the Liberal cabinet retreat in Prince Edward Island late last month ended without the announcement of new measures to tackle the crisis.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) updated estimated how much housing the country would need by 2030; the number came to 3.5 million additional housing units to restore affordability above current plans – which was consistent with what the federal housing body projected last year.

However, the practicality of actually achieving that target is up for contention.

The CMHC’s deputy chief economist Aled ab Iorwerth, for one, said he does not think it is possible to build those many homes in the next six to seven years.

‘Shortage Of Housing Right Now’

Trudeau and Fraser, however, are unnerved by statistics or opinions as those held by the Iorwerth.

“We’re facing a shortage of housing right now, and that’s why prices of homes have become far too high… Housing in big cities around the world has already become out of reach for many… Places like New York, Paris, London, San Francisco, but we’re not going to follow those examples,” Trudeau said.

Fraser has said that the housing shortage has changed and molded over the years, in the sense that while it impacted predominantly low-income families around his inception into office in 2015, it has started affecting Canadians with variable-rate mortgages, who have seen their payments scale dramatically with interest rate hikes.

He has thus made sure to let the media know that the government is not ignoring the problem. He told CTV News’ Political Correspondent Vassy Kapelos that the government would have new measures announced “over the next few months” that will “help address housing affordability across Canada.”

Measures would also be delivered promptly, according to Fraser, and he would not wait for the upcoming fall economic update – or any pre-determined date, for that matter – to start rolling out new policy measures.

There is no “silver bullet,” as per Fraser, and the cabinet is taking an “all hands on deck” approach to work with other levels of government and the private sector to come up with measures to alter the multitude of issues plaguing the housing sector – from permit lags to rising building costs.

CBC author Peter Zimonjic reports that additional measures to tackle some key problems were also suggested by Fraser, like:

  • Providing financial relief to builders with approved but paused projects because of the impact of rising interest rates.
  • Speeding up building permit issuances and the time it takes to change “zoning practices” by working with municipalities, to make it easier to build.

Fraser additionally said that measures are needed to “grow the productive capacity of the workforce” by training Canadians in construction, and by recruiting newcomers with important skills.

“We’re going to be looking at everything we can do to build homes more quickly so we can make homes affordable for ordinary people,” he said.

“A new standard has been set and we have new expectations. We want you to build houses near transit, we want you to build houses near campuses, we want you to build houses so families can access the services that they need…. It’s not too much to ask.”

Conservatives were not very favorable to the announcement by the Liberal side on Wednesday, and released a statement suggesting Liberal housing policies have been failures till now.

“It appears that members of the Liberal caucus are just now starting to notice what their constituents have been facing,” the statement said.

Canada Start-Up Visa Program Drawing US Immigrant Entrepreneurs

Colin Singer
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0
Canada Start-Up Visa Program Drawing US Immigrant Entrepreneurs

On top of international students and skilled tech immigrants, the United States is losing immigrant entrepreneurs to Canada through the Start-Up Visa.

That’s according to a new study by Saerom (Ronnie) Lee and Britta Glennon of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

“To spur entrepreneurship and economic growth, an increasing number of countries have introduced immigration policies that provide visas to skilled entrepreneurs,” reads the abstract for the research paper titled The Effect of Immigration Policy on Founding Location Choice: Evidence from Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program.

“This paper investigates whether these policies influence the founding location choice of immigrant founders, by leveraging the introduction of Canada’s Start-up Visa Program in 2013.

We demonstrate that this immigration policy increased the likelihood that U.S.-based immigrants have a start-up in Canada by 69%.”

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In focusing on the variable “immigration policy” for determining the location of entrepreneurial start-up founding, the study employs a unique Revelio Labs dataset of 1.2 million U.S.-based individuals who “founded a company either in the U.S. or Canada between 2006 and 2021” and held at least a bachelor’s degree.

Utilizing this cross-border, longitudinal dataset, the authors showed that Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program increased the likelihood that U.S.-based immigrants start a business in Canada by 69% since its introduction in 2013.

Of these, immigrants of Asian origin to the United States were the most likely to start a business in Canada.

“Furthermore, our results suggest this responsiveness varies by the presence of Asian immigrants in their prior location. That is, the larger the Asian immigrant enclaves in the origin location, the less likely that U.S.-based Asian immigrants in this location move to Canada to start a business.”

“Taken together, these findings not only imply that immigration policy has a significant impact on the founding location decisions, but also reinforce the idea that this decision entails a complex weighting of multiple location factors—most notably, social ties and embeddedness. Put differently, when choosing their founding location, immigrant would-be founders seem to weigh the presence of co-ethnic immigrant communities against immigration policy.”

Immigration Policy As A Whole

A further theoretical discovery from the research was that the analyses of metropolitan statistical area (MSA)-level variation suggest that the propensity of immigrants migrating to Canada to start a business varies with the size of co-ethnic immigrant communities; immigrants in MSAs with a larger co-ethnic immigrant population are less inclined to leave and move to Canada to found a business.

The study established that immigration policy as a whole is a significantly impactful independent variable on entrepreneurial founding location decision. Moreover, it contributed significantly to establishing that immigrants are more likely to start new ventures and contribute to start-up success as both founders and managers.

A Forbes story on this paper by Stuart Anderson furthers this point by highlighting how recent studies show that immigrant entrepreneurs are essential to the American economy.

According to research by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), immigrants have started more than half of the U.S.’s startups valued at $1 billion or more.

Watch video: 

“Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. billion-dollar companies (unicorns) were founded or cofounded by immigrants or the children of immigrants” the study asserts.

“Almost 80% of America’s unicorn companies (privately-held, billion-dollar companies) have an immigrant founder or an immigrant in a key leadership role, such as CEO or vice president of engineering.”

Other research also shows that immigrant entrepreneurs are essential to artificial intelligence entrepreneurship, which only underlines the claim that their movement northwards is damaging prospects of U.S. economic growth.

“Immigrants have founded or cofounded nearly two-thirds (65% or 28 of 43) of the top AI companies in the United States, and 70% of full-time graduate students in fields related to artificial intelligence are international students,” according to an NFAP analysis.

“Seventy-seven percent of the leading U.S.-based AI companies were founded or cofounded by immigrants or the children of immigrants. Forty-two percent (18 of 43) of the top U.S.-based AI companies had a founder who came to America as an international student.”

Strong Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

The policy implications of Glennon and Lee’s paper are firstly concerned with global governments’ efforts to devise policies to attract ventures and establish a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem within their national borders.

Since 2010, more than 20 countries (Canada, Chile, South Korea included) have introduced start-up visa programs, which are immigration policies providing visas to highly-skilled, foreign-born entrepreneurs.

These visas – such as Canada’s Start-Up Visa – can be a useful tool, as per the study, for countries competing for global talent to draw immigrants and promote immigrant entrepreneurship within their borders.

The United States lacks such a start-up visa provision, but business groups and venture capital firms have supported immigrant start-up legislation for more than a decade.

The lack of a start-up visa means that foreign nationals do not found businesses in the United States until they become green card holders.

“Our paper suggests that if the U.S. were to adopt a startup visa program for immigrants, we would see a significant increase in entrepreneurship in the United States,” said Glennon in an interview.

Immigrate To Canada As An Instructor Of People With Disabilities: All You Need To Know

Colin Singer
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0
Immigrate To Canada As An Instructor Of People With Disabilities: All You Need To Know

Instructors of persons with disabilities are in demand for Canada jobs over the coming nine years, which could lead to the recruitment of qualified foreign nationals hoping to gain their permanent residence in Canada through occupation-targeted Express Entry system draws.

Earlier this year Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced Canada’s Express Entry system would begin targeting 82 jobs in healthcare, technology, trades, transport and agriculture this summer – including instructors of persons with disabilities.

That gave foreign nationals hoping to immigrate to Canada a new pathway to immigration as the flagship Express Entry selection system had previously only conducted draws based on immigration programs, not by targeting specific occupations.

Instructors of persons with disabilities in other countries can expect to be increasingly wooed by Canadian employers as the demand for their services shoots up in the coming years.

The Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) website projects that demand for instructors of persons with disabilities is going to spike.

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“Although this occupational group has had a balanced market in recent years, projected job openings are substantially higher than projected job seekers, creating a shortage of workers over the 2022 – 2031 period,” notes the COPS website.

“Approximately 40 per cent of job openings are projected to arise from each of expansion demand and retirements.”

In the years leading  up to 2031, the COPS website projects a shortfall of 400 instructors of persons with disabilities in Canada.

“Over the period 2022 – 2031, the number of job openings arising from expansion demand and replacement demand for Instructors of persons with disabilities are expected to total 2,000, while the number of job seekers arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility is expected to total 1,600,” notes the website

Are you an employer looking to hire foreign workers in Canada? Immigration.ca can help through its sister company, skilledworker.com. We provide a comprehensive recruitment package to help you identify and hire the best individuals from abroad. Contact us now.

Candidates hoping to immigrate through Express Entry occupation-targeted draws will need at least six months of continuous work experience in Canada or abroad within the past three years in one of these occupations to be eligible, experience that can have been gained while working in Canada as temporary foreign workers with a work permits or as an international student with a student visa.

Instructors of persons of persons with disabilities, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 42203, offer a wide variety of services, depending on their specialty, and may hold other job titles such as:

  • braille instructor
  • instructor of persons with a mobility impairment
  • instructor of persons who are deaf
  • instructor of persons who are hard of hearing
  • instructor of persons with a learning disability
  • instructor of persons with a visual impairment
  • instructor of persons with special needs
  • lip-reading instructor
  • orientation and mobility instructor
  • sign language instructor
  • teacher for persons with intellectual disabilities

Ontario, Saskatchewan Offer Best Prospects For Instructors Of Persons With Disabilities

The Jobbank federal job-hunting and career-planning website gives a ranking of good for the job prospects of instructors of persons with disabilities in Ontario and Saskatchewan over the next three years.

In Canada, the median hourly wage for instructors of persons with disabilities is $27.47 but that varies from a low of $18 right up to $41.35 reveals Jobbank.

Based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, that means instructors of persons with disabilities can expect to earn up to $80,632 year in Canada.

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 enterprise skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.

Under the changes announced at the end of May, the Express Entry streams, including the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as parts of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) are now more responsive to labour market needs.

“Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed.  We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labour shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities.”

Video

Canada first signalled its intention to start occupation-specific draws through Express Entry in June last year, when changes were made to the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act to allow invitations based on occupations and other attributes, such as language ability.

The majority of Canada’s provinces have been issuing occupation-specific invitations for several years.

Under the changes to the act, the immigration minister is required to consult provinces and territories, members of industry, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners, before announcing new categories.

IRCC must also report to parliament each year on the categories that were chosen and the reason for the choices.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) says the number of occupations facing shortages doubled between 2019 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022, federal high skilled admissions accounted for between 34 and 40 per cent of overall French-speaking admissions outside Quebec, which manages its own immigration intake.

Are you ready to live and work in Canada? Fill out our free evaluation form to find out if you are eligible.

Become the right candidate with the job you always wanted with our online IELTS and EECP packages at skilledworker.com.

We are accepting international entrepreneurs to join our Start-Up Visa projects in Canada. Read more here.

Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Draw Sees Canada Immigration Invitations Issued To 23 Candidates

Colin Singer
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0
Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Draw Sees Canada Immigration Invitations Issued To 23 Candidates

Saskatchewan issued 23 invitations in the latest Entrepreneur stream draw through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).

The Sept. 7 required a minimum score of 105 and an average score of 115 points.

“All candidates with 110 points or higher were invited to apply,” notes the Saskatchewan immigration website.

“Candidates with 105 points and a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 6 or higher were invited to apply.”

With the latest draw, Saskatchewan has sent out 146 Entrepreneur immigration ITAs so far this year, or just barely more than half the 270 ITAs under this immigration stream for the comparable period last year.

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Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Stream 2023 Draws

Date Lowest score Average score Highest score Number of invitations
September 105 115 140 23
July 105 110 125 35
May 100 105 125 34
March 80 95 135 54
January 80 90 130 50

Source: https://www.saskatchewan.ca

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, and;
  • completion of an exploratory visit.

The Saskatchewan immigration Entrepreneur stream is a three-stage process. Foreign nationals must first submit an Expression of interest (EOI). When they are selected in regular draws, they then submit an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Only then can they be nominated.

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The EOI must meet the following minimum entry requirements:

  • minimum net worth of $500,000 legally acquired;
  • minimum of three years of entrepreneurial or relevant management experience, and;
  • investment of at least $300,000 in Regina or Saskatoon, or $200,000 in any other Saskatchewan area.

Saskatchewan Immigration Is Giving Entrepreneur Applicants Breaks Due To Pandemic

Candidates who submit an EOI enter a pool where they receive a score. The top-scoring candidates are invited to submit an application.

Applications must include the following:

  • a business establishment plan confirming figures in the EOI and including at least one third ownership of a company in Saskatchewan, unless there is an investment of $1 million or more;
  • a commitment to be active in the day-to-day management of the business, and’
  • the creation of two or more jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents if the business is located in Regina or Saskatoon.

With the arrival of the coronavirus which causes COVID-19, the Saskatchewan provincial government has put in several measures to support Entrepreneur applicants impacted by the pandemic.

Business Performance Agreement term extensions are being provided for those entrepreneurs who need to temporarily amend their business operations due to the pandemic. When needed, the SINP is supporting a work permit extension.

Existing nominations for entrepreneurs are also being supported if the nominee remains in the province, continues business operations, and can continue to economically support him or herself. Nominees or applicants are not being penalized if they access short-term income support during the pandemic but nominees who close their businesses and/or move out of province can have their nominations withdrawn.

Finally, there are six-month extensions being given to SINP nominations. This is to nominees with more time to apply for permanent residency to the federal government.

New Immigrant In Toronto: Seven Tips To Help You Get Started

Colin Singer
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0
New Immigrant In Toronto: Seven Tips To Help You Get Started

A magnet for immigrants from all corners of the globe for decades, Toronto is one of Canada’s most diverse and dynamic cities.

As a new immigrant in Toronto, you are about to embark on a journey filled with opportunities, challenges, and cultural enrichment.

To make your transition smoother and your settlement successful, there are seven key things you must know.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through each of these essential aspects, providing you with valuable insights and practical tips.

These tips will empower you to thrive in the bustling metropolis of Toronto.

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1. Understand Toronto’s Cultural Diversity

Embrace Multiculturalism

Toronto proudly wears the crown of being one of the most multicultural cities in the world. You’ll encounter a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions as you navigate the city. Embracing this diversity is key to feeling at home here. Engage with different communities, explore ethnic neighborhoods like Chinatown and Little Italy, and savor the myriad of cuisines on offer.

Language Diversity

English is the primary language in Toronto, but you’ll also hear a multitude of languages on the streets. While English proficiency will greatly benefit you in daily life and job opportunities, Toronto’s diverse population means you can often find services and communities that cater to your native tongue.

2. Housing in Toronto

Finding Accommodation

Toronto’s housing market can be competitive and expensive, so it’s essential to start your search early. Rental apartments, condos, and houses are common choices. Consider factors like location, proximity to public transportation, and your budget when searching for housing.

Rental Agreements

Understanding the terms of your lease agreement is crucial. Ensure you know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant in Toronto, as well as any rent control regulations that may apply.

3. Navigating Healthcare

Access to Healthcare

In Canada, healthcare is publicly funded and accessible to all residents. As a newcomer, you should apply for a provincial health card (OHIP in Ontario) to access medical services. Be aware that there may be a waiting period before your coverage begins.

Additional Health Insurance

While basic healthcare is covered, you may want to consider supplementary health insurance for services not covered by OHIP, such as prescription drugs, dental care, and vision care.

4. Employment Opportunities

Job Market Overview

Toronto boasts a robust job market with opportunities in various sectors. Conduct thorough research on your chosen field and network with professionals to maximize your job prospects.

Credentials and Licensing

Ensure that your foreign qualifications and credentials are recognized in Canada. You may need to complete equivalency assessments or obtain professional licenses to work in your field.

5. Transportation in Toronto

Public Transit

Toronto has an extensive public transportation system, including buses, subways, and streetcars. Consider purchasing a monthly transit pass for cost savings if you plan to use public transit frequently.

Owning a Car

While public transit is efficient, owning a car can provide greater mobility, especially if you plan to explore areas outside the city. Be prepared for expenses like insurance, gas, and maintenance.

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6. Financial Matters

Banking and Financial Services

Open a Canadian bank account to manage your finances efficiently. Research various banks and compare account options to find one that suits your needs.

Budgeting

Create a budget to manage your expenses and savings effectively. Toronto’s cost of living can be high, so it’s crucial to plan your finances prudently.

7. Embrace Toronto’s Lifestyle

Cultural Experiences

Toronto offers a vibrant cultural scene, including museums, theaters, music festivals, and art galleries. Take advantage of these opportunities to enrich your life and connect with the local culture.

Social Networks

Building a social network in Toronto is essential for personal and professional growth. Attend local events, join clubs or associations, and use social media to connect with like-minded individuals.

Make The Most Of Opportunities

Navigating life as a new immigrant in Toronto may seem challenging at first, but with the right knowledge and preparation, you can turn this adventure into a fulfilling and enriching experience. Remember the Seven Things To Know As A New Immigrant In Toronto: embrace diversity, secure housing, access healthcare, seek employment, master transportation, manage finances, and embrace the city’s vibrant lifestyle.

By understanding and addressing these key aspects of settlement, you’ll be well-equipped to thrive in Toronto, contribute to the city’s diverse tapestry, and make the most of the opportunities this vibrant metropolis has to offer. Welcome to Toronto, your new home!

Boost In Permanent Residence For Immigrant Entrepreneurs Through Canada Start-Up Visa

Colin Singer
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0
Boost In Permanent Residence For Immigrant Entrepreneurs Through Canada Start-Up Visa

The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows the popularity of Canada’s Start-Up Visa (SUV) immigration program soared in July as the number of monthly arrivals under it more than doubled compared to the previous month.

In June, 65 new permanent residents had immigrated under the entrepreneurship program. In July, that spiked upwards 107.7 per cent to hit 135 new permanent residents for the month.

With those latest arrivals, Canada had welcomed 480 new permanent residents through the SUV by the end of the first seven months of this year, up 33.3 per cent from the 360 during the comparable period last year.

That puts the country on track to welcome 823 immigrant entrepreneurs through the SUV this year, an increase of 43.1 per cent compared to the 575 newcomers who arrived under the program last year, provided the trend set in the first seven months of this year continues through to the end of the year.

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 and 2025, this number will increase dramatically to 3,500, 5,000 and 6,000 respectively.

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Boost In Number Of New Permanent Residents Through Canada Start-Up Visa

The most popular destinations for immigrant entrepreneurs arriving under the SUV so far this year have been Ontario and British Columbia.

Ontario had received 240 new permanent residents through the program at the end of the first seven months of this year, an increase of 45.5 per cent in the province’s performance under the SUV for the comparable period last year.

The West Coast province of British Columbia had welcomed 165 new permanent residents through the SUV by the end of July, roughly on par with the 160 the province welcomed for the comparable period last year.

Alberta had added 20 new permanent residents through the program by the end of July.

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In the Prairies, Manitoba welcomed 45 immigrant entrepreneurs through the SUV in the first seven months this year, up 80 per cent from the 25 during the comparable period last year.

The only other province to see the arrival of immigrant entrepreneurs through the SUV this year has been Nova Scotia which welcomed 10 by the end of July.

None of the other provinces or territories added any new permanent residents through the SUV in the first seven months of this year.

Immigrant Entrepreneurs Can Come To Canada Under A Work Permit With The SUV

The SUV program generates much lower overall numbers of new permanent residents than federal worker programs, such as the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Federal Skilled Trade (FST), the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) or the regional economic development programs including the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) or Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP).

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.

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.

Under the SUV, three types of private-sector investors are considered: angel investors, venture capital funds, and business incubators.

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:

Immigrate To Canada As A Medical Sonographer: All You Need To Know

Colin Singer
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Immigrate To Canada As A Medical Sonographer: All You Need To Know

Canada has a shortage of medical sonographers, providing an opportunity for qualified foreign nationals to gain their permanent residence here through occupation-targeted Express Entry draws.

Earlier this year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced Canada’s Express Entry system would begin targeting 82 Canada jobs in healthcare, technology, trades, transport and agriculture this summer – including medical sonographer.

With the changes announced at the end of May, the Express Entry streams, including the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as parts of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) are now be more responsive to labour market needs.

The flagship Express Entry selection system had previously only conducted draws based on immigration programs, not by targeting specific occupations.

Ottawa is hoping these occupation-targeted Express Entry draws will help the country tackle its severe labour shortages.

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“Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labour shortages,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser earlier this year.

“These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed. We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labour shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities.”

Foreign nationals with the qualifications and experience to be medical sonographers, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system with the code 32122, are in even greater demand now than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are you an employer looking to hire foreign workers in Canada? Immigration.ca can help through its sister company, skilledworker.com. We provide a comprehensive recruitment package to help you identify and hire the best individuals from abroad. Contact us now.

“The absence of sufficient health human resources is a national crisis. There are not enough healthcare workers to support the influx of patients entering the healthcare system,” noted Sonography Canada in a report it published with two other organizations representing medical imaging professionals.

In Improving Access to Lifesaving Imaging Care for Canadians, the association that represents medical sonographers joined with the Canadian Association of Radiologists and the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists to call for more equipment and personnel to meet the healthcare challenges in Canada.

“Before the pandemic, Canadians were waiting an average of 50 to 82 days for CT scans and up to 89 days for MRI imaging,” notes the report. “This is 20 to 52 days longer than the recommended 30-day wait time for these potentially lifesaving modalities.

Demand For Medical Sonographers Shot Up During The Covid-19 Pandemic

“During COVID, waitlists lengthened, creating ominous circumstances for people needing cancer screening, or patients requiring image-guided therapies or ongoing management of their disease.”

The Job Bank job-hunting and career-planning website of the federal government is forecasting job prospects for medical sonographers will be good in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan over the next three years. The website does not give a rating for this occupation for the other provinces or the territories.

The Indeed.ca job-hunting website listed 102 positions for medical sonographers across the country in early August.

In Canada, the median hourly wage for medical sonographers is $36.71 but that varies from a low of $26.44 right up to $53, reveals Job Bank.

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 enterprise skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.

Based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, that means medical sonographers can expect to earn up to $103,350 per year in Canada.

Candidates will need at least six months of continuous work experience in Canada or abroad within the past three years in one of these occupations to be eligible, experience that can have been gained while working in Canada as temporary foreign workers with a work permits or as an international student with a student visa.

Canada first signalled its intention to start occupation-specific draws through Express Entry in June last year, when changes were made to the Immigration, Refugee and Protection Act to allow invitations based on occupations and other attributes, such as language ability.

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The majority of Canada’s provinces have been issuing occupation-specific invitations for several years.

Under the changes to the act, the immigration minister is required to consult provinces and territories, members of industry, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners, before announcing new categories.

IRCC must also report to parliament each year on the categories that were chosen and the reason for the choices.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) says the number of occupations facing shortages doubled between 2019 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022, federal high skilled admissions accounted for between 34 and 40 per cent of overall French-speaking admissions outside Quebec, which manages its own immigration intake.

Are you ready to live and work in Canada? Fill out our free evaluation form to find out if you are eligible.

Become the right candidate with the job you always wanted with our online IELTS and EECP packages at skilledworker.com.

We are accepting international entrepreneurs to join our Start-Up Visa projects in Canada. Read more here.

Housing Minister Sean Fraser Says Canada May Re-Evaluate Immigration Targets 

Colin Singer
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Housing Minister Sean Fraser Says Canada May Re-Evaluate Immigration Targets 

Canada’s federal government may consider changes to the country’s historically high immigration levels targets, Housing Minister and former Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says.

“When we look to the future of immigration levels planning, we want to maintain ambition and immigration, but we want to better align our immigration policies with the absorptive capacity of communities that includes housing, that includes health care, that includes infrastructure,” Sean Fraser told Vassy Kapelos in an interview on CTV’s Question Period.

Elaborating on the proposal detailed above, Fraser mentioned how the federal government has “some work to do” with its temporary immigration programs, which operate in an “uncapped way” based on demand.

This does not mean that the number of newcomers need to be necessarily reduced, however.

Rather, the federal government needs to give careful consideration to the immigration targets in consultation with other levels of governments (as the decision on which institutions are welcoming international students lies within the provincial domain) and institutions that have “a duty to play part of a role in housing the people who come here.”

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Fraser also argued that this immigration review should not be Canada’s sole focus, but should go hand-in-hand with efforts to increase housing supply to address current housing challenges.

“It’s important that when we’re looking at the answer to our housing challenges, we also focus on what we can do to increase the supply.”

“I think it’s essential that we remember that immigration remains one of Canada’s strongest competitive advantages in the global economy.”

Canada’s current targets – which are historical in scale, looking at welcoming an estimated 500,000 newcomers per year till 2025 – were introduced by Fraser last year, when he was still Canada’s Minister of Immigration.

While the original reason for these targets, according to Fraser, was Canada’s economic prosperity by filling in labour shortages, several experts in the fields of academia, banking, and politics have since warned the federal government that the country’s high-growth immigration strategy is causing the current housing crisis.

For example, the CTV news report covering this story details how a TD report from July estimated that if the current immigration strategy continues, Canada’s housing shortfall could potentially widen by half a million units in just two years.

Another example of experts urging Canada to cut down immigration numbers comes from The Globe and Mail columnist Tony Keller, who – highlighting a deterioration in the international student immigration system – suggested putting a cap on the number of international students coming to Canada.

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Fraser has hinted support for a similar suggestion in the past, but in his interview on Sunday he said that he still prefers to welcome “significant numbers” of international students “because the program is good for Canada, both in the short term and the long term when you create a pipeline of potential new citizens.”

According to him, all levels of government need to ensure that international students are supported and are absorbed into the communities they live in.

“If we were going to shift the way that we operate, to set a target or to align the numbers with the housing capacity, it’s a monumental change in the way that Canada does immigration,” he said.

“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. But it does mean if we’re seeking to make a permanent change to the way that Canada’s immigration laws operate, we have to do it right.”

Canada Immigration Through Spousal Sponsorship To End Year Up 33%

Colin Singer
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Canada Immigration Through Spousal Sponsorship To End Year Up 33%

Spouses and common-law partner immigration to Canada is on track to end this year up by 33.7 per cent over last year, as numbers were almost exactly the same in July as they were in the previous month.

The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals Canada welcomed 6,215 new permanent residents through spousal sponsorship immigration in July, virtually the same level as the 6,220 in June.

By the end of July, Canada had opened its doors to 50,015 new permanent residents through this immigration program, up 21.6 per cent from the 41,145 new permanent residents who arrived through spousal sponsorships in the first seven months of 2022.

Projecting out from the current trend, Canada is poised to receive 85,740 new permanent residents from spousal sponsorships, a 33.7 per cent increase from the 64,145 immigrants who arrived in Canada through the immigration program last year.

That projected level of spousal sponsorship immigration would be higher than the level set by Ottawa for spousal sponsorships for this year.

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In its Immigration Levels Plan 2023 – 2025, Ottawa has already set an upper limit of 84,000 new permanent residents under programs to sponsor spouses, partners and children. The target for this year for that category of immigrants is 78,000 new permanent residents.

Canada’s most populous province, Ontario, saw the greatest number of arrivals under the spousal sponsorship program with 26,270 spouses making it their home in the first seven months of this year.

The other provinces and territories attracted the following number of new permanent residents under the spousal sponsorship program during that period:

  • Newfoundland and Labrador – 110
  • Prince Edward Island – 90
  • Nova Scotia – 570
  • New Brunswick – 335
  • Quebec – 5,335
  • Manitoba – 1,375
  • Saskatchewan – 860
  • Alberta – 6,430
  • British Columbia – 8,545
  • Yukon – 55
  • Northwest Territories – 35
  • Nunavut – 5

When a Canadian citizen or permanent resident chooses to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner to immigrate to Canada, the sponsor must sign an undertaking, promising to give financial support for the sponsored person’s basic needs, including:

  • food, clothing, shelter and their needs for everyday living, and;
  • dental care, eye care and other health needs not covered by public health services.

This agreement cannot be cancelled, even if:

  • the person sponsored becomes a Canadian citizen;
  • the couple divorces, separates or the relationship breaks down;
  • either the sponsor or the sponsored spouse or common-law partner moves to another province or country, or;
  • the sponsor experiences financial problems.

EI Payments Considered Income For Sponsor Of Spouse

Maternity, parental and sickness benefits paid under the Employment Insurance Act in Canada are all considered income and contribute to allowing a person to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner but other payments from the government, such as employment insurance and federal training allowances, are not considered income.

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On its website, IRCC provides estimates of the current processing times for various types of applications, including spousal sponsorships.

According to that website, the current processing time for sponsorship applications for spouses or common-law partners currently outside the country and planning to live outside of Quebec is now down to 13 months, a considerable improvement over the 20-month processing time last year.

That estimated processing time includes:

  • the time needed to provide biometrics;
  • the assessment of the sponsor and the person being sponsored, and;
  • the time immigration officials need to ensure the sponsor and his or her spouse or common-law partner meet the eligibility requirements.
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