Your Citizenship Application Will Fail If You Don’t Include These Things

Colin Singer
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Your Citizenship Application Will Fail If You Don’t Include These Things

A new checklist is being used by Canada immigration officials to ensure that applicants for citizenship have submitted everything needed to ensure their applications are processed in an expeditious manner.

Based on that checklist, applicants cannot submit their application at a Canadian mission abroad or outside of Canada or the United States. Immigration officials will also not proceed with these citizenship applications if there is any indication the wrong form was used, including any mention of a $75 fee.

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Here’s what applicants for citizenship must know when filing those applications. 

The first thing, of course, is to use the proper citizenship application form, the CIT0002. 

“Applications received at our Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Sydney, N.S. March 1, 2021 or later must use forms from October 2020 or later (indicated on the lower left corner of the form),” notes Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on its website. 

“Application forms that are not up-to-date will be returned as incomplete. IRCC does not consider the date of signatures or mailing to be deciding factors.”

Applicants eligible for Canadian citizenship must:

  • be 18 years of age or older on the day they sign the application;
  • be a permanent resident (landed immigrant) of Canada, and; 
  • have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the five years immediately before they applied.

They may also need to file personal income taxes for at least three years within the five-year period and if so, must demonstrate adequate knowledge of English or French if they are between 18 and 54 years old when they applied.

Applicants must also demonstrate knowledge of Canada and of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship if they are between 18 and 54 years old when they applied.

And they cannot have any unfulfilled conditions relating to their permanent resident status, be under a removal order, or otherwise be inadmissible or prohibited on criminal or security grounds.

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When using form CIT0002, applicants need to answer all the required questions and provide supporting documentation when required. 

They must also sign and date the application.

Ottawa provides applicants for Canadian citizenship with an online tool, the Physical Presence Calculator, to help them calculate whether or not they meet the requirement to have been physically present in the country for the needed number of days. Those who cannot use the online tool are asked to fill out form CIT0047 to achieve the same purpose.

Citizenship Applicants Can Use The Services Of An Official Representative

The checklist used by immigration officials requires them to determine if the applicant has indeed provided the required two pieces of personal identification, including one with a photograph. Passport pages with identifying information, such as the applicant’s name, date of birth, etc., must cover the entire relevant period, the entire five years before the application date, and there must be an explanation provided for any gaps or missing passports.

Any applicant who lived outside of Canada during that time because their spouse or common-law partner was serving in the Canadian military is required to provide a residence form CIT 0177 to indicate that fact. 

Immigration officials also require applicants for Canadian citizenship to clearly indicate whether or not they are using an immigration representative. 

“A representative is someone who has provided advice or guidance to you at any stage of the application process, whether that person received consideration (ie. compensation) or not,” notes the IRCC on its form IMM 5476. 

“Following the submission of your application, that person may conduct business on your behalf with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) if you appoint them as your representative.”

The checklist used by immigration officials to evaluate citizenship applications also requires them to ensure the original translations and an affidavit from a translator are included as well as two citizenship photographs and the $630 fee and that the proper payment method is used.

E-Certificates Now Available For Citizenship Applicants

In its bid to offer more choices and speed up processing times for citizenship applications, Ottawa has this year started offering electronic versions of Canadian citizenship certificates as an alternative to the paper certificates for those who want them.

“Starting Jan. 4, 2023, you can choose to receive an e-certificate or a paper certificate if you: apply to become a Canadian citizen; apply for a citizenship certificate; apply to resume your Canadian citizenship, or; are a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and apply to resume your Canadian citizenship after giving it up,” states the federal government on its website.

Citizenship certificates are either paper or electronic documents which prove a person’s Canadian citizenship. They are not travel documents.

Canada started offering the e-certificates, which are valid proofs of Canadians citizenship, on Jan. 4 this year. Each such electronic citizenship certificate has the following:

  • a certificate number which starts with an X;
  • the citizen’s unique client identifier (UCI);
  • their family name and given name;
  • the citizen’s date of birth;
  • the citizen’s gender, and;
  • the effective date of citizenship.

These e-certificates can always be accessed online by signing onto the Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees Canada (IRCC) portal.

When an applicant for citizenship is successful, he or she is sent a letter with download instructions either in an e-mail or through his or her IRCC secure account. When an e-mail is sent out, it is sent to the applicant’s e-mail or to his or her representative.

Downloading the e-certificate requires an IRCC account which can be created online by going here.

Those who wish to print out their electronic citizenship certificates are advised by the federal government to print them on 8.5 by 11-inch white paper in both colour and black ink and to print on both sides of the page with the printer layout set for portrait orientation.

“The information on the printed certificate must be legible (clear and easy to read) and fully visible (not cut-off),” notes Ottawa.

Anyone who has applied for an e-certificate and is facing technical issues is asked to contact the support personnel at [email protected].

Report Says Canada’s Prairie Provinces Benefit Most By Retaining Immigrants

Colin Singer
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Report Says Canada’s Prairie Provinces Benefit Most By Retaining Immigrants

A new Desjardins report says Canada’s Prairie provinces got the biggest bang for their immigration buck in recent years and are poised to see GDP boosts of more than half a percentage point by retaining even more immigrants in the future.

“Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba would experience more significant 0.3 to 0.6 percentage point boosts to GDP growth if their stronger economic conditions and better affordability attract a higher share of newcomers in the next few years,” wrote Desjardins principal economist Marc Desormeaux.

Desormeaux argues that the provinces get the biggest benefit from immigration when their immigration intake is large enough to a share of the existing population and those immigrants can successfully integrate into the labour market.

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“Immigrants’ outsized role in Canada’s pre-pandemic expansion is clear,” noted Desormeaux. “From 2015 to 2019, immigrants accounted for over 70 per cent of Canadian employment gains, despite making up only about a quarter of the population aged 15 years or older. 

“During that time, net new positions among immigrants outpaced those of Canadian-born workers in every single province. By 2019, employment rates for new immigrants had also outpaced those of the population born in Canada in nearly every province. This unfolded as a range of federal and provincial programs were put in place to improve newcomers’ labour market integration. 

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic contribution of immigrants has only grown. 

“New immigrants experienced surges in employment and participation rates across the provinces in 2021 and 2022,” wrote Desormeaux. “That, in turn, helped narrow the gap between the unemployment rate of new immigrants and that of Canadian-born workers.

“From 2020 to 2022, immigrants landed within the last five years accounted for more net new employment than the Canadian-born population nationally and in half the provinces. That is despite the fact that the former group was less than five per cent the size of the latter group in that time.”

Immigration trends show that not only are immigrants to Canada very likely land jobs and do well in their adopted country but that their children are also likely to outperform Canadians in earning power over the course of their lifetimes.

Although the data shows immigrants who came to Canada as children grew up to earn less than other Canadians in their early 20s, that same research also reveals those children then caught up and surpassed their Canadian-born counterparts to earn more than them by the time they hit their 30s.

In its Economic Outcomes of Taxfiling Immigrants Admitted as Children Compare to Canadian Taxpayers by Age at Taxation in 2020 report, Statistics Canada documents the extra earning power of immigrants who arrived in Canada as children by the time they reach 30 years of age.

Children Of Immigrants Out-Earn Canadian-Born Workers By The Time They Hit 30 Years Of Age

That data shows immigrants earned a median annual income of only $8,400, or almost a third less, 29.4 per cent, compared to the annual median income of $11,900 for all those who filed income tax reports in 2020. And immigrants continued to earn less on average than Canadians well into their 20s.

Then, at age 26, the data shows immigrants suddenly start earning more than their fellow Canadians. By the age of 30, the data shows immigrants out-earning their fellow Canadians by almost 8.6 per cent with immigrants raking in a medium annual income of $50,200 compared to the $46,230 median annual income of Canadians as a whole.

The reason for the income disparities between immigrants and other Canadians is attributable to their greater education. Immigrant families encourage their children to pursue more education and graduate more often with advanced degrees.

At every age, significantly more immigrant taxpayers reported post-secondary tuition fees than did the average Canadian.

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By the time they hit 25 years of age – at which point most university students are in post-graduate programs – more than a third of immigrant taxpayers, 33.7 per cent, reported post-secondary tuition fees on their income tax reports compared to barely over a quarter, 27.2 per cent, of all Canadians.

With that greater education and more advanced degrees, immigrants are often able to land better-paying jobs.

Another Statistics Canada report provides further detail on that trend. In its Socioeconomic Outcomes Of Immigrants Admitted To Canada As Children, 2019 released last year, the statistical and demographic services agency also noted the children of economic immigrants to Canada earned less than the average Canadian worker, 15.5 per cent less at age 20, because they were more likely to be attending classes.

“At age 20, immigrants who were admitted as children had lower median wages, $10,900, than the overall Canadian population of $12,900,” notes the report. “This is associated with the immigrants’ higher post-secondary education participation.”

Comprehensive Ranking System Gives More Points To Applicants Who Went To University

The authors of that Statistics Canada report suggested the reason so many more economic immigrants’ children attend university or college is because of the criteria used in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to select those applicants most likely to succeed in Canada.

“Canada’s selection process for economic principal applicants heavily emphasizes their education, skills and work experience,” noted Statistics Canada. “As a result, the majority of immigrant taxpayers admitted under this category have completed some post-secondary education at the time of their admission.”

Since their parents tend to have more education, the children of these economic immigrants tend to follow in their parents’ footsteps and also go for higher education.

“Immigrants admitted as children of economic immigrant families have much higher post-secondary education participation than their counterparts admitted through other immigration categories, particularly during early adulthood,” noted Statistics Canada.

“In 2019, 75.4 per cent of 20-year-old immigrants admitted as children of economic immigrant families participated in postsecondary education.”

Canada Brought In New Record Of More Than 437,000 New Immigrants In 2022

Colin Singer
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Canada Brought In New Record Of More Than 437,000 New Immigrants In 2022

Canada welcomed 437,120 new immigrants in 2022, beating its own ambitious target and setting an annual record for new permanent residents.

That’s 5,475 more new permanent residents, or almost 1.3 per cent more, than Ottawa’s Immigration Levels Plan which had set 431,645 newcomers as the target.

The record-setting level of immigration to Canada in 2022 was also 31,080 new permanent residents higher, or 7.7 per cent more than the previous record, set in 2021 when 406,040 newcomers made Canada their home. 

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But it’s not the country’s economic powerhouses of Ontario and British Columbia which drove the surge in immigration last year. Those two provinces saw declines in the number of new permanent residents per year. 

Immigration to British Columbia fell by 11.9 per cent last year to 61,215 new permanent residents and Ontario saw a similar drop of 7.3 per cent and welcomed a relatively more modest 184,725 compared to the 199,295 in 2021.

The big winners in terms of attracting more immigrants last year were the Prairie and Atlantic Canadian provinces. 

Manitoba welcomed 30.6 per cent more newcomers last year than in 2021 and Alberta saw a similar increase of 25.5 per cent in the number of its new permanent residents last year compared to 2021.

Saskatchewan showed the greatest percentage growth in a number of new permanent residents, almost doubling the number of newcomers it received last year to hit 21,635 from 10,950 a year earlier. 

Atlantic Canada also saw a similar surge in immigration in 2022. On the Rock, as Newfoundland and Labrador are affectionately dubbed, immigration jumped by 69.8 per cent to hit 3,490 new permanent residents in 2022.

Immigration to Prince Edward Island nudged up by only 1.9 per cent last year but Nova Scotia saw a boom of 38.2 per cent in its level of immigration and the number of new permanent residents arriving annually to New Brunswick almost doubled, rising by 92.2 per cent, to hit 10,205 last year compared to 5,310 in 2021.

Quebec Accepted Almost A Third More Immigrants Last Year Than In 2021

During Quebec’s provincial elections last year, opposition parties chastised Premier François Legault for insisting his province must hold the line on immigration. Despite the premier’s tough stand on restricting immigration, Quebec nonetheless admitted 36.6 per cent more new permanent residents last year, 68,685, compared to 50,275 the previous year. 

Immigration to the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, small in absolute numbers, nudged down a bit last year.

Immigration is definitely on the rise in Canada.

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With the massive increases in Canadian immigration levels, the country welcomed 95,945 more new permanent residents last year than the 341,175 it received in 2019, the past full year before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That’s a more than 30.5 per cent jump in annual immigration to Canada since 2019. In the three years since the start of the pandemic, Canada has welcomed more than one million immigrants – exactly 1,027, 755 new permanent residents – not including the very significant increases it has also allowed in temporary residents, including foreign nationals coming to the country with work permits and study visas.

That, though, pales in comparison to the even greater numbers of immigrants Canada is hoping to attract as it struggles with chronic labour shortages.

Canadian Immigration Targets Are In Line With Century Initiative’s Recommendations

In late November last year, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser unveiled the country’s latest Immigration Levels Plan which aims to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents this year, 485,000 in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.

Those are even more ambitious immigration targets than those recommended a few years ago by the Century Initiative, a non-profit organization which wants the country to more than double its population to 100 million by the year 2100.

The current population of Canada is estimated to be a shade over 38.6 million. The Century Initiative touts population growth as vital for the country’s economic growth and prosperity.

“Growing our population to 100 million by 2100 would reduce the burden on government revenues to fund healthcare, old age security, and other services. It would also mean more skilled workers, innovation, and dynamism in the Canadian economy,” notes the organization on its website.

In its 2019 report, For A Bigger, Bolder Canada: Long-term Thinking. Starting Now, the Century Initiative proposed vastly increasing immigration to levels then considered to be so high the organization took pains to point out its plan was not “radical”.

Those targets proposed by the Century Initiative in 2019 were 400,000 new permanent residents in 2022, 420,000 new permanent residents in 2023, another 450,000 in 2024 and 475,000 in 2025.

Last year, immigration to Canada exceeded the Century Initiative’s proposed level by almost 9.3 per cent. But that was only because the Canadian population seems to have grown much faster in the last few years than the organization ever expected. 

Its proposal in 2019 was to peg immigration levels to 1.25 per cent of the Canadian population. Based on the current estimated population of Canada, that would mean an immigration target of 482,597 new permanent residents per year, roughly in line with Ottawa’s current immigration targets.

And with Canada’s immigration minister currently musing about fast-tracking immigration applications from Turkey and Syria’s earthquake-stricken regions, it’s clear immigration to Canada could spike even higher this year than forecast.

Highly-skilled immigrants are seen as vital to resolving Canadian labour shortages

“Any solution to our suffering workforce numbers and aging demographics will need a large influx of highly-educated professionals, skilled trades-people, general labourers, and those with entrepreneurial experience and spirit,” notes the Century Initiative report.

“We need younger immigrants, to bolster the foundations of an aging workforce pyramid and encourage international students who come to Canada to contribute to the dynamism of our educational institutions to stay and apply their skills and talents to Canada’s future.”

Canada is also working on creating a new pathway for permanent residence to many who are in the country on temporary visas, building on the lessons it has learnt through its launches of innovative programs which have successfully done this in other situations.

“Most notably, programs such as the Guardian Angels, the Out-of-Status Construction Workers Pilot, and the pathway to permanent residence for temporary workers and international graduates,” explained IRCC spokesperson Michelle Carbert last year.

Undocumented migrants – including workers – are those people who have arrived in Canada without first applying to come as a temporary foreign worker with a work permit, as an international student without a study permit, or as a permanent resident through any of the official immigration programs, including as refugees, family members reunited with loved ones in Canada through family sponsorships, skilled workers through the Express Entry system and economic immigration pathways, or any of the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).

The Guardian Angels special pathway was quickly put in place at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, between December 2020 and August 2021, for refugee claimants who were then already providing direct patient care in the health sector.

“Once we confirmed that applicants were eligible and had the required work experience for this program, also known as Guardian Angels, any removal order under which they were referred was suspended until a final decision is made on their candidacy,” noted Carbert.

The temporary public policy for Out-of-Status Construction Workers in Toronto is another pathway to permanent residency. It was launched in 2020 and then extended. That pathway recognizes the economic contributions of these workers and aims to address their vulnerability due to their lack of immigration status, noted Carbert.

“The government is working with the Canadian Labour Congress, who refers applicants who have a strong likelihood of meeting the eligibility requirements of the public policy to IRCC,” she noted. “Eligible applicants may apply for a temporary resident permit and an open work permit to remain and continue working in Canada while their permanent resident application is processed and finalized.”

In 2021, the IRCC also launched the one-time  Temporary Resident-to-Permanent Resident (TR-to-PR) pathway which was open to accept 90,000 temporary workers and international graduates already in Canada.

Quebec Draw: Province Issues More Than 1,000 Canada Immigration Invitations

Colin Singer
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Quebec Draw: Province Issues More Than 1,000 Canada Immigration Invitations

Quebec immigration has conducted a new draw through the Arrima Expression of Interest system, issuing 1,011 Canada immigration invitations to apply.

The February 9 draw targeted two categories of candidates.

The first category featured candidates scoring 619 points or above in the Quebec Expression of Interest points system.

Candidates with a job offer outside of the Montreal metropolitan area were targeted in the second category. There was no minimum score.

Quebec Expression Of Interest Draws 2023

Date of invitations Invites Issued Minimum Score Date of extraction from Arrima bank
09-02-23 1,011 619 February 6, 2023 at 6.30am

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How Does Quebec Expression of Interest Work?

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

Quebec Expression of Interest Points System

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

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

What Are the Requirements for Quebec Expression of Interest?

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

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

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

British Columbia Issues At Least 233 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draw

Colin Singer
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British Columbia Issues At Least 233 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draw

British Columbia has conducted a new draw through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program, issuing invitations to at least 233 candidates.

The February 2 draw saw invitations issued in four different categories.

Skilled workers and international graduates with a minimum score of 83 points received 183 invitations through the BC PNP Tech stream.

A draw targeted at Early Childhood Educators under NOC 42202 saw 29 invitations issued to skilled workers and international graduates, with a minimum score of 55 points. 

A further 20 invitations were issued to skilled workers, international graduates and entry level and semi-skilled workers scoring at least 55 points in a draw targeting Healthcare workers.

A final batch of less than 5 invitations went to skilled workers and international graduates in a draw aimed at other priority occupations under NOCs 31103, 32104, also requiring 55 points. The number was recorded as less than 5 to protect the identity of those invited.

British Columbia has conducted a new draw through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program, issuing invitations to at least 233 candidates.

The February 2 draw saw invitations issued in four different categories.

Skilled workers and international graduates with a minimum score of 83 points received 183 invitations through the BC PNP Tech stream.

A draw targeted at Early Childhood Educators under NOC 42202 saw 29 invitations issued to skilled workers and international graduates, with a minimum score of 55 points. 

A further 20 invitations were issued to skilled workers, international graduates and entry level and semi-skilled workers scoring at least 55 points in a draw targeting Healthcare workers.

A final batch of less than 5 invitations went to skilled workers and international graduates in a draw aimed at other priority occupations under NOCs 31103, 32104, also requiring 55 points. The number was recorded as less than 5 to protect the identity of those invited.

Read More

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Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in British Columbia
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Latest B.C. Immigration Draw

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued Description
14-02-2023 Skilled Worker, International Graduate 83 183 Tech draw
Skilled Worker, International Graduate 55 29 Targeted draw: Childcare: Early childhood educators and assistants (Childcare: Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202))
Skilled Worker, International Graduate, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 55 20 Targeted draw: Healthcare
Skilled Worker, International Graduate 55 <5 Targeted draw: Other priority occupations (NOCs 31103, 32104)

Watch Video

 

Canada Immigration Applications From Earthquake-Hit Turkey and Syria Could Be Fast-Tracked

Colin Singer
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Canada Immigration Applications From Earthquake-Hit Turkey and Syria Could Be Fast-Tracked

Canada may fast-track applications for people displaced by earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, says Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

Major earthquakes in southwestern Turkey destroyed thousands of buildings in the country, and across the border with Syria.

The United Nations has estimated the death toll at 5,800 people in Syria and Turkish authorities say 35,418 people have lost their lives in that country, reports Aljazeera.

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Tens of thousands are reportedly homeless during the region’s winter season. Getting access to even basic necessities such as food, water and shelter is a daily struggle.

In the face of that humanitarian crisis, Canada’s immigration minister and his department are trying to figure out what effect fast-tracking applications from Turkey and Syria to get those people to safety would have on the current applications at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

“This is a conversation that we’re having,” Fraser reportedly told journalists. “We’re trying to understand what the impact is on the clients who are in the system.”

The IRCC has a website which regularly shows the number of applications it has yet to process, including the backlog of applications that exceed the department’s service standards. This week, that website did not have the latest data posted.

But data posted in early December last year showed the IRCC had managed to whittle down its enormous inventory of applications to just over 2.2 million from more than 2.5 million two months earlier.

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“We have seen a decrease in our overall inventory of over 350,000 applications since Sept. 30, with the most significant decreases in temporary residence programs,” IRCC spokesman Remi Lariviere told Immigration.ca in mid-December.

Faster processing of applications before the IRCC was then being credited for the drop in the department’s inventory.

In the first 10 months of last year, IRCC officials came to almost 87 per cent more final decisions for permanent residents, temporary residents (excluding Electronic Travel Authorizations), and citizenship applications, 4.3 million compared to 2.3 million final decisions for the same period last year.

Work Permits Issued By IRCC Roughly Quadrupled In 2022

In the first 10 months of last year, the IRCC also processed about 593,000 study permit applications or 30.3 per cent more than the roughly 455,000 processed in the same period last year.

“In addition, Canada has issued approximately 645,000 work permits from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, 2022, compared to about 163,000 over the same period in 2021,” said Lariviere.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Ottawa was quick to offer aid and grant the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) to allow Ukrainians to come to the safety of Canada.

They arrived in Canada under temporary visas which can last up to three years and are not permanent residents.

But, once in Canada, those Ukrainian refugees can certainly apply for permanent residency and any work experience they gain or studying they do while in the country will only enhance their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores should they decide to complete Express Entry profiles and apply for permanent residency.

Canada Caregiver Immigration Programs: Work Experience Requirement Cut In Half

Colin Singer
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Canada Caregiver Immigration Programs: Work Experience Requirement Cut In Half

Canada is reducing the amount of work experience required for its Caregiver immigration programs by half, to one year instead of two years.

“Caregivers are an important option for families in Canada and have played an instrumental role in the lives of many growing children, aging parents, and those who need additional specialized care,” says Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“By reducing the work experience required in Canada to one year, more caregivers and their families will become eligible to transition to permanent residence sooner, meaning that they can settle down and start the next chapter of their lives here in Canada.”

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expects the change will dramatically improve processing times for these applications, benefiting up to 90 per cent of applications currently in processing and providing an advantage for both the caregivers who are just starting out and those who have been providing care in Canada already.

The immigration minister is also hinting that the current pilot Caregiver programs could become permanent programs starting in June 2024.

“Caregivers are indispensable in assisting Canadian families and it’s an honour for us to provide them a more expedited route to permanent residence and prosperous integration into Canada,” said  Scarborough Centre MP Salma Zahid at the announcement on Friday. 

“The decreased work experience requirement and reserved pathways to permanent residence recognize the sacrifices that caregivers make and the value of their work to Canadian society.”

The lower work experience requirement for the Caregiver programs will become effective on April 30, 2023 and will be retrospective for caregivers who have already applied.

Since the launch of the five-year Home Child Care Provider (HCCP) and the Home Support Worker (HSW) pilots in 2019, nearly 1,600 caregivers and their family members have become permanent residents. In 2022 alone, nearly 1,100 caregivers and their family members became permanent residents through the two pilots.

“It is our responsibility to support caregivers in Canada,” said Mississauga-Streetsville MP Rechie Valdez, on Friday. 

Immigration Is Driving Population Growth In Canada And Helping Address Labour Shortages

“Reducing work experience and creating reserved pathways to permanent residence are just a couple of ways we can show our appreciation for the sacrifices and hard work of caregivers. We are committed to improving the process and making changes that are needed to recognize the value that caregivers bring to our community and to Canada.”

Immigration accounts for almost all of Canada’s labour force growth, with more than 75 per cent of Canada’s population growth coming from immigration, mostly in the economic category. 

By 2036, immigrants will represent up to 30 per cent of the Canadian population up from 20.7 per cent in 2011.

Fifty years ago, there were seven workers for every retiree in Canada. Today, that number is closer to three, and if Canada stays on its current trajectory, in the next 10 to 15 years, that ratio will drop to two workers for every retiree.

The Caregiver pilots are part of Ottawa’s strategy to tackle the labour shortage challenges facing Canadian employers. 

Under the HCCP and HSW candidates must meet the following requirements to be eligible to apply for permanent residence:

  • a job offer;
  • CLB 5 language level, and;
  • one year of Canadian post-secondary education or its foreign equivalent.

Applicants For Caregiver Pilot Programs Must Have Valid Job Offers

Here’s how to apply. First, the applicant must get a work permit by submitting an application for permanent residence and work permit or study permit for themselves and their family.

That should include an occupation-specific work permit to obtain the work experience the applicant will need for permanent residence.

Once the two years of work experience is completed – soon to be one year of work experience – the applicant must submit proof of that to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to get their permanent residence.

Candidates who already have work experience as an in-home caregiver in Canada can choose one of two options:

They can use the two-step process outlined above, then complete the required work experience to get permanent residence or they can keep working in Canada with a current work permit and apply for permanent residence once the work experience term is completed, provided the general requirements are met.

Quebec Unemployment Drops To 3.9% As Canada Jobs Rise By 150,000

Colin Singer
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0
Quebec Unemployment Drops To 3.9% As Canada Jobs Rise By 150,000

Canada added 150,000 Canada jobs in January and maintained an unemployment rate of 5 percent, as the labour market enjoyed a solid month.

Ontario, Quebec and Alberta led the way among the provinces, as the tight labour market that has existed since COVID-19 continued.

Jobs have now been increasing since September last year, with an increase of 326,000 in the four-month period.

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Canada’s employment rate – the percentage of people aged 15 and older who are employed – is now at 62.5 percent, the highest since May 2019.

Demographically, the gains were split evenly between women and men aged 25 to 54.

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Women in the age group added 51,000 jobs for an employment rate of 82.2 percent, the highest since recording began in 1976.

Men added 50,000 jobs for an employment rate of 88.3 percent.

What Are The Labour Force Survey Highlights?

Unemployment rate (%) 5.0
Employment rate (%) 62.5
Labour force participation rate (%) 65.7
Number unemployed 1,046,000
Number working 20,032,300
Youth (15-24) unemployment rate (%) 9.5
Men (over 25) unemployment rate (%) 4.3
Women (over 25) unemployment rate (%) 4.1

Source: Statistics Canada

Provincial Canada Jobs Picture

Among the provinces, Ontario led the way by adding 63,000 jobs for an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent. This was the third notable increase in four months for Canada’s most populous province.

Quebec had the lowest unemployment rate of all the provinces in January, at 3.9 percent, after the French-speaking province added 47,000 jobs.

Alberta, meanwhile, saw employment rise by 21,000. The province has now added 48,000 jobs since September and 99,000 in the last year. Its unemployment rate was 6 percent. 

Unemployment Rates In Canada’s Provinces

Jobs change in last month Unemployment rate (%)
British Columbia 7,700 4.4
Alberta 20,700 6.0
Saskatchewan 4,500 4.3
Manitoba 800 4.2
Ontario 62,800 5.2
Quebec 47,400 3.9
New Brunswick -600 7.5
Nova Scotia 9,400 5.0
Prince Edward Island -400 7.7
Newfoundland & Labrador -2,300 11.8
CANADA 150,000 5.0

Source: Statistics Canada

Nova Scotia also added jobs in January, posting an employment increase of 9,400, or 1.9 percent. Its unemployment rate fell 1.2 percentage points to 5 percent.

Saskatchewan, meanwhile, saw an increase of 4,500 jobs for an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent.

Canada Jobs Picture By Industry

From an industry perspective, employment increases were widespread.

There was an increase of 59,000 jobs in wholesale and retail trade, the first increase since February last year. Increases were seen in three main provinces: British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

Health care and social assistance also saw gains, adding 40,000 jobs after a decrease in December last year.

The number of people working in educational services rose by 18,000, mainly in Quebec. Construction added 16,000 jobs, meaning employment was up 114,000 over the last year, making it one of the fastest-growing industries in that period.

Ontario Draws: Province Targets Tech And Skilled Trades Candidates For Canada Immigration

Colin Singer
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Ontario Draws: Province Targets Tech And Skilled Trades Candidates For Canada Immigration

Ontario has conducted new draws through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), issuing 807 Canada immigration invitations to mainly skilled trades candidates.

The invitations were issued through three draws on February 10.

A draw through the Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream saw 466 invites issued to candidates scoring between 260 and 489 Comprehensive Ranking System points.

The invitations were targeted at the following occupations:

  • NOC 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
  • NOC 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
  • NOC 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
  • NOC 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
  • NOC 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
  • NOC 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
  • NOC 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
  • NOC 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
  • NOC 72101 – Tool and die makers
  • NOC 72102 – Sheet metal workers
  • NOC 72103 – Boilermakers
  • NOC 72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
  • NOC 72105 – Ironworkers
  • NOC 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
  • NOC 72201 – Industrial electricians
  • NOC 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
  • NOC 72300 – Plumbers
  • NOC 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
  • NOC 72320 – Bricklayers
  • NOC 72321 – Insulators
  • NOC 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
  • NOC 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
  • NOC 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
  • NOC 72403 – Railway carmen/women
  • NOC 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
  • NOC 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
  • NOC 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
  • NOC 72422 – Electrical mechanics
  • NOC 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
  • NOC 72500 – Crane operators
  • NOC 73100 – Concrete finishers
  • NOC 73101 – Tilesetters
  • NOC 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
  • NOC 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
  • NOC 73111 – Glaziers
  • NOC 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
  • NOC 73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
  • NOC 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
  • NOC 73209 – Other repairers and servicers
  • NOC 73300 – Transport truck drivers
  • NOC 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
  • NOC 82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services

A further 304 invitations were issued through Ontario’s Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream to candidates scoring 30 and above on Ontario’s Expression of Interest system.

The following occupations were targeted:

  • NOC 22212 – Drafting technologists and technicians
  • NOC 22221 – User support technicians
  • NOC 22222 – Information systems testing technicians
  • NOC 22301 – Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
  • NOC 22302 – Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
  • NOC 22311 – Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
  • NOC 22312 – Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
  • NOC 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
  • NOC 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
  • NOC 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
  • NOC 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
  • NOC 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
  • NOC 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
  • NOC 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
  • NOC 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
  • NOC 72024 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
  • NOC 72101 – Tool and die makers
  • NOC 72102 – Sheet metal workers
  • NOC 72103 – Boilermakers
  • NOC 72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
  • NOC 72105 – Ironworkers
  • NOC 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
  • NOC 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
  • NOC 72201 – Industrial electricians
  • NOC 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
  • NOC 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers
  • NOC 72300 – Plumbers
  • NOC 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
  • NOC 72310 – Carpenters
  • NOC 72320 – Bricklayers
  • NOC 72321 – Insulators
  • NOC 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
  • NOC 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
  • NOC 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
  • NOC 72403 – Railway carmen/women
  • NOC 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
  • NOC 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
  • NOC 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
  • NOC 72422 – Electrical mechanics
  • NOC 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
  • NOC 72500 – Crane operators
  • NOC 73100 – Concrete finishers
  • NOC 73101 – Tilesetters
  • NOC 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
  • NOC 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
  • NOC 73111 – Glaziers
  • NOC 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
  • NOC 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
  • NOC 73201 – General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
  • NOC 73202 – Pest controllers and fumigators
  • NOC 73209 – Other repairers and servicers
  • NOC 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
  • NOC 82031 – Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services
  • NOC 92100 – Power engineers and power systems operators

Another draw saw one further invitation issued through the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream to an Economic Mobility Pathway candidate, Canada’s skilled worker stream for refugees.

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Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream Draw

Date NOIs  CRS Score Range Express Entry profile submission date
10-02-2023 466 260-489 February 10, 2022 – February 10, 2023

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

Date issued Number of invitations issued Date profiles created Score range Notes
10-02-2023 340 November 22, 2022 – February 10, 2023 30 and above Targeted draw for tech and skilled trades occupations.
10-02-2023 1 November 22, 2022 – February 10, 2023 N/A Targeted draw for Economic Mobility Pathways Project candidates.

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Ontario Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream

The Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream targets skilled trades workers in the construction and agricultural sectors but could be expanded in the future.

To qualify applicants must have:

  • Active profile under the Federal Express Entry system.
  • At least 12 months, cumulative or continuous, of full-time, paid work experience in Ontario, within the last two years prior to the Notification of Interest, in NOC major groups 72 (excluding occupations under transportation officers), 73, 82, 83, 93 (excluding aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors) or minor group 6320 (excluding cooks).
  • Proof of Ontario license or certification if an occupational requirement.
  • A valid work permit and residing in Ontario at the time of application.
  • Minimum language CLB/NCLC level 5 or above in English or in French.
  • Proof of required settlement funds.

Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream Eligibility Requirements

To qualify under this stream, applicants must have the following:

  • A permanent and full-time job offer under NOC TEER category 1, 2 or 3 that meets the median wage levels for Ontario, and is in a position that is necessary to the business;
    • For those already working in the position, the proposed wage must be equal to or greater than the current wage being paid
  • Two cumulative years of relevant work experience in the previous five years before the date of application;
  • Relevant mandatory licensing in Ontario, if the position so requires;
  • Live abroad, or be working, studying or visiting Canada on a valid permit;
  • Intention to settle in Ontario.

Manitoba PNP Draw: Province Invites 308 Canada Immigration Candidates

Colin Singer
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Manitoba PNP Draw: Province Invites 308 Canada Immigration Candidates

Manitoba has conducted a new draw through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, issuing 308 invitations to Canada immigration candidates.

The February 9 draw saw LAAs issued through three MPNP streams.

Skilled Workers in Manitoba received 221 LAAs, with the lowest-ranked candidates scoring 720 points.

International Education Stream candidates received 55 LAAs.

The remaining 32 LAAs went to Skilled Workers Overseas candidates through a Strategic Recruitment Initiative, with a minimum score of 709.

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Manitoba stated that 33 of the 308 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.

What Were the Details of the Latest Manitoba Draw?

Stream Sub-Stream Letters of Advice to Apply Score of Lowest Ranked Candidate
1) Skilled Workers in Manitoba 221 720
2) International Education Stream 55 –
3) Skilled Workers Overseas Strategic Recruitment Initiative 32 709

Video

How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream?

The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream (SWM) is based on the specific needs of Manitoba employers. SWM selects foreign-trained workers with the required skills and nominates them for Canada permanent residence. The stream prioritizes candidates with a strong attachment to Manitoba, with two pathways to Manitoba immigration.

a) Manitoba Work Experience Pathway

For applicants currently working in Manitoba on temporary work permits, through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or as international graduates from any province. Candidates do not need to be working in In-Demand Occupations.

b) Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway

For applicants from overseas with job offers from approved Manitoba employers.

How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream?

The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream (SWO) includes both a dedicated Canada Express Entry Pathway and a direct provincial pathway.

It is aimed at international skilled workers with skills and training in Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Priority is given to applicants and spouses with close family connections, plus the language proficiency, training and experience to find jobs quickly.

a) Manitoba Express Entry Pathway

For international candidates eligible under another MPNP stream, who also meet Express Entry criteria and have an active Express Entry profile. Candidates need skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations, and a strong family connection to the province.

b) Human Capital Pathway

For international skilled workers with skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Candidates must demonstrate the 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
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