Two-year ban on non-Canadians buying real estate is now in effect in Canada

Colin Singer
-
0
Two-year ban on non-Canadians buying real estate is now in effect in Canada

Permanent residents, international students, diplomats and consular officials are all exempt from Ottawa’s two-year ban on non-Canadians buying homes which came into effect on Jan. 1 this year.

Ottawa added a few additional exemptions to the ban, formally known as the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act, to also include any vulnerable persons who already have temporary visa who are fleeing a conflict or those who have already filed a refugee claim in Canada in December last year.

Those exemptions are at the discretion of Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

Read more:

The act which received royal assent on June 23, 2022 took effect on Jan. 1 this year.

Ottawa nixes the use of corporations by non-Canadians to buy real estate

The ban also prevents non-Canadians from buying this real estate through corporations, sets out penalties for those who break the law, and even allows for the government to sell off property bought in breach of the prohibition.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland unveiled Ottawa’s strategy last year as part of a strategy to keep house prices in Canada from rising so high as to push working-class and young Canadians out of the real estate market.

“We will make the market fairer for Canadians,” said Freeland. “We will prevent foreign investors from parking their money in Canada by buying up homes. We will make sure that houses are being used as homes for Canadian families rather than as a speculative financial asset class.”

Those foreign investors, though, do not include foreign nationals who are studying at Canadian colleges and universities or those from other countries who have already obtained their permanent residency.

In its budget last year, Ottawa proposed doubling the number of new homes being built in cooperation with the provincial and territorial governments, municipalities, and the private and non-profit sectors.

“Canada does not have enough homes. We need more of them, fast,” said Freeland. “This budget represents the most ambitious plan that Canada has ever had to solve that fundamental challenge.

Prohibition on non-Canadian purchase of real estate deemed necessary to curb housing inflation

“We will invest in building more homes and in bringing down the barriers that keep them from being built. We will invest in the rental housing that so many count on. We will make it easier for our young people to get those first keys of their own.”

Ottawa sees speculative investment in Canadian real estate as fueling inflation in the housing market.

“For years, foreign money has been coming into Canada to buy residential real estate, fuelling concerns about the impact on costs in cities like Vancouver and Toronto and worries about Canadians being priced out of the housing market in cities and towns across the country,” states a backgrounder on the housing market published online by the federal government’s finance department.

“To make sure that housing is owned by Canadians instead of foreign investors, Budget 2022 announces the government’s intention to propose restrictions that would prohibit foreign commercial enterprises and people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents from acquiring non-recreational, residential property in Canada for a period of two years.”

Canada remains bullish on immigration with record-breaking targets for each of the next three years.

In its 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan, Ottawa has set the target for 2023 at 465,000 new permanent residents. The country is to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and another 500,000 in 2025.

That’s a total of 1.45 million immigrants to Canada over the coming three years.

Ontario Masters Graduate Draw: Province Issues 725 Canada Immigration Invitations

Colin Singer
-
0
Ontario Masters Graduate Draw: Province Issues 725 Canada Immigration Invitations

Ontario has issued 725 Canada immigration invitations in a new Expression of Interest draw through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Masters Graduate stream.

To qualify for the December 21 draw, candidates required a score of 46 or above and needed to have submitted their profile within the last month.

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

Masters Graduate Stream Expression of Interest Draw

Date issued Number of invitations issued Date profiles created Score range Notes
21-12-2022 725 November 22, 2022 – December 21, 2022 46 and above General draw

Read More Canada Immigration News

Foreign-Trained Doctor Credential Recognition Program Coming In Ontario
Ontario Issues 936 Canada Immigration Invitations In New Express Entry Tech Draw
Ontario Issues 160 NOIs Targeting 35 Jobs In New French Speaking Skilled Worker Draw

Ontario Expression of Interest Ranking System

Points are awarded based on the following attributes:

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

Masters Graduate Stream

This stream offers an opportunity to obtain permanent residence to international students who obtained a masters degree in Ontario without requiring a job offer.

To be eligible to apply, a candidate must meet the following criteria:

  • Graduated from a Master’s degree program from an eligible institution in Ontario, that was at least one-year full-time.
  • Obtained minimum language CLB/NCLC level 7 or above in English or in French.
  • Resided legally in Ontario for at least one year in the last two.
  • Have sufficient settlement funds.
  • Intend to live and work in Ontario.
  • Must have legal status in Ontario or abroad.
    • Applications from elsewhere in Canada will not be accepted.
  • The application must be submitted within two years of completing the requirements to graduate with the master’s degree.

Manitoba PNP Draw: Province Invites 280 Canada Immigration Candidates

Colin Singer
-
0
Manitoba PNP Draw: Province Invites 280 Canada Immigration Candidates

Manitoba has conducted a new draw through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, issuing 280 Letters of Advice to Apply to Canada immigration candidates.

The December 30 draw saw LAAs issued through three MPNP streams.

Skilled Workers in Manitoba received 202 LAAs, with the lowest-ranked candidates scoring 750 points.

International Education Stream candidates received 38 LAAs.

The remaining 40 LAAs went to Skilled Workers Overseas candidates through a Strategic Recruitment Initiative, with a minimum score of 711.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Manitoba Invites 249 Canada Immigration Candidates In New PNP Draw
Manitoba Conducts Largest Canada Immigration Draw For 17 Months, Issues 1,030 Invitations
Manitoba Jobs: Top 10 Most In-Demand Occupations In The Canadian Province

Manitoba stated that 21 of the 280 candidates had valid Express Entry IDs and job seeker validation codes.

Please see below for detailed requirements of all the streams featured in this draw.

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 202 750
2) International Education Stream 38 –
3) Skilled Workers Overseas Strategic Recruitment Initiative 40 711

Video

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

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

a) Manitoba Work Experience Pathway

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

b) Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway

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

How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream?

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

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

a) Manitoba Express Entry Pathway

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

b) Human Capital Pathway

For international skilled workers with skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Candidates must demonstrate potential to find employment soon after they arrive in Manitoba.

What Are The Requirements For the International Education Stream?

The International Education Stream (IES) is dedicated to international graduates from Manitoba colleges and universities. Under IES, candidates are no longer required to work for six months in their field before applying for an MPNP nomination. It has three pathways:

1) Career Employment Pathway  

Eligibility requirements include:

  • Completed a one-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution within three years of submission of application.
  • Have a full-time job offer in a Manitoba In-Demand occupation related to the completed degree
  • Resident of Manitoba

2) Graduate Internship Pathway

Masters and Doctoral degree holders who have completed Mitacs Accelerate or Elevate internships can apply for nomination through internships even without a job offer in the province.

3) Student Entrepreneur Pathway

Eligibility requirements include:

  • Completed a two-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution
  • Six months business operation experience in Manitoba
  • Resident of Manitoba since graduation.
  • No specific minimum personal net worth requirement

Canada Welcomed More Than 431,000 Newcomers In 2022, Hitting Historic Target

Colin Singer
-
0
Canada Welcomed More Than 431,000 Newcomers In 2022, Hitting Historic Target

Canada’s federal government has revealed it reached its historical target of 431,645 new immigrants in 2022.

Without giving an exact figure, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said on Tuesday that it reached the target laid out in the Immigration Levels Plan for last year.

The number surpasses the record of more than 405,000 newcomers welcomed in 2021. IRCC also plans to break the record in each of the next three years, according to the 2023 to 2025 Immigration Levels Plan released in November.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Atlantic Provinces Enjoy Boost To Immigrant Retention Rate Due To Atlantic Immigration Program
Bank Of Canada Governor Urges Ottawa To Boost Immigration To Avoid Interest Rate Hikes
Canada Immigration Fuels Fastest Quarterly Population Growth Since 1957

Canada was already well on target to break the record, with official figures up until October showing 387,560 new permanent residents had been welcomed. That equates to a rate of 38,756 new immigrants per month, which works out as more than 465,000 for the year.

“Today marks an important milestone for Canada, setting a new record for newcomers welcomed in a single year,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“Newcomers play an essential role in filling labour shortages, bringing new perspectives and talents to our communities, and enriching our society as a whole. 

“I am excited to see what the future holds and look forward to another historic year in 2023 as we continue to welcome newcomers.”

Prior to setting a new record for admissions in 2021, the last time Canada welcomed such a large numbers of newcomers was in 1913.

The 2022 figure comes after IRCC doubled the numbers of applications it processed for permanent residence, temporary residence and citizenship from the previous year to 5.2 million.

The increased processing came after a massive funding boost from the federal government to tackle an enormous application backlog, causing growing processing times.

The latest Fall Economic Statement set aside $50 million in 2022 to 2023 to address the issue and tackle a chronic labour shortage.

“As we plan to continue to welcome historic numbers of newcomers, IRCC has added resources, embraced new technology, streamlined processing, and brought more processes online,” said the IRCC.

Immigration accounts for almost 100 percent of Canada’s labour force growth and 75 percent of its population growth, mostly in the economic category. By 2036, immigrants will represent up to 30 percent of Canada’s population, compared with 20.7 percent in 2011.

Canada’s aging population means that the worker-to-retiree ratio is expected to shift from seven to one 50 years ago to two to one by 2035.

During the 2021 Census, nearly a quarter of people were or had been a landed immigrant or permanent resident in Canada, the largest proportion among the G7 countries. Just over 1.3 million new immigrants settled in Canada from 2016 to 2021.

Immigrants account for 36 percent of physicians, 33 percent of business owners with paid staff and 41 percent of engineers, IRCC says.

The most recent Immigration Levels Plan promises to increase immigration to 465,000 newcomers per year in 2023, 485,000 in 2024 and 500,000 by 2025.

The vast majority of these are set to come through the Economic Class, which is set to grow to over 300,000 newcomers by itself within three years under the latest IRCC plan.

Canada’s 2023 to 2025 Immigration Levels Plan

2023 2024 2025
Overall Planned Permanent Resident Admissions 465,000 485,000 500,000
Economic Federal High Skilled 82,880 109,020 114,000
Federal Economic Public Policies 25,000 – –
Federal Business 3,500 5,000 6,000
Economic Pilots: Caregivers; Agri-Food Pilot; Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot; Economic Mobility Pathways Project 8,500 12,125 14,750
Atlantic Immigration Program 8,500 11,500 14,500
Provincial Nominee Program 105,500 110,000 117,500
Quebec Skilled Workers and Business 33,900 To be determined To be determined
Total Economic 266,210 281,135 301,250
Family Spouses, Partners and Children 78,000 80,000 82,000
Parents and Grandparents 28,500 34,000 36,000
Total Family 106,500 114,000 118,000
Refugees and Protected Persons Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad 25,000 27,000 29,000
Resettled Refugees – Government-Assisted 23,550 21,115 15,250
Resettled Refugees – Privately Sponsored 27,505 27,750 28,250
Resettled Refugees – Blended Visa Office-Referred 250 250 250
Total Refugees and Protected Persons 76,305 76,115 72,750
Humanitarian and Other Total Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other 15,985 13,750 8,000

 

Saskatchewan Issues 468 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draw

Colin Singer
-
0
Saskatchewan Issues 468 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draw

Saskatchewan has conducted a new Expression of Interest draw through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program, issuing 468 Canada immigration invitations.

The December 21 draw featured 315 invitations through the province’s Occupations In-Demand stream and 153 via its Express Entry stream. 

The invitations targeted 107 National Occupational Classification codes and required a minimum score of 80.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Saskatchewan Conducts First Draw Since Switch To NOC 2021, Issues 635 Canada Immigration Invitations
Canada Labour Shortage: Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Issues 35 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draw

Latest Saskatchewan Expression of Interest Draw

Draw date Category Minimum score Invites issued Other considerations
21-12-22 Occupations In-Demand 80 315 NOCs included: 00012, 00013, 00015, 10010, 10011, 10012, 10020, 10021, 10022, 10029, 11101, 11102, 11109, 11200, 11201, 11202, 12010, 12011, 12013, 12100, 12101, 12102, 12111, 12200, 13100, 13101, 13102, 13110, 13111, 13112, 20010, 20012, 21101, 21110, 21120, 21200, 21210, 21211, 21221, 21222, 21223, 21230, 21231, 21232, 21234, 21300, 21301, 21310, 21311, 21320, 21399, 22100, 22101, 22110, 22111, 22211, 22220, 22221, 22222, 22232, 22300, 22301, 22310, 31200, 31203, 32120, 33101, 33103, 40030, 41200, 41210, 41300, 41320, 41400, 41401, 41402, 41403, 41404, 42202, 42203, 43100, 43109, 60010, 60030, 60031, 60040, 62022, 62024, 62029, 62100, 62101, 63102, 63200, 70010, 70012, 72014, 72021, 72106, 72200, 73209, 80010, 80020, 82021, 82030, 90010, 92011, 92012, 92100, 93101
Express Entry 80 153

Video

What is the Process for Saskatchewan Expression of Interest?

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

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

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

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

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

Additionally, candidates must:

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

Atlantic provinces enjoy boost to immigrant retention rate due to Atlantic Immigration Program

Colin Singer
-
0
Atlantic provinces enjoy boost to immigrant retention rate due to Atlantic Immigration Program

Immigrants coming to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador are more likely to stay there for the long haul due to the arrival of the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), reveals Statistics Canada data.

Read more:

The AIP was launched as a permanent program in 2022 after years of success as a pilot prog4am. 

Pilot program that became the AIP boosted Nova Scotia’s immigrant retention rate the most

“Three years into the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP), the one-year retention rate of skilled workers and skilled trades categories had risen substantially in all Atlantic provinces,” notes Statistics Canada.

“However, such trends were not observed in most other provinces during the same period.”

Nova Scotia enjoyed the biggest bump in its retention rate. The one-year retention rate of immigrants admitted in that province as skilled workers and skilled tradespersons in 2019, at 67.6 per cent, was more than three times higher than that of those admitted in 2016, at 21.5 per cent, before the AIPP was introduced.

“New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador’s one-year retention rates were also notably higher, each increasing by about 22 percentage points in four years,” notes the statistical and demographic services agency.

Prince Edward Island had the lowest five-year retention rate but the largest increase among recent arrivals.

Launched in 2017 in response to the low retention rates and the shrinking labour force in the Atlantic provinces, the AIPP recruits skilled foreign workers and international graduates and sees employers work with settlement service provider organizations to boost the retention of immigrants and their families.

Using the 2021 Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB) released in early December, Statistics Canada has painted a picture of which provinces best managed to hang onto immigrants who settle there.

“Among immigrants admitted from 2010 to 2015, those who intended to reside in Ontario, British Columbia or Alberta were the most likely to stay in those provinces five years after their arrival,” notes Statistics Canada.

Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta still enjoy the highest immigrant retention rates

“The five-year retention rates of these three provinces were relatively consistent over time, with the exception of Alberta, where there was a drop from 88.9 per cent among immigrants who arrived in 2014 to 84.5 per cent among those who arrived in 2015.”

In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, provincial governments had a tougher time retaining immigrants.

“Both provinces’ retention rates decreased by more than 10 percentage points from the 2010 admission cohort to that of 2015,” noted Statistics Canada.

A good predictor of a province’s ability to hang onto its immigrants is the level of previous work experience of its newcomers. International students are the most likely to move out of a province but those who come to a province for a job are likely to stay.

“Among those admitted from 2010 to 2015 and who only had a work permit prior to admission, over 89 per cent filed taxes in their province or territory of admission five years after admission,” reports Statistics Canada.

Family-sponsored immigrants are the most likely to stay in the province where they arrive

“In contrast, those who only had a study permit prior to admission had the lowest provincial retention rates. The retention rate of this group was 82.5 per cent among those admitted in 2010 and fell to 74.7 per cent among those admitted in 2015.”

Those immigrants coming to Canada through family sponsorship programs were the most likely to stay put.

“Among immigrants admitted in 2010, 92.6 per cent of those sponsored by family remained in their province or territory of admission five years after admission, compared with 92.3 per cent among those admitted in 2015,” noted Statistics Canada.

“The five-year provincial retention rate of refugees was 86.1 per cent among the 2010 admission cohort and increased slightly to 87.4 per cent among that of 2015.”

Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker program is accepting applications from payroll administrators

Colin Singer
-
0
Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker program is accepting applications from payroll administrators

The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program of the Express Entry system is now open to applications from payroll administrators from countries throughout the world.

Read more:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) added payroll administrator as well as 15 other new jobs to its list of eligible occupations under the FSW on Nov. 16.

The Federal Skilled Worker program now includes 359 eligible occupations

That increased the number of eligible occupations under the FSW on the same day the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 came into effect at the IRCC to 359.

The 16 new occupations are all deemed jobs for which the worker must get a college diploma, an apprenticeship training of fewer than two years, or more than six months of on-the-job training.

The full list of newly-added jobs on the list of eligible occupations under the FSW includes:

  • NOC 13102 Payroll administrators
  • NOC 33100 Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
  • NOC 33102 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
  • NOC 33103 Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
  • NOC 43100 Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
  • NOC 43200 Sheriffs and bailiffs
  • NOC 43201 Correctional service officers
  • NOC 43202 By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers
  • NOC 63211 Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations
  • NOC 73200 Residential and commercial installers and servicers
  • NOC 73202 Pest controllers and fumigators
  • NOC 73209 Other repairers and servicers
  • NOC 73300 Transport truck drivers
  • NOC 73301 Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
  • NOC 73400 Heavy equipment operators
  • NOC 93200 Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors

Payroll administrators are the people who cut the paycheques, collect and verify payroll information, manage employees’ benefits and maintain accurate payroll information. Anyone who has ever had any job with any company in Canada has benefited from the work done by payroll administrators.

Companies are seeking payroll administrators with expertise and training

And as the Canadian economy has rebounded after the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have been adding more workers, creating an increased need for payroll administrators.

Jobbank, the federal government’s job board, gives a ranking of good to very good for the employment prospects of payroll administrators across Canada. The Indeed job website listed 683 jobs for these office workers in late December.

“Not so long ago, payroll was looked at as an administrative task that anyone could do,” says Peter Tzanetakis, president of the National Payroll Institute. “Today, it’s recognized as a career that requires training, expertise and investment.”

That 40,000-member strong association of Canadian payroll administrators, which was renamed in May 2022 after years of being known as the Canadian Payroll Association, provides member services and research and government advocacy initiatives.

Ottawa’s move to include payroll administrators in the list of eligible occupations under the FSW comes as human resources giant Randstad is encouraging employers to seek out foreign nationals to fill vacant positions.

“There shouldn’t be a lack of recognition for foreign education and experience within your recruitment process,” Randstad cautions on its website.

Human resources giant urges employers to recruit highly-skilled foreign nationals

“Yes, certain industries need specific skills or training that can only be certified in Canada. However, if you’re not within one of those industries, try to look at their education and find out a little more information on that school and how they might have been taught or trained there. Foreign experience can be beneficial to any company.”

Jobbank data reveals the median annual wage for a payroll administrator in Canada is $53,430.

Foreign nationals hoping to apply for permanent residence through the FSW must have one year of paid work experience within the last decade in jobs categorized as TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the NOC 2021 system.

Applicants under this program must also take a language test to prove that they possess sufficient language skills to successfully establish themselves in Canada. Language tests evaluate an applicant’s abilities with regard to:

  • listening
  • speaking
  • reading
  • writing

In order to be eligible for the FSW, an applicant needs to obtain at least the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in all categories and show that he or she has enough money to support him or herself and any relatives upon arrival in Canada.

Higher immigration needed to attract construction workers to build Canadian homes, says minister

Colin Singer
-
0
Higher immigration needed to attract construction workers to build Canadian homes, says minister

Foreign nationals with the skills to build homes in Canada are needed here and higher immigration levels help ensure the Canadian construction industry has the workers it needs, says Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Minister Ahmed Hussen.

“We know there is over a million jobs in Canada that remain unfilled, so we need immigrants, skilled immigrants, to come in and help us fill those unfilled jobs and help us grow our economy,” Hussen reportedly told Global News in a year-end interview.

Read more:

“In addition to that, the irony is we actually need more people, skilled immigrants, to also help us in the building trades and the construction sector of our economy. We need those workers to actually come in and help us build the housing that Canadians need.”

PPC leader claims high immigration drives up housing prices

The housing and diversity and inclusion minister’s call for even more skilled immigrants to be allowed to immigrate to Canada comes in the wake of worries expressed by some Canadians that record-high levels of immigration are fuelling inflation in the country and exacerbating housing shortages.

“Mass immigration doesn’t make us richer,” tweeted People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier in late December. 

“It doesn’t solve manpower and aging problems. And it worsens housing and healthcare shortages. Serious economists understand this.”

Economists have actually split on the impact of high immigration to Canada fuelling increases in house prices. 

While some agree the increase in Canada’s population due to immigration drives up demand and pushes up housing prices, others claim the worry that immigrants in and of themselves will drive up housing prices in Canada is largely unfounded.

At the Urban Analytics Institute of Toronto Metropolitan University, director Murtaza Haider has reportedly told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) that immigrants are not much of a pressure on the housing market.

“Most new immigrants … would not have cash or enough savings to go and start buying homes,” Haider reportedly said. “I don’t expect them to exert pressure on housing prices as much, but more so on the rental demand.

Canada plans to welcome a record 1.45 million immigrants in the coming three years

“My guess is that most new immigrants will … not have cash or enough savings to go and start buying homes.”

In its 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan, Ottawa has set the target for 2023 at 465,000 new permanent residents. The country is to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and another 500,000 in 2025.

That’s a total of 1.45 million immigrants to Canada over the coming three years.

Those newcomers to Canada could make a big dent in the country’s acute labour shortage, including in the number of jobs in the building trades that are vacant.

In its latest quarterly report, Statistics Canada noted there were 959,600 job vacancies in the third quarter of 2022, 8.3 per cent higher than in the third quarter of 2021 and 72.7 per cent higher than in the first quarter of 2020.

Among those job vacancies are 38,905 construction jobs advertised on the Indeed job-hunting website in late December. The Jobbank government-run job-hunting website rates the employment prospects for construction workers as good in most Canadian provinces for the next few years.

Bank of Canada governor urges Ottawa to boost immigration to avoid interest rate hikes

Colin Singer
-
0
Bank of Canada governor urges Ottawa to boost immigration to avoid interest rate hikes

Boosting immigration to Canada to fill jobs going begging for lack of workers will help the country stave off even higher interest rates, says Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem.

Read more:

“Businesses have had a hard time hiring enough workers to produce all the goods and services Canadians want to buy. Job vacancies are elevated, and firms report widespread labour shortages,” he said in a speech at the Conference on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Economics, Finance and Central Banking in Ottawa.

Businesses can’t keep up with demand in overheated Canadian economy

“This is symptomatic of an economy that is overheated. Businesses can’t keep up with demand, and this is driving prices higher.”

That inflation can be curbed by raising interest rates.

“Monetary policy affects demand. By raising interest rates, we are moderating spending, and that will reduce the demand for workers. Invariably, this has unequal consequences across sectors and across workers,” said Macklem.

But the governor of the country’s central bank explained immigration could also help mitigate the need for the Bank of Canada to raise interest rates.

“The other way to rebalance supply and demand is to increase the supply of workers,” he said. “That takes time and with inflation already far too high and with elevated risks that high inflation becomes entrenched increasing labour supply is not an alternative to slowing demand. 

“But it is a compliment. And the more we can do on supply, the less we will need to do on demand.”

Macklem’s message is clear: boost immigration or face even higher interest rate hikes.

In 2022, the Bank of Canada raised its target overnight rate seven times, pushing it up to 4.25 per cent, the highest that rate has gone since 2008, in its bid to curb inflation which hit 6.9 per cent in October. 

As the Bank of Canada raised its policy rate from 0.25 per cent in March in that series of rate hikes, it drove up prime rates and mortgage rates, making it all that much harder for Canadians to buy homes. 

Canada, like many other countries, was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and locked down for a while and imposed many public health restrictions, all of which had a massive impact on the country’s economy.

COVID-19 public health restrictions led to unprecedented lockdowns in Canada

“Never before has so much of the economy been shut down, so suddenly and for so long,” said Macklem. 

“But thanks to new vaccines and exceptional fiscal and monetary policies, the recovery was the fastest ever. By August, four months after the employment lows of April (in 2020), nearly two-thirds of Canadian job losses were recouped.”

That fast recovery led to massive labour shortages as employers in several sectors of the economy struggled to find workers who had been laid off and moved on to other jobs.

In its third quarter, 2022 report, Statistics Canada noted there were still 959,600 job vacancies across the country, down 3.3 per cent from the record high of 992,200 vacant positions in the second quarter of the year but still much higher than for the same quarter in 2021.

“It was 8.3 per cent higher than in the third quarter of 2021 and 72.7 per cent higher than in the first quarter of 2020,” reported Statistics Canada.

The job vacancy rate, which is calculated by dividing the number of vacant positions in Canada by the total number of jobs, both filled and unfilled, was 5.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2022.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has responded to Canada’s labour shortages by raising immigration targets for each of the next three years to record levels.

In its 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan, Ottawa has set the target for 2023 at 465,000 new permanent residents. The country is to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and another 500,000 in 2025.

Canada to welcome 1.45 million immigrants over three years

That’s a total of 1.45 million immigrants to Canada over the coming three years.

Canadian employers trying to survive during this acute labour shortage can recruit and hire foreign nationals through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).

The Global Talent Stream (GTS), a part of the TFWP, can under normal processing situations lead to the granting of Canadian work permits and the processing of visa applications within two weeks.

Under the Express Entry system, immigrants can also apply for permanent residency online if they meet the eligibility criteria for one of three federal immigration programs, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST), and Canada Experience Class Program (CEC),  or a participating provincial immigration program.

Candidates’ profiles then are ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranked candidates are considered for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a full application and pay processing fees, within a delay of 90 days.

Through a network of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can also nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada when they have the specific skills required by local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.

Quebec Makes Part Of Entrepreneur And Self-Employed Immigration Programs Francophone-Only

Colin Singer
-
0
Quebec Makes Part Of Entrepreneur And Self-Employed Immigration Programs Francophone-Only

One of the streams of the Quebec Entrepreneur Program (QEP) and the whole Quebec Self-Employed Program (QSP) will only accept applications from Francophones as of Dec. 28.

The affected stream of the QEP is for candidates receiving support from a business accelerator, a business incubator or a university entrepreneurship centre, and who wish to open and manage a business in Quebec.

These programs are not being shut down or paused. The francophone province is simply shutting off applications to those who are not francophones.

Read More Canada Immigration News

Quebec Labour Shortage: Top 10 Most In-Demand Quebec Jobs
Trudeau Says Quebec Well Able To Welcome More Than 100,000 Immigrants Per Year
Quebec’s Latest Levels Plan Sees Province Hold The Line On Immigration

Candidates who wish to apply for these immigration programs will, starting on the Wednesday of the last week of this year, have to demonstrate a Level 7 mastery of French as per the Échelle Québécoise des Niveaux de Compétence en Français des Personnes Immigrantes Adultes, a rating system of French-language competency for adult immigrants.

There will be no limit as to the number of candidates who can apply through those programs who demonstrate that mastery of French.

The second stream of the QEP, the one which is for entrepreneurs who wish to operate a business they created bought with at least 25 per cent of the voting shares or at least 51 per cent of all shares of the enterprise, is already closed.

With this latest announcement, Quebec Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette is effectively, albeit perhaps temporarily, closing the door to the QEP for non-francophones.

“We are taking these measures to prioritize francophone economic immigration,” said Fréchette in French in a statement. “This is why only people with a mastery of French will be able to submit their applications for these two programs for entrepreneurs and self-employed workers in 2023.

“With this decision, we are acting to ensure the survival and vitality of the French language while helping immigrants integrate into Quebecois society.”

This clampdown on non-francophone immigration to Quebec comes roughly three weeks after Quebec Premier François Legault’s speech to open the 43rd session of the National Assembly of Quebec.

In it, Legault made it clear that stopping the decline of the use of French in the province is one of his top priorities and that he sees francophone immigration as a vital to achieving that goal.

All Economic Immigration To Quebec Will Be Francophone By 2026, Says Legault

By 2026, all economic immigrants to Quebec will have to be francophone under Legault’s vision.

“Previous Parti Québécois and Liberal Party governments accepted that 50 per cent (of economic immigrants to Quebec) speak French,” Legault is reported as saying in French in the Le Soleil daily newspaper.

“We have succeeded in the economic immigration categories in increasing that to 80 per cent and we must reach 100 per cent.”

Certainly, Montreal is becoming less francophone as immigration to the province has risen.

Watch Video

In the past two decades, the proportion of people who speak French on the island of Montreal has dropped from 54 per cent to 48 per cent – and that concerns the Quebec premier.

Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals that in the first nine months of this year, economic immigration accounted for almost 65.1 per cent of total immigration to Quebec.

Through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Caregiver, and Skilled Worker programs as well as the Entrepreneur, Investor and Self-Employed economic programs, Quebec welcomed 34,165 new permanent residents in the first nine months of 2022.

Although Quebec is well on track to receive 69,987 new permanent residents this year as it makes up for the drop in immigration during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, both the provincial immigration minister and Legault have made it clear they will not raise the provincial immigration target much above the current 50,000.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Scoffs At Notion Quebec Can’t Integrate More Immigrants

“It is up to Quebec to set its own targets for permanent immigration,” tweeted Fréchette in French after the provincial election.

“The upper limit for Quebec is now 50,000 (new permanent residents) due to our capacity to welcome, provide French-language services and integrate them.”

The francophone province’s immigration minister has maintained that Quebec is already welcoming proportionately more immigrants than do either the United States or France.

“Our position has remained the same: we need more control over immigration to protect the French language,” tweeted Fréchette.

In that tweet – retweeted by Legault without additional comment – the Quebec immigration minister wrote she would be continuing talks with federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

In the 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan, Ottawa is targeting 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.

That’s a total of 1.45 million immigrants to Canada over the coming three years.

Under a provincial-federal agreement, Quebec’s annual share of new permanent residents is to be equal to its demographic clout within Canada. Since the province has 23 per cent of the country’s population, a national immigration target of 465,000 new permanent residents would mean Quebec could accept up to 106,950 new permanent residents next year.

Quebec Holding The Line On Immigration At Just Over 50,000

By 2025, that number would rise to 115,000.

But Legault’s CAQ government is steadfast in its opposition to that level of immigration to the province because Quebec lacks the ability to integrate that many newcomers into the Quebecois society every year.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau disagrees. 

“Quebec at the moment is fully capable of welcoming 112,000 immigrants a year,” the prime minister reportedly told Presse Canadienne.

1...888990...246Page 89 of 246

Latest News

© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv