Canada has opened a new Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration in New Brunswick, the only officially-bilingual province, as part of its bid to boost the number of newcomers who speak French.
“In recent years, southeastern New Brunswick has become greatly diversified and demonstrates to what extent immigration is a key component of a region’s economic success,” said federal minister Dominic LeBlanc during the inauguration ceremony last week.
“Dieppe is therefore the perfect place to host this new center of national scope, which will be equipped with new tools to reach our targets in terms of francophone immigration.
“We will continue to listen to francophone communities across the country regarding their needs for a bilingual and qualified workforce.”
The centre comes with a hefty price tag: $12.9 million from Ottawa to establish the centre over a four-year period.
And then there’s the at least $5.6 million annually to cover the cost of the programming.
In a statement, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) admitted the annual cost of operating the centre could be even higher depending on the scope of the programming.
But Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor figures the money is well worth it.
“This initiative will support the efforts needed to ensure the stability and demographic growth of francophone communities in Atlantic Canada and across the country,” she said.
“The modernization of the Official Languages Act, introduced by our government last March, proposes to adopt a francophone immigration policy with specific goals, targets and indicators that will ensure the sustainability of our beautiful French language. The new centre will help turn that vision into action.”
The work the centre is to do is to be national in scope. It is expected to:
make immigration programs more accessible in order to increase the number of French-speaking candidates selected;
conduct case studies to better meet the bilingual workforce needs of francophone employers and communities, and;
support international promotion efforts to attract and recruit French-speaking candidates in our labour market.
Work Of New Francophone Immigration Centre Is National In Scope
“As this year marks the 10th edition of National Francophone Immigration Week, the Honourable Sean Fraser, minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and I are proud to participate in the celebrations that highlight the contributions of French-speaking newcomers to communities across Canada,” said IRCC parliamentary secretary Marie-France Lalonde.
“The opening of the new Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration in Dieppe is an opportunity for us to demonstrate Canada’s efforts to attract and retain French-speaking newcomers in welcoming and inclusive communities.”
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Through the centre, IRCC plans to work closely with francophone communities and with organizations responsible for selecting immigration candidates to boost francophone immigration outside of Quebec to 4.4 per cent of total immigration to those provinces and territories.
Under the latest Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, Ottawa is hoping to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents next year. Quebec Premier Francois Legault has stated his province will accept about 50,000 of those newcomers, leaving about 415,000 new permanent residents to settle in the rest of the country.
Ottawa’s target of 4.4 per cent francophone immigration would therefore translate into about 18,200 new francophone permanent residents coming to Canada, outside of Quebec, next year.
That’s roughly the population of Camrose, Alberta, being added to Canada’s francophone identity every year.
The Nova Scotia job market is great for foreign nationals looking to immigrate to the Atlantic Canadian province through economic immigration programs.
Statistics Canada figures show that job vacancies in the province were up by 52.1 per cent in the second quarter of this year compared to the same quarter last year.
And the number of jobs going begging for a lack of people to do them was then on an upward trajectory, climbing 27.1 per cent from the first to the second quarter of this year.
Those positions were still waiting to be filled in the second quarter of this year despite employers adding 21,240 employees to their payrolls during the year that ended on June 30. Wages during that period rose 4.3 per cent.
Even though TD Economics is forecasting real GDP growth in Nova Scotia to slow down from 2.2 per cent to 0.5 per cent next year, the economy is expected to rebound with 2.4 per cent real GDP growth in 2024 and the pent-up demand for labour is expected to keep the market good for job hunters.
“Homebuilding remains elevated, industrial construction is very strong, and commercial investment is continuing its recovery from the pandemic,” wrote TD Economics’ Beata Caranci, Derek Burleton, Rishi Sondhi, and Jenny Duan in their latest provincial economic forecast.
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“What’s more, the government is rolling out its record $1.6 billion capital plan through projects like the QEII Health Sciences Centre.”
In their latest Provincial Economic Forecast: Most Economies to Narrowly Keep Their Heads Above Water in 2023, released in late September, the economists also noted the services sector was then still going strong.
“Re-openings and a hot housing market have spurred solid hiring in industries such as accommodation and food services and finance, and real estate. Meanwhile, job growth in professional, scientific, and technical services industries has been even stronger,” they wrote.
Nova Scotia’s Record Population Growth Is Fuelling Growth In Consumer Spending
Record population growth in Nova Scotia is pushing up consumer spending and investment – and likely to do so over the next couple of years – even as inflation acts as a dampening influence, stated the economists.
Here are the top 10 most in-demand jobs in Nova Scotia for any foreign national considering economic immigration programs to the province.
1. Construction Trades (NOC 75110)
With construction going strong in Nova Scotia, demand for workers in the construction trades is very high right now.
These are the people who work at construction sites, in quarries and in surface mines, usually for construction companies, trade and labour contractors, and surface mine and quarry operators.
In early November, Indeed had 205 job listings for those wanting to work in the construction trades in Nova Scotia and Job Bank data shows the median annual income for these workers is $37,050 in that province based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week.
2. Retail Sales Associate (NOC 64100)
The people who work in retail stores greeting customers, showing them the merchandise, racking up sales and restocking the shelves are in great demand in Nova Scotia with 681 job listings on Indeed in early November in that province.
Based on a standard work week, Job Bank data indicates these workers earn a median annual income of $26,050 in Nova Scotia.
Across Canada, Job Bank forecasts a labour shortage of 7,400 workers in retail sales through to 2028.
3. Registered Nurses (NOC 32101)
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses provide direct nursing care to patients, deliver health education programs and provide consultative services regarding issues relevant to the practice of nursing.
In early November, there were 207 job listings for registered nurses in Nova Scotia on the Indeed.ca job website.
This occupation comes with a median annual wage of $76,050 in that province based on a 37.5-hour work week.
4. Physicians – Family (NOC 31102) and Specialists (31100)
Indeed listed 411 positions for family physicians and specialists in Nova Scotia in early November.
General practitioners and family physicians diagnose and treat diseases, physiological disorders and injuries. In Nova Scotia, they make a median annual salary of $192,606.
Specialists, a category that includes surgeons, diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders and act as consultants to other physicians. The Nova Scotia median annual salary for a surgeon is $236,222.
5. Accountant (NOC 11100)
When an economy rebounds, someone’s got to keep track of the money, a task that falls within the realm of the accountant.
Accountants plan, organize and administer the accounting systems that keep track of that money for businesses, individuals and governments.
In early November, Indeed had 181 job listings for accountants in Nova Scotia where the median annual income for these professionals was $64,993 based on Job Bank data for a standard, 37.5-hour work week.
The federal government job-hunting website rates the job prospects for accountants in Nova Scotia as “good”, it’s highest rating.
6. Heavy Equipment Operators (NOC 73400)
Those workers who operate the heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures, in surface mining and quarrying activities, and in material handling work are in demand.
Indeed carried 76 job listings for heavy equipment operators Nova Scotia in early November.
Employed by construction companies, heavy equipment contractors, public works departments and pipeline, logging, cargo-handling and other companies, these workers have a median annual income of $42,900 based on a standard work week in Nova Scotia.
7. Cooks (NOC 63200) and Food and Beverage Servers (NOC 65200)
Restaurateurs in Nova Scotia are having a tough time of recruiting cooks and servers as the hospitality sector faces a massive labour shortage.
Indeed listed 472 jobs for cooks and another 290 jobs for servers in Nova Scotia in early November.
The median annual income for a cook or a server in the province’s hospitality sector, based on a 37.5-hour work week, is $27,300.
8. Delivery Truck Driver (NOC 75201)
Drivers get materials, consumer goods and people where they need to be and are in big demand in Nova Scotia with Indeed listing 480 jobs for these workers in early November.
“Whether you have the credentials to operate large commercial vehicles or the detail-oriented nature required for local deliveries, chances are you can find an open position to match,” notes Randstad.
Truck drivers in Nova Scotia earn a median annual wage of $33,150 based on a standard work week, according to the government’s Job Bank website.
9. Software Developer (NOC 21232)
As the people who write, modify, integrate and test computer code for software applications, data processing applications, operating systems-level software and communications software, these information technology pros are in hot demand.
“This is one of the top jobs in part because businesses of all types and sizes need developers to create app solutions, develop or maintain in-house software or help implement cloud or other technologies,” notes Randstad Canada.
“One of the lessons learned during COVID-19 lockdowns in recent years was that technology could make or break a business. Companies that seamlessly transitioned into remote work environments often fared better. Add to that the growing need to rely on data and automations to remain competitive, and it’s no wonder so many businesses are on the hunt for skilled developers.”
In Nova Scotia, software developers earn a median annual wage of $63,414 based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, Job Bank data reveals. The Indeed job website had 274 such job listings in Nova Scotia in early November.
10. Light-Duty Cleaner (NOC 65310)
In hotels and motels, resorts, hospitals, schools and stores, office buildings and private residences, these are the people who keep the filth at bay and everything looking and smelling clean.
The desire to keep things clean didn’t end after the first few waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and the public health restrictions. There continues to be a massive need for these workers and they are in short supply.
In early November, Indeed had 444 job listings for light-duty cleaners in Nova Scotia. According to Job Bank data, they earn a median annual income of $28,372 for working a standard, 37.5-hour work week.
American tech workers suddenly facing job losses can look to the fast-growing tech sectors in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver to land jobs and immigration to Canada.
Certainly, the casualty list of U.S. tech companies shedding jobs is growing.
Fintech behemoth Robinhood is reported to have slashed more than 1,000 jobs this year. Beauty brand Glossier cut 80 jobs, mostly on its technology side. By late June this year, Netflix had already laid off roughly 450 employees.
And then, there’s billionaire Elon Musk’s paring down of Twitter. Within a week, Musk had reportedly axed about half of Twitter’s 7,500 employees.
But, even as many U.S. tech companies are giving many of their employee’s pink slips, Canadian companies are screaming for tech talent.
On the Indeed job website, there were 15,036 jobs for software developers, 2,826 for cloud architects,2,008 for web designers, 988 for data scientists, and 3,713 for computer systems analysts in late November.
Tech jobs are growing fastest in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver than those cities can churn out skilled workers to fill those positions, notes CBRE Research.
In its North American market report, Evolving Workforces: Scoring Tech Talent 2022, the research division of the American commercial real estate firm CBRE Group, placed both Toronto and Vancouver among the top 10 tech talent markets.
Toronto was ranked the number three tech market in North America and Vancouver came in at number eight. In the North American tech industry, Toronto is a young lion, demonstrating tremendous growth during the five years which ended in December 2021.
“Between 2016 and 2021, Toronto had the most tech talent growth, up 88,900 jobs, followed by Seattle with an increase of 45,560 jobs, and Vancouver which saw an increase of 44,460 positions,” noted the CBRE Research report.
Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Quebec City And Montreal All Need Tech Workers
Other reports also put Calgary and Montreal among the top North American cities for the tech sector.
Among emerging Canadian tech markets, Quebec City in the francophone province of Quebec also grew by leaps and bounds during those five years.
“The highest percentage growth was 63 per cent in Vancouver, 44 per cent in Toronto and 43 per cent in Quebec City,” the report states.
The impressive growth of the tech sector in southern Ontario has now reached such a critical mass as to make it an innovation hub.
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“Toronto, Seattle and Canada’s Waterloo Region round out the top five most concentrated tech markets, ranging from 9.6 per cent to 10.3 per cent of their total employment,” stated the report. “This sizeable concentration of highly-skilled workers offers an environment conducive to innovation.”
On CIO.com, a news source for chief information officers, a news report estimated roughly 80 per cent of Canadian businesses need more tech workers.
Tech Skill Shortage In Canada Expected To Last For Two Years At Least
In that article, Pythian chief technology officer Paul Lewis was quoted as saying the IT skills shortage in Canada will likely last at least two more years.
“We haven’t gotten to a point where it has started to slow down yet,” he reportedly said. “I’m not sure we’ve passed the peak or we’ve even hit the peak.”
Under normal circumstances, the Global Talent Stream (GTS), a part of the TFWP, can lead to the granting of Canadian work permits and the processing of visa applications within two weeks.
That in turn gives those workers Canadian experience, a foot in the door, which boosts the number of points they get through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) should they apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system which receives immigration applications online.
Through the Express Entry system, foreign nationals can apply for permanent residence through a number of pathways, including the Federal Skilled Worker(FSW) program.
It’s open to those who have gained one year of paid work experience within the last decade in jobs categorized as TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system.
Applicants under this program must also take a language test to prove that they possess sufficient language skills to establish themselves in Canada successfully. Language tests evaluate an applicant’s abilities with regard to the following:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
In order to be eligible for the FSW, an applicant needs to obtain at least Canadian Language Benchmark level 7 in all categories and show that they have enough money to support themselves and their families once they arrive in Canada.
Provinces Work With IRCC On Provincial Tech Immigration Programs
Throughout Canada, the provinces operate their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) in partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as a two-stage process.
Under that two-stage process, applicants seek to be nominated by the provincial government, and then, if nominated, can apply for permanent residence to the federal government through the Express Entry system.
British Columbia Tech Stream
In British Columbia, home to the thriving Vancouver tech scene, immigration officials expedite the processing of immigration candidates in 35 in-demand technology occupations through the BC PNP Tech stream.
Weekly invitations are issued to candidates in those occupations in the British Columbia tech sector who still need to meet the basic requirements, including a minimum one-year job offer from an employer in that province.
Those 35 in-demand occupations under the BC PNP Tech stream are:
10030 Telecommunication carriers managers
20012 Computer and information systems managers
21100 Physicists and astronomers
21210 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
21211 Data scientists
21220 Cybersecurity specialists
21221 Business systems specialists
21222 Information systems specialists
21223 Database analysts and data administrators
21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
21231 Software engineers and designers
21232 Software developers and programmers
21233 Web designers
21234 Web developers and programmers
21300 Civil engineers
21301 Mechanical engineers
21310 Electrical and electronics engineers
21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
21320 Chemical engineers
21399 Other professional engineers
22110 Biological technologists and technicians
22220 Computer network and web technicians
22221 User support technicians
22222 Information systems testing technicians
22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
50011 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
22312 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
51111 Authors and writers (except technical)
51112 Technical writers
51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
52119 Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
52112 Broadcast technicians
52113 Audio and video recording technicians
52120 Graphic designers and illustrators
53111 Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators
Ontario Draws In Tech Talent Through Its Human Capital Priorities Tech Draws
Ontario, home of the Toronto-Waterloo area which is now recognized worldwide as a tech hub, helps the tech industry recruit talent through Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Human Capital Priorities Tech draws.
There are nine targeted tech occupations with draws of candidates with profiles in the Express Entry pool as part of this stream.
Those occupations are:
21211 Data Scientists
21231 Software engineers and designers
21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
21232 Software developers and programmers
21234 Web developers and programmers
21233 Web designers
21233 Database analysts and data administrators
20012 Computer and information systems managers
21311Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers
It provides expedited processing to foreign workers who are currently working for, or have a job offer with, an Alberta-based tech industry employer in any one of 44 eligible tech occupations.
Those eligible occupations are:
00012 Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services
10011 Human resources managers
10022 Advertising, marketing and public relations manager
10030 Telecommunication carriers manager
11200 Human resources professionals
11202 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations
12101 Human resources and recruitment officers
20010 Engineering managers
20011 Architecture and science managers
20012 Computer and information systems managers
21210 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
21211 Data scientists
21220 Cybersecurity specialists
21221 Business system specialists
21222 Information systems specialists
21233 Web designers
21223 Database analysts and data administrators
21231 Software engineers and designers
21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
21232 Software developers and programmers
21234 Web developers and programmers
21300 Civil engineers
21301 Mechanical engineers
21310 Electrical and electronics engineers
21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
22110 Biological technologists and technicians
22212 Drafting technologists and technicians
22220 Computer network and web technicians
22221 User support technicians
22222 Information systems testing technicians
22301 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
22302 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians
22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
32120 Medical laboratory technologists
32129 Other medical technologists and technicians
33101 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
41402 Business development officers and market researchers and analysts
50011 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
52120 Graphic designers and illustrators
60010 Corporate sales managers
72200 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
72201 Industrial electricians
72205 Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians
Saskatchewan Launched Its Tech Talent Pathway Last Year
Under Alberta’s Accelerated Tech Pathway, candidates must also meet the following eligibility requirements:
have an active Express Entry profile;
list a primary occupation in their federal Express Entry profile which supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification;
meet the criteria of at least one of the federal immigration programs:
intend to and be able to live and work in Alberta;
have a minimum CRS score of 300.
Through its Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), Prairie province launched its Tech Talent Pathway earlier this year.
“As Saskatchewan emerges from the impacts of the global pandemic, our technology sector will be an important driver of economic growth,” Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said.
“The new Tech Talent Pathway provides our Saskatchewan employers with a dedicated stream for the attraction of highly skilled talent into our thriving technology sector.”
To be eligible, candidates must have an offer in one of the 17 eligible occupations and meet the language skills, work experience, education and licensing requirements.
Those eligible occupations are:
20012 Computer and information systems managers
21310 Electrical and Electronics engineers
21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
21211 Data Scientist
21220 Cybersecurity specialists
21221 Business system specialist
21222 Information System specialist
21233 Web designer
21223 Database analysts and data administrator
21231 Software engineers and designers
21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
21232 Software developers and programmers
21234 Web developers and programmers
21233 Web designers
22220 Computer network and web technicians
22221 User support technicians
22222 Information systems testing technicians
Quebec’s New Artificial Intelligence, It And Visual Effect Pilot Program Is Now Underway
In the francophone province of Quebec, too, there is a program to help tech sector workers immigrate.
The permanent immigration pilot program for workers in the artificial intelligence, information technologies and visual effects sectors was launched in April last year and is slated to end on Jan. 1, 2026.
Unlike other provinces, Quebec runs its own immigration programs. Those foreign nationals who want to immigrate to Quebec through this program must submit an application, get a Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ), and:
be proficient in spoken French, if submitting an application under the francophone profile, and;
hold or have accepted a job in Quebec’s artificial intelligence, information technologies or visual effects sectors.
This new program, which only accepts 550 people and their family members per year, including 275 Quebec graduates and 275 foreign workers in the information technologies and visual effects sector, has already reached its limit for this year.
Manitoba has conducted a new draw through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, issuing 518 Letters of Advice to Apply to Canada immigration candidates.
The November 18 draw saw LAAs issued through three MPNP streams.
Skilled Workers in Manitoba received 177 LAAs, with the lowest-ranked candidates scoring 797 points.
International Education Stream candidates received 198 LAAs.
The remaining 143 LAAs went to Skilled Workers Overseas candidates through a Strategic Recruitment Initiative, with a minimum score of 686.
Manitoba stated that 125 of the 518 candidates 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
177
797
2) International Education Stream
198
–
3) Skilled Workers Overseas
Strategic Recruitment Initiative
143
686
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How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream?
The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream (SWM) is based on the specific needs of Manitoba employers. SWM selects foreign-trained workers with the required skills and nominates them for Canada permanent residence. The stream prioritizes candidates with a strong attachment to Manitoba, with two pathways to Manitoba immigration.
a) Manitoba Work Experience Pathway
For applicants currently working in Manitoba on temporary work permits, through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or as international graduates from any province. Candidates do not need to be working in In-Demand Occupations.
b) Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway
For applicants from overseas with job offers from approved Manitoba employers.
How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream?
The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream (SWO) includes both a dedicated Canada Express Entry Pathway and a direct provincial pathway.
It is aimed at international skilled workers with skills and training in Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Priority is given to applicants and spouses with close family connections, plus the language proficiency, training and experience to find jobs quickly.
a) Manitoba Express Entry Pathway
For international candidates eligible under another MPNP stream, who also meet Express Entry criteria and have an active Express Entry profile. Candidates need skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations, and a strong family connection to the province.
b) Human Capital Pathway
For international skilled workers with skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Candidates must demonstrate potential to find employment soon after they arrive in Manitoba.
What Are The Requirements For the International Education Stream?
The International Education Stream (IES) is dedicated to international graduates from Manitoba colleges and universities. Under IES, candidates are no longer required to work for six months in their field before applying for an MPNP nomination. It has three pathways:
1) Career Employment Pathway
Eligibility requirements include:
Completed a one-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution within three years of submission of application.
Have a full-time job offer in a Manitoba In-Demand occupation related to the completed degree
Resident of Manitoba
2) Graduate Internship Pathway
Masters and Doctoral degree holders who have completed Mitacs Accelerate or Elevate internships can apply for nomination through internships even without a job offer in the province.
3) Student Entrepreneur Pathway
Eligibility requirements include:
Completed a two-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution
Six months business operation experience in Manitoba
Resident of Manitoba since graduation.
No specific minimum personal net worth requirement
Canada immigration news: Immigration to Canada roared back to life in September with the number of new permanent residents to the country rising by almost a third over August’s relatively soft performance.
The latest Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data show Canada welcomed almost 30.7 per cent more new permanent residents in September, 44,495, compared to 34,050 in August.
August had seen the number of new permanent residents dip by 22.2 per cent from the 43,250 new permanent residents in July.
September’s number of new permanent residents was the strongest monthly immigration performance this year. The last time more new permanent residents arrived in a single month was back in November last year when the country welcomed 47,625 new permanent residents.
By the end of the first nine months of this year, Canada had welcomed 353,840 new permanent residents, putting the country on track to hit a record-breaking level of 471,787 new permanent residents for the year.
The current Immigration Levels Plan for 2022-2024 sets out an immigration target of 431,645 new permanent residents for this year.
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser’s newly-released Immigration Levels Plan for 2023-2025 sets the immigration target for next year at 465,000.
The immigration target for 2024 is 485,000 new permanent residents and the country is hoping to welcome 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025.
With Canada on track to welcome 471,787 new permanent residents this year, the country is on its way to bust this year’s immigration target by almost 9.3 per cent.
That would also put immigration to Canada this year on track to beat even next year’s much-higher immigration target by 6,787 new permanent residents, or just a smidgeon under 1.5 per cent.
Ontario Saw The Biggest Gain In New Permanent Residents In September
Across the country, immigration picked up in almost every province and territory in September except for the Atlantic Canadian province of Prince Edward Island where the number of new permanent residents that month slide by 1.9 per cent compared to the number in August and the Yukon territory where the level of immigration remained stable.
In Central Canada, the province of Ontario saw the biggest absolute jump in immigration in September over the previous month, with 4,555 more new permanent residents. That was an almost 32.8 per cent rise in immigration.
The biggest percentage jump in monthly immigration in September in Canada was in the Northwest Territories but that was on a very small basis and so meant an increase of only 15 new permanent residents to the territory.
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Among the provinces, the biggest percentage spike in monthly immigration in September was in in the Prairie province of Alberta. The number of new permanent residents there in September jumped almost 47.7 per cent to hit 4,925.
In the province next door, Manitoba, monthly immigration rose by more than 38.2 per cent in September over August to reach 2,495 new permanent residents.
British Columbia’s monthly immigration numbers rose by more than 28.1 per cent in September, those in Quebec climbed by more than 18.4 per cent, and New Brunswick increased by 13 per cent.
In the Atlantic Canadian province with the biggest city in the region, Nova Scotia, monthly immigration rose by about 15 per cent in September.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s monthly immigration level jumped by 25 per cent, the biggest percentage gain in Atlantic Canada.
To coincide with the launch of Canada’s new National Occupational Classification 2021, Ontario immigration has updated the scoring for its Expression of Interest system.
The province says the update is intended to enhance regionalization, with top points for candidates with work or study experience in Northern Ontario.
The new scoring factors will also “improve operational efficiency, and reduce the program’s exposure to program integrity risks”, the province said.
An Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program statement said that candidates with EOI profiles submitted before November 16 – the launch date of NOC 2021 – would need to submit new profiles.
The OINP uses the EOI for applications to five of its most popular streams.
Before applying to these streams, candidates must submit a profile to the Expression of Interest system.
Each profile is scored based on factors including education, language ability, skill and work experience among others (see below).
Ontario then selects candidates who are issued invitations to submit applications to one of the above streams.
Profiles in the Expression of Interest system can be updated at any time. An EOI profile is valid for 12 months or until an ITA is received.
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Invitations to apply are issued periodically by the OINP. Draws are conducted on a general basis, by inviting the overall highest-scoring candidates, or on a targeted basis, by targeting candidates who meet specific labour market or human capital requirements.
Candidates who receive an ITA have 14 days to submit a complete application.
Ontario Expression of Interest: Scoring Factors
EMPLOYMENT / LABOUR MARKET FACTORS
Job Offer: NOC TEER
NOC TEER category 0 or 1 – 10 Points
NOC TEER category 2 or 3 – 8 Points
NOC TEER category 4 – 0 Points
NOC TEER category 5 – 0 Points
Job Offer: Broad Occupational Category
Occupational Category 0,2,3 – 10 points
Occupational Category 7 – 7 points
Occupational Category 1,9 – 5 points
Occupational Category 4,8 – 4 points
Occupational Category 5,6 – 3 points
Job Offer: Wage
$40 per hour or higher – 10 points
$35 to $39.99 per hour – 8 points
$30 to $34.99 per hour – 7 points
$25 to $29.99 per hour – 6 points
$20 to $24.99 per hour – 5 points
Less than $20 per hour – 0 points
Work Permit Status
With valid work permit – 10 points
Without valid work permit – 0 points
Job Tenure With Job Offer Employer
6 months or more working in job offer position – 3 points
Less than 6 months working in job offer position or not currently working in position – 0 points
Canadian Work Experience: Earnings History
Based on a Notice of Assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency in the last five years.
$40k or more earnings in a year – 3 points
Less than $40k earnings in a year – 0 points
EDUCATION
Highest Level Of Education
Canadian credential or Educational Credential Assessment required.
All other fields [except arts and humanities] (business and administration, social, legal, education, behavioral science) – 6 points
Arts and humanities – 0 points
Canadian Education Experience
Credential must be for a degree or diploma program from a Canadian public institution that takes at least two years to complete on a full-time basis, or for a degree, diploma or certificate program from a Canadian public institution that takes at least one year to complete on a full-time basis and requires a degree as an admission requirement.
More than one Canadian credential – 10 points
One Canadian credential – 5 points
LANGUAGE
Official Language Ability
CLB 9 or higher – 10 points
CLB 8 – 6 points
CLB 7 – 4 points
CLB 6 or lower – 0 points
Knowledge Of Official Languages
2 Official Languages – 10 points
1 Official Language – 5 points
REGIONALIZATION
Regional Immigration: Location Of Job Offer
Northern Ontario – 10 points
Other areas outside GTA (except Northern Ontario) – 8 points
Inside GTA (except Toronto) – 3 points
Toronto – 0 points
Regional Immigration: Location Of Study
Northern Ontario – 10 points
Other areas outside GTA (except Northern Ontario) – 8 points
A new report has given Nova Scotia 15 recommendations on how it can improve its Canada immigration system.
The province is spending $6.4 million every year on settlement services for immigrants without knowing whether that money is being properly spent to meet the needs of those newcomers.
“Once immigrants arrive in Nova Scotia, the long-term retention of these individuals is essential to promoting economic growth,” notes Kim Adair, Nova Scotia’s auditor general, in a report released this month.
“Despite the importance of retention, we found the (immigration) department had not completed assessments of the settlement needs of immigrants or assessed whether these needs are being addressed through the settlement services provided by the department.”
The province’s immigration department funnels about $6.4 million to settlement service providers throughout the province every year.
“However, due to the department’s lack of assessment of the settlement needs of immigrants and analysis of the services being funded, the department does not know if value is obtained from the funding.”
In the auditor general’s report to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly on Immigration and Population Growth: Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, she makes 15 recommendations for reforms to the immigration department. The provincial government has agreed with all those recommendations, including a call to assess its settlement services.
Nova Scotia has pledged to develop a plan to improve its allocation of funding for settlement services by March next year.
Immigration fraud, identified as an issue in another report back in 2008, is again mentioned in the auditor general’s latest report where she bemoans the lack of procedures to help immigration officials identify and address the risk of fraud in Nova Scotia’s Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP)
“While management does provide information on fraud trends and indicators for staff to heed, this caution is only done when issues or concerns arise; they are not compiled into a comprehensive document for staff to consider when assessing applications,” notes Adair in her report.
“If there (were) documented procedures to help guide staff in identifying indicators of potential fraud or misrepresentation when assessing applications, it would promote an awareness of the risk amongst staff.
“It would also provide a consistent approach to identifying fraud in applications and outline the steps to be taken to address the concerns. Furthermore, when new staff start, it would provide a comprehensive document to be studied and used in their training.”
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Auditor General Says Nova Scotia Immigration Needs A Way To Respond To Labour Market Needs
Here is a complete list of the report’s recommendations:
The development and implementation of a documented process to guide staff in identifying and responding to labour market need including:
staff responsibilities;
types and sources of information to be used;
stakeholder consultation required;
frequency of review;
forecasting of future labour market needs;
documentation requirements, and;
guidance on how labour needs will inform immigration programming.
An assessment of the training needs of the Immigration and Population Growth Branch to guide the development and implementation of a training plan for new hires and existing staff. Required training must be delivered to all staff with documentation maintained to support the completion.
Regularly reviews of the procedures for the assessment of applications to the NSPNP and the AIP. Procedures must be regularly reinforced with staff, with clear expectations provided on how applications are to be assessed, including steps taken to verify information provided by applicants and requirements for the documentation of results.
A quality assurance process for provincial immigration programs with the information gathered through the process used to improve the assessment of applications to provincial immigration programs.
Additional performance indicators to assess the work undertaken to attract and retain immigrants to the province, including considering whether the performance evaluation framework provided by the consultant in 2020 can be used by the department to improve performance reporting.
An assessment of settlement services within the province including:
developing a better understanding of immigrant needs;
surveying immigrants to understand factors impacting their attraction, integration and retention in Nova Scotia, and;
assessing factors that impact awareness and access to settlement programming.
Detailed plans must be developed to monitor the implementation of the consultant’s recommendations to improve settlement services, including timelines for completion, resource requirements, and regular status reporting to track implementation.
A requirement that all members of the evaluation committee established to review proposals for funding through the Settlement Funding and Labour Market Integration Funding programs to sign conflict of interest attestations.
Improvement of the documentation of the review of proposals to the Settlement Funding and the Labour Market Integration Funding programs. Specifically, there must be documentation that clearly explains why settlement service providers were approved or denied along with an explanation to support the amount of funding approved
A requirement that settlement service providers provide annual audited financial statements and documentation, such as invoices and proof of payment, to support the information included in quarterly reports. The supporting documentation must be used to assess whether the information included in quarterly reports is accurate.
A review and update of the procedures for monitoring the funding agreements with settlement service providers in order to accurately reflect the current processes followed and provide clear direction to staff.
Policies and procedures to guide staff in the identification and investigation of suspected fraud including:
methods of identifying potential fraud;
how suspected fraud is addressed;
the investigative process, including tools and techniques to be used by staff;
action to be taken if fraud is confirmed;
documentation requirements, and;
regular reviews to update policies and procedures.
A conflict of interest policy specific to the Immigration and Population Growth Branch.
Comprehensive immigration fraud training for staff within the Immigration and Population Growth Branch, including:
how to identify potential fraud;
how instances of suspected fraud are to be addressed, and;
tracking by management to make sure staff have completed all required training.
Cooperation between the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration and the Internal Audit Centre to fully respond to the recommendations of the 2020 fraud risk assessment so the risks identified are addressed and adequately managed.
Processes to assess employer and individual compliance with the provincial immigration program requirements.
A combination of random selection and risk-based methods can be used for selecting employers and individuals for compliance reviews with research, interviews, and review of documentation used to assess compliance with the requirements of provincial immigration programs. When instances of noncompliance are identified, the auditor general recommends establishing protocols that outline how this will be addressed.
Immigration to Nova Scotia is on track to end this year up 53.5 per cent, up by 4,902 new permanent residents over last year, and reach the record-setting level of 14,062 based on the trend in the first eight months of 2022, reveals the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Prince Edward Island has conducted two new provincial draws, issuing invitations to apply to 188 skilled worker and entrepreneur Canada immigration candidates.
PEI launched its Expression of Interest system at the start of 2018 and has made monthly draws ever since, with some disruption due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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PEI issued a total of 1,933 invites during 2021, compared to 1,955 in 2020.
Of the 2021 invites, 1,764 went to Labour Impact and Express Entry candidates, with the remaining 169 going to Business Impact candidates.
Prince Edward Island Express Entry Stream
PEI’s Express Entry category operates by considering candidates already in the federal Express Entry Pool for a provincial nomination.
The PEI Express Entry Category features two pathways to Canadian permanent residence, one for candidates with a job offer and one for those without.
Prince Edward Island Labour Impact Category
1) Skilled Worker Stream
This employer driven stream allows skilled workers with an employment offer in PEI to be nominated for Canadian Permanent residence if they meet the following criteria:
A full time employment offer from a Prince Edward Island business in an occupation classified as TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC);
Completion of post-secondary education, with a minimum of 14 years of formal education;
Between 21 and 55 years of age;
At least 2 years of full time work experience in the past 5 years;
Sufficient proficiency in English or French to occupy the employment offered;
Sufficient settlement funds;
Demonstrated intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.
2) Critical Worker Stream
This category is designed to resolve labour shortages and is open to foreign workers already in PEI with employment in specific critical demand occupations. The primary criteria for nomination are:
A full time offer of employment from a Prince Edward Island business in one of the following occupations:
Truck driver;
Customer service representative;
Labourer;
Food & beverage server;
Housekeeping attendant.
6 months of work experience with the Prince Edward Island business offering employment;
Current valid Canadian work permit;
High school diploma and minimum of 12 years of formal education;
Between 21 and 55 years of age;
At least 2 years of full-time work experience in the past 5 years;
Demonstrate basic proficiency in English or French language;
Sufficient settlement funds;
Demonstrated intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.
Prince Edward Island Business Impact Category
Work Permit Stream
Individuals applying under the P.E.I. Work Permit Stream must obtain a Canadian work permit and work for a P.E.I. business for a certain amount of time as designated in a Performance Agreement.
After the Performance Agreement is fulfilled, the applicant must make a minimum $150,000 investment in the business and commit to managing the business on a daily basis from within P.E.I.
Previously, Prince Edward Island operated direct permanent residence business streams, but these were closed in September 2018 over immigration fraud concerns.
Under the FSW, foreign nationals can apply for permanent residence in Canada provided they meet the eligibility criteria, including work experience in occupations in four of the six Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories of the new NOC system.
Those eligible categories of occupations for the FSW now fall under the 0, 1, 2, and 3 TEER categories.
That means all 16 of the occupations which now qualify as work experience for Express Entry applicants clearly fall under the FSW program as of Nov. 16.
The newly-added occupations to the FSW are:
(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
Under the NOC 2021, the second digit of the classification code indicates the TEER, indicating that all of the newly-added occupations are considered TEER 3 jobs.
These are occupations deemed to require a college diploma, an apprenticeship training of less than two years, or more than six months of on-the-job training.
Immigration Minister Says Canada Using All Available Tools To Resolve Labour Shortages
“We are using all of the tools at our disposal to tackle labour shortages, particularly in key sectors like health care, construction, and transportation,” said Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
“These changes will support Canadians in need of these services and they will support employers by providing them with a more robust workforce who we can depend on to drive our economy forward into a prosperous future. I’m thrilled to announce expanded pathways to permanent residence in Canada for these in-demand workers.”
With the expansion of the FSW, several industries are breathing a sigh of relief, including companies in the trucking and personal support worker sectors.
Trucking And Personal Support Worker Sectors Welcome Expansion Of The FSW
“Every sector of the Canadian economy relies on the trucking industry,” said Stephen Laskowski, president of Canadian Trucking Alliance. “Today’s announcement by Minister Fraser will help secure supply chains, from agriculture to manufacturing, by providing trucking companies access to an international workforce that was not previously available to our sector.”
Personal support workers too are in big demand in Canada with the Indeed.ca job website listing 13,342 help wanted postings for them in mid-November.
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Canadian Support Workers Association (CANSWA) CEO Miranda Ferrier applauded Ottawa’s decision to expand the FSW by adding these occupations.
“Personal support workers provide the majority of the bedside nursing care to vulnerable Canadians across our nation and are in desperate need of assistance to ensure that basic patient care can be delivered,” she said.
“The CANSWA and our members welcome the help from these new Canadians and hope they find a rewarding new life in their new home.”
The country’s progressive immigration programs were considered a major plus in determining Canada’s enviable ranking in the top 50 best countries for retirees. But its relatively high cost of living, particularly for dining out and housing was deemed to be definite drawbacks.
“Canada offers easy access to visas and residency permits and high quality of living,” notes EnjoyTravel. . “Just watch your wallet when it comes to eating out and renting apartments, as prices for both are at the higher end of the spectrum.”
The country’s open arms to immigrants from all over the world are drawing increasing attention throughout the world.
In the 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan unveiled earlier this month, Ottawa set its sights on welcoming 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.
Foreign nationals eyeing Canada as a retirement destination and who have children or grandchildren who have already immigrated to the country will be particularly interested the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
Through the PGP, sponsors can bring to Canada their own parents and grandparents, related by blood or adoption. In cases of divorce or separation, the spouses or common-law partners of parents and grandparents are also eligible.
Canada’s immigration department operates a lottery system for the PGP with citizens and permanent residents submitting an Interest to Sponsor form before being placed in a pool.
PGP Is A Good Way For Foreign Nationals To Retire In Canada
The IRCC makes random draws from the pool and issues Invitations to Apply (ITA). The sponsors and their parents and grandparents then have 60 days to submit a full application.
The sponsors must:
be at least 18 years old;
live in Canada;
be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act, and;
have enough money to support those they want to sponsor by meeting minimum income requirements for the previous three years. Candidates can include a co-signer in their application, allowing the combined income to be considered.
Sponsors must also:
agree to financially support the parent or grandparent for 20 years from the date they are approved for permanent residence, and;
reimburse the government for any social assistance paid out to the parent or grandparent during that time.
Sponsors who live in Quebec must meet the Quebec immigration sponsorship requirements after being approved as a sponsor by IRCC. The Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) also assess the sponsor’s income and requires an undertaking to be signed.
There are five main ways foreign nationals can come to Canada to seek permanent residence.
Under the Express Entry system, Canada receives immigration applications online. Applicants who meet eligibility criteria submit an online profile known as an Expression of interest (EOI), under one of three federal immigration programs or a participating provincial immigration program, to the Express Entry Pool.
Express Entry Candidates For Immigration Need To Complete A Profile Online
Candidates’ profiles then are ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranked candidates will be considered for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a full application and pay processing fees, within a delay of 90-days.
Under a shared jurisdiction between Ottawa and the provinces, Canada operates a two-tiered immigration system, offering programs for skilled workers, at both federal and provincial levels.
Through a network of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada with the specific skills required by their local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.
Immigrant investors can also come to Canada under the Start-up Visa (SUV) program which can grant them Canadian permanent residence.
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The program aims to recruit innovative entrepreneurs to Canada and link them with Canadian private sector businesses, such as angel investor groups, venture capital funds or business incubators, and facilitate the establishment of their start-up business in Canada.
A designated venture capital fund must confirm that it is investing at least $200,000 into the qualifying business. Candidates can also qualify with two or more commitments from designated venture capital funds totalling $200,000. A designated angel investor group must invest at least $75,000 into the qualifying business.
Students Coming To Canadian Colleges And Universities Can Then Apply For A PGWP
International students can also eventually get their permanent residence in Canada by first coming under a Study Permit, then applying for a Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP), and finally seeking their permanent residents by applying through the Express Entry system.
Canada welcomes more than 350,000 international students every year. To be eligible to study in Canada these students must demonstrate that they:
have been accepted by a school, college, university or other educational institution in Canada;
have enough money to pay for their tuition fees, living expenses, and return transportation;
are law-abiding citizens with no criminal records;
are in good health and willing to complete a medical examination, and;
can satisfy an immigration officer that they will leave Canada at the end of their authorized stays.
Once issued a study permit, these students can work in Canada under the following categories:
on campus without a work permit;
off-campus with a work permit;
in co-op and internship programs, where work experience is part of the curriculum, with a work permit.
Upon graduation, a foreign student may apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. Under this program, the work permit may be issued for the length of the study program, up to a maximum of three years.
The valuable work experience gained while an international grad works in Canada under a PGWP can count towards a permanent residence application through Canada Express Entry system.
Under the CRS used by Express Entry system programs, applicants for immigration are assigned points based on:
skills;
work experience;
language ability;
language ability and education of the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner;
possession of a job offer supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment;
possession of a provincial government nomination for permanent residence, and;
certain combinations of language skills, education and work experience that result in a higher chance of the applicant becoming employed (skill transferability).
