Report Says Canada Planning To Ease COVID-19 Border Restrictions For Vaccinated

Colin Singer
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Report Says Canada Planning To Ease COVID-19 Border Restrictions For Vaccinated

Bloomberg is reporting that Canada is working on a plan to ease border restrictions for travellers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Quoting sources familiar with the plan, the news agency says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could make an announcement within days on a loosening of the 14-day isolation period currently required.

Those entering Canada will still need a negative test and could be subject to a shorter quarantine period.

However, the plans are in their early stages with no indication of when it will happen or if international travel restrictions will also be lifted, Bloomberg reports.

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Both Canada and the U.S. are under pressure to relax restrictions, which currently expire on June 21 for the world’s longest land border.

Canada’s international travel restrictions also expire on June 21.

A further extension would be a huge blow to the tourism sector, with Canada Day on July 1 and U.S. Independence Day on July 4.

High-Level Discussions

Canadian Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino has been in talks with his American counterpart, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, to re-open the border as the COVID-19 pandemic gradually comes under control.

“Today, I spoke with my U.S. counterpart (U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security) Alejandro Mayorkas,” tweeted Mendicino on Thursday.

“We advanced our partnership on global migration by discussing the promotion of legal pathways, capacity-building and best practices on community sponsorship for refugees. A good call with more collaboration ahead.”

In a statement, the Canadian immigration minister added he and Mayorkas “also discussed the management of our shared border, including the current border restrictions and the eventual resumption of international travel, which will be critical for economic recovery in both countries.”

Travellers At Land Borders Need Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test

Canada requires that anyone returning to the country quarantine for 14 days.

Travellers arriving in Canada by land from the U.S. also need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken within 72 hours or a positive test taken 14 to 90 days prior to arrival.

In addition, travellers entering Canada at the land border require to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well as toward the end of their 14-day quarantine.

All travellers arriving to Canada by air, with some exceptions, need to take a COVID-19 molecular test when they arrive in Canada and another towards the end of their 14-day quarantine period. They also need to stay in a government-designated hotel for three days at their own cost to await the results of those tests.

Anyone arriving by air from another country for non-essential travel is also required to have a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding the aircraft in their home country.

Exemptions for Non-Discretionary Travel

Canada has exemptions in place for the following people, provided they are travelling for a non-discretionary reason:

  • Seasonal agricultural workers, fish/seafood workers, caregivers and all other temporary foreign workers;
  • International students who held a valid study permit, or had been approved for a study permit, when the travel restrictions took effect on March 18, 2020. More international students are now allowed to travel from October 20 last year under a new exemption;
  • Permanent resident applicants who had been approved for permanent residence before the travel restrictions were announced but who had not yet travelled to Canada;
  • Immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents are also exempt if entering to be with an immediate family member for at least 15 days, and;
  • Extended family members of citizens and permanent residents, plus foreign nationals travelling on compassionate grounds.

NHL Teams Allowed Into Canada Through New Public Health Travel Exemption

Colin Singer
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NHL Teams Allowed Into Canada Through New Public Health Travel Exemption

Canada immigration news: Canadian immigration officials have announced National Hockey League play-off teams will be allowed into Canada to duke it out for the Stanley Cup despite COVID-19 restrictions.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino tweeted out over the weekend that Canada is making a special exemption for the hockey players, their coaches and trainers after what he describes as “a careful review by public health officials at all levels of government.”

“A National Interest Exemption has been approved to allow the next round of the @NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs to be played in Canada and United States,” tweeted Mendicino, the minister responsible for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada gave the nod to allow the NHL teams into Canada after getting the approval of provincial and municipal public health officials, including those in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta, tweeted the immigration minister,

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He assured Canadians over the weekend that the hockey players and other team members will follow strict COVID-19 protocols to prevent the further spread of the illness.

“The NHL’s COVID Playoff Protocol will permit cross-border travel that is safeguarded by strict quarantining, a bubble, daily testing and a comprehensive protocol that will apply to all travelling NHL players and personnel,” tweeted Mendicino.

“Incoming players and club personnel from the United States to Canada will be subject to pre and post-arrival daily testing. Furthermore, they will be required to quarantine at pre-approved hotels and arenas.”

Sports Fans Welcome Canada’s Openness To NHL Teams

The decision to allow the NHL teams to come into Canada for the playoffs was welcomed by hockey fans. 

A fan that goes by the handle of “future city” on Twitter dubbed it great news.

“It’ll be awesome to see the Habs cross the border to go all the way,” wrote the fan of the Montreal Canadiens NHL team.

Fans of other sports lauded the move and called for similar exemptions for their favourite teams.

“Light at the end of the tunnel,” tweeted sports broadcaster Allan Etmanski. “Now let’s get the @BlueJays back home and LET’S GO!”

But not everyone welcomed the move to allow NHL players to freely cross the border when it is still closed to non-essential travel, leaving many unable to come to Canada.

‘Special Treatment’ For Sports Stars

A Twitter user who goes by the handle of Jade Ed spoke for many in calling out what is seen by some as unjust special treatment for the rich and famous.

“If you’ve done all the right things and have been left in limbo waiting to enter Canada, remember these wealthy privileged professional hockey players are more important than you being able to start your new life or rejoin your family,” tweeted Jade Ed. “Let @marcomendicino know this is wrong.”

In early March, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed sympathy in a tweet for the difficulties Canadians face due to the travel ban and public health restrictions imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“Like many of you, the premiers and I have spent a lot of time on the phone and in virtual meetings – we’ve met 28 times over the past 12 months,” he tweeted. “Our most recent meeting was today, and we took a moment to reflect on how COVID-19 has impacted Canadians.”

But the frustration felt by many left stranded by the border closure still reverberates through the Twitterverse whenever Canada announces an exemption being made for a particular group of people.

Marisa Alba-Ufondu, who professes to be obsessed with travel on a Twitter profile, is among those who feel the federal government is giving preferential treatment to high-paid athletes. 

“Awesome that you along with @GovCanHealth prioritize sports stars instead of Canadian citizens/PRs (permanent residents) and their spouses & children,” tweeted Alba-Ufondu. “Slow Clap for Canadian priorities right now.”

Exceptions For Elite Athletes Previously Announced

Ottawa’s latest decision to let NHL teams into Canada during the pandemic despite the border’s closure to non-essential travel comes a little more than two months after the federal government announced it would make an exception to its ban on non-essential travel for elite athletes and their coaches to take part in world-class sporting events.

“The entry prohibition and mandatory isolation orders in council have been amended to create an exemption that will facilitate the entry of high-performance amateur athletes into Canada,” the IRCC posted on its website on March 17. “Canadian Heritage (PCH) is leading an authorization process for high-performance amateur athletes and support personnel participating in designated international single-sport events (ISSEs).”

Under the new rules, foreign nationals who are elite athletes, trainers or coaches affiliated with a National Sport Organization (NSO) can get a letter of authorization from the deputy minister of Canadian Heritage to take part in world cups, championships, the Olympics, Paralympics, and their qualifying competitions.

How The Start-Up Visa Helps Canada Beat US On Attracting Immigrant Entrepreneurs

Colin Singer
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How The Start-Up Visa Helps Canada Beat US On Attracting Immigrant Entrepreneurs

Canada immigration news: Leading American business magazine Forbes says Canada is doing a better job of attracting immigrant entrepreneurs than the United States, because of Ottawa’s Start-Up Visa program.

“While America has tried and failed to pass a Start-Up Visa geared toward immigrant entrepreneurs for years, Canada is one of two dozen countries, including the U.K. and Singapore, that have launched the idea and are now wooing them,” wrote Forbes senior editor Amy Feldman last week.

“Canada’s Start-Up Visa program began as a five-year pilot program in 2013, and was made permanent in 2018,” she wrote. “Since its launch, foreign entrepreneurs representing some 200 start-ups have become permanent residents there. 

“Among its success stories: Edtech unicorn ApplyBoard, founded by brothers Martin, Massi and Meti Basiri, who moved from Iran to Canada for school, and who now employ more than 500 people.”

More Canada Immigration News

In its bid to boost the Canadian economy, Ottawa is welcoming into the country foreign nationals who have an entrepreneurial flair and are seeking permanent residence under the Start-Up Visa program.

“Coming out of the pandemic, the clear message we are sending with the Start-Up Visa program is that Canada is open for business,” tweeted Canadian Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino last week. 

The minister responsible for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also noted in a related tweet that the country’s efforts to woo international students, which it does through the issuance of Study Permits, is also geared to boosting the Canadian economy.

Watch

”Undoubtedly, Canada will bolster its economic growth and employment by bringing in international students, at least some of whom will become tech founders, as well as business owners,” tweeted the immigration minister.

Feldman writes that Canada’s openness to immigrant entrepreneurs stands in marked contrast to the approach taken south of the border “which makes foreign-born founders jump through hoops to comply with the country’s complex immigration rules.”

Start-Up Visa Growing In Popularity

The Start-Up Visa program is growing in popularity. In 2019, the total number of new permanent resident-approved admissions reached 510, more than double the 250 welcomed in 2018. The figures were increasing steadily over the five years prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the Canada Start-Up Visa program, three types of private-sector investors are considered: angel investors, venture capital funds, and business incubators. A designated venture capital fund must confirm that it is investing at least $200,000 into the qualifying business.

Candidates can also qualify with two or more commitments from designated venture capital funds totalling $200,000. A designated angel investor group must invest at least $75,000 into the qualifying business.

Watch

Candidates can also qualify with two or more investments from angel investor groups totalling $75,000. A designated business incubator must accept the applicant into its business incubator program. It is up to the immigrant investor to develop a viable business plan that will meet the due diligence requirements of these government-approved designated entities.

That’s usually done with the help of business consultants in Canada’s start-up ecosystem with oversight from experienced corporate business immigration lawyers who can ensure a start-up’s business concept meets all industry-required terms and conditions.

Candidates applying under the Start-Up Visa program can initially come to Canada on a work permit supported by their designated Canadian investor before their application for permanent residence is finalized.

Free COVID-19 Vaccine For Anyone Living In Quebec Aged 12 or Older

Colin Singer
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Free COVID-19 Vaccine For Anyone Living In Quebec Aged 12 or Older

Anyone living in Quebec aged 12 or older – regardless of their immigration status – can get the COVID-19 vaccine for free, says the provincial government.

“As part of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign now underway in Quebec, the immigration minister would like to ensure that all of our clients 12 years of age and older who reside in Quebec can get their COVID-19 vaccination for free regardless of their immigration status,” the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) states on its website.

But it’s not just immigrants who are eligible for the free COVID-19 vaccine shots. 

A quick call to the toll-free, information hotline was enough to confirm on Friday that international students, who are in the province on study permits, are also eligible. Even visitors from another Canadian province who do not live in Quebec are being welcomed to get the free shots in La Belle Province.

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Anyone old enough under the current guidelines who wants to book an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine can do so online by going to Clic Santé.

Walk-In Clinics Allow Immigrants To Get Vaccinated Without Appointment

There are also walk-in clinics that allow people to get their COVID-19 shots without needing to book an appointment. A complete list of the locations of these integrated health and social services centres (CISSS) is available online as well. 

It’s not necessary to have a provincial medical card, the Carte d’assurances santé, to get the COVID-19 shot. The province is only requiring that those who want to get vaccinated present a valid identification card.

Anyone with questions about the vaccination program and who wants help is being urged by MIFI to call any of the following numbers from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday and 8.30 am through to 4.30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays:

  • In the Quebec City region: 418 644-4545;
  • In Montreal: 514 644-4545, and;
  • Outside the province: 1 877 644-4545, toll-free.

Temporary Workers On Quebec Farms Already Cleared To Get Vaccinated

Quebec’s decision to open up its vaccination program to immigrant teens comes a little more than a month after it began to make COVID-19 vaccines available for temporary foreign workers on Quebec farms.

“These temporary foreign workers are included in the priority group of essential workers in environments at high risk of an outbreak,” MIFI stated at that time.

Anyone who arrives in Quebec, whether a temporary foreign farmworker, an international student or even just a tourist from another Canadian province, must wait until the end of their mandatory quarantine period before getting vaccinated.

As of May 29, the most recent date for which figures are available, 59.2 per cent of Quebeckers had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

That’s higher than the Canadian vaccination nationally which sat at just under 56.8 per cent of the population as of that date.

COVID-19: Canada and U.S. In Talks Over Re-Opening World’s Longest Land Border

Colin Singer
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0
COVID-19: Canada and U.S. In Talks Over Re-Opening World’s Longest Land Border

Canada immigration news: As the COVID-19 pandemic gradually comes under control, Canadian Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino is in talks with his American counterpart, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, to re-open the Canada-U.S. border.

“Today, I spoke with my U.S. counterpart (U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security) Alejandro Mayorkas,” tweeted Mendicino on Thursday. 

“We advanced our partnership on global migration by discussing the promotion of legal pathways, capacity-building and best practices on community sponsorship for refugees. A good call with more collaboration ahead.”

In a statement, the Canadian immigration minister added he and Mayorkas “also discussed the management of our shared border, including the current border restrictions and the eventual resumption of international travel, which will be critical for economic recovery in both countries.”

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The high-level discussions to re-open the border were immediately given two thumbs up by supporters of open immigration in the United States.

Matthew La Corte, government affairs manager for immigration policy at the Niskanen Center think-tank in the U.S., described these talks as outstandingly good news – and he said Canada’s southern neighbour has a lot to learn from Canadian immigration policy.

News of Border Reopening Talks Welcomed

“The U.S. is poised to become a major global actor in the community sponsorship space and we have a lot to learn from our northern neighbors,” La Corte tweeted.

Andrew Selee, president of the pro-immigration Migration Policy Institute, also welcomed the resumption of talks about the border re-opening between Canada and the U.S.

The talks between Canada and the U.S. on re-opening the border come as an increasing number of Members of Parliament in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s own party are calling for the current border restrictions to be lifted.

Wayne Easter, a Liberal Party MP and chair of the House of Commons’ finance committee, reportedly told the Politico news outlet last month the Canadian government needs to put in place a border re-opening plan within the next month.

Easter carries extra clout on re-opening the border to Americans due to his position as co-chair of the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group.

“As you get into July 1, Canada Day, and July 4, Independence Day, then those target dates are real pressure points for wanting to be normalized,” he reportedly said. “The heat’s on, and I think we absolutely must have a plan.”

Border Re-Opened For Canada Day?

He blamed the lack of a plan on the extensive use of Zoom to hold caucus meetings during the pandemic. 

“You can’t rub shoulders … and say to somebody, ‘Look, this is the issue and let’s get on it together today and put the pressure on,’” he reportedly said.

“You have, to a certain extent, the Ottawa bubble mentality and that can be part of the problem. Same as the Washington, D.C., mentality. It’s two different worlds. I say both [are] a bubble in which reality or common sense doesn’t exist.”

Canada’s border with its neighbour to the south has been shut to non-essential travel since March of last year. 

Vaccination programs in both the United States and Canada, though, are now causing public sentiment to slowly change about the possible hazards of spreading COVID-19 by re-opening the border.

Political leaders in the United States have also been pressuring Washington to re-open the border.

“All indications are they’ll open up next month,” Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat, reportedly said in May. “We’re almost there. But I don’t know if they’ll do it all at once or take a phased approach.”

Trudeau’s government has been adamant the Canada-U.S. border must stay closed to non-essential travel until the COVID-19 pandemic abates. The prime minister has repeatedly stated most Canadians will be vaccinated by September. 

But anonymous sources have told journalists a different story about the government’s intentions, indicating Canada may be considering a “two-track system” to ease the quarantine and COVID-19 testing measures for vaccinated travellers.

Think vaccine passports.

Safe Way To Re-Open Borders

“The idea of certificates of vaccination for international travel exists already and is well-established. There are countries in the world where you shouldn’t go unless you can prove that you’ve been vaccinated against certain tropical diseases, for example. That’s well established,” said Trudeau earlier this year.

“But the idea of certificates of vaccination for domestic use to decide, you know, if you can go to a concert or who can go to a particular restaurant or engage in certain activities does bring in questions of equity, questions of fairness,” said the prime minister.

“There are some people who because of medical conditions or other reasons will not be able to get vaccinated. There are other people who are not on priority lists who will have to wait much longer before getting vaccinations. These are things we have to take into account.”

An Angus Reid poll released earlier this year shows most Canadians seem to support their prime minister’s wait-and-see approach.

In that poll, a quarter of Canadians reported they only want the country’s border with its southern neighbour to be re-opened this autumn. Almost a third, 31 per cent, said it should only open at the end of the year.

Roughly half of Canadians, 51 per cent, still supported a full ban on international travel in mid-April but that measure was then already dropping in popularity. In January, the international travel ban enjoyed 65 per cent support. 

Top 10 Best Cities For Technology Jobs in Canada

Colin Singer
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Top 10 Best Cities For Technology Jobs in Canada

Canada immigration news: Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, the Waterloo region and Montreal are the best places to find technology jobs in Canada, according to a report by the research division of the biggest commercial realtor in the world. 

“These locations possess the strongest combination of attributes that the technology sector requires to flourish including, and most importantly, a high concentration of tech employment,” reports CBRE Research.

In its 2020 ‘Scoring Canadian Tech Talent: Ranking Canadian Cities on Competitive Advantages and Appeal to Tech Workers and Employers’ report, the research group used 13 metrics to measure each market’s depth, vitality and attractiveness to tech employers and potential employees, including availability of talent, quality of labour and gross operating costs.

The Central Canadian city of Toronto again retains its top spot in the rankings in the latest report but Halifax in Nova Scotia moved up in the past year, boosting its score by eight points to rise three positions to the eighth spot.

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Here are the Top 10 Best Cities for IT Jobs in Canada.

TORONTO

Toronto is magnet for tech talent. In the past five years, this city has singlehandedly accounted for about 25 per cent of all the new tech jobs in Canada. During that time, the metropolis grew its tech talent base by 36.5 per cent. 

“The 66,900 tech jobs Toronto added over 2014 to 2019 represent enough tech workers to fill a typical, one million-square-foot, new office tower 10 times over,” reports CBRE Research. “And, this doesn’t even include the administrative and managerial staff that would be needed to support them.”

That’s what makes Toronto the number one spot for anyone looking for a tech job in Canada.

OTTAWA

Canada’s national capital, Ottawa packs a big wallop for a city of its size. When it comes to determining how tech-friendly a city’s business environment really is, tech labour concentration is a key metric. By that standard, Ottawa is king. 

“With its suburban Kanata tech park, Ottawa has an impressive 11.3-per cent concentration of tech workers, double the Canadian average of 5.6 per cent and the highest level amongst all North American cities,” reports CBRE Research.

Ottawa’s universities also produce the fifth-highest volume of tech graduates in the country, making it a IT recruiter’s dream. 

VANCOUVER

In British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, tech-friendly Vancouver saw some of the best growth for the sector in Canada in the five years that ended in 2019. Tech talent there grew by 47.9 per cent to hit 84,900 tech workers during that period, pushing the concentration of tech jobs compared to the rest of the labour force to seven per cent. 

The West Coast city is perhaps best known for its mild winters and its beaches on the Pacific Ocean but it also scores an A+ for the quality of its tech workforce. This is a city that attracts the A-list of tech companies.

“Among major tech occupiers in downtown Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, 49 per cent have two or more locations in a given market,” reports CBRE Research. “This is true for nearly 90 per cent of occupiers with footprints greater than 100,000 square feet.”

WATERLOO REGION

A talent-rich, mid-sized market, the Waterloo region of Ontario is poised to see disproportionate benefits from firms choosing to set up office campuses there. These can often be larger in size than the spaces these companies might be able to afford in markets like Toronto.

The Waterloo region has 22,400 tech workers, much less than the bigger markets, but these represent 8.5 per cent of the region’s workforce, making this a true tech hub. Its tech labour force grew by 51.4 per cent in the five years ending in 2019. 

The entire area from Ontario’s biggest city through to Waterloo is now being described as “Toronto-Waterloo Innovation Corridor.”

MONTREAL

The biggest city in the francophone province of Quebec, Montreal is home to 141,600 tech workers, an impressive 15.7 per cent of Canada’s total tech labour force.

The city also has a tech labour force concentration of 7.4 per cent. This makes it a Canadian powerhouse when it comes to the tech sector, attracting companies who are looking to hire highly-skilled IT workers.

“Education forms the foundation for the quality of tech labour and is best analyzed through degrees conferred by higher-education institutions,” notes CBRE Research. “Notably, the top five ranked Canadian Tech Talent cities are also those that produce the highest number of tech graduates. Montreal has three of the top 10 university-level computer science programs as ranked by Maclean’s and produces the highest volume of tech graduates followed by Toronto, Vancouver, the Waterloo region and Ottawa.”

CALGARY

In Alberta, a city usually known more for its oil industry and stampede than IT sector is nonetheless CBRE Research’s pick for the sixth spot on this list. The quality of the tech talent provided by the city’s 42,500 tech workers is rated “A” by the researchers and that labour force is considered to offer a great value to tech companies. 

“Scoring well on this quality vs. cost scale are Calgary, Victoria and Guelph, who each have a very high quality of tech labour,” notes CBRE Research.

The research division of the commercial realtor ranks Calgary as the number one location in Canada for tech firms looking for good deals because commercial rents in the city’s downtown core are dropping and vacancy rates are climbing.

VICTORIA

British Columbia’s provincial capital saw a 14.1-per cent growth in the size of its tech labour force in the five years ending in 2019, hitting 10,500 tech workers and a tech labour force concentration of 6.6 per cent, higher than the Canadian average of 5.6 per cent.

Its primary tech industries include, not surprisingly, software application developers, and advanced manufacturing and ocean science firms. A smaller city than Vancouver and home to the University of Victoria, this city is one that CBRE Research considers offers excellent value for quality to tech firms.

HALIFA

On the other side of Canada, in the country’s Atlantic Provinces, Halifax is the young lion of this list of top spots for the tech sector.

“Impressive results in Halifax saw its score improve by eight points and move up three positions to clinch the eighth spot, the largest score improvement of any market,” notes CBRE Research. 

The biggest city in Atlantic Canada and home to several universities, including Dalhousie, St. Mary’s, and Mount Saint Vincent, one of Halifax’s big draws for tech companies is its steady supply of top-quality talent.

“Outside of (the) top five ranked cities, a notable number of tech degrees are also earned in Halifax, Windsor and Edmonton, where each see over 1,000 tech degrees awarded annually,” notes CBRE Research. 

QUEBEC CITY

In La Belle Province, an often-overlooked tech hub is Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec. With its 35,400 tech workers who primarily serve the life sciences, optic, phonics, and computer solutions industries, Quebec City has a tech concentration of 8.7 per cent of its labour force.

Perhaps more important for those seeking jobs in the IT sector, that labour force is growing at a dizzying pace, jumping 27.4 per cent in the five years that ended in 2019.

HAMILTON

The former steel-producing giant of Hamilton is another of Canada’s often undervalued tech hubs, with the quality of its tech labour force rated at “A-“. The city has seen growth of 35.7 per cent in its tech labour force in the five years that ended in 2019.

The 17,800 tech workers in Hamilton work in some of the coolest new trends in the IT sector, including autonomous vehicles, digital media and gaming as well as the life sciences.

Although a smaller market, Hamilton, Guelph and Oshawa – all of them in Ontario – punched above their weight in the five years ending in 2019 and added between 1,900 and 4,600 tech jobs each.

Immigrating to Canada Under the Spousal Sponsorship Program: All You Need To Know

Colin Singer
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0
Immigrating to Canada Under the Spousal Sponsorship Program: All You Need To Know

Canada continued to welcome new permanent residents to its provinces and territories under the spousal sponsorship immigration program, even at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, an impressive 36,130 newcomers became new permanent residents in Canada under these programs – and another 11,675 more arrived in the first quarter of 2021.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino has upped the federal government’s capability to process spousal sponsorships to cut down on waiting times. He has also reiterated Ottawa’s commitment to the program which allows immigrants to come to Canada even during times when the border is closed to non-essential travel. 

“We understand that the last few months have not been easy for those who are far from their loved ones in these difficult times,” said Mendicino in announcing the measures to speed up processing of spousal sponsorship applications.

“This is why we are accelerating the approval of spousal applications as much as possible,” he said. “Our government will continue to find new ways to keep families together.”

The spousal sponsorship program is a popular way for couples to re-unite in Canada – and that popularity has been on the upswing every year. At least, it was until the pandemic hit.

Read More

In 2015, 46,350 spouses became new permanent residents of Canada under this program. Five years later, in 2019, that number had grown by more than 39.7 per cent to hit 64,775.

Thousands Become Permanent Residents Through Spousal Sponsorship During COVID-19

COVID-19 slowed down the arrival of spouses under this program last year but not quite as much as it curbed immigration to Canada overall. While the number of new permanent residents to Canada fell by almost 46 per cent in 2020, the number of new permanent residents under the spousal sponsorship program dropped by a slightly lesser amount, 44.2 per cent. 

As the third wave of COVID-19 hit Canada hard in the first quarter of this year, the number of new permanent residents under the spousal sponsorship program fell compared to the same three-month period last year – but only by 14.1 per cent. 

Immigrating to Canada Under the Spousal Sponsorship Program: All You Need To Know

In order to sponsor a spouse to become permanent resident of Canada, a sponsor needs to be a citizen or an adult permanent resident of Canada capable of supporting him or her financially and ensuring that spouse will not need social assistance from the government. 

The fee to sponsor a spouse is $1,050 and the application usually – when Canada is not struggling with a pandemic – takes a year. The person being sponsored may need to provide biometric information. 

Under the sponsorship program, the sponsors and their spouses need to sign a sponsorship agreement that explicitly states that the sponsors will provide for the basic needs of the spouses and the spouses will make every effort to support themselves.

Those sponsors who live in Quebec must also meet Quebec’s immigration sponsorship requirements and sign an undertaking with that province.

Sponsors Must Have Financial Means To Support Spouses

Under the spousal sponsorship program in Canada, those who can be sponsored include a spouse, common-law partner, or a conjugal partner.

These are defined as:

  • Spouse: a spouse can be someone of either sex and must be legally married to the sponsor and at least 18 years old;
  • Common-law partner: this is a person who isn’t legally married to the sponsor, who can be of either sex, and is at least 18 years old and has been living with the sponsor for at least one year in a conjugal relationship;
  • Conjugal partner: a person of either sex of at least 18 years of age who isn’t legally married to the sponsor or their common-law husband or wife and has been in a relationship with them for at least one year and lives outside Canada.

Under the spousal sponsorship program, the spouse must also apply for permanent residence and both that application and the sponsorship application must be sent at the same time. 

There are four steps to sponsor a spouse.

First, get the application package which includes the:

  • document checklist for the sponsor and the spouse;
  • forms the sponsor and the spouse need to fill out, and;
  • an instruction guide to help fill out the forms correctly.

Processing Times May Be Longer Due To Pandemic

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recommends reading the guide carefully before completing the application form. The sponsorship application fee for processing these applications is not refunded.

Once that’s done, it’s important to pay the application fees which include:

  • processing fees for the sponsor and the spouse;
  • the right of permanent residence fee, and;
  • the biometrics fee.

These can be paid online.

Depending on the particular situation, sponsors may need to pay third parties for a medical exam and/or a police certificate.

Mailing instructions are in the application guide but applicants may choose to use a courier service to submit the application to help track it.

Applications can be returned to applicants if they are incomplete or fees are missing.

Any additional information requested by IRCC officials can be sent during the processing of the application. That can include biometric information or updates with any information about a change in circumstances, such as:

  • the birth or adoption of children;
  • a marriage or divorce or separation, or;
  • the death of an applicant or a dependent.

Due to the pandemic, the IRCC has advised applicants that it cannot currently provide accurate processing times because of its limited capacity to process the applications themselves and the greater amount of time needed to send out acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letters or emails.

New BC PNP Tech Pilot Draw Sees 68 Invitations Issued

Colin Singer
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New BC PNP Tech Pilot Draw Sees 68 Invitations Issued

A new BC PNP Tech Pilot draw saw British Columbia immigration issue 68 invitations to skilled workers and international graduates.

The June 1 draw featured invitations through four streams of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program. 

Minimum scores were 80 for all four streams. The featured streams were:

  • SI – Skilled Worker
  • SI – International Graduate
  • EEBC – Skilled Worker
  • EEBC – International Graduate

Read More

British Columbia Moves To Make Popular Tech Pilot a Permanent Immigration Program
Two British Columbia Immigration Draws Sees 379 Invitations Issued
British Columbia PNP Conducts Two New Immigration Draws

Did You Get Invited in the Latest B.C. Immigration Draw?

Date Category Minimum Score Invitations Issued
01-June-21 SI – Skilled Worker 80 Total: 68
  SI – International Graduate 80
  EEBC – Skilled Worker 80
  EEBC – International Graduate 80

Source: www.welcomebc.ca

Video: Insights on Express Entry

The BC PNP Tech Pilot currently expires in 2021 after its initial launch in 2017. It has a list of 29 target occupations with relaxed duration requirements.

BC PNP draws aimed specifically at technology workers started in May 2017. The province has a thriving technology industry with some big names of the tech world basing themselves in Canada’s westernmost province.

What Are The BC PNP Tech Pilot Job Requirements?

  • Job offer must be for one of the 29 targeted occupations (see below)
  • Job offer must be for at least one-year duration
  • Job offer must be valid for at least 120 days at time of application

What Are The 29 Target Occupations Under the BC PNP Tech Pilot?

NOC Code Job Title
0131 Telecommunication carriers’ managers
0213 Computer and information systems managers
0512 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
2131 Civil engineers
2132 Mechanical engineers
2133 Electrical and electronics engineers
2134 Chemical engineers
2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
2172 Database analysts and data administrators
2173 Software engineers and designers
2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
2175 Web designers and developers
2221 Biological technologists and technicians
2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
2242 Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
2243 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
2281 Computer network technicians
2282 User support technicians
2283 Information systems testing technicians
5121 Authors and writers
5122 Editors
5125 Translators, terminologists and interpreters
5224 Broadcast technicians
5225 Audio and video recording technicians
5227 Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and the performing arts
5226 Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
5241 Graphic designers and illustrators
6221 Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade

A coveted provincial nomination effectively guarantees selection under the Canada Express Entry System, worth 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.

Hiring Foreign Talent: The Top 10 Benefits To Employers

Colin Singer
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0
Hiring Foreign Talent: The Top 10 Benefits To Employers

Canada immigration news: The bottom line for any employer with a responsibility to his or her stockholders has to be the bottom line – and immigrants can boost that and make the company run more smoothly in a myriad of ways.

Venture capitalist and Communitech CEO Chris Albinson knows this and has described Canada’s growing openness to immigrants as a shrewd move, particularly in light of the clampdown on immigration south of the border during the presidency of Donald Trump.

“As the United States has tightened immigration and become less welcoming, Canada has made shrewd policy moves to attract top global talent and capital,” wrote Albinson in an opinion piece in The Globe and Mail.

“Canada now has six times as many skilled immigrants, as a percentage of the population, as our American neighbours do – a significant stat when you consider half of the founders of America’s tech unicorns (private companies worth $1-billion or more) were born outside the U.S.”

More Canada Immigration News

Here Are The 8 Highest-Paying IT Jobs In Canada For 2021
Canada Gets Thumbs Up For Boosting 2021 Permanent Resident Numbers Despite COVID-19
Immigration Fuelling Canadian Tech Sector Dominance, Says Silicon Valley Venture Capitalist

But why is it such a smart move for a Canadian business to seek out and hire talent from an international pool of candidates rather than just post a job ad in Canada and hire locally?

Here are The Top 10 Benefits To Employers Of Hiring Foreign Talent.

1. New Talent, New Skills

In many parts of Canada, there is a limited supply of skilled workers who are available to hire with the particular talents and skills an employer might need to fill the available jobs. That’s particularly the case in regions of the country where the aging population means many of the highly-skilled workers are quite simply retiring.

Foreign workers selected for their education and experience in particular fields and brought to Canada either as temporary foreign workers or permanent residents under the economic class of programs can ensure an employer gets an employee able to do the job and boost the company’s productivity.

2. Breadth of Experience

Growing up and living in other countries, often with a completely different culture, gives immigrants to Canada a unique perspective that can enrich the company’s decision-making processes. It can be something as simple as understanding how to approach prospective clients of a different culture or knowing how systems are integrated in other business environments. That experience can mean the difference between a ho-hum decision or process and one that sizzles and stands out compared to the competition.

3. Proven Ability to Adapt

In today’s ever-changing business environment, the ability to adapt to sudden and unforeseen events can mean the difference between survival and failure. Immigrants come with a proven ability to adapt. They’ve left their homes and countries, friends and extended families and settled in Canada with its different culture and languages – and succeeded. That ability to adapt to new circumstances improves the resilience of any company that brings these kinds of employees onboard.

4. Improved Access to International Markets

Immigrants often speak other languages and are familiar with the culture and traditions of the countries where they were born and raised. That can be an invaluable asset for a company planning to expand into those markets because these newcomers can give a company the inside track on what will work – and what won’t – in those other markets. They can often offer up contacts in their home country and so save their employers both time and money.

5. Stronger Connection with Canadian Customers

Canada is a nation of immigrants, with as many as one in five Canadians identifying as an immigrant. In bigger cities like Toronto, as many as half of residents are people born outside the country. When a company employs immigrants to serve those customers, those employees are often better able to understand and connect with immigrant customers because they share the experience of having immigrated to Canada. These newcomers can also help a company tailor its messages and approach to immigrants living in Canada and better connect with their markets.

6. Strong Work Ethic

Immigrants come to Canada because they recognize that this is an amazing opportunity – and so they are loath to waste it. Newcomers to Canada recognize they need work experience to stay in the country and they make their jobs a top priority. They want to prove themselves and showcase their skills. That translates into a strong work ethic, a boon to any business.

7. Enhanced Corporate Image

Respect for diversity and inclusion is a strong Canadian value and those employers who hire immigrants and are seen as inclusive benefit from a more favourable corporate reputation. There are even awards for diversity hiring practices. Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, an awards program which recognizes employers across Canada that have exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs, is now in its 14th season. Hiring newcomers helps companies shine through these awards and enhances their corporate image internationally as well.

8. Improved Employee Morale

Job seekers gravitate towards companies with diverse workforces because this signals to them that the company is singularly free of discrimination. That attitude of openness and acceptance boosts employee morale. 

9. Boost to Productivity

A University of Florida study shows that having a more diverse workforce boosts productivity and offers other competitive advantages. “In an era when flexibility and creativity are keys to competitiveness, diversity is critical for an organization’s success,” states that study, Diversity In The Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, And The Required Managerial Tools.

10. Ease of Training in Company-Specific Processes

When immigrants arrive in Canada, they are well aware that they have a lot to learn about their new home and how companies operate. That awareness makes these newcomers particularly willing to listen, learn and share and makes them ideal employees when it comes to training in company-specific processes and procedures. 

New Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Draw Sees 986 NOIs Issued

Colin Singer
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0
New Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Draw Sees 986 NOIs Issued

Canada immigration news: A new draw through the Ontario Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream saw the province issue 986 Notifications of Interest. 

The June 1 draw targeted candidates with Comprehensive Ranking System scores in the range of 300 to 379, significantly lower than the previous draw.

Candidates were required to have submitted Express Entry profiles into the federal pool within the 12 months preceding the draw date to qualify.

More Canada Immigration News

Ontario International Student EOI Draw: Province Invites 158 Candidates
Ontario EOI Draw Sees 64 Invitations Issued To Regional Immigration Pilot Candidates
Ontario Invites 138 International Students In New Expression Of Interest Draw

Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream 2021

Date NOIs  CRS Score Range Express Entry profile submission date
01-Jun-21 986 300-379 June 1 2020 to June 1 2021
13-Jan-21 338 434-460 January 13, 2020 to January 13, 2021

Video

Ontario Express Entry: Skilled Trades Stream

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

To qualify applicants must have:

  • Pending application under the Federal Express Entry system;
  • At least 12 months of paid cumulative or continuous Ontario work experience with the last two years prior to your Notification of Interest in National Occupation Classification 633, or major groups 72, 73 or 82;
  • Proof of Ontario license or certification if your occupation so requires;
  • A valid work permit and be resident in Ontario at the time of application;
  • English or French-language level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 or above in reading, writing, listening and speaking;
  • Proof of settlement fund to cover you and your dependents, with the minimum amount determined by official Low-Income Cut-Offs.

 

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