New Manitoba Immigration Express Entry Draw Sees Province Issue 404 Letters of Advice to Apply

Colin Singer
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New Manitoba Immigration Express Entry Draw Sees Province Issue 404 Letters of Advice to Apply

Canada immigration news: A new draw through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program saw the province issue 404 Letters of Advice to Apply to Express Entry skilled worker candidates.

The May 27 draw, posed on June 1, draw saw LAAs issued through a single MPNP streams.

That stream was Manitoba Express Entry, with a minimum score of 601.

More Canada Immigration News

New Manitoba Immigration PNP Draw Sees 232 LAAs Issued
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Manitoba stated that all 404 candidates had valid Express Entry IDs and job seeker validation codes.

For detailed requirements of the Express Entry stream featured in this draw, please see below.

This was the 117th draw in the history of the MPNP.

What Were the Details of the Latest Manitoba Draw?

Stream Sub-Stream Letters of Advice to Apply Score of Lowest Ranked Candidate
Skilled Workers Overseas Manitoba Express Entry 404 601

 

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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

Immigrants from Africa, Asia Crucial to Canada’s Healthcare System

Colin Singer
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Immigrants from Africa, Asia Crucial to Canada’s Healthcare System

Canada immigration news: A Statistics Canada report reveals immigrants to Canada are over-represented in nursing and healthcare support positions.

“In 2015/2016, they made up 22 per cent of the workforce in these occupations, compared with 16 per cent of the total employed population,” notes the report.

Immigrants from countries with predominantly-Black populations are among those newcomers most likely to enter into the Canadian workforce as nurses or other healthcare support workers. Asian immigrants were a close second.

More Canada Immigration News

“Overall, five per cent of employed adult immigrants in 2015/2016 worked in nursing or healthcare support occupations, compared with three per cent of other employed individuals,” notes the report.

“However, this proportion varied by place of birth. The percentage of adult immigrants in nursing or healthcare support occupations was particularly high among immigrants born in the Caribbean and Bermuda (13 per cent), Western Africa (12 per cent), Central Africa (12 per cent), Eastern Africa (eight per cent), and Southeast Asia (10 per cent).”

Caribbean, Bermuda, Africa Important Sources of Healthcare Workers 

Immigrants from predominantly-Black countries working as nurses or healthcare support staff in Canada were also the newcomers in those occupational groups most likely to have completed their highest post-secondary education in Canada. 

“A large proportion of immigrants from the Caribbean and Bermuda (75 per cent) and sub-Saharan Africa (60 per cent) completed their highest level of education in Canada, while a minority of immigrants born in the Philippines (25 per cent) and Southern Asia (32 per cent) had done so,” notes the report.

Among Asian immigrants, those most likely to work as nurses or healthcare support workers in Canada were Filipinos, reports Statistics Canada.

“Among immigrants from Southeast Asia, immigrants from the Philippines stood out with a high proportion (13 per cent) and a large number (44,380) of people employed in nursing or healthcare support occupations,” reports Canada’s statistical analysis agency. “In 2016, they accounted for nearly one-third (30 per cent) of adult immigrants in these occupations.”

The importance of immigrants to Canada’s healthcare system has not gone unnoticed by either Ottawa or the provinces.

Earlier this year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched six new pathways to permanent residency, including one for francophone and another for anglophone healthcare workers.

“One in three workers in our healthcare system is an immigrant,” said Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino when the new pathways were launched. “That’s why these new pathways are so important.”

Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of the Fraser Health Authority, agreed.

Ottawa and Provinces Encouraging Immigration to Boost Healthcare

“When the healthcare system is stretched, it’s not because we don’t have enough space, enough beds. It’s because we don’t have enough people,” said the top exec for the health authority in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland.

“There are many healthcare workers that are in under-employment situations because their healthcare credentials are not recognized,” she said.

Canada’s francophone province of Quebec has also upped its efforts to attract immigrants to work in its healthcare system. 

Earlier this year, Quebec launched the Orderlies Pilot Program on March 31 for nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates. Those occupations with the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) numbers and descriptions are included:

  • 3011 – Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors
  • 3012 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
  • 3124 – Allied primary health practitioners
  • 3233 – Licensed practical nurses
  • 4412 – Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations

Candidates need to have gotten a DEP in a related field of study in the two years prior to their application.

They also have at least two years of experience in this type of occupation, currently work in such a job, and have a level seven proficiency in French as measured by the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français des personnes immigrantes adultes. 

British Columbia Moves To Make Popular Tech Pilot a Permanent Immigration Program

Colin Singer
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British Columbia Moves To Make Popular Tech Pilot a Permanent Immigration Program

Canada immigration news: Four years after its initial launch, an immigration pilot that helps British Columbia’s tech industry recruit foreign talent is being made permanent.

“The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech Pilot is being extended indefinitely, ensuring continued support for the tech sector and addressing workforce needs by prioritizing 29 in-demand tech occupations,” the provincial government of that West Coast province announced Friday.

Since it is now a permanent program, British Columbia is re-naming the pilot project the BC PNP Tech program.

 “We will continue priority processing, weekly tech draws, and concierge support for tech employers. Occupations will be periodically reviewed and may be subject to change,” announced the province.

More Canada Immigration News

Tech employers in British Columbia lobbied the government earlier this year to extend the immigration program which helps them hire highly-skilled employees when they are unable to find suitable candidates locally. The employers wanted the program extended to June 30.

The province’s move exceeds all of the employers’ expectations.

“Today’s announcement of a permanent immigration stream for tech workers is very good news for B.C.’s high-growth innovation sector and we applaud the government for heeding the calls from our members to extend the program indefinitely,” Tessa Seager, the British Columbia director of government affairs of the Council of Canadian Innovators, reportedly told the BetaKit news website.

“This program is an efficient and effective way to address the province’s skilled talent shortage and support homegrown companies as they scale-up globally. Our members now have the certainty they need to make long-term business expansion plans and drive prosperity as we head into the great re-opening.”

Tech Pilot a Big Hit

The immigration pilot has been a hit with tech employers in the province from day one.

In 2018, 1,135 tech workers were nominated under the BC PNP Tech Pilot. Two years later, that number had grown by 63 per cent, to 1,855.

Brenda Bailey, the MLA for Vancouver-False Creek, says making the program permanent will enhance the recruitment efforts of tech companies.

“I am delighted to announce that the BC Provincial Nominee Program Tech Pilot will become a permanent feature of the BC PNP providing BC Companies the ability to continue to recruit international talent and support our government’s work to build a sustainable economic recovery,” she tweeted on Friday.

In the Lower Mainland community of Burnaby, the local board of trade echoed that support for the move.

“This is great news, and a change we’ve been pushing for the last three years working with our Burnaby tech, film and digital sector!” tweeted out the Burnaby Board of Trade.

British Columbia claims its BC PNP Tech program is the most comprehensive and service-oriented provincial immigration initiative of its kind and gives the province a competitive edge over the rest of Canada. 

“Beyond accessing the skills and talent of B.C. workers, companies need to be able to attract skilled workers from around the world,” the province noted in a statement. “Tech entrepreneurs and skilled workers from other countries can help grow B.C.’s technology sector, leading to more jobs for British Columbians.

“In support of these priorities, BC PNP Tech has supported over 6,000 tech workers to be nominated for permanent residence since its launch in May, 2017. BC PNP Tech helps ensure the technology sector can attract and retain the talent it needs to sustain and grow the sector further.”

Applicants to the program need to have a valid job offer under one of the 29 eligible occupations and that job offer must be good for at least one year with no less than 120 remaining on the offer at the time of application.

Registration to the program is free and the processing time for 80 per cent of applications falls within a two-to-three-month window.

Quebec Issues 83 Invitations In New Arrima Expression of Interest Draw: Canada Immigration News

Colin Singer
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Quebec Issues 83 Invitations In New Arrima Expression of Interest Draw: Canada Immigration News

A new draw through the Quebec immigration Arrima Expression of Interest system saw 90 invitations issued.

The May 27 draw was aimed primarily at candidates with a job offer, but also included other criteria listed below.

Candidates receiving an invitation have 60 days to submit a full application to the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

Criteria for Latest Quebec Expression of Interest Draw

Quebec Expression Of Interest Draws 2021

Date of invitations Invites Issued Date of extraction from Arrima bank
27-May-21 90 May 26, 2021 at 6.30am
29-Apr-21 83 April 28, 2021 at 6.30am
30-Mar-21 208 March 29, 2021 at 6.30am
26-Jan-21 95 January 25, 2021 at 6.30am

More Canada Immigration News

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How Does Quebec Expression of Interest Work?

  1. Candidates submit an online expression of interest profile to the MIDI.
  2. Profiles enter into an Expression of Interest pool, where they are ranked against each other and are valid for 12-months.
  3. Profiles will be classified in two categories: one for candidates who are living in Quebec or have a job offer and meet specific criteria, and the another for candidates living outside Quebec and meet specific criteria.
  4. The highest-ranking candidates will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a Quebec Certificate of Selection under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.
  5. Quebec will conduct periodic draws, inviting candidates to apply for a Quebec certificate of selection (CSQ).
  6. Candidates receiving an invitation have 60 days to submit a full application.
  7. Approved candidates who receive a nomination certificate (CSQ) may then apply for Canadian permanent residence.

What Are the Requirements for Quebec Expression of Interest?

Candidates are ranked under many factors including education, work experience, age, language ability and time spent in Quebec. A valid job offer is also an important factor.

The qualifications of a candidate’s spouse or partner are also considered.

According to the decision published on August 1st, 2018, the first category refers to candidates who:

  • Have a validated job offer outside the Metropolitan Community of Montreal;
  • Have a validated job offer in the Metropolitan Community of Montreal;
  • Are currently living in Quebec AND:
    • They have a post graduate work permit, obtained following the graduation from an eligible study program in Quebec (diploma attesting at least 900 hours of instruction, diploma of collegial studies attesting at least 12 months of full-time studies, undergraduate degree of at least 12 months of full-time studies, or graduate degrees such as masters, specialized graduate diplomas or PhDs); or
    • They have a work permit with a validity of at least 12 months and they have worked in Quebec full-time for at least 6 months.

These candidates are ranked based on the following criteria:

  1. Age
  2. Level of education
  3. Diploma obtained in Quebec
  4. Proficiency in French
  5. Proficiency in other languages
  6. Work experience in Canada or in the United States
  7. Spouse/common-law partner’s qualifications: level of education and proficiency in the French language.
  8. Transferability skills:
    1. Level of education with French proficiency (either the main applicant’s or the spouse’s, depending on which score is highest)
    2. Level of education with French proficiency and work experience in Canada or US
    3. Foreign work experience with French proficiency
    4. Foreign work experience with French proficiency and work experience in Canada or US

The second category refers to candidates who are not residing in Quebec. They are ranked on the following criteria:

  1. Age
  2. Level of education
  3. Are of training in-demand, as published by the government
  4. Diploma obtained in Quebec
  5. Proficiency in French
  6. Proficiency in other languages
  7. Work experience in Canada or in the United States
  8. Spouse/common-law partner’s qualifications: level of education and proficiency in the French language.
  9. Transferability skills:
    1. Level of education with French proficiency (either the main applicant’s or the spouse’s, depending on which score is highest)
    2. Level of education with French proficiency and work experience in Canada or US
    3. Foreign work experience with French proficiency
    4. Foreign work experience with French proficiency and work experience in Canada or US

What Points Are Available Under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program?

Candidates selected to apply for a CSQ under the Quebec Skilled worker program must pass the threshold for the selection factors, which is 50 points for a single candidate and 59 points for a married candidate.

Selection factors in the point grid

Profile factor Max points available
Education 14
Areas of training 12
Work experience 8
Age 16
Language proficiency 22
Time spent and family in Quebec 8
Spouse/common-law partner 17
Job offer 14
Accompanying children 8
Financial self-sufficiency 1

MPs in Trudeau’s Party Urge Re-Opening of Canada-U.S. Border: Latest Canada Immigration News

Colin Singer
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MPs in Trudeau’s Party Urge Re-Opening of Canada-U.S. Border: Latest Canada Immigration News

Members of Parliament in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s own party are urging him to re-open the Canada-U.S. border, a move the Prime Minister said in March was too soon to even discuss.

Maybe March was too soon – but several of Trudeau’s MPs think the time to discuss the border’s re-opening has finally arrived.

Wayne Easter, a Liberal Party MP and chair of the House of Commons’ finance committee, reportedly told the Politico news outlet on Friday 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.

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He blames 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. 

U.S. Ahead of Canada On Vaccination Program

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.

According to Ottawa’s own data, only 3.99 per cent of Canadians were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of May 15, the most recent date for which figures are available, but 45.1 per cent of the Canadian population has had at least one dose of these vaccines.

In the U.S., the Center for Disease Control reports that 62 per cent of the population has had at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. In May, roughly 10 times as many Americans as Canadians per capita had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

In the United States, political leaders are already starting to talk about re-opening the border within the next month.

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

In its official communications, 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. 

Anonymous sources have told journalists a different story about the government’s intentions.

Canada Considering Two-Track System For Border Re-Opening

The New York City media giant Bloomberg reported earlier this month that several anonymous sources in the Trudeau government have admitted Canada is considering a “two-track system” to ease the quarantine and COVID-19 testing measures for vaccinated travellers.

Think vaccine passports.

In mid-March, the Canadian prime minister nixed the idea of vaccine passports for travel within Canada but did leave the door open to the possibility they might be required for international travel.

“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.

“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 last month 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 a 65 per cent support. 

Canada Immigration News: Top 12 Best-Paying Skilled Trades Jobs

Colin Singer
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Canada Immigration News: Top 12 Best-Paying Skilled Trades Jobs

Skilled trades are in high demand in Canada, with many employers finding themselves facing labour shortages, creating plenty of opportunities.

Canada’s national statistical agency, Statistics Canada, has tracked the earnings power of many people in the trades to get a clearer picture of just how much money there is to be made in these jobs. The agency’s finding in a report published last year was that two of trades were allowing workers to command salaries of more than $100,000 annually after only four years on the job, based on their reported earnings in 2014.

At that point in their blue-collar careers, these tradespeople, who had gotten their certifications in 2010, were still only apprentices but many were already raking in very healthy salaries.

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In Median Employment Income Of Apprentices And Trade Qualifiers Who Obtained An Apprenticeship Certificate In A Selected Trade In 2010, Statistics Canada found the highest-paid tradespeople four years into their careers were then heavy-duty equipment technicians. They were earning $107,220 annually after four years on the job.

Since then, the number of trades where workers can command salaries of more than $100,000 annually has grown. Although salaries and benefits vary both by years of experience, qualifications, and region of the country where the job is offered, there are now five trades where a worker can make that kind of money based on a 37.5-hour work week.

Here’s what the Top 12 Best-Paying Trades In Canada earn today, according to Canada’s job-hunting website, Jobbank.ca.

Industrial Electrician (NOC 7242)

Industrial electricians in the Canadian province of Alberta can earn up to $122,850 for the work they do installing, maintaining, testing, troubleshooting and repairing industrial electrical equipment and controls. Usually, they work for electrical contractors and maintenance departments of factories, plants, mines, shipyards and other industrial establishments.

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic (NOC 7313)

Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics in the Prairie province of Saskatchewan can earn a cool $103,369 per year for the work they do for heating, refrigeration and air conditioning installation contractors, as well as various industrial companies, food wholesalers, engineering firms and retail and servicing establishments. These mechanics install, maintain, repair and overhaul residential central air conditioning systems, commercial and industrial refrigeration and air conditioning systems and combined heating, ventilation and cooling systems.

Truck and Transport Mechanic (NOC 7321)

Fixing the big rigs that bring all kinds of goods to Canadians and take exports across the border to the United States lets truck and transport mechanics command annual salaries of up to $101,965 for regular work weeks in Canada’s wide open and majestic Northwest Territories. These mechanics inspect, diagnose, repair and service mechanical, electrical and electronic systems and components of light and commercial transport trucks.

Automotive Service Technician (NOC 7321)

In the northern territory of Nunavut, where the cost of living is admittedly higher than in most provinces in Canada, automotive service technicians, the people who repair the mechanical and electronic components of cars, can earn up to $103,759 per year. 

Heavy-Duty Equipment Technician (NOC 7312) 

These mechanics specialize in heavy-duty equipment, repairing, troubleshooting, adjusting, maintaining and even completely overhauling it so that it can be used by heavy industry. It’s a tough job requiring a specialized knowledge of machinery and it can pay up to $103,116 annually for a regular work week in Alberta.

Industrial Mechanics and Millwrights (NOC 7311)

Saskatchewan is where industrial mechanics and millwrights, those workers who install, maintain, troubleshoot, overhaul and repair stationary industrial machinery and mechanical equipment, earn the highest wages for that trade. In Saskatchewan, these tradespeople can command up to $99,274 annually for a regular week’s work.

Steamfitter/Pipefitter (NOC 7252)

In the Atlantic Canadian province of Nova Scotia where the Halifax Shipyard is only halfway through its $25-billion contact with the Canadian navy to build combat ships, steamfitters earn the highest wages in the trade in Canada: $92,722 per year.

These are the workers who lay out, assemble, fabricate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair piping systems carrying water, steam, chemicals and fuel in heating, cooling, lubricating and other process piping systems. 

Welder (NOC 7237)

In British Columbia, welders can earn up to $88,296 annually at a regular, full-time job where they weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals, typically for companies that manufacture structural steel and platework, boilers, heavy machinery, aircraft, ships and other metal products, and by welding contractors and welding shops. Welders are also often self-employed.

Construction Electrician (NOC 7241)

In both Canada’s westernmost province, British Columbia, and the central Canadian province of Ontario, construction electricians can command $87,750 annually for a regular week’s work.

Although many of them are self-employed, these men and women who lay out, assemble, install, test, troubleshoot and repair electrical wiring, fixtures, control devices and related equipment in buildings and other structures typically work for electrical contractors and maintenance departments of buildings.

Plumber (NOC 7251)

The pipes might sometimes stink but the earning power of plumbers smells just fine. In Ontario, a plumber can earn up to $85,800 per year working a standard, full-time job – and many of them work longer hours and make more money by being self-employed or putting in overtime. These men and women install, repair and maintain pipes, fixtures and other plumbing equipment used for water distribution and wastewater disposal in residential, commercial and industrial buildings

Sheet Metal Worker (NOC 7233)

On The Rock, the Atlantic Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, sheet metal workers earn the highest wages of anyone doing that kind of work in Canada, commanding up to $83,304 annually for a regular, full-time job. They usually work for sheet metal fabrication shops, sheet metal products manufacturing companies, or sheet metal work contractors where they make, assemble, install and repair sheet metal products. 

Carpenter (NOC 7271)

The workers who build almost all the houses and low-rise apartment buildings in Canada are carpenters who erect, install, maintain and repair structures and components of structures made of wood, wood substitutes, lightweight steel and other materials in their jobs with construction companies, contractors, and the maintenance departments of heavy industry. Working only a regular work week, these tradespeople can command salaries of as high as $76,245 in Canada’s francophone province of Quebec.

Canada Immigration News: Report Urges Ottawa To Do More To Help Hong Kongers Move Here

Colin Singer
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Canada Immigration News: Report Urges Ottawa To Do More To Help Hong Kongers Move Here

Hong Kong is now so dangerous for pro-democracy activists that Canada should put in several new immigration measures to help foreign nationals from the former British protectorate gain permanent residency or otherwise work in Canada, states a report.

“In response to the increasingly dangerous situation in Hong Kong, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (should) create an open work permit, aimed at Hong Kong foreign nationals, with moderate language and education requirements,” wrote the authors of the report of the House of Commons’ standing committee on citizenship and immigration.

That report, the result of eight months of consultations by the committee, puts forth 38 recommendations on how Ottawa can improve Canada’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its impacts on immigration. 

The standing committee heard from witnesses and experts, looked at the backlog of applications and processing delays, and then reported on the progress IRCC made during the pandemic – and where it still needed to improve.

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Hong Kong was clearly a high priority topic for the standing committee, with five or more than 13 per cent of its recommendations, suggesting changes Canada can make to help foreign nationals living there and subject to China’s anti-democracy crackdown.

Among those recommendations to help Hong Kong residents, the standing committee suggested Ottawa create a five-year, Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). 

These are one-time, open work permits issued for periods from eight months to three years depending on the length of the program of study. Canadian work experience gained in skilled occupational categories can then be used by these grads to apply for permanent residency through the Canadian Experience Class of the Express Entry program, which requires one year of skilled work experience in Canada.

Many of those who addressed the standing committee said Covid-19 job losses have put many of the grads with PGWPs in a tight spot, leaving them unable to get one year of work experience before the expiry of their permits. 

A five-year PGWP would give those grads more time, allowing them to gain more work experience so they can apply for permanent residency under the Express Entry program. 

The standing committee also recommends Canada give pro-democracy activists a break and let them come to Canada as refugees seeking asylum.

“(The IRCC should) implement a temporary public policy to address Hong Kong refugee claims and grant asylum to pro-democracy activists within Hong Kong, using initiatives such as Rainbow Railroad as a model in order to discreetly identify and support asylum seekers,” states the report.

During the eight months that ended in May this year, the House of Commons’ standing committee on citizenship and immigration studied Ottawa’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on immigration to Canada.

The standing committee heard from witnesses and experts, looked at the backlog of applications and processing delays, and then reported on the progress IRCC made during the pandemic – and where it still needed to improve.

“When the pandemic hit in March 2020, IRCC was forced to adapt. As for many organizations, its measures to limit the effects of the pandemic on its immigration processes have depended on the increased use of information technology (IT),” noted the authors of the standing committee report.

“IRCC quickly trained and equipped staff – including operations staff – to work from home. It created an electronic signature tool to allow employees to continue to work with settlement services and newcomers,” they noted. “It simplified application streams and digitized many files to make processing easier. It also moved to virtual platforms for citizenship ceremonies, citizenship tests, and landing processes for permanent residence applicants already in Canada.

Canada’s immigration department even changed its policy to allow landing and asylum claims via e-mail and to permit international students to start their studies remotely while in Canada. Ottawa also moved to allow remote hearings and appeals.

Canada Need Ombudsman To Oversee IRCC

Despite all those improvements, those who appeared before the standing committee described a system that is still unwieldy for those applicants trying to get details of the decisions made by IRCC officials and even more cumbersome when it comes to appealing decisions.

Their bottom line: Create an Office of the Immigration Ombudsman.

“Witnesses emphasized that such an office could address status checks, disputes or errors in visa officer decisions, persistent processing errors and delays in certain classes of applications and overall oversight of IRCC and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) issues,” wrote the authors of the report.

The idea is to save applicants the cost of having to go to court. 

Other people who appeared before the standing committee suggested Ottawa should also develop a high-tech way for immigration lawyers to more easily communicate with visa officers. 

Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, president of a Quebec association of immigration lawyers, the Association québécoise des avocats et avocates en droit de l’immigration, went so far as to tell the committee visa officers should release the full reasoning behind their decisions to applicants, not just standard forms in which boxes are checked off. 

“Officials make errors and misunderstand policy, even within IRCC. Several witnesses told the committee that errors by IRCC staff and visa officials are often difficult to get fixed,” wrote the authors of the report. 

Canada Immigration News: IRCC’s MyAccount To Provide More Information To Applicants

Colin Singer
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Canada Immigration News: IRCC’s MyAccount To Provide More Information To Applicants

Canada is beefing up the platform that immigration applicants use to get information about their files in the wake of a growing chorus of people asking Ottawa to make the process more transparent.

“This government strongly believes in the values of openness, transparency and accountability and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) takes its responsibilities and obligations under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act seriously,” said Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino on Wednesday.

“We want to increase the availability of information to our clients, and we will continue to make improvements and evolve in how we do business through policy and digital service delivery.”

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Access To Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests made to IRCC have soared in the past few years, more than doubling from 63,333 in 2016–2017 to 132,891 in 2019–2020. Canada’s immigration department now receives more of these requests than do all other federal institutions combined. 

Those other institutions only get less than 40,000 ATIP requests annually.

Ottawa’s pledge to improve its delivery of information to immigration applicants comes in the wake of a report by Canada’s information commissioner Caroline Maynard. She says the IRCC needs to provide more information to applicants without them having to resort to ATIP requests.

 “They need to give more information without having to wait for people to ask for it,” Maynard reportedly told The Globe and Mail.

IRCC Must Provide Information Before Being Asked

According to Maynard, many complaints filed to her office centre on the lack of information made available to those applying for permanent residency. Details, including the status of an application or the reasoning behind a recent decision, are often difficult to get from the IRCC, she reportedly said.

“They have this great portal, but it just does not provide sufficient detail on the information that these people were asking for,” she reportedly told the national newspaper.

Most of the ATIP requests made about the IRCC are linked to individual case files of people applying for permanent residency. 

Ottawa’s response to the growing barrage of criticism is a new ATIP management action plan at the immigration department. 

Under that plan, Ottawa is going to put its MyAccount portal on steroids, muscling it up handle more requests for information about individual cases, including the status of cases and the reasons for the lack of approval of an application.

During the pandemic, the IRCC claims its new plan allowed it to reduce the number of outstanding ATIP requests by 85 per cent in the six-month period ending in July last year.

“We have also improved on meeting our processing timelines during this period, going from 64 to 75 per cent on-time responses,” the IRCC noted in a statement.

Call For Immigration Ombudsman

Immigration advocates have been lobbying Ottawa to make the Canadian immigration process more transparent, quicker and efficient. The House of Commons’ standing committee on citizenship and immigration heard witnesses during an eight-month period that ended in May. 

The committee was repeatedly told the system needs many improvements.

Many called for the creation of a Canadian immigration ombudsman to keep tabs on the decisions made by IRCC) officials.

The standing committee, which heard from witnesses and experts, looked at the backlog of applications and processing delays and then reported on the progress the IRCC had made during the pandemic. It also noted where the IRCC still needed to improve with 38 recommendations.

“When the pandemic hit in March 2020, IRCC was forced to adapt. As for many organizations, its measures to limit the effects of the pandemic on its immigration processes have depended on the increased use of information technology (IT),” noted the authors of the standing committee report.

Saskatchewan Immigration Draw: Province Targets Skilled Trades With Minimum Score Of 65

Colin Singer
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Saskatchewan Immigration Draw: Province Targets Skilled Trades With Minimum Score Of 65

Saskatchewan immigration has targeted skilled trades candidates with 269 invitations to apply in a new Expression of Interest draw.

The May 25 Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program draw targeted Occupations In-Demand candidates with skills and experience in one of 36 National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes.

Candidates required a minimum score of 65 points.

The targeted NOCs were all in the 071, 073, 72 and 73 major groups:

  • 071: Managers in construction and facility operation and maintenance.
  • 073: Managers in transportation.
  • 72: Industrial, electrical and construction trades.
  • 73: Maintenance and equipment operation trades.

Detailed requirements for the Occupations In-Demand stream are included later in this article.

Read More

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Latest Saskatchewan Expression of Interest Draws

Draw date Category Minimum score Invites issued Other considerations
25-May-21 Occupations In-Demand 65 269 Invited candidates had Educational Credential Assessments.

NOCs included:

0711, 0712, 0714, 0731, 7201, 7202, 7203, 7205, 7231, 7232, 7234, 7237, 7242, 7243, 7245, 7246, 7271, 7281, 7282, 7283, 7291, 7294, 7301, 7302, 7304, 7305, 7311, 7312, 7313, 7321, 7322, 7333, 7335, 7371, 7381, 7384

Video

What is the Process for Saskatchewan Expression of Interest?

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

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

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

Canada Needs Ombudsman For Decisions On Immigration Applications: Report

Colin Singer
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Canada Needs Ombudsman For Decisions On Immigration Applications: Report

An immigration ombudsman is needed to keep tabs on the decisions made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officials, according to a new report.

During the eight months that ended in May this year, the House of Commons’ standing committee on citizenship and immigration studied Ottawa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on immigration to Canada.

The standing committee heard from witnesses and experts, looked at the backlog of applications and processing delays, and then reported on the progress IRCC made during the pandemic – and where it still needed to improve.

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 “When the pandemic hit in March 2020, IRCC was forced to adapt. As for many organizations, its measures to limit the effects of the pandemic on its immigration processes have depended on the increased use of information technology (IT),” noted the authors of the standing committee report.

“IRCC quickly trained and equipped staff – including operations staff – to work from home. It created an electronic signature tool to allow employees to continue to work with settlement services and newcomers,” they noted. 

“It simplified application streams and digitized many files to make processing easier. It also moved to virtual platforms for citizenship ceremonies, citizenship tests, and landing processes for permanent residence applicants already in Canada.

Canada’s immigration department even changed its policy to allow landing and asylum claims via e-mail and to permit international students to start their studies remotely while in Canada. Ottawa also moved to allow remote hearings and appeals.

Canada Needs Immigration Ombudsman

Despite all those improvements, those who appeared before the standing committee described a system that is still unwieldy for those applicants trying to get details of the decisions made by IRCC officials and even more cumbersome when it comes to appealing decisions.

Their bottom line: Create an Office of the Immigration Ombudsman.

“Witnesses emphasized that such an office could address status checks, disputes or errors in visa officer decisions, persistent processing errors and delays in certain classes of applications and overall oversight of IRCC and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) issues,” wrote the authors of the report.

The idea is to save applicants the cost of having to go to court. 

Other people who appeared before the standing committee suggested Ottawa should also develop a high-tech way for immigration lawyers to more easily communicate with visa officers, allowing full details of decisions to be communicated.

 

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