Canada added 378,000 jobs in September, with unemployment dropping to 9 per cent in further encouraging signs of recovery from the coronavirus crisis. The Canada jobs Labour Force Survey unemployment figure is now almost 5 percentage points down on the peak of 13.7 per cent in May, with the country in the grip of the pandemic. September’s gains put Canada with...

Even during the COVID-19 global pandemic, Syria remains one of the most important sources of new Canadian permanent residents. In the first half of this year, the Middle Eastern country dropped from the seventh to the ninth spot in the rankings of the most important sources of new Canadian permanent residents by country of citizenship.  The uptick in Syrians becoming permanent...

Canada is likely to keep its border with the United States closed to all but essential travel until the COVID-19 pandemic abates, which could be several more months. “The situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rapidly evolve and we have been clear that our response will adapt in lock step,” a spokesperson for Canada’s public safety minister said Tuesday.  “Going...

A new BC PNP Tech Pilot draw saw British Columbia immigration issue 72 invitations to skilled workers and international graduates. The October 6 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...

Nova Scotia immigration has targeted International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream candidates in its first business immigration draw since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The draw, which took place on September 24, saw 5 invitations issued through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program. Candidates required 49 points to qualify. Despite the low number of invitations, this was the largest draw since the International...

Canada’s population growth rate hit a record low as the COVID-19 global pandemic pushed up the death rate and drove down immigration levels due to restrictions on international travel, reports Statistics Canada. In its latest Canadian population estimates, the federal government’s national statistical agency details the rollercoaster ride that has been population growth in Canada over the past year.  After hitting...

Alberta’s coronavirus economic recovery program means the province will not meet its federal government nomination allocation for the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). The province says it will issue a maximum of 4,000 nominations through the AINP, more than a third down on the allocation of 6,250. As of October 1, the province has already issued 3,720 nominations. There are also...

During the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden this week, Google searches on ‘how to move to Canada’ once again spiked in the U.S.  The petty arguments on show, particularly from the incumbent Republican president, left many Americans considering the move north instead of four more years of Trumpian politics. With Trump and wife Melania also testing positive...

Canada’s coronavirus international travel restrictions will be relaxed for extended family members of citizens and permanent residents, foreign nationals entering on compassionate grounds and international students, it has been announced. Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino made the announcement on Friday. New International Travel Restriction Exeptions 1) From October 8 2020, certain extended family members of citizens and permanent residents will be allowed to...

British Columbia immigration excluded 31 jobs in occupations impacted by coronavirus as it issued 450 invitations to apply in a new provincial draw. The September 29 draw saw British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program officials exclude 31 occupations where a high-volume of applicants have recently been approved. Read More British Columbia Immigration Issues 74 Invitations Targeting 29 Tech Occupations British Columbia Immigration Invites 407,...