Manitoba stated that 50 of the 268 candidates invited had valid Express Entry IDs and job seeker validation codes.
For detailed requirements of all the streams featured in this draw, please see below.
What Were the Details of the Latest Manitoba Draw?
Stream
Sub-Stream
Letters of Advice to Apply
Score of Lowest Ranked Candidate
1) Skilled Workers in Manitoba
Close relative in Manitoba selection
148
609
2) International Education Stream
82
–
3) Skilled Workers Overseas
Strategic Recruitment Initiative
38
720
Video
How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream?
The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream (SWM) is based on the specific needs of Manitoba employers. SWM selects foreign-trained workers with the required skills and nominates them for Canada permanent residence. The stream prioritizes candidates with a strong attachment to Manitoba, with two pathways to Manitoba immigration.
a) Manitoba Work Experience Pathway
For applicants currently working in Manitoba on temporary work permits, through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or as international graduates from any province. Candidates do not need to be working in In-Demand Occupations.
b) Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway
For applicants from overseas with job offers from approved Manitoba employers.
How Do I Qualify For The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream?
The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream (SWO) includes both a dedicated Canada Express Entry Pathway and a direct provincial pathway.
It is aimed at international skilled workers with skills and training in Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Priority is given to applicants and spouses with close family connections, plus the language proficiency, training and experience to find jobs quickly.
a) Manitoba Express Entry Pathway
For international candidates eligible under another MPNP stream, who also meet Express Entry criteria and have an active Express Entry profile. Candidates need skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations, and a strong family connection to the province.
b) Human Capital Pathway
For international skilled workers with skills, training and experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. Candidates must demonstrate potential to find employment soon after they arrive in Manitoba.
What Are The Requirements For the International Education Stream?
The International Education Stream (IES) is dedicated to international graduates from Manitoba colleges and universities. Under IES, candidates are no longer required to work for six months in their field before applying for an MPNP nomination. It has three pathways:
1) Career Employment Pathway
Eligibility requirements include:
Completed a one-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution within three years of submission of application.
Have a full-time job offer in a Manitoba In-Demand occupation related to the completed degree
Resident of Manitoba
2) Graduate Internship Pathway
Masters and Doctoral degree holders who have completed Mitacs Accelerate or Elevate internships can apply for nomination through internships even without a job offer in the province.
3) Student Entrepreneur Pathway
Eligibility requirements include:
Completed a two-year or longer course from an eligible post-secondary Manitoba institution
Six months business operation experience in Manitoba
Resident of Manitoba since graduation.
No specific minimum personal net worth requirement
Statistic Canada has revealed the number of jobs up for grabs in Canada dropped yet again in September as more people in the country landed paying work.
“Job vacancies declined by 40,700, down 6.1 per cent, to 632,200 in September, continuing the steady downward trend from the peak of just over one million reached in May 2022,” the statistical and demographic services agency reports.
In its Payroll Employment, Earnings And Hours, And Job Vacancies, September 2023 report notes the bright spot in the employment picture is that the number of employees receiving pay and benefits from their employer bounced back somewhat in September.
The number of people holding down paying jobs rose by 22,100 or 0.1 per cent in September, following a decline of 16,500 in August and little change in July.
“The largest monthly increases in payroll employment were recorded in educational services, up by 17,800 or 1.2 per cent, and healthcare and social assistance, up by 16,600 or 0.7 per cent, followed by public administration, up by 7,200 or 0.6 per cent, construction, up by 1,900 or 0.2 per cent, utilities up by 1,700 or 1.3 per cent, and management of companies and enterprises up by 1,000 or 0.8 per cent.”
The sectors which shed workers in September included accommodation and food services were 5,300 people lost their jobs, the retail trade which fired 4,100 workers, the information and cultural industries that shed 2,600 employees, the wholesale trade sector that cut 1,700 workers and the real estate and rental and leasing sectors that reduced their workforce by 500 people.
The remaining nine sectors were little changed in September.
“The job vacancy rate, which corresponds to the number of vacant positions as a proportion of total labour demand, decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 3.6 per cent in September, the lowest level since January 2021,” reports Statistics Canada.
Job vacancies fell in four sectors: accommodation and food services, construction, finance and insurance, and public administration but rose in educational services and information and the cultural industries.
Across the country, Ontario saw the greatest drop in job vacancies.
“In Alberta, the number of vacancies fell by 6,500 to 81,600 in September, almost offsetting the increase in August,” reports Statistics Canada. “Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia also reported fewer job vacancies in September.
“Meanwhile, job vacancies increased in Manitoba and Prince Edward Island. There was little change in the number of vacancies in the other four provinces in September.”
Foreign nationals can gain their permanent residency in Canada by immigrating through the country’s many economic immigration programs.
PNPs Offer Route To Economic Immigration For Skilled Workers
Candidates’ profiles then are ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranked candidates will be considered for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a full application and pay processing fees, within a delay of 90-days.
Through a network of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can also nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada when they have the specific skills required by local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.
The Global Talent Stream (GTS), a part of the TFWP, can under normal processing situations lead to the granting of Canadian work permits and processing of visa applications within two weeks.
Many school boards in northeastern Ontario have experience a boost in enrolment this fall thanks to immigration. This shift is unprecedented to say the least, owing to the decades-long decrease in student numbers at schools in the region.
Northeastern Ontario’s education system was centered around the thousands of children during the peak of the baby boom, when the region in question was extensively involved in mines and mills.
With circumstances having changed since then, schools had started putting locks on their doors at alarmingly increasing rates.
This changed in the fall of 2023, however, with many school boards experiencing a reversal of the aforementioned trend. The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board, for example, has reported 180 more students than the preceding year.
Education director Danny Viotto says that there is a need for more staff and renovations, but that they are “excited, because this hasn’t happened in several years.”
Other school boards in the region are experiencing a similar shift. The Rainbow District School Board reported a student body population of 14,285 (up 250 from 2022), and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board says that it has 188 more school desks this year, 134 of which are for elementary students.
The Near North District School Board has 34 more students, with a 10,044-strong student body this fall.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
Foreign workers, international students, and others with the right skills can immigrate to Ontario through OINP, which is the province’s economic immigration program in partnership with the Government of Canada through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The program identifies and nominates those people for Canada permanent residence (PR) who have the skills that the provincial economy requires.
It uses two intake systems to manage applications. Before applying for the program, applicants must register in either the Expression of Interest system or the Express Entry system to let OINP know about their wish to receive an invitation to apply.
There are nine OINP streams candidates may qualify for.
Candidates with a job offer in Ontario can apply to:
Foreign Worker Stream
International Student Stream
In-Demand Skills Stream
Watch video:
Candidates with a Master’s or PhD from an Ontario university can apply to:
Masters Graduate Stream
PhD Graduate Stream
Candidates who are foreign entrepreneurs can apply to:
Candidates with required skills and experience can apply through the following Express Entry streams:
Human Capital Priorities Stream
Skilled Trades Stream
French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
To receive an ITA or notification of interest through one of the Expression of Interest streams, applicants must first register in the Expression of Interest system and receive an ITA.
To receive an ITA or notification of interest through one of the Federal EE streams, candidates must first register in the EE system and receive a notification of interest before applying.
E-filing changes: My Ontario Integration
It announced on November 10, 2023, that Ontario changed the way the OINP e-Filing portal is accessed by clients. If they have an existing application or expression of interest with the OINP, they will need to migrate their One-key account to a My Ontario account starting November 12, 2023.
As the rate of inflation slows and many of them are looking to hire more staff, business owners in Canada are bullish about their prospects over the coming year.
“When asked about their firm’s current state, eight in ten, 80 per cent, of business leaders describe their business as being in growth mode,” reports Kyle Braid, an Ipsos senior vice president.
“Looking to the future, three-quarters, 76 per cent, of business leaders are optimistic about their business performance in the next five years. Two thirds, 67 per cent, of Canadian business leaders also believe that their business is doing better compared to other businesses in their industry.”
That optimism from business leaders comes despite a slowdown in job growth, the housing crisis, and the GDP’s rate of growth falling flat.
According to Statistics Canada, 65.9 per cent of businesses reported being either very optimistic or somewhat optimistic about their future outlook over the next 12 months, virtually unchanged from the third quarter and 15.7 per cent of businesses expected their sales of goods and services offered to increase over the next three months.
Foreign investors who share that business optimism can apply for permanent residence in Canada through the country’s Start-Up Visa (SUV) program.
The SUV, which began as a five-year pilot program in 2013, was made permanent in 2018 and has launched some 200 start-ups, including 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.
Under the SUV, entrepreneurs who want to benefit by starting businesses in Canada can get their Canadian permanent residence.
A designated angel investor group must invest at least $75,000 into the qualifying business. Candidates can also qualify with two or more investments from angel investor groups totaling $75,000.
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 totaling $200,000.
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.
SUV Applicants Must Have A Qualifying Business
That’s usually done with the help of business consultants in Canada’s start-up ecosystem and experienced corporate business immigration lawyers who can ensure a start-up’s business plan meets all industry-required terms and conditions.
Candidates to the SUV program can initially come to Canada on a work permit supported by their designated Canadian investor before qualifying for permanent residence once their business is up and running.
Investing and the development of the business is 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.
The basic government-imposed candidate eligibility requirements for the SUV are:
sufficient unencumbered, available and transferable settlement funds to meet settlement funding, and;
proficiency in English or French at the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark level 5. However, it frequently occurs that higher levels of English are needed to meet due diligence requirements imposed by designated entities.
Ottawa does not give financial support to new SUV immigrants.
When candidates apply, they need to give a proof they have the money to support themselves and their dependents in Canada. This money cannot be borrowed.
The amount needed depends on the size of the candidate’s family.
Settlement Funds Needed Under Start-Up Visa Program
Number of family members
Funds required
1
$13,757
2
$17,127
3
$21,055
4
$25,564
5
$28,994
6
$32,700
7
$36,407
Each additional family member
$3,706
In the past few years, the SUV’s rapid access to permanent residency has made it surge in popularity.
By the end of September, Canada had welcomed 800 new permanent residents through the SUV this year, putting the country on track – if the current levels of SUV immigration continue through to the end of the year – for up to 1,067 new permanent residents to settle in the country under the SUV by the end of 2023.
That level of SUV immigration would be 78.6 per cent higher than the 575 new permanent residents who immigrated to Canada under that program in 2022.
A November 16 draw saw invitations issued in four different categories.
A general draw, which included tech occupations, saw 80 invitations issued through five BC PNP streams for skilled workers and international graduates. Minimum scores ranged from 94 to 116 points.
In a further targeted draw, 49 invitations were issued to skilled workers and international graduates scoring at least 60 points in a draw targeting Early Childhood Educators and Assistants under NOC 42202.
Construction workers, recently added as priority occupations for the BC PNP, received 27 invitations with a minimum score of 75.
A draw targeted at Healthcare workers saw 32 invitations issued to skilled workers and international graduates, also with a minimum score of 60 points.
The November 16 draw targeted candidates with a French language speaking ability of level 7 or higher on the Quebec proficiency scale in two sets of occupations.
Candidates and their spouse or common-law partner can score up to 1,320 points based on human capital and Quebec labour market factors.
What Are the Requirements for Quebec Expression of Interest?
The Quebec Expression of Interest points system involves points in two categories, with some including points for the spouse of common law partner of the principal candidate.
Human capital factors:
French language ability.
French and English combined.
Age.
Work experience.
Education.
Quebec labour market factors:
Work experience in a field with a labour shortage.
Qualifications in one of Quebec’s areas of training.
Are you a candidate with skills and qualifications in one of Canada’s 82 jobs for occupation-specific Express Entry draws? We want to help you move to Canada. Please submit your CV here.
Canada’s immigration levels are set at a historic high of nearly 500,000 per year from 2024 to 2026.
Under these targets, economic growth takes priority, as immigrants are acknowledged by Ottawa to play an important role in the labor market.
Newcomers will ensure that the country has the skills needed to meet initiatives in sustainability, transitioning to a green (net-zero) and digital economy, and making sure that labor force gaps in critical sectors (such as health, STEM, trades, transport, and agriculture) are not a barrier to the success and expansion of Canadian businesses.
Since last year, the province’s oil and agricultural have been boosting the economy and creating jobs for both Canadians and skilled foreign workers and those in skilled trades. What’s more – the province says that it is expects its economy to continue to perform strongly in the coming months and years.
Real GDP is expected to rise by three percent this year, which is up 0.2 percent from the Budget 2023’s estimation, as per the 2023-24 First Quarter Fiscal Update and Economic Statement. This allows the province to be a nation-wide leader in economic growth.
“Although risks and uncertainty persist due to rising interest rates high consumer prices and other factors, Alberta’s economy remains well-positioned to withstand any challenges that arise,” read a Government of Alberta media release.
Alberta Accepts the Fourth-Most Immigrants of all Canadian Provinces and Territories
The main driver for the province’s economic optimism is population growth.
Alberta boasts one of the highest number of newcomers in Canada. In fact, in 2022, the province accepted the fourth-most immigrants out of any Canadian province or territory, at 52,573.
It does so through one of many immigration pathways, including either the federal Express Entry programs that tie into the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), or the province’s own economic immigration programs, including the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) Accelerated Tech Pathway, which offers a fast-track for candidates holding job offers in eligible tech occupations.
It thus becomes vital to take note of the jobs that are most in demand in the province right now. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the most attractive professions in Calgary, which has one of the highest proportion of immigrants in its population.
1. Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 31301)
These health professionals are responsible for providing direct nursing care to patients, delivering health education programs, and providing consultative services related to issues that are relevant to the practice of nursing.
Nurses are employed in a multitude of settings, including but not limited to hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centers, doctors’ offices, clinics, community agencies, companies, private homes, and public and private organizations. They may also choose to be self-employed.
As of November 2023, there are 330 job listings on the Indeed website for “nurses” in Calgary, Alberta. Job Bank, the federal government’s job-hunting website, gives five stars, its highest rating, for nurses’ job prospects in Alberta for the next three years.
This occupation comes with a median hourly wage of $45 per hour in Alberta, according to Job Bank data.
2. Transport truck drivers (NOC 73300)
Transport truck drivers are responsible for driving straight trucks or tractor-trailers to transport freight. Long-haul truck drivers operate heavy trucks over urban, interurban, provincial, and international routes. This includes duties such as planning trip logistics and obtaining required documentation to transport goods, and performing pre-trip, en route, and post-trip inspection of vehicle systems, equipment, and accessories.
Short-haul drivers and local transport truck drivers, on the other hand, operate over urban and short interurban routes. They may drive special purpose trucks such as tow trucks, dump trucks, hydrovac trucks or cement mixing trucks.
Truck drivers are employed by transportation, manufacturing, distribution, and moving companies, or may chose to be self-employed. In Alberta, as per the Job Bank, they have a median hourly wage of $28, which is the above the national average of $24.
3. Retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 60020)
Business development – particularly when the economy is slowing down – is an extremely in-demand skill, making sales managers extremely valuable professionals in the Calgary economy.
Retail and wholesale trade managers are responsible for planning, directing, and evaluating the operations of businesses that sell goods or services at the retail/wholesale level.
“With experience and a proven track record, they can earn as much as $175,000 annually,” notes Randstad. “They close deals, develop new client relationships and bring revenue in, which is why companies are willing to pay a premium for the best talent.”
They work at companies that sell products for direct and personal consumption. Their duties include, but are not limited to:
Managing inventory
Studying market research and trends to learn about consumer demand, potential sales volumes and their competition
Learning about their customers to understand what items would sell best
Developing and carrying out marketing and merchandising plans
Overseeing health and safety policies
Watch Video
4. Accounting and related clerks (NOC 14200)
Individuals working in this profession calculate, prepare, and process bills, invoices, accounts payable and receivable, budgets, and other financial records as per established procedures.
Both private and public sectors employ them.
Some or all of the following duties are performed by them:
Calculating, preparing, and issuing documents pertaining to accounts such as bills, invoices, inventory reports, account statements, and other financial statements using computerized and manual systems.
Coding, totaling, batching, entering, verifying and reconciling transactions such as accounts payable and receivable, payroll, purchase orders, cheques, invoices, cheque requisitions, and bank statements in a ledger or computer system
Compiling budget data and documents based on estimated revenues and expenses and previous budgets
Preparing period or cost statements or reports
373 jobs for this profession are listed on Indeed for Calgary.
5. Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401)
These mechanics repair, troubleshoot, adjust, overhaul, and maintain mobile heavy-duty construction equipment. Some of them specialize in hydraulic-operated transmissions and attachments, drive trains, tracked vehicle suspensions and steering, as per Careers in Construction.
Work conditions usually involve construction site or construction company maintenance facility work. Wages for this profession vary from $25 to $55 in Alberta.
6. Software developers and programmers (NOC 21232)
The IT professionals falling in this bracket design, write, and test code for new systems and software to ensure efficiency. They also create the foundations for operative systems and run diagnostic programs to certify effectiveness. They are employed in computer software, computer and video game development firms, IT consulting firms, and IT units in public and private sectors.
Calgary is a hot-spot for skilled foreign workers seeking employment in this field, as the city’s tech sector is booming these days with investment pouring in and tech companies hungry for talent.
“This is one of the top jobs in part because businesses of all types and sizes need developers to create app solutions, develop or maintain in-house software or help implement cloud or other technologies,” notes Randstad.
“One of the lessons learned during COVID-19 lockdowns in recent years was that technology could make or break a business. Companies that seamlessly transitioned into remote work environments often fared better. Add to that the growing need to rely on data and automations to remain competitive, and it’s no wonder so many businesses are on the hunt for skilled developers.”
Wages for software developers are $39.83 in Alberta, with a high-end potential of $64.90 per hour.
7. General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102)
Working in an occupation that needs no introduction, family physicians and GPs diagnose and treat disease, physiological disorders, and injuries. They are the primary contact and providers of continuous care toward patients’ health management. They are usually employed in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics.
The employment requirements are:
A bachelor’s degree
or
In Quebec, completion of a college program and one year of pre-medicine university studies is usually required.
Graduation from an approved medical school
and
Two to three years of family medicine residency training are required.
Completion of the qualifying examinations of the Medical Council of Canada
and
Licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.
The average annual salary for medical professionals, as per Indeed, is $261,522. With some additional training, it is possible to become specialized, in which case salaries in Canada increase even further.
8. Construction trades helpers and laborers (NOC 75110)
Construction trades helpers and laborers are involved in assisting skilled tradespeople and performing laboring activities at construction sites, quarries, and surface mines. Their employers are usually construction companies, trade and labor contractors, and surface mine and quarry operators.
As per the NOC 2021 Version 1.0 web page, the employment requirements for this profession are:
Some experience as a general construction labourer for construction trade helpers.
Some pipeline workers, such as stabbers, mandrel operators and pre-heater tenders, usually require one season of experience in oil and gas pipeline construction.
Flagmen/women may require a traffic control certificate.
Riggers and slingers may require a rigging certificate.
On-the-job training may be provided.
There is a huge requirement for individuals in this sector, especially owing to Canada’s housing shortage.
9. Human resources managers (NOC 10011)
HR Managers are mainly in charge of planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and evaluating the operations of HR and personnel departments, and developing and implementing policies, programs, and procedures regarding HR planning, recruitment, collective bargaining, training and development, occupation classification and pay and benefit administration.
They find employment throughout the private and public sectors, and at extremely competitive salaries too. Glassdoor rates their base pay range as $77k to $108k a year, with an average additional cash compensation of $10,482.
10. Cooks (NOC 63200)
Cooks prepare and cook a variety of foods, and are employed in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and other healthcare institutions, central food commissaries, educational institutions, etc. They are also employed on ships and construction and logging campsites. The hospitality sector’s unprecedented labor shortage has bolstered chances for these professionals to find employment in Calgary.
It should be noted, however, that cooks and chefs do not fall under the same category, with the latter occupational title being categorized as NOC 62200.
Indeed shows 1,114 jobs for cooks in Calgary, Alberta, in November 2023.
Canada is to spend $7 million on a new refugee reception centre for more streamlined services and supports as well as additional shelter spaces for asylum seekers in the Peel region which includes Brampton, Mississauga, and Caledon.
The added funding for refugees on the outskirts of Toronto comes in the wake of a war of words between Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Immigration Minister Marc Miller over the paucity of places for refugees to live in Canada’s biggest city.
“We need more space and resources for this crisis, including the armouries, a reception centre and real funding to support the 5,100 – and growing – refugees the city is supporting,” Chow reportedly said earlier this month.
In a statement released Friday, the immigration minister expressed sympathy for challenges facing the provinces and municipalities when it comes to housing refugees.
“We are going to continue to work closely with them to find solutions,” Miller promised.
“Everyone deserves the basic right to a safe place to stay and this funding is going to significantly help alleviate the pressures in this region. We are confident that with full engagement from all levels of government, we can develop longer-term options for interim housing outside of the current situation.”
Through the Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP), the federal government has provided almost $700 million to provinces and municipalities to address extraordinary housing pressures related to the increased volumes of asylum claimants since 2017. Earlier this year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced an extension of IHAP with additional funding of $212 million.
Chris Fonseca, the acting mayor of Mississauga, welcomed the new funding and construction of the reception centre, particularly in view of the arrival of the cold winter months.
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“With temperatures dropping, today’s announcement comes at a critical time and will ensure those in need have a safe and warm roof over their heads as we enter the winter months,” said Fonseca.
Ottawa has also procured temporary accommodations for short-term housing to alleviate the pressure on local shelters amid growing demand. The federal government has nearly 3,800 temporary rooms across Canada providing housing for over 7,000 asylum claimants.
The country, however, is currently welcoming almost seven times as many new permanent residents annually through its refugee immigration programs.
Canada Welcomed 46,520 Refugees Last Year And Poised To Receive Even More This Year
The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals the country welcomed 46,520 new permanent residents through refugee immigration programs last year and is poised to have welcomed another 47,053, or 1.1 per cent more, by the end of this year.
By the end of September, IRCC data indicates 35,290 refugees had become new permanent residents of Canada this year and almost 43 per cent of those refugees, or 15,160 of them, had settled in Ontario.
Nando Iannicca, regional chair of the Peel Region, called Ottawa’s new funding and additional shelter for refugees “vital”.
“While the affordable housing crisis has put a major strain on our ability to offer shelter to our residents and asylum claimants fleeing dangerous circumstances, today’s announcement is encouraging,” said Iannicca.
“This reception centre is vital for asylum claimants and will help ease the capacity burdens of Peel’s emergency shelters.”
Kamal Khera, Canada’s minister of diversity, inclusion and persons with disabilities, echoed those sentiments, describing the situation for refugees as a crisis.
“As winter approaches, and with a global migration crisis, it is even more important to ensure people are kept safe,” said Khera.
“This new reception centre will save lives and alleviate pressure on the Region of Peel. There is no simple answer but we are confident that with full engagement from all levels of government we can implement real long-term, sustainable and compassionate measures to ensure that the most vulnerable newcomers to Canada have a roof over their heads.”
The number of Western Canada employers who want to hire overseas skilled workers for their businesses has risen in 2023.
Statistics provided by Employment and Social Development Canada reveal that as of November 5, there has been a 39 per cent nationwide increase in the number of LMIA applications created, compared to roughly the same time period from 2022.
Western Canada saw an even more pronounced increase of 83 per cent. Yukon, on the other hand, was the only province/territory to see a small application decrease this year, as per CBC News’ Madeleine Cummings.
The year-over-year percentage difference in the number of LMIA applications created by Nunavut was the highest of all provinces or territories, at 535.7. This was followed by Northwest Territories (115.6), Manitoba (103.3), and Saskatchewan (103.2).
Yukon had a -0.9 year-over-year percentage difference in the number of LMIA applications it created, while Prince Edward Island had a small increase of 6.5.
LMIA processing times have been particularly sluggish. Federal data shows Alberta leads the way for the longest average LMIA processing time in Canada, but a spokesperson asserted that is because the province has a smaller share of applications in priority processing streams.
The average year-to-date processing time for LMIA (in business days) is – after Alberta – highest in Manitoba (53 days), NWT (50.3 days), and Saskatchewan (46.7 days).
CBC News reported that only four percent of Albertan LMIA applications are in agriculture and seasonal agriculture worker program streams, when compared to 11 percent for Ontario and 18 percent for Quebec.
Resultantly, “the average processing time for Alberta is higher than for provinces with a greater share of priority-stream files,” according to Employment and Social Development Canada spokesperson Maja Stefanovska.
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However, a multitude of efforts towards modernizing the TFW program have been launched since 2022, Stefanovska added.
Files are being distributed across the entire national network (allowing applications from high-demand provinces such as Alberta to be processed in other provinces).
The program has also witnessed a move away from paper applications, reducing data-entry work for Service Canada.
Repeated employers who have been compliant with the program’s rules have also been able to apply more simply through the Recognized Employer Pilot, which was launched in August.
The Recognized Employer Pilot (REP)
REP is a three-year pilot, wherein the following employers are offered a streamlined approach:
Those who regularly access the TFWP to fill in-demand positions from the REP occupations list
Those who meet the highest standards for working and living conditions and worker protection
Recognized employers are able to benefit from validity periods lasting up to 36 months for LMIA applications that receive a positive decision. They can additionally access a simplified LMIA application when hiring more workers.
REP will maintain existing worker protections while also providing:
Simpler and more predictable access to labor for employers, and
More flexibility for the Canada labor market
Service Canada conducts a “rigorous, upfront assessment” of an employer’s LMIA application to determine their eligibility for the REP.
Employers may be eligible if:
They have received at least three positive LMIA decisions in the past five years to hire TFWs for positions on the REP occupations list
They meet the highest working condition, living condition, and worker protection standards, as demonstrated through their history with the TFWP.
They agree to adhere to the regular TFWP requirements
REP works in two phases:
Phase 1: Those looking to fill positions on the Phase 1 occupations list can apply starting in September 2023
Phase 2: Those aiming at this phase can start applying in January 2023.
Service Canada will cease acceptance of REP applications in September 2024. However, employers enrolled in the REP can continue submitting requests for positions on the REP occupations list using a simplified LMIA.
Use of the online application process will then become mandatory for employers starting Jan. 11, except for agricultural employers and homecare providers.
Quebec Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette says the online submission of job offers for validation will streamline and speed up the process for employers.
“The electronic transmission of requests represents a significant improvement which will offer greater flexibility and increased efficiency,” she said. “Employers will be able to benefit from non-identifying Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) which will give them better predictability of their needs and speed up their procedures.”
With this new process, employers will be able to submit an LMIA without having to identify the actual employee, allowing them to actively recruit foreign workers at the same time as the LMIA is being processed and saving them time.
Quebec’s immigration department, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), is promising employers the online platform will be secure and allow them to transmit their requests and documents, pay the required fees, communicate with the department and check up on the progress of their applications.
Employers will no longer receive a paper copy of the Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from workers, only a CAQ letter of attestation which will be sent to them via their online profile.
Last year, Quebec welcomed a record-breaking 68,705 new permanent residents as well as 89,765 temporary foreign workers through the International Mobility Program (IMP) and TFWP, reveals the IRCC data.
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Quebec welcomed a record-breaking 51,260 foreign nationals through the IMP last year, up almost 18.4 per cent from the 43,295 in 2021. The province also welcomed a record-breaking 38,505 foreign nationals through the TFWP last year, up 27 per cent from the 30,310 TFWP workers in 2021.
The TFWP offers work permits for candidates whose employers obtain a positive LMIA which confirms there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job at hand and that no Canadian worker is available to do the job.
Quebec Skilled Worker Program Requires Applicants To Get A Quebec Selection Certificate
IMP work permits do not require a positive LMIA. They do require the employer to submit an employment offer under their employer portal.
Under the Quebec Skilled Worker program, foreign nationals can live and work in the francophone province provided they hold a Quebec Selection Certificate and submit a complete, online permanent residence application, including police certificates.
Those who cannot apply online and require accommodations, including for a disability, can ask for the application in another format such as paper, braille or large print.
Applicants need to provide one photograph for each person on their application and their fingerprints. All biometric fees must be paid when submitting the application.
Fees to be paid will include:
processing fees for the applicant and anyone included on the application;
the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF);
biometrics, and;
third-party fees.
Depending on the applicant’s situation, he or she may also need to pay third parties for:
