Canada’s population grew faster in 2008 due to an increase in net international migration

As of October 1, 2008, Canada's population was estimated at 33,441,300, up 335,900 people, or one per cent, from January 1, 2008. All provinces and territories, except Northwest Territories, recorded population increase but demographic growth remained higher in Western Canada.

Based on 2006 Census counts, the Canadian Statistics Agency confirmed that this advance in population growth was mainly due to a rise in net international migration which, at 240,700, reached its highest level since the end of the 1980s.

This upward movement in net international migration was due to an increase in both the number of permanent and non-permanent residents.

Since the beginning of the year, Canada has received 194,600 new immigrants, 12,900 more than last year for the same period.

The number of non-permanent residents in Canada also rose by more than 79,500 from January to September. Higher net numbers of non-permanent residents were observed in almost every province and territory, especially in Quebec and in the four western provinces, where the levels topped 2008 highs.

The rise of net population inflows resulting from international migration from January to September 2008 has affected population dynamics in almost all regions of the country, except Northwest Territories. Every province saw their demographic growth increase compared with the same period of 2007.

However, demographic growth remained higher in Western Canada. Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon all had growth rates higher than the national level. East of Manitoba, only Prince Edward Island outpaced the national level.

For a fourth consecutive quarter, Alberta led all the other provinces in demographic growth, posting a rate of 0.72 per cent, nearly twice the national rate. The province's growth was mainly attributable to a resurgence in interprovincial migration and a strong increase in its number of non-permanent residents. Alberta's rate of growth in non-permanent residents has been the highest of all the provinces since the fourth quarter of 2006.

Saskatchewan had the highest net interprovincial migration rate in Canada in the third quarter of 2008. Its population has been growing at a faster rate than the national level since the second quarter of 2007.

Manitoba and British Columbia both posted demographic growth above the national level in 2008. Manitoba posted its highest quarterly increase between April and July since the third quarter of 1982.

In Eastern Canada, all Atlantic provinces recorded population increases for a second consecutive quarter. Prince Edward Island continued to lead the region in demographic growth with an increase of 0.67 per cent, mainly the result of the highest net international migration rate in Canada. In the third quarter of 2008, the population of Newfoundland and Labrador experienced its highest growth rate since the second quarter of 1991, primarily as a result of strong net interprovincial migration.

For a fourth quarter in a row, Ontario's demographic growth, +0.37 per cent, was below the national level, even though the province registered its lowest net outflow in interprovincial migration since the first quarter of 2007.

Quebec's demographic growth was its highest since the second quarter of 1991. An increasing number of births and a third-quarter record in net international migration more than offset the province's large net outflow in interprovincial migration.

Yukon led the northern territories in demographic growth for a third consecutive quarter. Since the beginning of 2008, Yukon has been the only territory with net inflows in both interprovincial and international migration.

Canada's rate of natural increase in 2008 remained relatively stable compared with the same period of 2007, with the number of births and deaths increasing in a similar fashion.

Canada invests in employment programs to facilitate social participation of newcomers and unemployed workers

To help newcomers participate in the workforce and contribute to their communities, government of Canada delivers necessary training, skills and opportunities in partnership with communities and stakeholders, and provides them essential funding to support these initiatives.

Now to help 3,700 newcomers to Canada, unemployed workers aged 45 or older aiming to re-enter the workforce, as well as assist employers in addressing local skills shortages in Lower Mainland area of British Columbia, federal government has initiated three S.U.C.C.E.S.S. projects.

One project, Tomorrow’s Workplace, aims to generate an understanding of skills shortages issues among employers and involve them in creating solutions by offering employer outreach and networking opportunities. This project is delivered through the Labour Market Partnerships program.

The Employment Resource Centre project will enable S.U.C.C.E.S.S. to help unemployed recent immigrants, who are legally entitled to work in Canada, prepare for and find employment through access to a self-serve resource centre, workshops, and the development of individual work plans. Through the Experience for Hire project, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. will provide unemployed workers aged 45 or older with employment counseling on labour market trends, job search techniques and career goals that will allow them to obtain employment or become self-employed. Both of these projects are delivered through the Employment Assistance Services program.

Established in 1973 and incorporated in 1974 as a non-profit charitable organization for the purpose of promoting the well-being of Canadians and immigrants, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is now a multi-service, multicultural immigrant serving agency in British Columbia. With a network of 11 branches in Lower Mainland area, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is delivering program in culturally sensitive ways to meet the needs of new immigrants and unemployed workers. Approximately 70 per cent of the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. annual operating fund comes from the three levels of government. In 1979, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. became a member of the United Way of the Lower Mainland. In 1994, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. received the Citation for Citizenship Award for its contribution to new immigrants’ settlement and integration. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. was accredited by the Council on Accreditation in January 2004 for the achievement of best practice standards.

Canada announces substantial increase in annual settlement funding to provinces and territories other than Ontario and Quebec

To help newcomers settle, adapt and integrate into Canadian society, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), in partnership with provinces, territories and settlement providers, has been delivering programs and services to migrants of more than 40 nationalities for over 16 years, and providing stakeholders necessary funding to support these initiatives.

To continue this collaboration, CIC has released details of federal annual funding to its primary partners to help increase the uptake of immigrant settlement programs in the coming year.

According to this annual support, provinces and territories, other than Ontario and Quebec, will be allocated more than $240 million in federal funding during the financial year 2009-10, which represents an increase of over $40 million, or more than 20 per cent, over the previous year.

This annual allocation is part of CIC’s five-years, $1.4 billion "additional settlement funding package" to provinces and territories, other than Quebec, since 2006-07, and used for the development and continuation of important programs and services, such as language training and employment services, that help newcomers integrate and succeed in Canada.

The allocations for 2009-10 also reflect a funding formula that is based on the number of newcomers, and which gives additional weight for refugees to account for their unique settlement needs. For example, the Prince Edward Island will be receiving nearly $2 million in funding which represents an increase of 43 per cent over the previous year, while British Columbia will be receiving more than $120 million in funding but it represents an increase of only 13 per cent over the previous year. The formula also provides a capacity-building amount for each jurisdiction, recognizing that jurisdictions are at different places in terms of settlement service provision.

Funding for Ontario is provided under the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA). Through this Agreement, the Government of Canada has increased funding for Ontario by a total of $920 million over five years. This covers basic settlement services, enhanced language training, portal and administration costs.

For Quebec, the Canada-Quebec Accord (CQA) provides the government of Quebec with an annual grant, the amount of which is calculated using a formula set out in the Accord. Quebec has responsibility for all settlement services. For 2009-10, the estimated amount is $234.2 million.

Nova Scotia unveils a new business loan program to help newcomers start, expand or buy small businesses

Nova Scotia has introduced a simplified business loan program for newcomers to the province who wish to establish their own small businesses and generate jobs.

The new Immigrant Small Business Financing Program (ISBFP) is a joint initiative of the Nova Scotia Cooperative Council, the Credit Union Council of Nova Scotia, local Credit Unions, the Department of Economic Development and the Office of Immigration. Administered by the Nova Scotia Cooperative Council, the pilot project will be available solely through credit unions across Nova Scotia to offer up to $150,000 loan to immigrants, who have lived in Nova Scotia for less than five years, to help start, expand or buy a small business.

Local credit unions will begin taking applications for this purpose in mid of January next year.

This simplified approach will not only help ensure immigrant entrepreneurs have the opportunity to become small business owners in Nova Scotia and generate jobs, but also help getting business loans in a timely manner, which is usually difficult in Canada as banks and other lending institutions generally do not recognize international credit history of many new immigrants.

"Access to economic opportunities are key factors in a new immigrant's decision to stay or leave the province," said Immigration Minister Len Goucher. "By setting up businesses, new immigrants will also establish stronger roots in local communities, roots that will help newcomers integrate and, ultimately, settle in Nova Scotia."

To support this business loan program, department of Economic Development will invest $2 million in a loan guarantee, which will be reviewed annually, while the Office of Immigration will provide $100,000 a year for operating and other costs, such as business counselling, administration, technical services and legal costs.

The ISBFP is an extension of the existing Small Business Financing Program, which is also administered by the Nova Scotia Enterprises Cooperative and delivered through credit unions. It has helped more than 350 companies create and maintain 2,300 jobs.

"We've helped establish new businesses and empower entrepreneurs with the support they need to create employment for themselves and others," says Dianne Kelderman, chief executive officer of the Nova Scotia Cooperative Council. "We have had great success and now, with a program for immigrant entrepreneurs, we see the opportunity for even greater growth."

In Nova Scotia, there are more than 30,000 small businesses, representing 92 per cent of all businesses in the province. In 2007, more than 150 newcomers interested in starting a new business sought assistance from the Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association.

Canada's electricity sector needs to hire 25,000 engineers and skilled trades people within the next six years

A new report reveals that Canada’s electricity industry is facing serious labor shortages that could power down an industry which fulfills Canada’s energy demands and employs some 100,000 people.

In its current release of workforce planning report, Canada’s Electricity Sector Council (ESC) has showed that electricity industry faces an immediate shortfall of 1,300 positions every year for the next three years and needs to replace nearly 30 percent of industry positions, or approximately 25,000 people within the next six years, to meet Canada's energy demands – currently rising by one percent each year. More importantly, the rate of workforce retirement will reach 29 per cent within the next four years alone, especially the retirement of transmission system workers is expected to jump more than sevenfold next year and nine fold by 2012.

Report warned that an aging workforce, coupled with low recruiting numbers and a continual increase in demand from domestic and export markets, are converging to create a problem that could impact the supply, transmission and distribution of power in Canada.

"Retirements are likely going to stay high for another four to five years and then take another couple of years to stabilize," says Damon Rondeau, a human resource planner at Manitoba Hydro and chair of the ESC's labor market information project's steering committee. "Part of the problem is the traditionally stable nature of the electricity industry, a long-service, low-turnover segment of the economy. The entire electricity sector grew substantially in the 1960s and 1970s in response to growth in the Canadian economy and these people are all retiring now."

"We do forecast some (more) retirements," says Erin Kurchina, vice-president of human resources for Calgary-based energy distribution, supply and service company Enmax. "They're not excessive and we've been able to manage our staffing levels through redeployments and the succession planning (for all staffing levels) that we've done. We've also partnered with the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society to help us explore the recruitment of international immigrants."

The workforce planning report suggests that the industry must to do a better job promoting itself as a career path at a time when enrolment in electrical engineering programs is falling and competition for skills from other industries is rising. This is includes working more closely with post-secondary institutions to develop programs relevant to the sector. An emphasis on recruiting foreign-trained workers and underemployed groups, such as women and visible minorities, would also help alleviate the crunch, it recommended.

The ESC is also working on a number of initiatives to ensure that the sector has enough employees to meet the retirement crunch. For example, it's partnering with associations, labor organizations and educators in the energy sector and has provincial working groups in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia working directly with the energy ministries in each of those provinces. The ESC’s Electricity First work program also provides wage subsidies to small and medium-size companies that offer employment to recent engineering and technical graduates. It's further working to create a national HR strategy and is developing sector-specific online tools, such as templates and tracking forms, to help organizations prepare for the radical demographic shift in the electricity workforce.

The Electricity Sector Council is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada with support from participating sector communities of business, labor organizations, educators and stakeholder associations. The Council provides human resource and workplace development support to workers employed by the electricity, renewable energy industries and related cogeneration, energy efficiency, and manufacturing and service/consulting industries. Through its research and work with industry employers, the Council is resolving issues such as recruiting and retraining workers, facilitating school-to-work transitions and developing sector and career awareness strategies.

Canada announces new funding to help under-represented labor groups facing barriers to employment

Canadian federal government has announced new funding for an innovative employment program aimed at helping under-represented people prepare for jobs in high-demand occupations in the Surrey, a fast-growing urban area in the British Columbia with a diverse population and increasing labor requirements.

This program will be delivered through the Surrey Community Services Society (SCSS), which is a not-for-profit, accredited organization offering case-management services for the past nine years, and has been delivering a variety of other successful employment programs since 1985.

SCSS will be provided $3.4 million in funding under the Government of Canada’s Employment Assistance Services (EAS) program to launch and run Whalley Employment Resource Centre project between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2010. During this period, the project will help almost 10,000 unemployed persons in under-represented labor groups, such as Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, youth and immigrant communities, and other people facing barriers to employment, to acquire the skills, knowledge and experience they need to obtain and maintain fulltime employment in specific high-demand occupations in retail, wholesale, trade and construction, information technology, recreation, professional and technical businesses.

"Canada is built on a promise of opportunity; the chance to work hard, raise a family and make a better life regardless of cultural background, gender, age, disability or official language," said Ms. Dona Cadman, MP for Surrey North. "In supporting this project, the Government of Canada is helping these participants share in that promise by removing barriers to finding employment."

Government of Canada’s EAS program provides funding to organizations that offer employment services to help clients re-enter the labor market. Funding for the EAS program was provided for in the March 2007 federal budget. All unemployed Canadians have access to a range of services under the EAS program. However, some EAS offerings are available only to clients who are eligible to receive Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, or who have recently been receiving EI benefits.

Employment Assistance Services include providing clients with information about the labor market, helping to prepare résumés, career-planning services, employment counselling, diagnostic assessment, help with job-search skills, job-finding clubs, and job-placement services.

Eligible recipients of EAS funding are businesses (including federal Crown corporations and provincial/territorial Crown corporations), organizations, individuals, public health and educational institutions, municipal governments, and band/tribal councils, as well as some provincial/territorial government departments and agencies. These entities act as employers or service coordinators under the program.

This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with Service Canada’s administration of its grants and contributions programs, and is subject to review under the Financial Administration Act.

Filipinos mark the highest rank in permanent residents and temporary workers combined in 2007

For the first time, the Philippines has become Canada's largest source in providing the highest number of permanent residents and temporary workers combined in 2007.

A recent analysis of Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) quarterly statistics on new permanent residents and foreign workers by the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS) showed that the Philippines has surpassed China and India by sending 19,064 immigrants and 15,254 temporary workers (total 34,318) to Canada in 2007.

The change in the Philippines’s ranking is mainly due to a significant rise in number of Filipino temporary workers in Canada between 2006 and 2007 that soared from 8,466 to 15,254. This over 90 per cent upsurge was the highest single year increase in the number of Filipino temporary workers in Canada since 1998. In 2007, the Philippines was positioned second within the top source countries for temporary foreign workers after the United States.

On the other hand, a 10 per cent decline in the permanent residents to Canada between 2005 and 2007 was reflected in the drop of number of immigrants entering Canada from major source countries. For example, immigration from China, still the top source, decreased by one-third between 2005 and 2007, dropping to a 10-year low, while immigration from India, the second-largest group, also dropped by 20 per cent in the same period. Amongst other significant declines in source countries were Pakistan which declined by over 20 per cent over the previous year. On the contrary, immigration from the Philippines, the third-largest group, gone up nearly 9 per cent over the same two year period and have more than doubled in the past decade. The Philippines has also been among the top five source countries for permanent residents for over 25 years.

Filipino immigrants have also showed the strongest labor market performance in a study of all immigrants who had landed in Canada between 2001 and 2006, compared with immigrants, aged 25 to 54 and born elsewhere in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia. The study used the results from the Labor Force Survey (LFS) that was made possible through a partnership with Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), CIC and Statistics Canada. It showed that in 2006, many very recent immigrants in the core working-age group (aged 25 to 54) had experienced some difficulties in the labor market, compared with the Canadian born. Only those born in Southeast Asia, particularly those from the Philippines, had unemployment rates, employment rates and participation rates more or less at par with the Canadian-born population of core working age. In fact, very recent Filipino-born immigrants had an unemployment rate of 5.4 per cent, which was only slightly higher than 4.9 per cent for the Canadian born.

At present, nearly half a million Filipinos living in Canada while most Filipino temporary workers are teachers, nurses and caregivers in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, of them two-thirds are women.

"Despite their numeric significance, Filipinos have a low profile in Canada. They are primarily focused on sending their salaries to their families back home," said Flordeliz Dandal, executive director of the Kababayan Community Centre in Toronto, a newcomer-settlement group. "They don't care about politics, and they don't yet have time to engage in Canadian political life unless they have been here a long time."

The Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan are especially interested in recruiting temporary foreign workers from the Philippines and have forged agreements with the Philippines government for this purpose.

Alberta has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippines government in October 2008 to help fill labor shortages in its oil and gas industry as well as construction sector for its infrastructure projects with 10,000 highly skilled Filipino workers and professionals. British Columbia has also signed a two-year memorandum of understanding with the Philippine government in January 2008 to help fill provincial labor shortages in the tourism, hospitality, retail, and construction sectors with skilled Filipino workers. British Columbia employers have also participated in the Province’s first ever job fair in the Philippines in October 2008, provided Filipinos with the opportunity to explore employment opportunities in British Columbia’s hospitality/tourism and transportation sectors. In 2008, Western Canada has recruited between 30,000 and 40,000 skilled Filipino workers.

Canada increases initial period of stay for NAFTA professional workers from US and Mexico

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has announced to increase the maximum validity of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) work permits for American and Mexican professionals seeking to work in Canada.

This change in key immigration rule will extend the initial period of admission for NAFTA professionals from one to three years before seeking readmission or obtaining an extension of stay. Eligible professionals may now be allowed to receive extensions of stay in increments of up to three years instead of the prior maximum period of stay of one year.

The Canadian NAFTA work permit is a visa category available to eligible Americans and Mexicans with at least a bachelor’s degree or appropriate professional credentials who work in certain qualified fields pursuant to the NAFTA, and have a pre-arranged employment in Canada in some relevant field or profession. However, a pre-arranged employment for this purpose does not require a Labor Market Opinion (LMO) from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC). This visa classification also does not allow for self-employment in Canada, even for those who otherwise meet the requirements of an eligible occupation.

In addition to the requirements stated in the provisions of NAFTA agreement, strict definitions of eligible occupations are also applied by immigration officials considering these work permits. Qualified professions for this visa classification identified within NAFTA include, but are not limited to, accountants, architects, systems analysts, engineers, attorneys, scientists, teachers, and many medical/allied professions such as dentists, dietitians, nutritionists, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, medical lab technologists and others.

Canada grants about 5,150 NAFTA work permits every year to the citizens of USA and Mexico. Permanent residents of these countries are not eligible to apply for Canadian NAFTA work permits.

Although the Canadian NAFTA work permits are not intended to assist in immigration to Canada, but as a matter of fact, a holder of a work permit issued under NAFTA may be able to obtain up to 15 points for Arranged Employment as an Independent Skilled Worker. The holders of such work permits may also benefit from Canadian Experience Class.

With the exception of the Investor and Trader categories of NAFTA provisions, cases of the professionals are processed exclusively at Canadian ports of entry, although some locales do allow for pre-approval of such cases (1-3 days delay).

This change in NAFTA work permit rule will not only ease administrative burdens and costs on North American workers but also expected to add extra practical flexibility for those U.S. and Mexican nationals who are seeking Canadian permanent residency. It will also benefit Canadian employers by increasing the amount of time NAFTA non-immigrants will be able to work for them before having to seek an extension of status. Spouses and unmarried minor children of NAFTA non-immigrants in their corresponding non-immigrant classifications will also benefit from the new regulation. This proposed rule would also increase such dependents’ maximum period of stay from one year to three years but they may not work.

"This extension, along with our Action Plan for Faster Immigration, will greatly benefit the Canadian economy by helping ensure greater continuity and stability for both employers and workers," said Minister Kenney. "In a time of economic uncertainty, highly skilled migrants encourage innovation and economic growth, making us more competitive economically."

The Canadian rule change follows a similar one made in October by U.S. authorities that allow Canadian engineers, computer scientists and other professionals to obtain three year work permits (TN) in America. Mexico is considering such a change.

Canada, the U.S. and Mexico agreed on labor mobility standards for 63 different professional occupations when NAFTA was negotiated in 1993, allowing professionals from those occupations to work in another NAFTA country without having to re-qualify under local certification standards. In all cases, a professional must have a firm job offer before going to work in the other country.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said on several occasions that he believes a shortage of skilled labor is the biggest single long-term challenge for Canadian policy-makers. After a survey of its member companies earlier this year, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, a trade organization, also says finding enough skilled labor should be one of Canada's top priorities.

Canada proposes improved opportunities for workers despite the current economic slowdown

To address the impact of global economic crisis on Canadians, the present Conservative government has presented a plan to stimulate the Canadian economy and to help workers and businesses in hard-pressed sectors such as manufacturing, the automotive industry and forestry.

Whereas the Economic and Fiscal Statement 2008 is basically a set of actions that government will undertake to strengthen Canada’s economic and financial fundamentals over the coming quarters, but this statement also announces a number of steps to improve the opportunities for workers and to encourage the full participation of immigrants and Aboriginals in the economy.

For example, it has been proposed that government will encourage the provincial premiers and territorial leaders to achieve their goal of amending the Agreement on Internal Trade by January 1, 2009 so as to achieve "full mobility for all Canadians" by April 1, 2009. Similarly, increasing labor market participation, especially of under-represented groups such as immigrants, continues to be a government priority. In particular, the government will seek opportunities to reach out to a growing Aboriginal population to match the demands created by resource development and the overall tightening of the national labor market over the next decade.

The government will also continue to explore ways to ensure the immigration program is aligned with labor market needs. These efforts will be in addition to Action Plan for Faster Immigration, which has been delivered recently and help improve the processing of immigration applications under the federal skilled worker category.

Efforts will also be made to improve the recognition of credentials that foreign workers bring with them, and for this purpose, it has been proposed that a comprehensive and consistent approach will be adopted across the country, starting with regulated professions where shortages are the most acute. Furthermore, efforts will also be done to attract top international students to Canada and to increase the uptake of immigrant settlement programs.

To improve the opportunities for workers, government is currently investing in education and training by providing long-term support for post-secondary education, introducing the new Canada Student Grant and modernizing the Canada Student Loans Program.

The government is also implementing a comprehensive labor market training architecture announced in Budget 2007, including the $3 billion over six years provided to provinces and territories for new Labor Market Agreements to address the gap in programming for those who currently do not qualify for training under the Employment Insurance (EI) Program.

Overall, the government has committed that it will continue to work in cooperation with the provinces and territories and Aboriginal leaders to reduce barriers to labour mobility, enhance skills development, and encourage the full participation of immigrants and Aboriginals in the economy despite the current economic slowdown.

Agreement between Canadian provinces and territories extends full labor mobility across Canada by April 2009

The Committee on Internal Trade (CIT), comprising Canada’s provincial/territorial labor and trade ministers, has finally approved full labor mobility pact that, effective April 1, 2009, will allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents to move freely and take advantage of job opportunities across Canada without going through province- or territory-specific accreditation and/or licensing process.

Negotiated between the provincial premiers and territorial leaders during their two-day annual "Council of the Federation" meeting in Quebec City this July, the new full labor mobility pact aimed to amend a 12-year-old Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) that was supposed to remove economic trade and labor mobility barriers between the provinces and territories.

"Freeing up the enormous talent and enterprise of British Columbians and all Canadians by maximizing labor mobility is critical to building our economic strength, particularly during challenging economic times," B.C. Premier Campbell said. "This is an important step forward, and we need to continue to work on removing similar barriers to trade and investment, so we have full trade and labor mobility across the country."

Because of different accreditation and licensing requirements across provinces and territories, it has been estimated an about 25 per cent of jobs (in healthcare and engineering sectors, for example) have serious mobility constraints in Canada. These province- or territory-specific accreditation and licensing processes are not only making inter-provincial labor mobility challenging but also barricading a most stimulating labor market developing.

Dozens of classifications of workers currently need to re-qualify when they cross provincial boundaries for work. British Columbia has more than 250 occupations that are regulated, from chartered accountants to lifeguards, midwives and welders.

At their next meeting in August 2009, the premiers and territorial leaders will sit again and work out to harmonize the different provincial requirements for job credentials.

However, a similar agreement is already exists between the governments of British Columbia and Alberta known as British Columbia – Alberta Trade, Investment, and Labor Mobility Agreement (TILMA), which essentially recognized education credentials in each province, allowing workers to move freely across the B.C.-Alberta boundary and work in either province.

The new full labor mobility pact has critics, who argue that such deals can restrict governments' ability to protect health and the environment. It is also unclear how the deal will apply in areas where there are significant differences in local practices, such as forestry.

Some professional organizations question how such a deal will work, as well.

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA), in a report last month, said it supports labour mobility generally, but raised several questions about what the deal will mean in practice. Some of its concerns highlight how many details remain to be worked out before the April 1, 2009 change. The CMA paper asks, for example, how provinces will deal with doctors working on restricted licences and whether it will undermine existing certification standards.

Saskatchewan communities receive $2.59 million in funding for immigrant settlement and integration services

To help newcomers settle, adapt and integrate into the province, the government of Saskatchewan, in partnership with community-based organizations and other agencies, has been delivering programs and services to migrants, and providing stakeholders necessary funding to support these initiatives.

Recently, the province has provided approximately $2.59 million in funding to support immigrant service providers across the province. Funding will support English language training and settlement services provided by organizations in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, the Battlefords, Lloydminster, Tisdale, Hudson Bay, Humboldt, Yorkton, Estevan, Weyburn, Gravelbourg, Swift Current and other surrounding communities. Funding will also support English language training provided by the Carlton Trail, Cumberland, Great Plains, Parkland, North West and Southeast Regional Colleges. Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies (SAISIA) and the provincial council of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress will also receive funding.

"As immigration to Saskatchewan increases, providing effective English training and integration services to immigrants will become increasingly vital to the strength of our communities and the prosperity of our province overall," Advanced Education, Employment and Labor Minister Rob Norris said. "This funding will help to ensure that newcomers to Saskatchewan have greater access to the supports they need, allowing them to participate more fully in the community and build their lives here."

Approximately 25 per cent (or $664,300) in funding will go to immigrant serving organizations in Regina: For English language training and labor market integration services, Regina Open Door Society, Beth Jacob Synagogue, Regina Immigrant Women Centre and the Regina Public School Division will receive approximately $318,600 for the 2008-09 fiscal year; Under the Saskatchewan Nominee Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Enhanced Assessment and Referrals Program (EARP), the Regina Open Door Society will also receive approximately $121,950; Under the Community Capacity Building Fund, the Beth Jacob Synagogue, Regina Immigrant Women Centre, L'Assembleé communautaire fransaskoise and the Regina Branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress will receive approximately $140,430 for 2008-09 to deliver settlement services; while remaining $83,320 will cover support for smaller projects, core funding to Regina Open Door Society, grants to Regina Immigrant Women Centre and Uganda Canadian Association of Saskatchewan, and the seven per cent lift to community-based organizations announced by the government in September 2008.

Approximately 35 per cent (or 894,500) in funding will go to immigrant serving organizations in Saskatoon: For English language training and labor market integration services, Saskatoon Open Door Society, Global Gathering Place, International Women of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Intercultural Association and the Saskatoon Branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress will receive approximately $378,000 for the 2008-09 fiscal year; Under the Saskatchewan Nominee Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Enhanced Assessment and Referrals Program (EARP), the Saskatoon Open Door Society will also receive approximately $114,460; Under the Community Capacity Building Fund, the City of Saskatoon, Global Gathering Place, International Women of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Intercultural Association, Global International Community Help Association, the Filipino Canadian Association of Saskatoon, the German Canadian Concordia Club and the Saskatoon Branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress will receive approximately $325,290 for 2008-09 to deliver settlement services; while remaining $76,750 will cover support for smaller projects, core funding to Saskatoon Open Door Society, and the seven per cent lift to community-based organizations announced by the government in September 2008.

Approximately 40 per cent (or $1.03 million) will be provided to organizations in other communities across the province.

The province is also providing $37,216 in new funding to the Yorkton Branch of Saskatchewan Abilities Council for a new "Partners in Settlement and Integration (PSI)" project. The PSI project will refer new immigrants to appropriate community services and agencies within the East Central region, and will facilitate matches with local community volunteers to assist with broader community integration. Since 2006, approximately 130 newcomers have settled in East Central Saskatchewan.

During 2008-09 fiscal year, the provincial government of Saskatchewan has set an aggressive immigration target of 2,800 nominations for the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), which actually represents more than 8,000 newcomers including nominees, their spouses and families.

Canada plans to admit more than a quarter of a million new permanent residents in 2009

In tabling the 2008 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, the federal government has committed to admitting between 240,000 and 265,000 permanent residents in 2009, which are on par with last year and are among the highest for Canada over the past 15 years.

The 2009 plan includes up to 156,600 immigrants in the Economic Class; 71,000 in the Family Class; and 37,400 in the Refugees and other categories.

Under the Economic Class, Canada intends to take in 72,000 Federal Skilled Workers, 29,100 Quebec-selected Skilled Workers, 12,000 Federal/Quebec Business Immigrants, 10,000 Live-in Caregivers, 26,000 Provincial/Territorial Nominees, and 7,500 temporary workers and foreign students with Canadian degrees and Canadian work experience through the recently introduced Canadian Experience Class.

Under the Family Class, government intends to take in up to 52,000 spouses, partners and dependent children, and 19,000 parents and grandparents.

Under the Refugees Class and other categories, Canada intends to take in 7,500 Government-assisted Refugees, 4,500 Privately Sponsored Refugees, 9,000 Protected Persons in Canada, 6,200 Dependents Abroad, 200 Permit Holders, and 10,000 individuals and families based on humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) considerations, or for public policy reasons.

The 2009 levels plan sets the upper range of admissions under the Economic Class (1.6 per cent) higher than in 2008 in order to reflect growth in several economic streams, such as Federal Skilled Workers, Quebec-selected Skilled Workers and Provincial/Territorial Nominees. However, the distribution of admissions across categories in the Economic Class has changed to reflect the changing mix of economic immigration. For example, the 2009 levels plan committs nearly 3 per cent increase in Federal Skilled Worker category and 18 per cent in Provincial/Territorial Nominees in comparison of 37 per cent decrease in Canadian Experience Class and 7.5 per cent in Federal/Quebec Business Immigrants.

The 2009 levels plan, combined with $109 million funding from Budget 2008-09, will help the Department boost overall capacity to process more applications, enabling it to meet annual target levels, reduce the current backlog, and manage the inventory today and into the future. As a result, it will help reduce wait times, better respond to evolving labour market needs and support the Government of Canada’s immigration objectives.

In addition to providing a summary of Canada’s immigration levels plan for 2009, this report presents an overview of the current context of Canada’s immigration program, a review of some of the key challenges facing the Department and the initiatives it has developed in response. It further focuses on CIC’s partnerships with the provinces and territories; summarizes activities and initiatives regarding the selection of permanent and temporary residents; provides key statistics relating to permanent and temporary residents admitted in 2007; outlines Canada’s commitment to its humanitarian traditions and to the protection of refugees and others in need of protection and resettlement, including a statistical overview of the refugees and protected persons admitted in 2007; addresses settlement and resettlement programs and special initiatives to facilitate the economic and social integration of newcomers; and discusses activities related to Canadian citizenship.