Ontario introduces the full-fledged version of its pilot PNP with significant improvements and increase in annual quota

To improve the understanding of its nominee program, Ontario government has modified the name of its Pilot Provincial Nominee Program (Pilot PNP) and made several enhancements in order to attract investment and help businesses grow and compete in the changing global economy.

The modified program, called "Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program", will give the province the ability to fast-track a limited number of skilled workers through the federal immigration system. "Opportunities Ontario", which is more reflective of the province and program’s immigration purpose, will allow employers and investors to hire foreign skilled workers for any managerial, professional, or skilled trade occupations (listed as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A and B in the National Occupational Classification) with an increased cap of nearly 1,000 nominees in 2009.

However, the new process will remain employer-driven and candidates will need a genuine offer of permanent and fulltime job from an approved Ontario employer to apply.

Opportunities Ontario has also been reclassified into two broad categories: General for employers and investors who wish to recruit and hire foreign skilled workers and individuals in Canada on work permit, and International Student for those employers looking to recruit international students graduate from a publicly-funded Canadian college or university.

To qualify for nomination as a foreign skilled worker in the General category, applicants must have an approved permanent fulltime job offer in any managerial, professional, or skilled trade occupations. They need to be qualified for the position and have at least two years of work experience. To apply for Provincial Nomination, candidates need to have received an Employer Pre-Screen Approved Position Form, along with the nominee application package from the Ontario employer who has extended them the job offer. The offered wage must meet the prevailing wage level for the intended occupation. If the applicants are currently residing in Canada, they need to have valid legal status.

Under the General category, Ontario employers also have the option to invest in the province. These employers will bring over key foreign employees to be nominated for Canadian Permanent Residency, by making an investment of $3 million to establish or expand operations in Ontario. The investment must create at least 5 new jobs for Ontario residents as well. These requirements have been revised down from the original Ontario PNP requirements of $10 million and 25 new jobs created.

Potential nominees under the International Student category must have graduated within the past two years (or will soon be graduating) from an eligible publicly-funded Canadian university or college. Previously, their offer of fulltime permanent employment had to be in their field of study. Now, this restriction has been removed so that the job offer can be in any managerial, professional, or skilled trade occupations. International student candidates do not need to have any previous work experience to qualify, unlike the federal Canadian Experience Class category. To apply, they too need to have received the Employer Pre-Screen Approved Position Form and application package. The offered wage for the position must meet the entry-level standard for that occupation. If still residing in Canada, applicants need to have valid legal status.

Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program is mandated under the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA).

Alberta slightly modifies the application process of its fast-track route for U.S. H-1B visa holders

The province of Alberta has made an adjustment in the application process of its "U.S. Visa Holder Category", which facilitate the entry of U.S. visa holders currently working temporarily in the United States on H-1B, into Alberta’s permanent labor force without requiring them to arrange employment from an Alberta employer.

Added last year into the Strategic Recruitment Stream, the U.S. Visa Holder Category of Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) was previously required a candidate to first submit a basic application. After a review of this basic application, AINP issued an invitation to qualified candidates only to submit a full application. If an assessment of candidate’s full application resulted positive, the AINP issued a certificate of nomination to the candidate. The nominee will then be directed to forward a federal permanent residence application to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) visa office abroad.

As of January 2009, the modified process of U.S. Visa Holder Category has eliminated the initial invitation portion of the application. Applicants are now required to submit their full application along with necessary supporting documents right away for an assessment.

The U.S. Visa Holder Category of AINP’s Strategic Recruitment Stream was originally created to help fill skill shortages in priority sectors and build Alberta’s skilled workforce for the long term. This category targets professional workers with specialized skills and North American experience to apply directly to AINP providing they meet the criteria for the program. To be eligible, an applicant must be currently employed in the U.S. on an H-1B (or H1-B1, H-1C and E-3) visa and have been working there for at least one year in an occupation where there are skill shortages in Alberta [PDF]. On average, those nominated for permanent residency by AINP obtain it in 6-18 months.

The U.S. Visa Holder Category also allows applicants to start working in Alberta immediately, if they find employment in their field in Alberta just after being approved as a Provincial Nominee but prior to their application for permanent residence with CIC being finalized.

In coming weeks, a sharp boost in the U.S. Visa Holder Category is expected. A recent bill introduced in the United States Senate, if passed, would prohibit American firms that receive federal bailout money from hiring H-1B workers to protect the jobs of Americans by minimizing the number of foreign workers in the country during the current economic troubles. Should the bill pass, Canada, and particularly the province of Alberta, will be an attractive option for these professional workers.

New Democrats demand immediate change to CIC’s spousal sponsorship policy

New Democrats have demanded Immigration Minister for immediate changes to CIC’s current spousal sponsorship policy, which allows officials to deport the spouse if their application decision is delayed beyond the allowable grace period of 60 days resulting in separation of married couples.

Last week, New Democrat immigration critic Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) has brought a motion into the Parliament to stop the deportation of spouses sponsored by Canadians. The motion was adopted by the Parliament’s Immigration Committee and it will be debated in the House of Commons following voting by all MPs in the spring.

"Instead of wasting resources to track down spouses of Canadians who are not guilty of any wrong doing, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) should focus more on deporting the criminals," says Chow. "Before, a spouse could be deported during the application process even though they are being sponsored by a Canadian. Now, this will not happen."

The wording of Olivia Chow’s motion is as follows:

That the Committee recommend that the government allow any applicant (unless they have serious criminality) who has filed their first in-Canada spousal or common law sponsorship application and the accompanied permanent residency application to be entitled to an automatic stay of removal and a temporary work permit until a decision is rendered on their application.

"This practice was cruel and wasteful of public dollars. When an applicant had to file paperwork all over again while overseas, it delayed the family being reunited," said the New Democrat’s West Coast Citizenship and Immigration critic, Don Davies (Vancouver-Kingsway). "I am glad that common sense prevailed at the Immigration Committee. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, let’s hope Immigration Minister Jason Kenney can bring love back to these needlessly divided Canadian families by enacting a small change in policy."

Canadian government pledges to improve the labor market outcomes of under-represented groups

Canadian federal government has set aside an extra $50 million for the development of a common framework across Canadian provinces and territories to address the important issue of foreign credentials recognition by September 2009.

Announced in Budget 2009, this extra $50 million over the next two years tops up the $73 million allocated in 2003-2004 for the Foreign Credential Recognition Program. The increased funding will not only go towards the improvement of continuing foreign credentials recognition process but also help develop a common approach across Canadian provinces and territories to provide timely assessment and recognition of foreign qualifications by September 2009.

First Ministers and Territorial Leaders have already endorsed the full labor mobility pact at their January 16 meeting, which will, if implemented, ensure newcomers better access to jobs in their field of specialization.

"Our government created a Foreign Credentials Referral Office that helps foreign-trained workers succeed and put their skills to work in Canada more quickly," said Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. "We are committed to fulfilling our promise to new Canadians to work with the provinces to address the important issue of foreign credentials recognition."

Budget 2009 also launches the "Canada Skills and Transition Strategy". This strategy will provide significant financial resources to a range of programs that will help Canadians weather the economic storm, and provide them with the necessary training to prosper in a changing economy. Resources are being provided for short- and long-term skills upgrading, investments to improve the labour market outcomes of under-represented groups, and to allow workers more time to find the right job and get the training they need.

The new budget further includes measures to increase job growth, consumer confidence, and other economy boosting measures over the next two years. Projections would have a surplus of $700 million by the 2013-2014, which is positive news indeed for all Canadians, current and prospective.

Canada’s first ministers endorse full labor mobility across the country by April 1, 2009

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Provincial Premiers and Territorial Leaders have finally endorsed an amendment to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) at the First Ministers’ Meeting on January 16, 2009, which marks a significant milestone toward enhancing labor mobilitiy in Canada.

Under the agreement, any worker certified for an occupation by a regulatory authority of one province or territory is to be recognized as qualified for that occupation by all other provinces and territories.

The Committee on Internal Trade (CIT), comprising Canada’s provincial/territorial labor and trade ministers, has already 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.

After first ministers’ endorsement, governments have set a goal whereby any foreign trained worker who submits a full application to be licensed or registered to work in their profession, would be informed of a decision within one year of the application. At that point, the worker would learn whether their qualifications will be recognized, or advised about any additional requirements deemed to be necessary to be fully recognized or directed to alternative pathways or related occupations that would use their skills and experience.

The first year for decisions will be 2010 for a limited number of high-priority occupations to be selected collaboratively with provinces and territories.

However, the new agreement has made clear that, before April 1 change, any exception to full labor market mobility will have to be clearly identified and justified as necessary to meet a legitimate objective, such as the protection of public health or safety, or its application in areas where there are significant differences in local practices, such as forestry.

The first ministers have also agreed to work on a common framework to recognize foreign credentials by September 2009, with an interim report on progress by June 2009.

"Our government created a Foreign Credentials Referral Office that helps foreign-trained workers succeed and put their skills to work in Canada more quickly," said Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. "We are committed to fulfilling our promise to new Canadians to work with the provinces to address the important issue of foreign credentials recognition."

B.C. releases updated newcomers’ guide to settlement resources and services in 11 languages

Home to about 40,000 newcomers every year, British Columbia (B.C.) has updated and released its comprehensive guide to settlement resources and services across the province this week to support newcomers in adapting their new lives in this province.

The 2009 B.C. Newcomers’ Guide to Resources and Services will assist newly arrived immigrants in finding information and services to help them make the most of their decision to move to B.C.

The guide has general information that will help newcomers in their first few months after arrival and includes topics such as finding a place to live, money and banking, healthcare, education, cars and driving, employment and business, the legal system, government and citizenship, and much more. It will be distributed by mail to various immigrant-serving agencies and other key stakeholders and be available for online orders at WelcomeBC, where it could also be downloaded in PDF (4.36MB).

The guide was originally written in the early 1990s. It was last updated in 2002 and translated into five languages. The 2009 edition will be available in 11 languages: English, French, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Punjabi, Korean, Farsi, Vietnamese, Arabic, Russian and Spanish. The translated versions will be released throughout 2009. For the first time, the guide will include a brochure explaining the history and milestones of the Aboriginal peoples of British Columbia.

"The Government of Canada is committed to helping immigrants and their families succeed," said Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. "The B.C. Newcomers’ Guide is a useful tool for newcomers in their integration into Canadian society. It provides valuable information about the services available in their community to help them adapt better and quicker and make a success of their new lives in Canada. Our government is pleased to continue working in partnership with the Province of British Columbia in providing funding for the publication of this resourceful guide."

The Agreement for Canada-B.C. Cooperation on Immigration provides funding through the transfer of approximately $120 million per year from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to the B.C. government, which is responsible for administering settlement services for new immigrants.

Canada announces four community-based commemorative and educational projects to honor and celebrate Chinese-Canadians

Canada’s federal government has announced to launch four new community-based commemorative and educational projects to reach out to youths and the Chinese community, to raise awareness of the Chinese Head Tax and other measures that restricted Chinese immigration between 1885 and 1947, to honour the work of those who challenged discrimination and sought redress, and to celebrate the contributions of the Chinese-Canadian community that helped to build a strong and diverse Canada.

Funded under the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP), these projects will be delivered by the Simon Fraser University (SFU), the University of British Columbia, the Metro Toronto Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, and the Toronto Community and Culture Centre.

Simon Fraser University will receive $200,000 for a one-year project to create a comprehensive and interactive education program for BC high school students. The program will examine the impact of the Head Tax imposed on Chinese immigrants and highlight the contributions of the Chinese-Canadian community to building Canada. SFU will distribute 100 educational DVD packages to 95 public secondary schools and 5 private schools in the Vancouver Lower Mainland. Another component of the program will be to air the video documentary on Fairchild TV, where it can be viewed by the Chinese-Canadian community and the general public.

The University of British Columbia will receive $50,000 to fund research and community workshops examining the Chinese Head Tax. "Remembering the Chinese Head Tax" is an educational project that will be undertaken in partnership with the Initiative for Student Teaching and Research in Chinese Canadian Studies (INSTRCC). The aim of the project is to engage Chinese-Canadian students with members of their community, particularly elders, to conduct oral history research and create and preserve the history and experiences of Chinese-Canadians between 1885 and 1947 under the Chinese Head Tax and the Chinese Immigration Act. This project will run for three years.

The Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic will receive $50,000 for a one-year project to create a web-based educational program. The program, to be produced in English and Chinese, will concern the use of legislation in discriminating against Chinese immigrants in Canada, measures that included the Chinese Head Tax and Chinese Immigration Act. It will also recognize the historical contributions made by members of the legal profession who challenged the discriminatory laws. The website will reach a wide segment of Chinese-Canadian newcomers. At the same time, it will be made available for use as a teaching tool in law schools and other learning institutions across Canada.

The Toronto Community and Culture Centre will receive $50,000 for a one-year project aimed at increasing the understanding of Chinese-Canadian youth, particularly from the Mandarin community in the Greater Toronto Area, about the Chinese Head Tax and how this measure affected Chinese immigrants and the Chinese-Canadian community. The project is designed to engage youth in a dialogue about the lives of the early Chinese-Canadians in Canada, the Pacific Railroad history, and the use of legislation in the discrimination of Chinese immigrants in Canada, including the Chinese Head Tax and Chinese Immigration Act. The goal of this project is to broaden understanding and awareness of the Chinese Head Tax and of the contributions made by Chinese immigrants to the building of Canada, and to increase ethnic harmony, especially among Chinese-Canadian youth.

The CHRP was announced in June 2006 as part of the Government of Canada’s comprehensive historical recognition program. This program funds community-based commemorative and educational projects that recognize the experiences of communities affected by historical wartime measures and/or immigration restrictions applied in Canada; and that promote the contributions of these communities to building this country. Eligible projects can include monuments, commemorative plaques, educational material and exhibits.

Canada regulates the minimum advertisement requirements for overseas recruitment to protect local workers

As of January 1, 2009, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) has implemented the same minimum advertisement requirements for all occupations (managerial, professional, technical or skilled trades) offered to overseas workers by Canadian employers.

As a general rule, Canadian employers wishing to hire foreign workers for any occupation (managerial, professional, technical or skilled trades) will now require to advertise the position on Canada’s national job bank over the Internet for at least 14 calendar days before it offers to an overseas worker. For all positions, advertising must have been carried out no more than three months before the employer seeks HRSDC permission to hire a foreign worker (i.e. Labor Market Opinion or LMO). The failure to comply with this minimum advertisement requirement will result in the application to HRSDC for LMO being denied.

In addition to this minimum advertisement requirement, HRSDC has also suggested an alternative approach for the positions (or skill sets), which are harder to find in Canada, while imposed few additional requirements for those positions, which could be filled locally.

Accordingly, employers who are offering positions in management or in occupations which usually require a university degree (i.e. positions described in Canadian National Occupations Classification (NOC) as skill type 0 or skill level A) can alternatively conduct similar recruitment activities consistent with the practices prevailing within that occupation. This can include advertising in professional journals, newsletters, national newspapers, or even consulting with unions or professional associations. However, these efforts must be made during the three months prior to the LMO application.

For occupations which usually require college education or apprenticeship training (i.e. positions described in NOC as skill level B) must not be advertised elsewhere except Canada’s national job bank. Additionally, the advertisement must include the employer’s name and address and must disclose the wage being offered, so existing employees will have access to the wages being offered to their foreign counterparts.

Lastly, employers who are recruiting those in occupations which require only high school education, occupation-specific training, or on-the-job training (i.e. positions described in NOC as skill level C and D) must also conduct other recruitment activities consistent with the practice in the occupation in question, all within three months of the LMO application. These employers must also demonstrate reasonable "ongoing" recruitment efforts in communities which face barriers to employment i.e. Aboriginals, seniors, and other disadvantaged groups like immigrants.

HRSDC makes it clear that these requirements are the minimum efforts that can be expended and reserves the right to impose additional requirements.

The B.C. and federal governments agree to expand Settlement Workers in Schools program in its 2nd year

To help newcomer students and their families settle in their school and community, the B.C. and federal governments have decided to expand Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program to 10 more school districts in the province with an investment of $8.6 million.

Under the SWIS program, settlement workers help immigrant and refugee children, in the K-12 public school system, adjust to school culture. The workers also increase parent involvement in their children’s education, while helping to build awareness of community and government resources. As well, a valued component of the program focuses on increasing cultural awareness and sensitivity in schools.

The program has been of great benefits to the newcomer families that have unresolved first year settlement needs. More than 5,000 newcomer students and their families have availed the benefits of settlement counseling since it began. Families with long term settlement issues or who need intensive support are referred to settlement agencies and other community services.

"The Settlement Workers in Schools program is invaluable in assisting new students to integrate more quickly, while giving their parents a critical connection to the broader community," said Murray Coell, B.C. Minister of Advanced Education and Labor Market Development. "Students and their parents experience a smoother transition into the school system and the ability to more rapidly participate in Canadian society in a meaningful way."

Began in the fall of 2007 in 10 school districts across the Lower Mainland and Greater Victoria, the SWIS program has been expanded this fall to include an additional 10 districts in the Fraser Valley, the Okanagan, Nanaimo, West Vancouver, Langley, Coquitlam, and the North, based on the percentage of English as a second language students enrolled in school districts.

"Prime Minister Stephen Harper and our government are committed to helping immigrants and their families succeed in Canada. Schools are one of the first services that newcomers access in their communities and the SWIS program is an ideal way to assist newcomer students and their families on their path to integration," said Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. "We are very pleased to be working in partnership with the Province of B.C. to support the expansion of this program to more communities in the province."

The Agreement for Canada-B.C. Cooperation on Immigration provides funding through the transfer of approximately $109 million per year from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to the B.C. government, which is responsible for administering settlement services, including SWIS, for new immigrants through WelcomeBC. WelcomeBC, which supports immigrants and their families in succeeding both economically and socially, helps immigrants in B.C. access services under one umbrella to assist them in better adapting to life in their new communities and builds on the province’s history of welcoming newcomers and creating inclusive communities.

Canada seeks extended support and cooperation by Indian Punjab in fight against phony consultants and fake document vendors

At the end of his week long formal visit to India, the Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada (CIMC) Minister Jason Kenney called on Chief Minister Punjab Parkash Singh Badal and sought his support and cooperation to crackdown the "developing industry" of document vendors and phony consultants exploiting large numbers of Punjabis wanting to go to Canada.

According to an estimate, two of every three temporary visa applications are rejected by Canadian officials in Chandigarh due to the fake documents that are submitted with applications. These fraudulent documents include, but not limited to, counterfeit letters from MPs, identification papers, employment offers, university transcripts and diplomas, funeral announcements and even pictures of false wedding ceremonies.

Expressing concern over the issue, CM Punjab assured the Minister that Punjab Government would extent its fulsome support and cooperation to evolve a permanent solution to curb this illegal practice.

CM was apprised in the meeting that few owners of marriage palaces are involved in arranging fake marriages in connivance with travel agents/immigration consultants to provide photographs of marriage in support of proof for the purpose of Canadian visa to illegal persons. CM assured the visiting Canadian Minister that State Government would take stringent action against the erring travel agents involved in the exploitation of women in getting them married with the persons intended to seek Canadian Visa which ultimately result in broken marriages.

"Our Canadian officials in Chandigarh are regularly dealing with fraudulent documents produced by unregistered immigration consultants, including fake passports, fake endorsement letters from Canadian Members of Parliament, fake death certificates and many more," said Minister Kenney. "Although the approval rate for temporary visas has improved over the last year, the large number of unauthentic documents being submitted to the Chandigarh mission is a very serious problem for the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. I am pleased that the Chief Minister of Punjab says he will act on this commitment to crack down on unscrupulous immigration consultants, and I look forward to assessing the success of this promise later this year."

Kenney said unscrupulous consultants have been known to target a program, and then tailor the applications to that program. A recent example involved Canada's live-in caregiver program. A surge of applications for the program in 2007 raised eyebrows at the office in Chandigarh, largely because they were from men, who are not the traditional caregivers in India. Officials subsequently discovered many applicants presented documents that said they graduated from care-giving schools that did not exist.

Kenney said there has been a lack of interest in the past on the part of the Indian authorities to pursue visa fraud, but that he expects much closer cooperation between Canadian officials and Chandigarh police in the future.

Canada is the only country to operate a visa office in Chandigarh. The Chandigarh office of the Canadian High Commission opened in 1997 and first began issuing visas in 2004 after former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien attended the opening of the Consulate General of Chandigarh in 2003. About half of the Indo-Canadian community in Canada hails from Punjab.

A first of its kind immigration-specific social networking site launched on the Internet by David Cohen

Established only a few months ago, LoonLounge is a rapidly expanding online community and social networking website where established and prospective Canadians can meet and connect for the purpose of building a stronger Canada.

A brainchild of prominent immigration lawyer David Cohen, LoonLounge facilitates the creation of social and professional connections through community membership. The concept behind LoonLounge is based on the knowledge that communities create an informal social assistance system, which could help newcomers in their settlement process, affording them the opportunity to more rapidly contribute to Canada both economically and socially.

Being a global network of online communities, the LoonLounge will help prospective migrants learn from the experiences and advice of newly settled Canadians. While settled Canadians would benefit from developing new relationships with prospective migrants – whether for business or personal motivations – prospective migrants would enjoy the advantages of seamless integration into the Canadian community and economy.

Along with these contacts, services provided on LoonLounge include a job search function, online forums, blog posts, salary survey, immigration assessment, facts about Canada, success stories, access to experts, and links to organizations and more resources. The site lets users join communities based on common ties such as home country or occupation, and can host subgroups for, say, cricket. The new Citizenship and Immigration Canada list of 38 priority jobs and language testing are the two hottest topics on LoonLounge.

"Governmental initiatives just can't provide the kind of support that LoonLounge offers to new Canadians," says David Cohen. "People need a support system. They need a community to get them started in a new life, and they need it before and after they get here."

Although LoonLounge is launched officially this week, the Canadian immigration online community has already made an impact. Nearly 15,000 members from 191 countries have registered, indicative of a social movement over the net. And it is not just immigrants benefiting from this social networking tool, established Canadians and recently-landed immigrants also find the site beneficial.

Though a recent analysis of what works for immigrants by the think-tank Public Policy Forum didn't study LoonLounge in particular, author Winnie Wong points out that the few websites that are effective tools for newcomers involve Canadians rather than just immigrants, and are community-based rather than top-down.

Cohen, who spent two years working on LoonLounge, keeps a low profile on the site, which is run by six people in his Montreal office and doesn't charge any fees or accept advertising.

Immigration is the future of Canada and LoonLounge is your invitation to become involved. Watch a brief animated clip and join the LoonLounge online community today.

Kenney visits Pakistan to review and discuss immigration, manpower and investment issues with key Pakistani officials

On a two-day visit to Pakistan, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada (CIMC) Minister Jason Kenney held official bilateral meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and heads of key ministries to discuss Canada-Pakistan relations with regards to immigration, employment of Pakistani citizens in Canada, and Canadian investment in Pakistan.

During these meetings, Prime Minister Gilani and Minister Kenney discussed regarding enhancing recruitment of Pakistani manpower by the Canadian entrepreneurs involved in development of new agricultural lands in Canada’s labor scarce provinces, and creating ways for employment of different categories of workforce from Pakistan. Minister Kenney assured Prime Minister that he will look at the possibility of making use of the skilled and semi-skilled labor from Pakistan for development of agriculture, construction and industrial sectors in some provinces of Canada.

Prime Minister hoped that Canada would also provide Pakistan with technical and financial assistance for upgrading the universities and vocational training institutions to train Pakistani manpower for this purpose. He stressed on the MOU to be drawn up between the two countries for development and up gradation of professional and technical institutes to maintain the standards that Canada desires.

The Prime Minister also took up the issue of inordinate delay in the processing of immigration cases of Pakistani nationals by the Canadian authorities. He urged that Pakistanis should be treated at par with immigrants from other countries. Minister Kenney agreed by the Prime Minister and assured that he will discuss with visa officers at the Canadian High Commission in Islamabad to review operations as well as facilitating the visa process for business travelers and international students.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Canadian Government for doubling its economic assistance (CIDA) to Pakistan from $30 million to $60 million. Canada recently announced this increase, which will be used to strength local government institutions, basic health care for girls, and primary education for Pakistani children. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister also praised Canada’s continued assistance to Pakistan for human resource development and capacity building.

Minister Kenney informed Prime Minister Gilani that a Parliamentary Forum in Canada would be established next month to promote exchanges between elected representatives in Canada and Pakistan.

Before returning to Canada January 18, 2009, the Minister will also travel to Mumbai, where he will express Canada’s condolences for the terrorist attacks in November 2008, and visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar, and sites of importance particularly to the Jewish and Ismaili communities. In New Delhi He will be visiting the office of the Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP) and addressing the Indo-Canadian Business Chamber. In Mumbai,

At the close of his visit to Pakistan, Minister Kenney said that the purpose of his visit to Pakistan was to look at the possibility of establishing a more close and friendly relations between the two countries.

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.