Canada announces new funding for a national research project on globalization, migration and diversity

The Canadian government has announced a new funding of $7.5 million over five years for a national research project, which will explore the effects of migration on the strength of economy, the security of nation, and the relationships between different cultures living side by side within the Canada.

The Metropolis Project for research on globalization, migration and diversity is being funded jointly by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The funding includes $3.1 million from SSHRC and $4.4 million from a consortium of federal departments and agencies led by CIC.

The funding will ensure the continued operation of five regional research centres based in Halifax/Moncton, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver. These centres bring together universities, governments, NGOs and the private sector to form one of the largest networks of policy makers and scholars in the world in the field of migration and diversity research.

The Metropolis Project was established in 1995 as an SSHRC and CIC joint initiative and has grown into a unique partnership of policy makers, researchers and practitioners that is both national and international in scope. It supports research, public policy development and knowledge mobilization on migration, diversity and immigrant integration in Canadian cities as well as around the world. Metropolis also provides invaluable training for students who assist in this research.

Communities in Northern Ontario need immigrants to meet demands and sustain growth

Like many other Northern Ontario communities, Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma district may have a greater potential in the short-term for skilled worker shortages to meet demands in the construction and IT industry.

According to a latest study, massive construction investment in industrial and engineering projects, estimated at over $600 million, need immigrants to meet demands and sustain growth. The two largest communities in the district are the Sault and Elliot Lake will see the majority of construction growth over the next few years, the study found. These areas are experiencing a shortage of skilled trades people. Demand for construction workers looks likely to remain stable for the next three to five years as major projects include a hospital ($289 million), Borealis – a waterfront tourism development ($54 million), as well as multiple commercial buildings, a new young offender facility and a relocation of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans facility. New schools and major renovation to older facilities have also been included as part of the mix. On average, the annual value of building construction fluctuates between $40 and $75 million per year.

The study was commissioned by the district, which asked consultant Hawn & Associates Inc. to analyze human resources issues and challenges for the area's construction industry. Interviews with key stakeholders and focus groups were conducted and supply and demand information, construction project costs, business plans, building permits and employment vacancies and trend were analyzed.

Shortage of skilled IT professionals is another problem that is becoming more common for many of the district’s top employers. Local officials from Sault Ste. Marie say there are opportunities for both youth and experienced individuals. The unprecedented number of IT companies looking to hire in Sault Ste. Marie provides opportunity for students, recent graduates, and IT professionals. With labor-force participation at a fifteen year high and advertised job vacancies tripling over the past five years, employers in many sectors are faced with a shortage of workers for perhaps the first time in history.

Demand is high again for system administrators, operation managers and other IT professionals, while the ongoing boom in mobile technology has necessitated the creation of new types of specialists capable of managing the flow of information over wireless networks.

A quick search on ITSSM.com could show you a dozen local IT opportunities.

Many local graduates have already been able to secure entry-level positions in areas like application development. For more senior positions, initiatives like ITSSM.com’s “Sault Reconnect” program, implemented by the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Center, can be used to keep professionals located outside SSM apprised of local IT employment openings and encourage them to move back to the community. There will be ample opportunity for experienced and skilled IT professionals to find work in Sault Ste. Marie over the coming years.

Canada ranked among top nations on successful integration of newcomers

An influential Europe-wide immigration index probes Canada is better than many European countries in integrating newcomers into the mainstream society.

The Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) for 2007 is jointly sponsored by European countries to highlight "best practice" policies, and promote reforms encouraging greater social harmony and economic benefits among nations with significant immigrant inflows. MIPEX grades nations based on their immigration policies and legislative frameworks for peaceful integration in 25 European Union member states and three non-EU countries. The MIPEX survey uses over 100 policy indicators to create a multi-dimensional picture of migrants' opportunities to participate in their new homes.

Canada has been included first time in MIPEX, and ranked fifth, tied with Finland, out of 28 countries for its immigration policies, with only Sweden, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands better at promoting peaceful integration.

Canada ranked first in several other categories, including its openness to dual citizenship. Canada's score was also boosted by its anti-discrimination policies and the nation's focus on family reunification through immigration. The promotion of equality and immigrant access to human rights protection in Canada was a contributing factor to the top-five result. Canada also received a very favorable rating (80 to 89 per cent) for best practice in labor market access.

The findings of MIPEX reaffirm that Canada is a nation that's open to diversity, and set a high standard in a world where it is increasingly important to be sensitive to immigrants.

Canadian employers project a modest hiring climate in early 2008

According to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, the hiring climate in Canada will be positive between January and March 2008.

The survey of more than 1,700 Canadian employers reveals that 16 per cent plan to increase their payrolls while 10 per cent anticipate cutbacks for a Net Employment Outlook of +6 per cent. 72 per cent of those polled expect no changes of their staffing intentions for the first quarter of 2008 while 2 per cent are unsure.

Atlantic Canada employers project a moderate hiring climate as 14 per cent plan to hire while 9 per cent expect cutbacks for a Net Employment Outlook of +5 per cent. Ontario employers predict a flat hiring climate for first quarter of 2008 as 11 per cent plan to add staff and 11 per cent anticipate cutbacks. Quebec employers report a moderate hiring climate for the first quarter of 2008 as 18 per cent of employers plan to hire and 10 per cent project cutbacks for a Net Employment Outlook of 8 per cent. Employers in Western Canada once again predict the most active regional Net Employment Outlook for the country as 29 per cent expect to hire and 7 per cent project cutbacks for a Net Employment Outlook of +22 per cent.

In Atlantic Canada, Halifax area employers report the most robust hiring prospects with a Net Employment Outlook of +27 per cent. Job seekers in Ottawa and Toronto expect a conservative three months as both areas report a Net Employment Outlook of +5 per cent. Fort Erie and Barrie area employers report the most upbeat hiring intentions in Ontario with a projected Net Employment Outlook of +13 per cent and +10 per cent respectively. In Quebec, job seekers in Granby expect a healthy hiring climate with a reported Net Employment Outlook of +23 per cent. Employers in Sherbrooke and Quebec City anticipate a steady-to-moderate three-month period with a Net Employment Outlook of +10 per cent and +8 per cent respectively. Edmonton and Red Deer employers project dynamic hiring expectations in Alberta for the first quarter of 2008, as both report a Net Employment Outlook of +40 per cent. Calgary employers anticipate a bright hiring climate with a Net Employment Outlook of +30 per cent. Job seekers in Vancouver (British Columbia) and Regina (Saskatchewan) may look forward to a strong hiring climate with reported Net Employment Outlooks of +25 per cent. Employers in Victoria, British Columbia anticipate an upbeat hiring forecast with a Net Employment Outlook of +13 per cent.

Of the 10 surveyed industry sectors, Construction employers report the most dynamic results for the January to March period of 2008 with a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of +40 per cent – the strongest among all of the industry sectors surveyed. Employers in the Mining sector anticipate another robust quarter with a Net Employment Outlook of +35 per cent.

Employers in the Wholesale and Retail trade sector expect a strong three months with a Net Employment Outlook of +29 per cent. Employers in the Services sector also predict an active hiring climate with a Net Employment Outlook of +22 per cent. The Public Administration sector anticipates a healthy first quarter, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of +20 per cent.

Employers in the Transportation and Public Utilities sector expect a steady hiring climate with a Net Employment Outlook of +17 per cent. Employers in the Education sector also expect a positive first quarter with a Net Employment Outlook of +16 per cent. Employers in Finance, Insurance and Real Estate industry anticipate a respectable quarter with a reported Net Employment Outlook of +14 per cent.

In the Manufacturing – Durable Goods sector employers project an upbeat climate with a Net Employment Outlook of +18 per cent – the sector’s strongest Outlook since the first quarter of 2001. Employers in the Manufacturing – Non-Durable Goods sector predict a hopeful hiring climate with a Net Employment Outlook of +10 per cent.

Canadians can travel to the U.S. by land and sea without passport until June 2009

The U.S. government has announced postponement of the implementation of final phase of new travel rule until June 1, 2009, which will affect travel to the United States by land and sea.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is a new American law, which requires all travelers, including Canadians and Americans who are entering the U.S., to have a valid passport or other secure identity document when traveling to the United States from within the western hemisphere.

After the release of final guidelines for travel to the United States on November 24, 2006, it has been decided to implement WHTI in two phases: travel by air, and travel by land and sea. The first phase, which affect travel to the United States by air only has been implemented from January 23, 2007, while the second or final phase, set to be implemented from June 1, 2008, has now been postponed till June 1, 2009.

This delay in WHTI implementation only applies to Canadians traveling by land and sea. Canadians can now continue to use documents such as a birth certificate and a government-issued photo identification (e.g. driver’s licence) to cross the Canada-U.S. border by land and sea for at least another one and a half year. Canadians flying to or through the U.S. must present a valid Canadian passport or a valid NEXUS Air Membership when used at a NEXUS kiosk at participating airports.

This permission to delay the implementation of the WHTI for travel by land and sea until June 1, 2009 was actually granted through an amendment in 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which was passed by the U.S. Congress on September 29, 2006 and signed by the President Bush on October 4, 2006. This means that the WHTI could be fully implemented before June 1, 2009, or until three months after the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security have jointly certified that specific security criteria for travel documents have been established.

However, the government of Canada is working closely with its U.S. counterparts to investigate other acceptable alternate documents, such as enhanced driver's licences, for Canadians across the land border instead of a passport. As a result of Canadian government’s efforts, the Bush administration has already agreed to exempt Canadian youths aged 18 and under from new rules to carry a passport when entering the United States at land and sea borders. The federal government of Canada has also taken limited flexibility by Americans, which allows travelers without passports to enter the United States in emergency situations as long as they can confirm each traveler’s identity “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Businesses on both sides of the border have expressed concerns about the possible impacts on tourism. Canadians make over 3 million trips (including same-day crossings) per month to the United States, while the figure is just over 2 million for Americans headed to Canada.

Before January 23, 2007, Canadians were not requiring a passport or visa to visit the United States from Canada by all modes of travel, including air, and they could enter by providing proof of citizenship and identity. WHTI ended 140-years of passport-free travel across the borders.

Canadian home prices to rise by 3.5 per cent in 2008

According to 2008 Market Survey Forecast of Royal LePage, Canada's leading provider of franchise services to residential real estate brokerages, the Canadian real estate market is anticipated to show steady, yet moderate growth in 2008 after the industry’s busiest year ever in 2007 characterized by strong average house price appreciation and record breaking unit sales.

Nationally, average house prices are forecast to rise by 3.5 per cent to $317,288 in 2008, while transactions are projected to fall slightly from this year's record high unit sales to 500,927 (-4.0 %) unit sales in 2008. Despite the year-over-year reduction in unit sales, the number of homes trading hands in 2008 is expected to remain higher than in all years prior to 2007.

With the most affordable major market homes in Canada, residents of Regina and Winnipeg are forecast to drive the greatest increases in house prices in 2008, as job opportunities and in-migration continue to soar in each city.

While Calgary and Edmonton will continue to boast healthy economies and high levels of home sale activity, the excessively fast run-up of home values in 2006 and the first half of 2007 priced people out of the market, causing inventory levels to rise late in the year. Alberta home price increases will be much more moderate in 2008 as the regional market continues to adjust to the new house value reality.

With the country's highest home prices, Vancouver's steadfast market will continue to expand on the back of a strong provincial economy ahead of 2010 Olympic games. Ontario and Quebec markets are anticipated to maintain their relative strength and vibrancy throughout next year, weathering stormy financial markets and adjusting well to the high value of the Canadian dollar.

In Atlantic Canada, a slight depletion of inventory coupled with high immigration levels will see the housing market growing at a strong and steady pace - Halifax is expected to have higher than national average growth in 2008.

The frenzied pace of price inflation that has characterized the real estate market over the past two years in the resource rich west were unsustainable and should ease substantially in 2008. In Central Canada, price increases peaked in late 2005, and have been moderating since.

From coast-to-coast, the homebuyer demographic is anticipated to swell with first-time purchasers, as many flock to take advantage of recently reduced lending rates, longer amortization periods and the resultant manageable mortgage payments.

Coinciding with the Royal LePage report came data from the Canadian Real Estate Association showing Multiple Listing Service home re-sales broke all previous annual records by the end of November. MLS activity in major markets totaled 345,577 units in the first 11 months of this year, 2.7 per cent more than the previous full-year record of 336,646 in 2005.

Canada is currently enjoying one of the longest housing market expansions in history; however, in 2008 it is anticipated that slowly eroding affordability will cause demand to ease, allowing the market to move toward balanced conditions of strong economic fundamentals, including high levels of employment, resilient consumer confidence, modest levels of inflation and the relatively low cost of borrowing money.

Canada focusing on initiatives to alleviate labor force shortages in 2008

To meet the diverse skill requirements of an expanding and dynamic Canadian economy, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is focusing on various initiatives in its strategy for 2008 to alleviate immediate and regional skills shortages and the longer-term needs of the labour market.

From this year, a new immigration category under Economic Class will be available to certain temporary foreign workers and international students with Canadian degrees and Canadian work experience, to apply for permanent residence from within Canada. First announced in 2007 budget, the Canadian Experience Class will help address the immediate shortage of workers with specific trade skills by adding up to 12,000 workers from the talent pool of international students in its first year of implementation. Canadian Experience Class is part of national strategy on international students and key element of government’s long-term immigration plan.

Other considerable initiatives to address the specific and generalized labor shortages for 2008 include improving the hiring process of temporary foreign workers, expanding the provincial nominee programs, increasing the services of Foreign Credential Referral Office (FCRO), increasing the admittance of new permanent residents, fostering family reunification and honoring the humanitarian principels of refugee protection.

In 2008, the government plans to admit between 240,000 and 265,000 new permanent residents. A breakdown of this target level shows that maximum of 70,000 federal skilled workers, 28,000 Quebec selected skilled workers, 13,000 business immigrants, 9,000 live-in caregivers, 22,000 provincial/territorial nominees and 12,000 Canadian Experience holders will be admitted in the Economic Class. Under Family Class, 52,000 spouses, partners and children while 19,000 parents and grandparents would be able to admit in Canada.

Each year, Canada protects many thousands of people through the in-Canada refugee protection system and the resettlement of refugees selected abroad. The 2008 plan also maintains strong refugee admissions by allowing maximum of 31,800 permanent residents in this category. Up to an additional 8,000 new permanent residents could also be accepted for humanitarian and compassionate reasons.

The federal government has also committed an additional $1.3 billion in settlement funding over five years, and $342 million per year ongoing, to help newcomers settle successfully upon arrival and integrate fully over the longer term. Settlement initiatives for 2008 include, but not limited to, improving the current range of settlement programs and services as well as those provided by provincial and community partners, and ensuring that the process of acquiring Canadian citizenship sets a solid foundation for newcomer integration into Canadian society over the long term.