Immigrating to Canada under the MPNP – Part Two
July 18, 2009
The MPNP is the most successful Provincial Nominee Program in Canada, and has one of the broadest selections of sub-programs or “streams”. In addition to Family Support and Employer Direct, other streams include the general stream, international students, strategic initiatives, and business.
Family members abroad are ineligible for the Family Support stream if they cannot meet all program requirements, such as age range or the definition of “close relative”. In such cases, the general stream should be considered. The General stream is a points-based program which allows a close relative or two distant relatives/close friends to support applications from eligible candidates. Applicants with at least six months of work experience or completion of an educational (excluding language) program in Manitoba are also eligible to apply under this stream. Applicants are assessed under the following criteria and must score a minimum of 55 points: age, education/training, work experience, English/French language ability, and adaptability factors (relatives/friends in Manitoba, past education/work experience in Manitoba, and destination in Manitoba).
International graduates of recognized post secondary programs (minimum 8 month duration) working for at least 6 months on a post-graduation open work permit with an offer of full time, long term employment from their Manitoba employer can apply under the International Student stream.
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Source: Stacey Belding, Ang Peryodiko
Mexicans, Czechs now need visas
July 14, 2009
After dramatic increases in the number of refugee claimants from Mexico and the Czech Republic in the past few years, Canada has imposed visa requirement on visitors from both countries in order to stem the flood.
The Czech Republic and Mexico are Canada’s two highest sources of refugee applications. The visa requirement went into effect at one minute past midnight this morning.
ImmigrationMinister Jason Kenney said in a statement that Canada’s refugee system is burdened by refugee claimants from these two countries which are “creating significant delays and spiralling new costs…. The sheer volume of these claims is undermining our ability to help people fleeing real persecution.”
Since the visa requirement was lifted in 2007 after the Czech Republic entered into the European Union, 3,000 refugee claims have been filed by Czech nationals, the vast majority of Roma origin, compared with fewer than five in 2006.
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Source : Giuseppe Valiante, National Post
$9.5M in language training announced
July 11, 2009
Federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Friday he wants more immigrants in Canada to learn one of the country’s official languages and expects them to better integrate into Canadian society.
In Calgary to announce $9.5 million in funding for language training programs in the city, Kenney said the government expects all immigrants to speak French or English if they are to become Canadian citizens. But only a quarter of them are taking advantage of government-funded language courses — even though it’s a “critical pathway to success in Canada.”
The additional funding for settlement services, expected to benefit about 13,000 Calgarians, will help with the transition to Canadian society, he said, but noted that “integration is a two-way street.”
“Newcomers have a right to be different, but a duty to integrate. They also have to take the initiative,” Kenney told reporters at the Calgary Immigrant Educational Society.
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Source : Jason Fekete
TORONTO — At least two of Canada’s big banks have found encouraging signs in the country’s housing market, one financial and the other social.
A commentary from TD Economics on Thursday said there are encouraging signs that a bottom may be forming under the Canada’s depressed homebuilding market, citing an eight per cent increase in housing starts in June on top of a 10.8 per cent increase in May.
Although homebuilding activity overall remains one-third below the pace of a year ago, the report prepared by TD economist Pascal Gauthier noted that the June climb “marks the second consecutive monthly increase in starts after a long string of nearly uninterrupted slides that started last fall.”
On a regional basis, June’s urban starts increase was lead by a 59.4 per cent surge in the Prairie region, followed by a 25 per cent gain in B.C., and a more modest 3.1 per cent increase in Ontario.
On the flipside, urban starts slid by 6.3 per cent in Quebec and 3.9 per cent in the Atlantic region. However, the bank said regions east of Ontario have generally not seen the same extent of decline as elsewhere.
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Source : B.H. Mckenna
Canada least likely to face immigration backlash: OECD
June 30, 2009
PARIS — Canada is among the western democracies least likely to develop an anti-immigrant backlash, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development said here Tuesday after presenting a report urging western democracies to keep their ports of entry open to newcomers despite the economic crisis.
The OECD said the recession has disproportionately hurt migrants and called on member countries to come up with better programs to help struggling immigrants adapt in their new homelands.
“Migration remains a politically delicate issue and one easily exploited for electoral ends,” advised the OECD, a Paris-based think-tank funded by Canada and 29 other member countries to provide governments with economic and social policy advice.
But officials acknowledged after presenting their new report on global migration trends that Canada doesn’t appear to be one of the countries at risk of an anti-immigrant backlash.
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Source : Peter O’neil
Immigration into Sask. communities increasing
June 29, 2009
REGINA — What a difference three years can make to the diversity of a province.
Rural Saskatchewan used to have difficulty attracting and retaining immigrants but small communities around the province are now becoming increasingly cosmopolitan.
The Rural and Small Town Canada Analysis Bulletin released by Statistics Canada on Monday provides a snapshot of Canada’s rural and small town areas in 2006 — a time when immigrants accounted for 5.3 per cent of the nation’s population. In Saskatchewan, immigrants accounted for 2.6 per cent of the total population — 0.3 per cent were new immigrants.
Between 2001 and 2006, 15,000 people left Saskatchewan — the highest net migration in the country, said Roland Beshiri, co-author of the Statistics Canada report.
“The migration of people in general looked very bad at that time for Saskatchewan,” he said. “It sounds as though things are much better now.”
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Source : Pamela Cowan, Leader Post
Province needs more workers
June 27, 2009
Saskatchewan must increase its employment base in order to continue its economic growth over the long-term, according to a new study released Friday.
The province, like the rest of Western Canada, is facing labour shortages and a strain on productivity that will eventually begin to threaten economic momentum, the Conference Board of Canada concluded in its new report entitled Western Canada: Productivity, Competitiveness, and Potential.
“I think labour is a big concern looking out as the baby boomers age and move into retirement, so it’s going to be important for Saskatchewan to make sure it has both the quantity and quality of labour it needs,” said Paul Darby, the conference board’s deputy chief economist.
The report also highlighted concerns about business spending on research and development and measured labour productivity. Darby said the province must also work on retaining the skilled labour force graduating from Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions or face hits to the economy.
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Source : Cassandra Kyle, The Starphoenix
Pilot project encouraging skilled foreign recruitment
June 24, 2009
The Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce has been chosen to be one of four organizations to participate in a six month pilot project.
The project will focus on providing employers with easy access to the information they need to recruit, train and retain foreign workers.
Chamber Manager Annette Oak says while the economy isn’t booming just yet, there are signs the turnaround may not be far off. She says when this happens, the City should be ready.
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Source : Energetic City.ca
Government of Canada Introduces Amendments to Protect Vulnerable Foreign Workers From Human Trafficking
June 17, 2009
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – (Marketwire – June 17, 2009) – The Government of Canada will today reintroduce amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to help protect vulnerable foreign workers such as exotic dancers and live-in caregivers who could be victims of exploitation.
The bill was tabled in the previous Parliament but died on the order paper when an election was called.
“This will strengthen Canada’s immigration system by helping to prevent situations where temporary workers in Canada may be abused, exploited or possibly become victims of human trafficking,” said Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council and Minister for la Francophonie, Josee Verner, speaking on behalf of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.
“The amendments will help further our agenda of increasing protections for temporary foreign workers, by preventing situations of abuse from happening in the first place,” added Labour Minister Rona Ambrose.
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Source : CIC Media Relations
The Government of Saskatchewan has unveiled new business immigration streams that will help grow the economy and create jobs. These new initiatives are key elements of the government’s new immigration strategy.
“Our new immigration initiative acknowledges the importance of entrepreneurship by building bridges between potential residents of Saskatchewan and the industries and businesses that will benefit from their investment and skills,” Minister responsible for Immigration Rob Norris said.
Developed in consultation with more than 300 stakeholders across the province, this new initiative focuses on attracting investment and entrepreneurs to help create jobs and opportunities for Saskatchewan people.
In 2008-09, 109 entrepreneurial immigrants were nominated to come to Saskatchewan. Their business investments are expected to create more than 400 jobs in the province. The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) will nominate 250 immigrants under the entrepreneurship category over the next two years, leading to the creation of approximately 900 jobs.
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Source : Herman Hulshof
