Alberta Develops Programme to Support Skilled Migrants

Alongside the Federal Government’s development of 320 Foreign Credential Referral Offices across the country, Provincial Governments have also been working to ease labour shortages by streamlining skilled migrants passage into the workforce. This month, Alberta released A Foreign Qualifications Recognition Plan for Alberta. The plan was developed through consultation with stakeholders and various government departments. [...]

Canada Joins APEC Business Travel Card Programme

Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, who is attending the APEC Leaders Week in Peru, announced yesterday that Canada is joining the APEC Business Travel Card programme. The system allows business people to have streamlined entry into participating countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Holders of the card only have to apply for one every three years [...]

Economic Crisis Won’t Affect Immigration, Minister Says

Speaking in the Ukraine last Friday, Jason Kenney, Canada’s Immigration Minister, said that the current economic climate would not affect the numbers of skilled immigrants entering Canada. “Obviously, the economic crisis worries us a great deal… But we believe it would be counterproductive, from an economic growth point of view, to cut off a labour [...]

$500 Million a Year Settlement Pledge from Canadian Government

The Canadian government has signed deals with Alberta, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, and Labrador to fund settlement programmes aimed at better integrating migrants to the country. Agreements with other Provinces are also being negotiated, which will total around $500 million each year for six years. The agreements are part of Advantage Canada, the federal [...]

Immigration Minister Speaks of Commitment to Programme

Jason Kenney, Canada’s Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multi-culturalism recently addressed the Canadian Club in Winnipeg and emphasised his government’s dedication to current immigration policies and settlement programmes. Highlighting recent improvements to the immigration system, including the new Canadian Experience Class visa, the creation of the Foreign Credentials Referral Office and the $1.4 billion immigrant [...]

Business Association Calls On Canadian Government to Look Closely at Skills Shortages

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has very recently released a report entitled Building a Twenty-First Century Workforce: A Business Strategy to Overcome Canada’s Skills Crisis, in which it calls upon the Canadian Federal Government to take serious strategic steps to address the country’s labour shortages. “The quest to attract talent and the drive for competitiveness [...]

110,000 More Working Visas Needed To Cover Shortfalls

The Conference Board of Canada has recently reported that its research shows that Canada will need 110,000 more visas issued to skilled migrants per year by 2025 in order to stave off the predicted critical labour shortage. Currently Canada issues 250,000 visas each year but the Conference Board expects this figure to rise to 360,000 [...]

Canadian Coalition Formed To Highlight Labour Shortage

Last week a coalition, entitled Investing in Skills, was launched in Ottawa in order to raise awareness amongst voters of Canada’s labour shortage in the run up to the October 14th Federal election.  Taking the form of a national coalition of business, education, health and labour associations the coalition is tasked with creating greater attention on the country’s [...]

Canada Talks Get Immigration Leaning Forward

Canadian Immigration Minister Diane Finley has held talks with key stakeholders from business, industry, labor and non-governmental organisations to get a really clear picture of which occupations can benefit from skilled immigration.  The talks are designed to clear the way for fast tracking of vital skilled workers entering Canada. “There are shortages of workers in many professions and trades. [...]

New Advisory Centres for Migrants in Alberta

In response to the enormous influx of skilled workers into Alberta, the province has established two Temporary Foreign Worker advisory offices in Edmonton and Calgary, to provide employment standards and help resolve occupational health and safety issues. In addition, pilot schemes have been initiated in 6 cities to provide even more detailed support to new temporary [...]