Canada and Nova Scotia to Work Together on Temporary Foreign Workers

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OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 20, 2011) - Temporary foreign workers in Nova Scotia will be better protected as a result of an agreement between Canada and Nova Scotia that gives the province a role in managing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
"Temporary foreign workers make a key contribution to the Canadian economy and we are taking the necessary steps to protect them from exploitation," said Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. "We are ensuring that temporary foreign workers are treated with respect, with agreements such as this, and with the new regulations that take effect nationwide on April 1."
The agreement, an annex to the Agreement for Canada-Nova Scotia Cooperation on Immigration, provides a framework for closer co-operation between the two governments to better educate employers and potential workers about their rights and responsibilities.
"The Government of Nova Scotia has a central role in protecting workers, including temporary foreign workers, from mistreatment, and this agreement formally recognizes that role," added Minister Kenney.
Nova Scotia will also have a greater role in helping employers access the labour and skills they need, and will be able to recommend the entry of some temporary foreign workers without requiring an assessment of whether there are Canadians or permanent residents available to fill the vacant positions.
"This agreement is an important step in making the program more responsive to Nova Scotia's particular labour needs," added Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
"Attracting temporary international workers to Nova Scotia will help ensure there is enough skilled labour available for our businesses and industries," said Marilyn More, Nova Scotia Minister of Labour and Advanced Education and Minister of Immigration. "Temporary international workers have technical skills and international contacts our companies and communities need in order to remain innovative, productive and competitive, the key priorities outlined in the Government of Nova Scotia's jobsHere plan to grow the economy."
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is driven by employer demand and aimed at filling identified labour shortages when sufficient, suitable Canadian workers or permanent residents are not available. For more on the regulations that take effect on April 1, 2011, please see the news release of August 18, 2010.
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For more information, please contact
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Minister's Office
Alykhan Velshi
or
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Communications Branch
Media Relations
613-952-1650              613-952-1650     
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
or
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Minister's Office
Michelle Bakos
819-994-2482           819-994-2482     
or
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Media Relations
819-994-5559              819-994-5559     
or
Office of Immigration
Media Relations
Tom Peck
902-424-3742              902-424-3742     
peckto@gov.ns.ca

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Ottawa sets up new agency to regulate immigration consultants, deal with fraud

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TORONTO - A new regulatory body for immigration consultants is in the works as part of the federal government's crackdown on scam artists who prey on would-be newcomers to Canada, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced Friday.

The aim of the proposed agency is to protect immigrants from shoddy or dishonest operators, Kenney said.

"There are people who sometimes seek to unethically make a profit by exploiting the hopes and dreams of newcomers," Kenney said. "These unlicensed, unregistered, unscrupulous consultants give the profession a black eye by taking thousands of dollars from individuals — often in cash — and all too often providing nothing in return."

Ottawa has faced a barrage of complaints over the years about so-called "ghost" consultants, who provide bad or fraudulent advice and counterfeit documents, or take cash up front.

Until now, the industry has been self-policing without formal recognition from Ottawa.

The proposed Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council, which will be responsible to Ottawa and regulate immigration consultants, is slated to be up and running by the summer.

It will be charged with ensuring consultants are properly licensed and policed.

The agency is part of a broader federal crackdown on immigration consultants initiated in the form of Bill C-35 last June.

The bill, expected to become law next week, would require — under threat of criminal sanction — that those who act as consultants for pay be licensed, and includes stiff penalties for bogus operators.

Consultants operating abroad would also have to be licensed by the new regulatory council.

While the new law would help deal with scam artists in Canada, Kenney conceded a big part of the problem exists with fraudsters in source countries who are beyond the reach of Canadian justice.

Kenney said he's been talking to his counterparts in immigrant-source countries — he recently was in India and Pakistan — urging them to strengthen their relevant laws.

Imran Qayyum, chairman of the Canadian Migration Institute, said little appears to have come from Kenney's efforts abroad.

"The federal government's been missing in action when it comes down to trying to address this issue," Qayyum said. "How many 'ghosts' have they put out of business? As far as I know zero."

Currently, bona fide immigration consultants belong to the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants, with almost 2,000 members across Canada and overseas.

However, Ottawa has not formally recognized the group, which is not accountable to the federal government and has faced criticism for not dealing with bad apples.

The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants said it was "considering its options" in light of Kenney's announcement.

"We are saddened and surprised that the government has put more than 1,900 accredited consultants and 38 staff members of CSIC in limbo," the society said in a statement.

"The government has opted to designate a third party with no regulatory experience — it could be years before this group can build up the regulator sophistication that CSIC has today."

The government has also launched an advertising blitz at home and abroad in hopes of educating would-be immigrants, in part pointing out that they don't need consultants to apply to Canada.

The campaign also notes that no one can guarantee a successful immigration application.

Opposition critics have said Ottawa is going to have to ensure the new law is properly enforced to have any effect.

— With files from Terri Theodore in Vancouver

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BDC enhances partnership with Canadian Youth Business Foundation

MONTREAL, March 17 /CNW Telbec/ - Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) are pleased to announce an enhanced partnership that will help young, newly arrived immigrants to Canada become successful entrepreneurs.

The CYBF Newcomer Entrepreneur Program recognizes that recent immigrants may require targeted support to start their own businesses. In addition to offering flexible financing, the program is designed to overcome the difficulty many young, newly arrived immigrants have in accessing credit because they do not have a Canadian credit history. The program also offers mentoring and business resources so newcomers can learn about operating a business in Canada and improve their chances of success. For details, please visit: http://www.cybf.ca/entrepreneurs/newcomer/.

"Recently arrived immigrants to Canada are among the country's most dynamic and entrepreneurial group of individuals," says Edmée Métivier, BDC Executive Vice President, Financing and Consulting, who also sits on the CYBF Board of Directors. "Newcomers have an acute desire to succeed and anything BDC and CYFB can do to help them start and, subsequently, operate a business is certainly worth encouraging. Entrepreneurs play a key role in ensuring Canada's long term prosperity."

"During the Year of the Entrepreneur, in a country deeply entrenched in the principles of multiculturalism, it's only fitting that we partner with BDC to offer this unique opportunity to young new Canadians," says Vivian Prokop, Chief Executive Officer, CYBF. "Our unique program directly addresses the challenges faced by newcomers and provides the critical financial, mentoring and educational support they need to succeed in the Canadian business landscape."

Under the BDC-CYBF partnership, permanent Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 34 can apply for up to $15,000 in financing. The CYBF Newcomer Entrepreneur Program provides residents who have lived in Canada for less than 36 months and possess a solid working knowledge of English or French with the opportunity to build sound, sustainable and profitable businesses.

About BDC

Canada's business development bank, BDC puts entrepreneurs first. With almost 1,900 employees and more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC offers financing, venture capital and consulting services to 29,000 small and medium sized companies. Their success is vital to Canada's economic prosperity. www.bdc.ca

About Canadian Youth Business Foundation - Canada's Entrepreneur Gateway

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is the 'go to' place for youth entrepreneurship. As a national charity, we are dedicated to growing our nation's economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-34, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring, to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. www.cybf.ca

For further information:

Geoffrey King
Director, Public Relations
Business Development Bank of Canada
(514) 496-4351
geoffrey.king@bdc.ca

Rachel Azagury
Senior Manager, Media, Social Media and Events
Canadian Youth Business Federation
416-408-2923, ext. 2111
razagury@cybf.ca

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Canada launches reverse brain drain programme for expats

by RAY CLANCY on MARCH 17, 2011

A new pilot programme has been launched in Canada to encourage expat Canadians to return home and contribute to the country’s economy.

The initiative by the Canadian immigration has been called ‘a reverse brain drain’ and officials want to maker it easier for Canadians with much needed experience and skills to return.

The pilot has been launched in Ontario and if deemed successful will operate nationwide. ‘We are making it easier for Canadians abroad to bring their skills home and contribute to the Canada of tomorrow,’ said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturism Minister Jason Kenney.

For some Canadian workers living abroad, an obstacle to returning to Canada is that their non-Canadian spouse, partner or dependent children may be unable to work until they are processed as permanent residents, which usually takes between six months and one year.

Now family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning to work in certain sectors, such as health care and academic research, are able to get temporary work permits immediately upon arriving in Canada.

Ontario’s health and academic sectors have faced significant skill and labour shortages in recent years and were identified as the most appropriate sectors for the pilot project.

‘By encouraging highly skilled workers to come back to Canada, we are laying the foundation for long term economic growth,’ added Kenney.

To be eligible to participate in the pilot, applicants must be a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident returning to work in Ontario, have an application underway to immigrate to Canada through sponsorship in the family class, be old enough to work in Ontario, and meet all admissibility criteria to come to Canada as a temporary resident.

The sponsoring spouse or partner must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, have left Canada and be returning to work permanently in Ontario, as a health professional or an academic for post-secondary public institutions, in one of a list of specified occupations, obtain a letter from the Province of Ontario confirming their employment, location and occupation and provide it as supporting documentation with the work permit application, and have submitted an application to CIC to sponsor their spouse or dependent child.

The list of occupations include specialist doctors, GPs, dentists, vets, pharmacists, registered nurses, opticians, physiotherapists, midwives, paramedics, university professors, teaching and research assistants, and college instructors.

The pilot programme is a partnership between Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario, and will operate until May 22, 2012. The Government will then evaluate the programme before making a decision about extending it.

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Immigration Consultant Regulator Continues Commitment to Transparency

TORONTO, March 17 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) released its 2009-2010 Annual Report. The release of the annual report is an important aspect of the organization's commitment to accountability, transparency and communication with all of its stakeholders, including government and members.

"As the regulator of an ever-growing profession, CSIC has matured considerably since its infancy," said Chair Nigel Thomson. "I am proud of CSIC's accomplishments during an extraordinarily busy year."

In 2010 the Immigration Minister introduced Bill C-35 to crack down on the problem of unlicensed ghost agents, unscrupulous individuals who offer immigration consulting services without having the proper accreditation. With the introduction of Bill C-35 the minister also announced that the Federal government would open a bidding process for groups wishing to be designated the regulator of immigration consultants.

"The minister's action has made for a somewhat trying year, but CSIC remains firm in its conviction that it is the best choice for regulator and its accomplishments in 2009-2010 speak for themselves," continued Thomson.

• CSIC stepped up its efforts to hold members accountable and subsequently referred a greater number of matters to a hearing (results available at https://www.csic-scci.ca/content/currenthearings).
• CSIC further held members accountable through the introduction of a Compliance Department, which is dedicated to ensuring that members manage their practices according to CSIC's rules.
• CSIC accreditation was recognized by the Quebec government through regulation.
• CSIC connected with more consumers than ever through a multi-faceted strategy that included increased media outreach, a national ad campaign and a toll-free referral service.
• CSIC's membership numbers increased due to a growing interest in the profession.

CSIC's Annual Report and its financial statements will be presented to members at the upcoming Annual Meeting, which will take place online on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 3 p.m. EDT. The Annual Report is also available online on the CSIC website: https://www.csic-scci.ca/content/annual_reports

The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants is the professional regulatory body for immigration consultants in Canada. Established in 2004 it currently has over 1,900 members. CSIC's mandate is to protect consumers of immigration consulting services. Consequently, it is responsible for ensuring the education, competency testing and the discipline of its members. CSIC also requires its members to carry errors and omissions insurance and to contribute to a compensation fund.

For further information:

Nancy Tibbo, Communications Manager, ntibbo@csic-scci.ca, 416-945-6271, Toll free: 866-308-2742, ext. 2252 or 416-294-0030.

Website in 11 languages for everyday living issues for expats launched in Canada

by JOSE MARC CASTRO 

A new website in 11 different languages is set to make it easier for expats in Canada to find the kind of information they need on community services when they arrive.

The In My Language site has been developed by the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), which represents more than 200 settlement agencies in Ontario provides an electronic library of translated content which will assist newcomers in adapting to life in Canada.

‘The In my language website is an excellent resource for newcomers to Ontario. Newcomers now have a website where they can get the information they need in the language of their choice,’ said Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism.

The Government has invested $1.4 million in the site which is regarded as one of the best in the world and much needed as expats often find it difficult to find out what services they are entitled to and language can be the first barrier.

‘This multilingual website will give newcomers to Ontario a head start on accessing information on housing, health care, legal advice, schooling, community services and language training across the province,’ said MP Paul Calandra.

The website has content in English, French, Chinese, Punjabi, Urdu, Spanish, Tagalog, Arabic, Gujarati, Tamil and Russian.

‘Helping newcomers get settled is vital. Settlement information needs to be accessible, and this initiative is a significant step in fulfilling that aim,’ said MP Bob Dechert.

Besides immigrants, other users of the website include community organizations, school boards, police services, and the healthcare industry.

Key sections include how to look for a job, different types of housing available, the different stages of schooling, immunisation for children, paying taxes, getting a driving licence and private health insurance.

Government funding of the new website was made possible through the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA), which was signed in 2005. Through this agreement, the Government of Canada is investing $428 million in Ontario for settlement services for immigrants.

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Job crucial for helping expats settle in Canada, report suggests

by RAY CLANCY 

Having a job already arranged before moving to Canada helps expats to settle in better, a new report suggests.

A new evaluation has found that those arriving under the skilled worker programme are effectively contributing to Canada’s economy and are more likely to succeed.

It found that the biggest predictors of a newcomer’s economic success are having a job arranged, being able to speak English or French and having worked in Canada before. But having studied in Canada before for at least two years or having a relative in Canada were less important.

‘The evaluation showed that skilled immigrants are doing well in Canada and filling gaps in our work force. This puts some dents in the doctors-driving-taxis stereotype,’ said Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney.

The report also indicates that the selection criteria for a Canadian visa put in place when the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) became law have been successful in improving the outcomes of skilled immigrants by placing more emphasis on arranged employment, language and education.

The report also shows that skilled workers who already had a job offer when they applied for permanent residence earned an average of $79,200 three years after arriving, up to 65% higher than before the IRPA became law. The findings also showed skilled workers were less likely to rely on employment insurance or social assistance since the new laws were introduced.

Among other recommendations, the evaluation suggests placing higher priority on younger workers and increasing the integrity of the arranged employment part of the programme, which is susceptible to fraud.

The evaluation also recommended that further emphasis be placed on fluency in English or French, and supported the Minister’s June 2010 decision to require language testing for federal skilled worker applicants to combat fraud.

The next step for the Canadian immigration department will be to introduce a range of new proposals for public consultation in an effort to further improve the system, according to Kenney. ‘We’re committed to making it even better and will be consulting on improvements in the coming weeks,’ he said.

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Amendments - Labour Market Opinion

Image via WikipediaIn addition to the standard requirements to apply for a labour market opinion (LMO) under each stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)/Service Canada will also evaluate the following criteria starting April 1, 2011:

1. All employers must use the new LMO application form specific to each program stream, and provide:
   • the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number which applies to all Canadian-based employers;
   • a description of the main business activities;
   • an explanation of how hiring a temporary foreign worker (TFW) meets the employment needs of the employer; and
   • a signed statement attesting that the employer will abide by the Program requirements.
   When applying for an LMO, all new employers to the TFWP will be required to provide a copy of their business licence or permit. Should an employer not be required by the municipality to obtain a licence or permit to operate, the documents listed below may be provided instead:
   
   • CRA documents, including: T4 Summary of Remuneration Paid, Schedules 100 and 125 of the T2 Corporation Income Tax Return, T2125 Statement of Business or Professional Activities;
   • business contracts for goods and/or services;
   • provincial workers compensation clearance letter or other appropriate provincial documentation; and
   • attestation by a lawyer, notary public or chartered accountant confirming that the employer exists and the type of business the employer operates.
   Upon request, returning employers may also be asked to submit any or all of the documents listed above.
   
2. The genuineness of the job offer made to the TFW will be assessed based on whether the:
   • employer is actively engaged in the business in which the job offer is being made;
   • job offered to the TFW meets the employment needs of the employer, and is consistent with the type of business the employer is engaged in;
   • employer can fulfil the terms and conditions of the job offer; and
   • employer, or the third party representative acting on behalf of the employer, is compliant with the relevant federal-provincial/territorial employment and recruitment legislation.
3. All returning employers must demonstrate that they have met the terms and conditions of employment set out in previous LMO confirmation letters and annexes (if applicable). In addition, some employers may be required to submit documentation to support a more detailed employer compliance review (ECR), including any or all of the following documents:
   • payroll records;
   • time sheets;
   • job descriptions;
   • copies of the employer-employee contract;
   • collective agreements;
   • TFW’s work permit ;
   • provincial workers compensation clearance letter or other appropriate provincial documentation;
   • receipts for private health insurance (if applicable);
   • receipts for transportation costs; and
   • information about accommodations provided by the employer;
   If it appears that employers did not fully respect the terms and conditions of employment set out in the LMO confirmation letters and annexes (if applicable), the employer will have the opportunity to provide a rationale. In this case, HRSDC/Service Canada will work with the employer to implement the appropriate corrective action, which may include providing compensation to the TFW. Employers may be found non-compliant if they refuse to provide a rationale and/or provide only partial compensation to the TFW.
   If the employer is found to be non-compliant:
   
   • HRSDC/Service Canada may issue a negative LMO and revoke all positions on confirmed LMOs for which work permits have not yet been issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
   • CIC may deem the employer ineligible to hire TFWs for two years. The employer’s name, address and period of ineligibility may also be published on a list of ineligible employers posted on CIC Web site.

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Alberta performs best in Canada’s Top Entrepreneurial Cities rankings

16 March 2011 According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Communities in Boom research report, Alberta province takes out five of the top ten places for top Entrepreneurial Canadian cities in 2010.

Entrepreneurial cities are measured by a variety of indicators designed to assess the success and development of small to medium enterprise (SME). With 53 per cent of all working individuals in Canada employed by SME’s, this information will be of strong interest to migrants researching destination and employment options.

Some of the main indicators of entrepreneurial hot spots in the study are, the high concentration of entrepreneurs, high business start-up rate, high levels of business owner optimism and success and the presence of supportive local government tax and regulatory policies.

City Entrepreneurial Index: Top 10 Rankings, 2010

1. Grande Prairie, Alberta
2. Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan
3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
4. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
5. Kelowna, British Columbia
6. Edmonton, Alberta
7. Red Deer, Alberta
8 Parksville, British Columbia
9. Saint-Georges, Quebec
10. Wood Buffalo, Alberta

According to the study by Ted Mallett and Queenie Wong, 'Scores are slightly higher than last year, mainly because the economy is further in recovery. However, only two out of 100 cities scored higher than 70 out of 100- which shows there is room for considerable improvement…”.

Alberta has been reported to have 57,774 foreign workers present, as at December 1, 2010, according to preliminary data released by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). This is the third highest province home to foreign workers after Ontario with 99,747 and British Columbia with 67,755. The preliminary data also indicted there were a total of 283,096 foreign workers present in 2010, up from 160,908 in 2006.

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Canada immigration and citizenship guide for Facebook and mobile application

Image via CrunchBase

by Harleen Kaur - March 7, 2011            

Canada, 7th March: Jason Kenney, Canadian immigration minister has launched an educational and a fun Facebook and mobile application in a bid to attract new audiences.

The application takes tour of the ‘Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship’, the Canada immigration guide, and checks your knowledge regarding values, history, symbols and political institutes of Canada.

Learn through fun-Helpful for new immigrants to know facts about Canada--

This new online fun and educational tool was launched by Kenney on 3rd March, 2011.

This will prove to be of great help for new immigrants wanting to learn basic facts about Canada.

The initiative by Canada immigration minister has been aptly named ‘How Canadian are you, EH!’ It comprises of 122 queries which can be taken time and again as long as you wish to on your Android, iPhone or your Blackberry.

Every time you play this application, you will be asked 20 questions selected at random from a total of 122 questions.

You need to select one answer out of different answers provided for each question in the quiz. Speaking about the application, minister Kenney said that the application can be downloaded for taking the quiz and it can also be shared with your friends.

It’s a way to find how Canadian any person living in Canada is, added Kenney. Basically, this new tool is targeted to provide basic facts about Canada’s past and its politics to students currently enrolled between grade five till grade 12, yet, it is beneficial for many.

Everyone can gain from CIC guide--

It’s not just for newcomers in Canada, even if you are an immigrant living in Canada for quite some time but don’t have thorough knowledge about your new nation, then this new online tool is appropriate for you as well.

The application draws its material from ‘Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship’, the Canada citizenship study guide.

Its part of the ongoing initiative named “A Fun Path to Learning”, an online tool launched by Canada immigration department-CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) way back in April last year. It can be found easily within Facebook, in Android marketplace, in Blackberry app and even at the app store of iTunes.

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