Ottawa creates new immigration program to bring skilled workers to Canada

Calgary Tower, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Calgary Tower, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Written by  Lauren Krugel, The Canadian PressMonday, 16 April 2012
Ottawa has announced a new immigration program that it says will make it easier for Canadian business to hire the workers most urgently needed — skilled tradespeople.

The new stream for workers in fields such as construction and manufacturing should be set up later this year, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Tuesday in Calgary, the financial heart of Canada’s oil and gas industry and a city all too familiar with skilled labour shortages.

“In Canada we’ve been welcoming historic high numbers of immigrants, partly to help us fuel our prosperity in the future and fill growing labour shortages,” Kenney said at the construction site of The Bow, a 58-storey downtown skyscraper that’s close to completion.

“But, to be honest, our immigration programs haven’t been effective in addressing a lot of those shortages. Our immigration programs have become rigid and slow and passive.”

The labour market in the West is especially tight, thanks in large part to a bevy of multibillion-dollar oilsands projects on the go in northern Alberta. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers forecasts the energy industry will spend some $55 billion this year on major projects, said spokesman Travis Davies.

The Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada said in a recent report the oilsands sector will need 21,000 additional workers by 2021 — more than double the number it employed in 2011 — to compensate for both the gap left by retiring baby boomers and fill the needs of new projects. And that doesn’t account for turnover in an ultra-competitive labour market.

It also doesn’t include the ripple effects of that growth on the wider economy — like the need for new homes and offices to be constructed, or demand for more service industry staffers.

There are some avenues for newcomers to become permanent residents, like the Provincial Nominee Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Kenney said those have been helpful, but insufficient.

“There are still huge gaps. We’re talking about tens if not hundreds of thousands of shortages in the skilled trades predicted in the next decade alone.”

Skilled tradespeople make up a small percentage of immigrants coming to Canada under the current program, even though the resource and construction sectors are clamouring for welders, pipefitters, electricians and other skilled trades.

Criteria required to enter Canada under the existing program put tradespeople at a disadvantage because the rules are geared toward professionals, said Kenney.

“Let’s be honest — we don’t need more people coming to Canada with advanced degrees that end up driving taxi cabs and end up working in convenience stores. That’s a waste of human capital,” he said.

Businesses know better than the government what sorts of skills are needed and should have the flexibility to head- hunt workers overseas or even just south of the border where unemployment is high and the skillsets are a good fit for Canada, he added.

“Frankly, we’ve been selecting a lot of people through our skilled worker program who end up unemployed and underemployed while businesses have skill shortages,” Kenney said.

Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, said the new program is an improvement from the tendency to use temporary foreign workers to back-stop labour shortages.

But he said he remains “deeply troubled” that there are some 1.5 million unemployed workers within Canada that could fill the gap if they had the right training.

“There’s a gap that needs to be bridged between the demand for workers in areas like the oilsands and the supply of workers in places like Ontario and Quebec,” said McGowan.

“Instead of abandoning those unemployed workers, we feel very strongly that our government should look first at new and creative ways to train unemployed Canadians to fill the job vacancies as opposed to reverting to what I would describe as a short-sighted Band-Aid solution like the one they’ve announced today.”

Cheryl Knight, CEO of the Petroleum HR Council, agrees more training and better outreach to students is needed, but she said that’s not enough to fill the gap.

“The bottom line message is that we also need foreign workers, skilled foreign workers.”

The measures to bring more skilled tradespeople into Canada is welcome, but there is also a shortage of skilled workers that fit into neither the trades nor professional categories.

For instance, workers with experience in drilling complicated horizontal natural gas or oil wells won’t necessarily have educational credentials. But they’ll have plenty of valuable experience they learned on the job, Knight said.

Davies, the CAPP spokesman, said skilled tradespeople are badly needed in the oilpatch, but there are shortages in the engineering and financial industries, too.

“When you look out there, the labour challenge is very real and it’s very imminent. And it’s not just oil and gas. It’s all industries in this country, and especially in the West,” Davies said.

The oil and gas industry believes in hiring Canadians first, and supports training and apprenticeship programs, he added.

“We also think we’re going to have to look beyond our own borders and take some steps to increase economic immigrants to our country,” he said.

The changes are part of a broader set of immigration reforms laid out in last month’s federal budget.

Alberta government officials consulted with Kenney in the days leading up to the federal budget, said Premier Alison Redford.

“And what we saw was some real flexibility in terms of trying to create labour strategies that could compliment immigration policy, that would allow us to get more workers here faster,” she told reporters while campaigning in Calgary ahead of the April 23 provincial election.

“So I’m very pleased to see some success with respect to that.”

— With files from Bill Graveland 

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Minister Kenney Announces Proposed Plan to Expedite Skilled Workers' Transition From Temporary to Permanent Residence

Supreme Court of Canada Français : Cour suprêm...
Supreme Court of Canada Français : Cour suprême du Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, Apr 16, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- To meet Canada's labour market needs more quickly, highly-skilled temporary foreign workers could soon transition to permanent residence faster than before, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.
"Thousands of highly-skilled foreign nationals are working successfully in Canada on a temporary basis," said Minister Kenney. "Expediting their transition to permanent residence would help Canada retain bright and talented people who already have Canadian work experience and the ability to communicate in English or French. In many cases, they already have a job lined up. Such newcomers are set for success."
To make Canada's immigration system more flexible and even more responsive to our labour market needs, Citizenship and Immigration Canada intends to reduce the work experience requirement for eligible temporary foreign workers applying to stay permanently. One major benefit of the change would be to make it easier for skilled tradespersons working in Canada to transition to permanent residence as their work is often project-based and can be seasonal.
Currently, to be eligible to apply, applicants under the temporary foreign worker stream of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) must have acquired 24 months of full-time work experience within the last 36 months. Under the proposed regulatory changes, the requirement would be reduced to 12 months of experience.
The announcement is the latest in a series Minister Kenney has made about transforming Canada's economic immigration program into a fast and flexible system focused on jobs, growth, and prosperity.
Launched in 2008, the CEC offers a pathway to permanent residence - and eventually Canadian citizenship - for international students and temporary foreign workers with highly-skilled Canadian work experience. The CEC aims to support the economic success of immigrants by selecting those who are most likely to succeed in Canada's labour market.
In 2011, a record number of people were admitted to Canada under the CEC. According to preliminary admissions data, 6,022 immigrants were welcomed under the CEC last year, a significant increase in admissions of more than 50 % from 2010. In 2012, 7,000 permanent residents are expected to be admitted through the CEC - more than ever before.
"The CEC is a key part of our plan for the future of immigration in Canada, and so it is gratifying to see the dramatic growth in the program since its inception," said Minister Kenney.
Further details about the proposed changes to the Canadian Experience Class will be announced later in 2012.


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Entry to Canada to cost wealthy foreigners more

Will and Kate on their first Overseas Royal Visit
Will and Kate on their first Overseas Royal Visit (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

OTTAWA— From Saturday's Globe and Mail


The Harper government is shaking up the federal immigrant investor program to ensure the money that wealthy foreigners bring here as a condition of entry is put to work in Canadian companies instead of languishing in bank accounts.
The Conservatives are also expected to at least double the cash that immigrant investors must inject into Canada, to $1.6-million from $800,000. The money is currently given to provincial governments for five years until it’s returned, without interest, to the immigrant.
The government’s game plan is to wring more benefits for Canada from the vast pool of foreign millionaires looking for a safe haven in places such as North America.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney kicked off consultations Friday on reforming the federal immigrant investor program.
“There are literally millions of millionaires around the world who would love to come to Canada and are willing to invest in this country,” he said. “But we’ve been massively under-pricing that program relative to our major competitors like Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom.”
The exercise is ultimately expected to result in changes requiring newcomers to invest more directly in Canadian businesses – making what Mr. Kenney calls more “durable investments.”
Canada currently admits about 3,000 immigrant investors per year through the federal program – or about 11,000 including their families. Largely from China, Taiwan and South Korea, these newcomers’ primary destinations are Ontario and British Columbia..
The existing program requires investors to make what amounts to an interest-free loan to a provincial or territorial government, ostensibly as investment capital to be used for economic development activities.
But Mr. Kenney complained the cash frequently ends up sitting idle on provincial government balance sheets rather than stimulating the economy.
“Right now, all Canada gets from the investor immigrant program is five years of use of about $750,000,” he said. “That’s the $800,000 contribution minus commissions and fees. ... It basically means that provincial governments that are getting that money are offsetting their debt service costs.”
Mr. Kenney said the Tories will also rewrite the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow Ottawa to rapidly create specialized investor programs targeting particular groups.
“If they have a brilliant idea, if they have Canadian investors, for example, who are willing to backstop them to start a business that will create jobs and wealth, we want to get them in the country.”
The immigration minister cited an article from the Wall Street Journal last November that said more than half of China's millionaires are either considering emigrating or have already taken steps to do so. Thirty-seven per cent of those named Canada as a top destination, he remarked.
That’s proof, Mr. Kenney said, that Canada can afford to hike the investment requirements.
Ottawa is currently scrambling to process a backlog of more than 25,000 wealthy foreigners – representing 90,000 people – hoping to gain a Canadian visa under the program.
“There are more people clamouring to buy seats on the plane than there are actually seats available on the plane. And that indicates to us that we can raise the price for the ticket,” the minister said.
Immigration lawyer Richard Kurland predicted changes would see immigrant investor cash funnelled into lending by the Ottawa-backed Business Development Bank or investments made by the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board.
He cautioned against allowing investors to invest directly in Canadian companies, saying in the past this led to firms secretly returning the money to immigrants, minus a fee. “It’s too easy to hoodwink the system.”
Mr. Kurland said Canada should at least triple the required investment. “We’re selling five-dollar pies at fifty cents.”
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Business groups like federal immigration changes


 
 
 
The federal government's recent decision to shake up the immigration system by more closely matching supply with the need for workers is getting good reviews from spokesmen for Saskatchewan's labour-hungry business community.
 

The federal government's recent decision to shake up the immigration system by more closely matching supply with the need for workers is getting good reviews from spokesmen for Saskatchewan's labour-hungry business community.

Photograph by: Aaron Lynett / National Post files, Aaron Lynett / National Post files

The federal government's recent decision to shake up the immigration system by more closely matching supply with the need for workers is getting good reviews from spokesmen for Saskatchewan's labour-hungry business community.
Their delight, though, is tempered by sympathy for prospective immigrants who've been waiting for admission to Canada - for years, in some cases - only to learn that Canada will, in essence, tear up the waiting list and start over.
"We give full credit to (Immigration Minister Jason) Kenney for the things he's done," said Steve McLellan, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, which has long been telling political decision-makers that one of the major concerns of employers is roadblocks when they're trying to attract skilled labour to the province.
Based on what he's heard about the federal reform plans, there are some silver linings for those who've been waiting for admission to Canada.
. The first is that they can simply reapply under the new criteria - a process made easier by a federal announcement that applications will be accepted over the Internet as opposed to via signed paper applications, said McLellan, who added federal officials have told grim stories about boxes, even entire rooms, full of paper applications waiting to be processed while new ones pour in.
A web-based approach should permit easier updating of applications, then faster processing and communication, he said.
. Second, the new approach doesn't preclude prospective immigrants from applying to other countries as well. "For those people whose names are in the queue, it'll be disappointing; I feel for them."
"It's unfortunate for people who've been waiting for six or eight years," agreed John Hopkins, executive director of the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce, adding that such a delay "really is an indication that the current system isn't working. That said, anything that can be done is a good thing."
McLellan said he has mixed feelings on what he interprets as an emerging federal requirement that not only immigrant workers, but all family members, be fluent in one of Canada's official languages in the belief this will enhance their chances of being successful in Canada and, in the workplace, boost safety.
If so, that could create immigration problems for some families where one parent - a father, for example - can speak English, but his wife doesn't, said McLellan. He singled out for praise groups like the Regina Open Door Society - which declined to comment at this time on immigration changes - for its ability to teach English as a second language.
He's also awaiting clarification of the government's plans on so-called "labour market opinions" or LMOs.
These are the approvals federal immigration officials give to employers who are anxious to hire foreign workers - and who have proven there are no suitable Canadian applicants for those positions by producing proof of a meagre response - or no response at all - to job advertisements or internal postings.
He said Kenney recently told an audience in Weyburn he would not expand to Saskatchewan a pilot project on "expedited" LMOs taking place elsewhere.
Balancing that, Kenney said provincial governments, including Saskatchewan, had "greater latitude than they'd used in the past" through their own sponsored immigrant plans.
wchabun@leaderpost.com


Readmore:http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Business+groups+like+federal+immigration+changes/6454757/story.html#ixzz1rxLSXytU

Ottawa plots revamp of immigrant investor program

Parliament buildings of canada
Parliament buildings of canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Canada will take the first steps toward revamping its popular but out-of-dateImmigrant Investor ProgramImmigration Minister Jason Kenney said Friday following a roundtable discussion with financiers in Victoria.
We can no longer be a passive player in the global competition for talent and investment — Immigration Minister Jason Kenney












Kenney said the government will start by introducing legislation to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to give him more power and flexibility to create, change or cancel specialized programs according to market demand and proven effectiveness.
One of those programs, he suggested, could focus on quickly attracting new investors to Canada.
Kenney also said he would begin consulting stakeholders and provincial and territorial colleagues on how best to reform the current investor program which critics say is poorly designed, to the detriment of Canada.
“We can no longer be a passive player in the global competition for talent and investment. That is why we need to review and amend our immigration laws to create dynamic programs that allow immigrants’ investments to directly benefit the Canadian economy,” Kenney said.

“I am open to creative ideas and suggestions from the business community on how to maximize the economic benefits of such programs to Canada.”
Critics argue the current investor program is really just a cash-for-visa scheme that fast-tracks permanent residency to those who can cough up $800,000 — not a lot compared to other countries that have set thresholds as high as $1.6-million.
Furthermore, the investment — which is transferred to the provinces to be used for economic development projects — is currently just a loan that has to be repaid five years later.
As such, some provinces like Ontario haven’t been able to use the cash effectively.
That said, newcomers love it. As of last fall, there was a backlog of 88,555 immigrant investor applications.
After the government capped applications to 700 last year to try to align intake with processing timelines, some wealthy investors chartered private planes in order to be the first to submit their applications when the program opened in July.
All 700 spots were filled within 30 minutes even though Canada doubled the minimum investment from $400,000 and set a net worth requirement of $1.6-million a year earlier in an effort to raise the bar.
Kenney has not yet said whether the program as it currently exists will reopen to new applicants July 1 as per usual.
Figures obtained by Vancouver immigration lawyer Richard Kurland indicate that between October 2010 and September 2011, Canada approved nearly 3,000 cases and issued a total of 10,246 visas to immigrant investor applicants and their families.
The vast majority of approved investors came from Hong Kong, followed at a distance by Taipei, Damascus, London and Seoul.


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Minister Kenney Announces Roundtable Discussions on Immigrant Investment in Canada

Canada
Canada (Photo credit: Stephh922)

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire) -- 04/13/12 -- Today, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced the latest step in transforming Canada's economic immigration system into a fast and flexible system focused on jobs, growth, and prosperity.
Today's announcement, the latest in the series of announcements that will be made over the course of the next month, focused on Canada's Immigrant Investor Program.
"Canada's Immigrant Investor Program undervalues the importance of Canadian Citizenship and fails to ensure that new investors are investing actively in the Canadian economy," said Minister Kenney. "We will consult on changes to ensure that investments by immigrant investors contribute more effectively to growing our economy and creating jobs for Canadians."
As part of the announcement Minister Kenney announced that:
1.  Government of Canada will introduce changes to the Immigration and
    Refugee Protection Act to allow the Minister of Immigration to rapidly
    create specialized programs, 
    
2.  One such program could be a program to rapidly attract new investors to
    Canada, and 
    
3.  Government of Canada will begin consultations with stakeholders and
    provinces and territories on how best to reform the current Immigrant
    Investor Program. 

"Our goal is to have immigrant investor programs that attract immigrants who want to invest in Canada's future," said Minister Kenney. "We can no longer be a passive player in the global competition for talent and investment. That is why we need to review and amend our immigration laws to create dynamic programs that allow immigrants' investments to directly benefit the Canadian economy. I am open to creative ideas and suggestions from the business community on how to maximize the economic benefits of such programs to Canada."
The Minister will be consulting to determine how best to target high value global investors, unlike the current program, which essentially requires a five-year interest-free loan to provincial and territorial governments for economic development activities. The Minister will consult with Canadians about whether the government should use its powers under the amended Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to create programs that have a far greater impact on Canada's economy, for example by possibly favouring active use of investment capital to promote economic growth.

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Feds to overhaul immigrant-investor program to give minister more power

Province layout of Canada
Province layout of Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By The Canadian Press  | April 13, 2012

VANCOUVER - New changes to the government program for immigrant investors will put more power in the hands of the minister in charge of immigration.
Right now, that's Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, who is announcing plans to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act so he can create specialized programs to quickly respond to market demand.
The department suggests one such program could help bring new investors to Canada.
The move falls in line with recent changes to the Balanced Refugee Reform Act, which give minister the final say over which countries are considered safe and which are not.
Refugees from so-called safe countries whose claims are rejected will no longer be permitted to appeal the decision to the Immigration and Refugee Board, which they can do under current legislation.
Kenney will now meet businesses and his provincial and territorial counterparts to come up with ways to overhaul the investor program.
"We can no longer be a passive player in the global competition for talent and investment," he said in a statement. "That is why we need to review and amend our immigration laws to create dynamic programs that allow immigrants' investments to directly benefit the Canadian economy.
"I am open to creative ideas and suggestions from the business community on how to maximize the economic benefits of such programs to Canada."

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