Immigration Canada

New immigration points system will favour younger workers, language skills

Stephanie Levitz, Canadian Press | Dec 19, 2012 10:49 AM ET | Last Updated:

The federal government will relaunch its largest immigration program in May with a new focus on making sure foreign engineers and doctors aren’t stuck driving taxis for a living when they come to Canada, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced Wednesday.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program was frozen in June pending changes to the points grid used to select newcomers.

The government is seeking to make youth and language proficiency a bigger priority for both principal applicants and their spouses. Under the new system, the government will also award more points for Canadian work experience and would-be newcomers will have to have their education credentials assessed before arriving in Canada.

“The reforms we’re making are designed to dramatically improve the economic outcome of newcomers and to help Canada’s productivity as our workforce shrinks and our population ages,” Kenney said.

We want the engineers who we select to actually be able to work as engineers

“Rather than bringing engineers to Canada to drive cabs or doctors to be corner store clerks, we want the engineers who we select to actually be able to work as engineers and the doctors to be able to work as doctors.”

Citing studies that show newcomers tend to have higher unemployment and underemployment rates than the Canadian born population as well as lower average incomes, Kenney said the goal is to reverse the trend to the point that they are close if not in line with national figures.

Kenney said the credential assessment won’t guarantee foreign trained professionals a job in their field since “rigid” and “byzantine” regulatory agencies ultimately have the final say on licensing, but noted efforts are also underway to work with professional bodies to ensure foreigners can find out within a year whether they’ll be granted a license to practice. With respect to foreign doctors, he suggested the points grid will also factor in the availability of residency positions before granting permanent residency.

“This is about truth in advertising. This is what people have been asking us to do for a long time which is to be up front with folks,” he said. “If your level of education is not at or close to the Canadian standard, why would we invite you to come to Canada only to face unemployment or underemployment.”

Freezing the skilled worker program has also allowed the government to get a grip on about 100,000 remaining backlogged applications. It’s what was left after the government eliminated about 280,000 pre-2008 applications from skilled workers and their dependents in the last budget. The government is doing this by refunding $130 million in application fees, though the plan is being challenged in court.

That said, between the moratorium on new federal skilled worker applications and the budget decision to toss old applications, the government indicated last month that the remaining backlog would be eliminated by 2014, about three years ahead of schedule.

When the program relaunches May 4, 2013, it’s expected that new applications will be processed within months rather than years, Kenney said, adding he will also cap the number of applications the government will accept annually to avoid more backlogs in the future.

Frozen at the same time as the skilled worker program, the immigrant investor stream is also poised to relaunch in the first half of next year, Kenney told Postmedia News.

The cash-for-visa scheme which grants permanent residency to wealthy foreigners prepared to invest at least $800,000 into the Canadian economy is also being revamped. The stream is considered too attractive as comparable programs require a much larger investment and one that is permanent. Under the current rules, the $800,000 investment is more like a loan that must be repaid in five years.

The program, however, is also facing a massive backlog of about 25,000 applications — 86,000 if you include dependents — that could take 10 years to get through. Six Chinese investors who applied when the scheme required a mere $400,000 investment are now suing the government over lengthy processing delays.

They fear the government will eliminate the investor backlog in much the same way it did the skilled worker backlog and this week asked the Federal Court to pre-emptively bar the government from doing so pending the outcome of their court case.

Their lawyer Tim Leahy ultimately lost his bid for an injunction, but in an email noted he’s still not convinced the government won’t “abolish” the investor files.

Asked about his plans for the immigrant investor backlog Wednesday, Kenney didn’t rule out the notion entirely but suggested it’s not in the immediate cards.

“At this point, we’re not contemplating legislative measures to reduce the backlog in that stream,” he said, adding the changes will include raising the “price point,” making it a more “active” investment and requiring investors to assume some risk.

The government is also looking into the merits of asking would-be investors caught in the backlog if they would submit to the new rules and investment thresholds in exchange for having their applications fast-tracked. Kenney said that’s one way the government could reduce the backlog.

NDP immigration critic Jinny Sims said Kenney often makes “erratic” and “surprise” decisions and doesn’t believe anything, including doing away with investor backlog, is really “off the table.” She also slammed Kenney’s skilled worker announcement Wednesday, noting the new points grid was already unveiled in August. The only new thing, she argued, is the implementation date.

BREAKING NEWS: Federal Skilled Worker Program Will Reopen in May 2013

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has announced that the new selection system for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) will take effect on May 4th, 2013. At that time, the program will begin accepting applications for review. In addition to the long-awaited announcement, important new details about the program have been revealed, helping to paint a fuller picture of what Canadian immigration will look like in the coming year.

A Quick Background

The Skilled Worker category of the FSWP has been frozen since mid-2012 so that necessary improvements could be made to the program.

The FSWP changes, as described by CIC, are as follows:

Minimum official language thresholds and increased points for official language proficiency, making language the most important factor in the selection process;
Increased emphasis on younger immigrants, who are more likely to acquire valuable Canadian experience, are better positioned to adapt to changing labour market conditions, and who will spend a greater number of years contributing to Canada’s economy;
Introduction of the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), so that education points awarded reflect the foreign credential’s true value in Canada;
Changes to the arranged employment process, allowing employers to hire applicants quickly, if there is a demonstrated need in the Canadian labour market; and
Additional adaptability points for spousal language ability and Canadian work experience

These changes are part of CIC’s mission to transform Canada’s immigration system to one that is ‘faster and more flexible’. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has stated that “the government’s number one priority remains jobs, economic growth, and long-term prosperity. The new Federal Skilled Worker Program criteria will ensure Canada is selecting the skilled immigrants our economy needs, who are the most likely to succeed in Canada.”

Important Additional Announcements

In addition to announcing that applications will be accepted starting May 4th, 2013, CIC made three important statements:

A list of organizations designated by the government to perform educational credential authentication and assessment will be made available in the new year;
A limit will be placed on the number of skilled worker applications the FSWP will accept for review each year. The specific number for this limit has not yet been announced; and
New applications to the FSWP will be processed in a matter of months, as opposed to a year or more.

“This is exciting news for applicants,” says Attorney David Cohen. “We have been looking forward to learning more details about this program, and it appears that CIC is taking steps to achieve its goal of a more streamlined, transparent system that will select the immigrants Canada needs most.”

Prospective Applicants – Moving Forward

Prospective applicants now have a time frame for preparing their applications in advance, if they so choose. According to Attorney David Cohen, early preparation may be key to ensuring that one’s application arrives before quotas are filled.

“Applicants have been patiently waiting for the FSWP to open since July 2012,” he said. “In previous years, quotas have filled quickly, leaving otherwise eligible individuals to wait another year for their chance to gain Canadian Permanent Residency. I suggest those who are serious about immigrating through the FSWP be proactive about preparing their applications so they are first in line on May 4th.”

Once they have submitted their applications, the government promises that individuals will enjoy the fastest processing times for the FSWP in recent history. Those who are successful will arrive in Canada better prepared to find employment, integrate into their communities, and settle into their new home.

Source: http://www.cicnews.com/2012/12/breaking-news-federal-skilled-worker-program-reopen-2013-122126.html

Canada To Speed Up Entry Of Skilled Immigrants Into Country

OTTAWA-Canada recognizes the value of skilled immigrants and makes a plan to fast track talented immigrants into the country.

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is designed to combat a shortage of tradespeople that is hampering economic growth in Canada. Canadian companies applauded the Harper government’s move, saying the existing skilled worker program made it difficult to import labour because admittance criteria put too much emphasis on postsecondary education.

It was easier for somebody with a post-doctorate degree in ancient Greek pottery to get into Canada than somebody with 20 years of experience as a welder or an electrician,” Canadian Construction Association president Michael Atkinson said.

The new program, which will admit a maximum of 3,000 people next year, will begin accepting applications on Jan. 2, 2013, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced Monday.

“For the first time in four decades … we will have a dedicated immigration stream in our federal immigration program for skilled tradesmen, people who are skilled to work with their hands and people who will be able to contribute enormously to Canada’s economy,” the minister said.

Eligible occupations will include electricians, welders, heavy-duty equipment mechanics and pipe fitters, among others.

The Harper government began its overhaul of admittance for foreign skilled workers during the 2012 budget, when it hit the reset button on a lengthy queue of foreigners who have been waiting for approval for half a decade or more.

Applicants under the new program will need to:

Have an offer of employment in Canada or a certificate of qualification from a province or territory to ensure that applicants are “job ready” upon arrival.

Meet a basic language requirement.

Have a minimum of two years of work experience as a skilled tradesperson, to ensure that the applicant has recent and relevant practice as a qualified journeyman.

Have the skills and experience that match those set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC B) system, showing that they have performed the essential duties of the occupation.

To avoid backlogs, the Department Citizenship and Immigration is limiting applications in the program’s first year to 3,000.

“This is not going to be like the old Skilled Worker Program with, with five-, seven-, eight-year wait times because there’s no one in the queue in front of them. This is a fresh queue,” the Minister said.

But Mr. Kenney predicted the program will expand over the years ahead to become a mainstay. “I think the demand will pick up significantly, tracking demand in the labour market for skilled trades,” he said. “I would expect to see this program grow and grow as an important factor of our immigration system.”

The immigration department is drawing up a list of skilled trades’ occupations beset by acute labour shortages. This list of what trades will qualify will be announced prior to Jan. 2. The Federal Skilled Trades Program will complement other immigration avenues already in place for skilled tradespersons, such as the Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Programs.

Courtesy of Globe and Mail.

New Canadian Experience Class Criteria for Permanent Residency

December 12, 2012 | Filed under: Canada | Posted by: Alizah

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will be starting to receive the application forpermanent residency under the Canadian Experienced Class (CEC) from skilled temporary foreign workers and foreign graduates from the second day of the newyear. The minimum requirement of work experience in Canada has been reduced from 24 months to 12 months making it faster for the foreign temporary skilled workers to become Canadian permanent residence. The time period required for the international graduates to gain the required experience has been increased from 24 months to 36 months. The Canadian immigration and citizenship minister, Jason Kenney said that expediting the process to obtain permanent residence will help to tackle the labour market challenges in the country.

Canada’s Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney has announced this Monday December 11, 2012 that temporary foreign skilled workers will be able to transition to Canadian permanent residence much faster due to proposed new changes in the Canadian Experienced Class category.

Temporary foreign skilled worker applicants will become eligible to apply to the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program with 12 months of Canadian work experience beginning January 2, 2013. Previously the required minimum experience in Canada was 24 months.

The international graduates will be provided with more time to gain the one year experience after graduation. They will now have upto 36 months to gain the required Canadian experience.

“The CEC helps Canada attract the immigrants our economy requires,” said Minister Kenney, “individuals who have valuable Canadian work experience and the necessary skills to benefit our country’s current labour market needs.”

“These skilled workers are set for success and expediting their transition to permanent residence will help Canada to respond to ongoing labour market challenges,” the minister added.

Citizenship and immigration Canada has accepted over 20,000 foreign skilled workers and international graduates since the inception of the program in the year 2008. It is expected that up to 10,000 permanent residents through CEC will be accepted during the year 2013.

“The CEC has become Canada’s fastest growing economic immigration program and is part of our plan to attract the best and brightest from around the world,” Jason Kenney further said.

CEC provides an opportunity to the foreign nationals who meet certain criteria to obtain Canadianpermanent residency.

Source: http://news.visato.com/canada/new-canadian-experience-class-criteria-for-permanent-residency/20121212/

International students easy prey for immigration recruiters

Château Frontenac, Quebec City, Canada (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Government trying to crack down on 'ghost consultants'

By Fabiola Carletti and Janet Davison, CBC News

Posted: Dec 11, 2012 5:02 AM ET

Vipul Patel thought that coming from India to study in Canada would be a good way to gain a foothold in a country he hopes will become his permanent home.

But nearly a year after making the move, the 23-year-old is frustrated, confused and not sure who to believe in the sometimes murky — and costly — world where ghost consultants mingle with legitimate agents wanting to help foreign students come to Canada.

"It's very hard for me to trust anyone," says Patel.

WHO GETS INWould you qualify to come to Canada as a skilled worker?

Patel's suspicions developed after he turned to Edu Edge, a Toronto-based consulting firm that, with the help of a sub-agent, was promoting "study and immigrate" packages to students in India.

Edu Edge isn't licensed to provide immigration consulting services, but its president, Naveen Kolan, says the firm hires such services as needed by seeking out Quebec lawyers who can offer them.

The company also hires subagents and in this case, the agent may have overstated what it was able to deliver, Kolan says. Edu Edge has told the subagent to take down the online ads in question.

Complained to regulator

In his complaint to the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council, the federal regulator launched last year by the federal government to crack down on unauthorized immigration representatives, Patel said he was made false promises about immigration timelines and the need for French to study and work in Quebec.

Patel wanted to enrol in an accounting course offered by the Lester B. Pearson School Board, the largest English-language school board in Quebec.

Who is an authorized representative?

Since the passage of Bill C-35 — formerly called the Cracking Down on Crooked Consultants Act — it has been illegal for unauthorized representatives to charge fees for immigration services. Those who are authorized representatives must be in good standing and must be registered under one of three groups:

Members of the new Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).
Lawyers with a provincial or territorial law society.
Notaries who are members of theChambre des notaires du Québec.

For more information, read the ICCRC's bulletin for education agents and institutions.

His complaint alleges he was given "false advertisement on Facebook" promising that students could get permanent residency in 24 months and that no French would be required for residency in Quebec, misconceptions that Patel says were verbally reinforced.

"French is compulsory in Quebec. You need French in order to apply for [Quebec's skilled worker program,]" says Johnny Purohit, president of the Montreal-based registered consulting firm CIS Experts, who helped Patel file his complaint.

"Vipul was led to believe that he would get a three-year work permit if he studied in Quebec for two years, which is misleading — and it played a big role in his decision to come to Quebec to study here."

At Edu Edge, Kolan says the company advised its subagent to remove the ads "right away" after questions regarding them were brought to the company's attention.

Edu Edge tries to give "fair and accurate" information about the accounting program and educational outcomes to students, Kolan said.

At the same time, he says, the company works with partners whose advertisements are "difficult for us to monitor" and who sometimes "resort to practices which are not standard practices."

Open letter

The Lester B. Pearson School Board has been using Edu Edge to recruit students from India for specialized accounting courses that are only offered to students from that country.

"We wanted to break into the Indian market. We'd done our investigation and [Edu Edge] seemed to be very thorough," says Carol Mastantuono, the board's international studies co-ordinator.

The board has had a good partnership with Edu Edge, she says, and is looking at extending its agreement with the group.

Still, Mastantuono told CBC News she would discuss the Patel complaint with Edu Edge.

"If it's proved that any company — and it's not just Edu Edge — any company or any organization that we dealt with was proven to be not on the up an up or there would be problems or difficulties with them, then we would move towards, absolutely, you know, nullifying the contract. There'd be no question about that."

The ICCRC wouldn't comment on Patel's complaint, which is still being reviewed, because of confidentiality rules. But it does acknowledge the difficulty international students can face, and has posted an open letter to Canadian colleges and universities on its website.

"We are asking Canadian educational institutions to protect international students by encouraging their recruiters to operate within Canadian laws," the letter says.

"It has come to our attention that foreign students are often victims of abuse and improper advice. Either they are being coerced into purchasing airline tickets at a higher fee, or they are threatened and intimidated by agents, especially when the students ask for a refund when applications are refused."

Fast-tracking students

The federal government has served notice it sees international students as an attractive immigration target.

In early November, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced plans to fast-track foreign students and have more admitted as immigrants each year under the Canadian Experience Class.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has announced plans to fast-track foreign students and have more admitted as immigrants each year under the Canadian Experience Class.(Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Kenney made his announcementflanked by young foreign university students, noting "these are the kind of bright young people we are trying to recruit."

The government has also proposed changes to its International Student Program "in order to better protect international students and enhance Canada's reputation as a destination of choice for their studies," Citizenship and Immigration Canada said in an email.

More details on that are expected in the next few weeks. But in the meantime, not everyone is happy with the idea of promoting Canadian post-secondary education as an immigration tool.

Come for an education

Naomi Alboim, chair of the policy forum at the School of Policy Studies at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., says international students should be coming here because they want an education, not necessarily because they see it as a quicker route to immigration.

"The transition from international student status to permanent resident status should be a byproduct of students choosing to remain and being eligible to remain as opposed to the primary intent for why they're coming here as an international student."

Alboim says she's much more worried about students who are coming to vocational schools, language schools or other educational institutions, rather than international students attending Canadian universities.

Those students attending Canadian universities go through a screening process and receive an education that is generally very good, she says.

Whereas students at the other schools or institutions "may be exploited in the sense that they pay high fees but they're not getting the education they need.

"Those are the kinds of institutions that tend to use third-party recruiters, that tend to in some cases promise the students the sky and can't deliver."

Not a packaged deal

Alboim says it's to the federal government's credit that it has proposed regulations that would require provinces to identify educational institutions that they think should be able to host international students.

As Brent Farrington, internal co-ordinator for the Canadian Federation of Students, says, more and more international students are running into trouble in Canada.

"It's a growing issue, obviously, with the number of international students increasing in Canada," he said.

Speaking generally about the subject, and not referring specifically to Edu Edge, Farrington said: "because the recruiters are paid essentially for fulfilling quotas, they make a lot of promises, many of which are not true, to the international students they're recruiting."

"That's not to say that all recruiters are bad, but we've reached a level where the federal government is stepping in to adopt a law to require recruiters and agents to register with the government if they're providing advice on Canadian immigration — and that includes work permits, study permits and paths to permanent residency."

Farrington says recruiting agents who make promises that students will be able to immigrate into Canada once they have a degree "should receive hefty fines because that's not true."

"What we have is a situation in which international students have a great chance of being able to immigrate, but it's certainly not a packaged deal," he says.

New Federal Skilled Trades Stream to Begin Accepting Applications on January 2, 2013

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 10, 2012) - To address Canada's growing demand for skilled tradespersons, a new Federal Skilled Trades Program is being launched on January 2, 2013, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

"The new Skilled Trades Stream will help address serious labour shortages in some regions of the country, and support economic growth," Minister Kenney said. "For too long, Canada's immigration system has not been open to these in-demand skilled workers. These changes are long overdue and will help us move to a fast and flexible immigration system that works for Canada's economy."

The program criteria are built around four requirements that ensure applicants will have the right skills and experience needed to succeed here in Canada. In order to qualify, applicants will need to:

have an offer of employment in Canada or a certificate of qualification from a province or territory to ensure that applicants are "job ready" upon arrival;
meet a basic language requirement;
have a minimum of two years of work experience as a skilled tradesperson, to ensure that the applicant has recent and relevant practice as a qualified journeyman; and
have the skills and experience that match those set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC B) system, showing that they have performed the essential duties of the occupation.

In order to manage intake, avoid backlogs and ensure fast processing times, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will accept up to a maximum of 3,000 applications in the first year of the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Minister Kenney was joined at today's announcement by Michael Atkinson, President of the Canadian Construction Association. "The introduction of a dedicated and streamlined program for skilled trades addresses many of the shortcomings from the current Federal Skilled Worker Program," said Michael Atkinson. "The new program ensures greater consideration is given to the needs of industry when processing eligible immigration applications."

"Ensuring Canada's immigration system works for small employers in need of skilled trades' people has been a concern for some time," said Dan Kelly, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. "With the shortage of qualified labour in many parts of Canada growing once again, the launch of the Skilled Trades immigration stream is very welcome news."

Eligible occupations will include electricians, welders, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, and pipefitters, among others. CIC is currently working with the provinces, territories and federal government partners on the list of skilled trades' occupations that are experiencing acute labour shortages and which will qualify under the program. This list will be announced prior to the program opening on January 2, 2013.

The Federal Skilled Trades Program will complement other avenues already in place for skilled tradespersons to immigrate to Canada, such as the Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Programs.

"As promised in Economic Action Plan 2012, we are creating a new immigration stream to facilitate entry of skilled tradespersons," added Minister Kenney. "The Federal Skilled Trades Program will help transform Canada's immigration system into a fast and flexible system focused on jobs, growth and long-term prosperity."

Canada opens immigration to skilled trades workers

Construction Work (Photo credit: gullevek)

Nicholas Keung
Immigration Reporter

10 Comments

With Canada’s construction market poised to become the world’s fifth largest by 2020, Ottawa has launched a new immigration stream to attract skilled trades workers.

The Federal Skilled Trades Program, which opens for applications Jan. 2, will help address labour shortages amid a construction boom on the eve of the 2015 Pan American Games in Ontario.

The new stream offers permanent residency to electricians, welders, heavy-duty equipment mechanics and pipefitters and is open to undocumented construction workers with a job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Monday.

“For the last three or four decades, it’s been virtually impossible for skilled trades people to immigrate to Canada through our skilled workers program because of its emphasis on academic training and formal post-secondary education,” Kenney said in Mississauga.

“Only 3 per cent of selected skilled workers actually were trained in these skilled trades. Yet, we have acute shortages in skilled trades.”

According to a report by the Global Construction Perspectives and Oxford Economics, Canada will become the world’s fifth largest construction market by 2020, behind China, India, Japan and the United States.

“We are going to need 320,000 new (construction) workers by 2020 just to replace those who will be retiring and keep pace with the high demands we are currently seeing,” said Canadian Construction Association president Michael Atkinson.

“Half of the workers are going to have to come from foreign trained workers. We’d like to be able to meet all our labour demands with our domestic workforce, but it is just not going to be possible.”

Greater Toronto’s construction industry has historically drawn a lot of undocumented workers. Kenney said the new program will not exclude this underground workforce, but they must first leave the country and apply if they meet the program’s criteria, including basic language proficiency.

Kenney said the government is committed to expanding the program, but it will be limited to just 3,000 applications in its first year.