United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA): NAFTA 2.0

author: Hugo O'Doherty
Source: Moving2Canada

There’s a new NAFTA in town, with an entirely new name. Months of intense negotiations have yielded a new deal: the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). This pending free trade agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States was finally agreed on September 30, 2018.

If, as expected, the UCMCA is signed by all three countries, it may affect the ways in which professionals from Mexico and the United States may come to Canada on a temporary work permit.

Until the USMCA comes into force, the provisions outlined in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) — including the ability for eligible professionals to work in Canada and for Canadians to work in the US or Mexico — remain in place.

Work permits under the USMCA

The revised USMCA leaves the list of eligible professional occupations essentially unchanged from the NAFTA list, which has been in place since 1994.

As was the case under NAFTA, under the terms of the USMCA temporary entry of eligible professionals to any of the three countries will not require prior approval procedures, petitions, labour certification tests or other procedures of similar effect. In Canada, this means that under the USMCA employers and worker will be exempt from the requirement to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

In addition, the USMCA outlines that there will be no quota on such work permits, and therefore access between the countries among eligible professionals will not be restricted numerically.

USMCA eligible occupations for professionals

Profession	Minimum education requirements
Professionals
Accountant	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or C.P.A., C.A., C.G.A. or C.M.A.
Architect	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Computer Systems Analyst	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or PostSecondary Diploma or PostSecondary Certificate, and three years experience
Disaster Relief Insurance Claims Adjuster (claims Adjuster employed by an insurance company located in the territory of a Party, or an independent claims adjuster)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree, and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims; or three years experience in claims adjustment and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims.
Economist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Engineer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Forester	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Graphic Designer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or PostSecondary Diploma or PostSecondary Certificate, and three years experience
Hotel Manager	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree in hotel/restaurant management; or PostSecondary Diploma or PostSecondary Certificate in hotel/restaurant management, and three years experience in hotel/restaurant management
Industrial Designer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or PostSecondary Diploma or PostSecondary Certificate, and three years experience
Interior Designer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or PostSecondary Diploma or PostSecondary Certificate, and three years experience
Land Surveyor	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial/federal license
Landscape Architect	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Lawyer (including Notary in the Province of Quebec)	LL.B., J.D., LL.L., B.C.L. or Licenciatura Degree (five years); or membership in a state/provincial bar
Librarian	M.L.S. or B.L.S. (for which another Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree was a prerequisite)
Management Consultant	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or equivalent professional experience as established by statement or professional credential attesting to five years experience as a management consultant, or five years experience
Mathematician (including Statistician)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Range Manager/Range Conservationist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Research Assistant (working in a post-secondary educational institution)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Scientific Technician/Technologist	Possession of (a) theoretical knowledge of any of the following disciplines: agricultural sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology or physics; and (b) the ability to solve practical problems in any of those disciplines, or the ability to apply principles of any of those disciplines to basic or applied research
Social Worker	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Sylviculturist (including Forestry Specialist)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Technical Publications Writer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or PostSecondary Diploma or PostSecondary Certificate, and three years experience
Urban Planner (including Geographer)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Vocational Counsellor	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Medical/Allied professionals
Dentist	D.D.S., D.M.D., Doctor en Odontologia or Doctor en Cirugia Dental; or state/provincial license
Dietitian	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Medical Laboratory Technologist (Canada)/Medical Technologist (Mexico and the United States)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or PostSecondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience
Nutritionist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Occupational Therapist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Pharmacist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Physician (teaching or research only)	M.D. or Doctor en Medicina; or state/provincial license
Physiotherapist/Physical Therapist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
Psychologist	State/provincial license; or Licenciatura Degree
Recreational Therapist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Registered Nurse	State/provincial license; or Licenciatura Degree
Veterinarian	D.V.M., D.M.V. or Doctor en Veterinaria; or state/provincial license
Scientific occupations
Agriculturist (including Agronomist)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Animal Breeder	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Animal Scientist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Apiculturist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Astronomer	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Biochemist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Biologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Chemist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Dairy Scientist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Entomologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Epidemiologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Geneticist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Geologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Geochemist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Geophysicist (including Oceanographer in Mexico and the United States)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Horticulturist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Meteorologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Pharmacologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Physicist (including Oceanographer in Canada)	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Plant Breeder	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Poultry Scientist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Soil Scientist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Zoologist	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Teaching occupations
College	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Seminary	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
University	Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree

Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto among top 10 most ‘liveable’ cities in the world

Canadian cities ranked high on Global Liveability Index based on stability, culture, healthcare, infrastructure, and education.

Three of Canada’s biggest cities are among the 10 most liveable in the world, according to the latest Economist Intelligence Unit Global Liveability Index.

Calgary, Alberta, was the highest-ranked Canadian city on the annual index, placing fifth out of the 140 cities surveyed.

Vancouver and Toronto held on to their rankings from last year, ranking sixth and seventh, respectively.

The 140 cities reviewed received a liveability score based on qualitative and quantitative factors under each of the following five categories:

·        Stability: This category examines the prevalence of crime and the threat of terror, military conflict or civil unrest.

·        Healthcare: This category focuses on the availability and quality of private and public healthcare, over-the-counter drugs and other general healthcare indicators.

·        Culture and Environment: This category looks at temperature rating; climate; the level of corruption; social or religious restrictions; food and drink; and other social components.

·        Education: This category covers the availability and quality of private and public education.

·        Infrastructure: An assessment of the quality of roads, public transportation, availability of housing, and other elements.

If a city gets a rating of 100 in a specific category it means the conditions are ideal, whereas a rating of 1 is considered intolerable.

How Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto fared

Calgary’s overall liveability score was 97.5, aided by perfect scores in four of the five categories; only its Culture and Environment score came up short at 90 out of 100.

Vancouver was the only city in the top 10 to receive a perfect score in the Culture and Environment category and also scored 100 in both Healthcare and Education. However, it came up short in the Infrastructure and Stability categories with scores of 92.9 and 95, respectively.

Toronto earned perfect scores in Stability, Healthcare and Education, but was the lowest-ranked in the top 10 for Infrastructure at 89.3. Its score in Culture and Environment was 97.2.

Calgary for newcomers

Calgary is a top destination for the oil and gas industry.

It is the largest city in Alberta, and the fourth-largest in Canada at 1.2 million people.

Data from the 2016 StatsCan census profile shows that Calgary gained more immigrants compared to the rest of the province between 2011 and 2016.

During this period 46 per cent of all immigrants to Alberta moved to Calgary.

The Government of Alberta offers several options for foreigners interested in immigrating to Alberta through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP).

Currently, the AINP has three streams:

·        Alberta Opportunity Stream — This stream is for eligible candidates in specific in-demand occupations.

·        Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream — This option is for international farmers who want to own and operate a farm in Alberta.

·        Alberta Express Entry Stream — The Express Entry system is the Canadian Government’s main source of skilled foreign talent. Alberta’s Express Entry Stream allows the province to search the Express Entry pool for candidates who match its economic development priorities.

Vancouver, Hollywood North

Vancouver, British Columbia, is Canada’s third most populous city, home to over 2.4 million people. Many films and TV shows are produced in Vancouver, which is the third-largest film production location in North America.

More than 142,000 immigrants came to Vancouver between 2011 and 2016, accounting for 81 per cent of all immigrants to B.C.

There are two main immigration streams under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP):

·        Entrepreneur Immigration — This stream is for international entrepreneurs who want to invest and settle in B.C.

·        Skills Immigration (including Express Entry British Columbia) — The BC PNP holds weekly draws for eligible candidates in several Skills Immigration and Express Entry British Columbia subcategories.

Toronto tech hub

Canada’s largest city, Toronto, Ontario, has a technology sector that is directly competing with Silicon Valley and Seattle. It’s estimated that 80,100 tech jobs have been created in Toronto since 2013.

Around 76 per cent of immigrants who moved to Ontario between 2011 and 2016 chose Toronto as their new home. Of the 6.4 million people who call the Greater Toronto Area home, 46 per cent are immigrants.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) accepts applications under three immigration categories:

·        Human Capital Category — This category has five immigration streams, including three that are linked to Canada’s Express Entry system. One of these, the Human Capital Priorities Stream, now holds occasional draws targeting Express Entry candidates with work experience in specific tech occupations.

·        Employer Job Offer Category — Foreign workers and international students with an eligible job offer from an Ontario employer may be eligible under one of this category’s three streams.

·        Business Category — Foreign entrepreneurs who want to establish or buy a business in Ontario can express their interest to the OINP under this category.

 

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How to Select the Right Canadian Province Depending Upon Your Immigration Goals

by Ashwin Sakthivel

Most people who move to a new country have an immigration goal in mind. It may be to pursue better and more numerous job opportunities, a higher standard of living, or simply life in a more open society.

However, it is important to select not only the country you will immigrate to but also—if you choose Canada, for example—the right province and city that will give you an optimal start to your new life abroad. Your immigration objective will often include these three key factors:

• Education
• Career opportunities
• Pathways to becoming a permanent resident

In my own experience studying abroad and working in North America and Europe, I have learned that the following considerations are critical when choosing a location where you can achieve your immigration goals.

Three Key Points for Selecting the Right Province

• Consider a province that needs your skills. Every Canadian province regularly releases an updated list of skills that are scarce among its local workforce. If your skills are on the list, you will stand a better chance of securing a job in that province.

• Consider a province that has active immigration programs. A province that offers multiple provincial immigration pathways apart from the federal Express Entry immigration system must be at the top of your list. Provincial immigration programs provide additional supports that could increase your chances of achieving your immigration goal. For example, the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia offer multiple provincial immigration pathways. Some of the popular provincial immigration programs are as follows:
  • British Columbia’s International Graduate Category for international graduates.
  • The Alberta Opportunity Stream for people working in the eligible occupations.
  • The International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream for Nova Scotia for recent graduates willing to start or operate their own business in Nova Scotia.

• Consider a province that has a provincial immigration program linked to Express Entry. Choosing a province that has its own immigration pathways program linked to the federal Express Entry system provides greater flexibility in securing permanent residence because you would be able to easily switch to the Express Entry pool from a provincial pool if you achieve the required Comprehensive Ranking System points.

Three Key Points for Selecting the Right City Within a Province

• Consider a city that is near the capital city of the province. Choosing a city near the provincial capital will enable you to more easily and efficiently access the bigger job market while keeping your living costs relatively low.

• Consider a city that offers services to new immigrants. Choose a city that provides new immigrant supports such as classes in English and French, help with writing a Canadian or local style résumé, workshops on soft skill development, and numerous job fairs through employment centres. Such services ease the process of settling in Canada and enable you to pursue the core professional development you need to secure employment in the North American job market.

• Consider a city that offers attractive higher education prospects. Opting for a city that has at least one major university or college will allow you to pursue a certificate, diploma, degree, or stackable credential in your field.

These six considerations will help you select the best province and city for achieving your immigration goals.

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