Immigration Canada

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."

Construction Work (Photo credit: gullevek)

Nicholas Keung
Immigration Reporter

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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.