Canada offers affordable education

Image via WikipediaKota Kinabalu: Canada is alternative for Sabah students planning affordable and world-class education, abroad, said State Education Exco Member Datuk Masidi Manjun.

"Normally when we think of studying overseas, it's either UK or AustraliaÉI think it's time for us to emphasise the need to find new places.

"We need to make smart decision and not just a decision where to send our children É Canada is far but education wise, it is a potential country for our students to seek knowledge.

"We need to find new environment and environment shape the way we are and the way we think. It's not just about passing grade É We should look beyond our normal thinking," he said at the Canadian Education fair 2011 in Hyatt Hotel, Tuesday.

The High Commission of Canada in Malaysia hosted the Education Fairs in the State capital in hope of attracting more Sabahans to choose Canada as their first choice of education.

Masidi stressed that students and parents must first think of financial aspect as a whole and secondly the education environmental aspect and last but not least the affordability before choosing to study abroad.

"Studying in UK or even in Australia is much expensiveÉbut Canada offers affordable education compared to other countries.

Also the good thing about studying there is that it is legal to work while you are studying," he added.

Senior Trade Commissioner of Canada High Commission in Malaysia Douglas Bingeman said Canada offers flexibility with respect to employment and immigration.

"For students interested in a job during their study it is possible to work up to 20 hours on or off-campus in most Canadian provinces.

Even for students who do not need to work this provides an excellent opportunity to experience Canada and bring back this valuable experience to Malaysia."

He added that over 600 Malaysian students chose to study in Canada every year.

"More than 70,000 Malaysians have studied in Canada since the days of the Colombo Plan, many of them from East Malaysia.

He also said that most Malaysians who studied in Canada applied for courses such as engineering, business and actuarial science, among others.

"Average annual tuition fees are approximately $13,000 (about RM40,000). Most universities in Canada are public and partly funded by the various levels of government.

"The quality of education is also very high and importantly, consistent from one institution to another.

Indeed four Canadian universities ranked in the top 100 in he last Webometric world university ranking," he said.

He further stressed that Canada remains "a safe and welcoming multi-ethnic place to live and the lifestyle is second to none", adding quality of life indicators consistently put Canada at or near the top this regard.

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India, China top as Canada admits record immigrants in 2010

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This new number is about 60,000 higher than the average annual intake of permanent residents in recent years, according to a statement by Immigration and Citizenship Canada. Canada has admitted between 240,000 and 265,000 immigrants annually in recent years.

Though there is no break-down of country-wise figures, India and China remain top sources of immigration for Canada. On average, about 35, 000 Indians make Canada their new home in each year.

Releasing the annual report here Sunday, Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, said, "While other Western countries cut back on immigration during the recession, our government kept legal immigration levels high. Canada's post-recession economy demands a high level of economic immigration to keep our economy strong.''

He said, "In 2010, we welcomed the highest number of permanent residents in the past 50 years to support Canada's economic recovery while taking action to maintain the integrity of Canada's immigration system with the introduction of the Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act."

With two-thirds of those admitted in 2010 being skilled and economic immigrants and their dependants, the minister said the backlog of over 640,000 people in the skilled worker category with wait period of up to six years has now been reduced to 335,000.

"I'm very pleased that a higher number of admissions in 2010 means that more people are now out of the lineup and well on their way to beginning a new life in Canada,'' Kenney said.

During this period, Canada also admitted 182,322 temporary foreign workers and 96,147 foreign students.

Canada now allows foreign students to apply for permanent residency from within the country under the Canadian Experience category introduced in 2008.

Foreign students contribute more than $6.5 billion to the Canadian economy each year.

Though Canada currently admits only 3,500 Indian students each year, these numbers are going to increase rapidly as Canadian universities and colleges ramp up their enrollment from India. 

 

 

 

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Canada welcomes highest number of legal immigrants in 50 years while taking action to maintain the integrity of Canada’s immigration system

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Ottawa, February 13, 2011 — In 2010, Canada welcomed the highest number of legal immigrants in more than 50 years, at 280,636 permanent residents, Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism and Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Alice Wong announced today in Toronto and Vancouver.

“While other Western countries cut back on immigration during the recession, our government kept legal immigration levels high. Canada’s post-recession economy demands a high level of economic immigration to keep our economy strong,” said Minister Kenney. “In 2010, we welcomed the highest number of permanent residents in the past 50 years to support Canada’s economic recovery while taking action to maintain the integrity of Canada’s immigration system with the introduction of the Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada’s Immigration System Act.”

According to preliminary data, last year Canada admitted 280,636 permanent residents, about six percent more than the government’s planned range of 240,000 to 265,000 new permanent residents for 2010. This is in line with Minister Kenney’s announcement in June of last year that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) would adjust its 2010 immigration plan to meet the need for economic immigration. The 280,636 number is about 60,000 higher than the average annual intake of permanent residents the Government of Canada admitted in the 1990s.

“It’s important to understand that the ranges are for planning purposes only. The key number is how many immigrants Canada actually admits. For 2010, that number is 280,636, with the growth coming mostly from skilled economic immigrants,” said Parliamentary Secretary Wong.

The high number of economic immigrants in 2010 has helped CIC decrease application backlogs in the federal skilled worker category, reduce wait times under the Action Plan for Faster Immigration, and better meet labour market needs. Before the Action Plan for Faster Immigration, which Minister Kenney announced within one month of becoming Immigration Minister in November 2008, Canada was obliged to process every immigration application it received, even if it meant creating large application backlogs in popular immigration categories. For example, in 2008 Canada had a backlog of over 640,000 people in the federal skilled worker category waiting as long as six years to be processed.

“Last year, the backlog of people who applied before the Action Plan was drawn down to 335,000 applicants, which represents close to half the number of people who were awaiting a decision in 2008,” said Minister Kenney. “I’m very pleased that a higher number of admissions in 2010 means that more people are now out of the lineup and well on their way to beginning a new life in Canada.”

A recent evaluation confirmed that immigrants selected under the federal skilled worker program are faring well in Canada and filling gaps in the work force. It found that skilled workers who already had a job offer when they applied for permanent residence fared best of all, earning on average $79,200 three years after arriving in Canada. About two thirds of those admitted in 2010 in the permanent resident category were economic immigrants and their dependants.

At the same time, we did our part to meet the needs of provinces and territories through a record number of immigrants in the provincial nominee program, representing an increase of 20 percent from the previous year.

“Since 2006, our government has allowed for the provincial nominee program to expand significantly, from 8,047 people in 2005 to 36,419 in 2011,” said Minister Kenney.

Canada continued to welcome a high number of temporary residents, including 182,322 temporary foreign workers and 96,147 foreign students. That is 28,292 more foreign students than in 2005. And with the creation of the Canadian Experience Class in 2008, eligible foreign students can apply for permanent residency from within Canada. According to a study commissioned by the Government of Canada entitled Economic Impact of International Education in Canada, foreign students are estimated to contribute more than $6.5 billion to Canada’s economy every year.

“We continued to admit an increasing number of foreign students to Canada last year through joint efforts among the federal government, provincial governments and other partners,” said Minister Kenney. “Our government’s initiatives such as the Student Partners Program have also helped to attract and admit a high number of foreign students, particularly from China and India.”

In 2010, Canada also maintained its humanitarian tradition by welcoming 7,265 government-assisted refugees and 4,833 privately sponsored refugees. This represents 63% more privately sponsored refugees than in 2005.

“These refugees played by the rules and came to Canada through legal streams,” noted Minister Kenney. “It is important to note that while Canada is maintaining its humanitarian tradition of providing a safe haven for legitimate refugees, we will not stand by while our immigration system is being abused by queue jumpers and human smugglers. Bill C-49, thePreventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada’s Immigration System Act, sends a clear message that the abuse of our immigration system will not be tolerated.”

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Changes to the AINP employer-driven stream, semi-skilled worker category - hotel and lodging criteria

• Melodie J. Hughes
• Canada
• February 4 2011
• 
  

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On February 4, 2011, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) announced key changes to its hotel and lodging criteria for all applications submitted through the employer-driven stream, semi-skilled worker category.    

Effective April 1, 2011, Alberta Employers and Candidates in the Hotel and Lodging Industry will be subject to new industry-specific criteria regarding English language assessments, work experience and professional certification. Specifically, Alberta-based employers and candidates will need to meet the following:

Employer Criteria

As of April 1, 2011, an Alberta Employer in the hotel and lodging industry, must meet the following criteria in order to nominate a foreign national under the AINP:

• Be a member in good standing with the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) and adopt the association’s prescribed practices with respect to hiring and employing temporary foreign workers.
• Be aware that you are eligible for a maximum number of allocations per calendar year for Food and Beverage Servers and Room Attendants based on the total number of rooms at a property.
• Be aware that you are only eligible for one allocation per property, per calendar year for the occupation of Front Desk Agent/Clerk.
• Have satisfactory recruitment strategies and conditions, employment policies and practices, retention and settlement in order to qualify for allocations.

Candidate Criteria

As a Candidate in the hotel and lodging industry, you must:

• Show that you are competent in listening, reading, speaking, and writing English prior to nomination by submitting language testing results (IELTS preferred) with your application. The test results must be one of:
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) that show a minimum of 4.0 in each of listening, reading, speaking, and writing; or,
  • Canadian Language Benchmark test results using an approved CLB assessment tool that shows a minimum level of 4 achieved in each of listening, reading, speaking, and writing; or,
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) computer-based total score of 137, a TOEFL internet-based total score of 47, or TOEFL paper-based total score of 457.
• Have a total of three (3) years of work experience in a job directly related to the hotel and lodging industry (abroad and/or in Canada), as evidenced through reference letters
• Be employed in Alberta for a minimum of six months before applying to the AINP.

Transitional Process

Prior to April 1, 2011, applications will be accepted with documentation supporting either the current criteria or the new criteria indicated above. Applications postmarked on or after April 1, 2011, will be assessed based on the new criteria only.

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Canada encourages Immigration through the Immigrant Investor Program

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by Sammy - February 6, 2011            

In order to promote economic growth and employment, develop new commercial opportunities, and to improve access to growing foreign markets, Canada is attracting people around the world who are familiar with markets, people with capital, business acumen as well as people who have entrepreneurial skills into the country together with their special requirements and customs.

Canada is offering foreigners with business skills and who has had obtained a big net worth and is willing to live in the territorial provinces of Canada, to help support provincial as well as the territorial economic objectives in the country.

Canada’s banking system was again voted as the “soundest” in the world as it promoted the Immigrant Investor Program which would attract wealthy immigrants to invest in the Canadian economy in return of granting them Canadian visas.

Two ways in which investors can get Canadian visas

There are 2 routes in which wealthy business people who are planning to get a quick way to move into Canada. One is through applying through the Federal Investor Program, and the other would be to apply to the Quebec Investor Program if they are going to invest in Quebec which offers a different program from other Canadian territories.

Applicants in the program must have a minimum net worth of about $1,600,000 CAD that is legally obtained and liability-free, and is willing to invest the amount of $800,000 CAD into the Canadian economy, and with meeting other requirements such as having an experience in owning and managing a business, has an experience of managing employees not to be less than 5, and must confirm into writing, the intention to invest at least $800,000 CAD by transferring funds to the Receiver General or show documents proving that such investments have already been made.

Other incentives offered by the program

Investors are also entitled to opt for the Permanent Resident Card in which permanent resident card will be issued to the investors, the spouse as well as the dependents after their entry to Canada as a resident. The card together with the holder’s passport can also be used to travel freely within and outside Canada.

And if the investor, spouse or dependent has been present in Canada for 3 years out of the 4 years before the application for citizenship, the permanent resident, could apply for Canadian citizenship. And he/she can also be allowed to apply for a dual citizenship if he/she is qualified.

Visa application period

In applying for the visa however, the investment must be made prior to receiving the immigration visa, and in situations where the application for permanent residence is declined, the investor has 90 days to be able to claim the invested sum, and to receive a full refund guaranteed by the government of Canada.

The funds invested in a period of 5 years and are returned to the investor after that period, in which the government has full discretion in managing the funds. 

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