Canadian wages up 3% from year before


  Aug 25, 2011 – 10:38 AM ET Last Updated: Aug 25, 2011 1:09 PM ET
OTTAWA — The average weekly wage of Canadians edged up 0.3% in June from the previous month, and rose 3% from a year earlier, Statistics Canada said Thursday.
The federal agency said earnings on average totalled $876.27 per week in June, compared to $873.47 the previous month and $850.53 in June 2010. The average hours worked per week were 32.9, unchanged from a year earlier.
“The 3% (year-over-year) increase reflects a number of factors, such as wage growth and changes in the composition of employment by industry, by occupation and by level of job experience,” the agency said.
Weekly earnings were up in all provinces in the 12 months to June, with the biggest gains in Alberta, up 5% to $1,041.45, and British Columbia, up 4.5% to $849.69.
“Alberta has recorded year-over-year growth in earnings above the national average since March 2010,” Statistics Canada said.
Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island saw the slowest wage growth, up 1% to $854.60 and up 1.7% to $723.15, respectively.
Meanwhile, the number of employees on payrolls totalled 14.92 million in June, a gain of 1.8% from a year earlier.
TABLE
Average weekly wage in June / percentage change from year earlier:
Nationally $876.27 / 3.0
Newfoundland and Labrador $862.60 / 3.2
Prince Edward Island $723.15 / 1.7
Nova Scotia $773.89 / 2.0
New Brunswick $790.59 / 3.9
Quebec $815.91 / 3.0
Ontario $899.45 / 2.5
Manitoba $809.81 / 3.4
Saskatchewan $854.60 / 1.0
Alberta $1,041.45 / 5.0
British Columbia $849.69 / 4.5
Source: Statistics Canada

Critics decry outsourcing of visa processing


 Published August 24, 2011
Source: http://www.embassymag.ca/page/view/visa-08-24-2011

The federal government is working to create a global network of visa processing offices, many of which are now privately run—a move that critics say raises concerns over information security, privacy and oversight.
The government is set to almost double the number of countries in which it outsources the operation of visa application centres, from 20 to 35. During Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to Latin America earlier this month, he announced the opening of one in Costa Rica, and three in Brazil.
These are in addition to six more scheduled to open this month and seven next month, all in South and Central America. They add to those already running everywhere from Mexico to Moldova, Kenya to Kazakhstan.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada says it wants to continue to expand its use of these centres globally, although a spokesperson says no final decisions have been made yet. Some centres could also collect and transmit biometric information, such as fingerprints, in the future.
Business sees efficiencies, convenience
Canadian missions abroad process applications for temporary visas to Canada. But since 2000, they have been striking agreements with third parties to outsource more and more of these activities.
Most service providers are businesses. They include a Canadian subsidiary of Computer Sciences Corporation, a Fortune 500 American information technology company that will run the new visa application centres in 15 Latin American countries, and the India-based VFS Global. Embassy tried to reach someone with VFS Global but did not receive a response. A CSC spokesperson referred comment to CIC.
The Canadian government also works with at least one non-profit group. The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organization that runs application centres for Canada in Vietnam and Tajikistan.
On top of the Canadian government's processing fee, application centre operators charge a service fee to each applicant for accepting their application and supporting documents such as passports, making sure it's complete, tracking it, sending it to a Canadian embassy or consulate and returning documents after a government visa officer has decided whether to accept or deny the application.
CIC approves fees as part of a formal agreement it signs with each service provider. They differ depending on the country. The base fee is about $14 CAD in India and $36 in China.
Countries such as the United States, UK and Australia also outsource visa application processing.
Business groups and the tourism industry like it because it makes the process more efficient by ensuring there's less chance of being rejected for incomplete or incorrect forms, and more convenient because visa application centres may be easier to access than consulates and are typically open longer hours.
Stephen Cryne is president and CEO of the Canadian Employee Relocation Council, which helps its member firms address workforce mobility issues. It serves 400 companies with activities in Brazil. "Any way that we can make it easier for those companies to move their people between Canada and the US is welcome news," said Mr. Cryne. "It goes a long way to helping our economy."
He sees the Latin American visa centre boom as part of the Canadian government's larger trade agenda in the region.
David Goldstein, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, said economically and demographically, Mexico and Brazil have the fastest-growing upper- and middle-class populations in the hemisphere—people who can now afford to travel the world. His lobby group would like the Canadian government to stop imposing visas on them altogether, but if they have to be there, he said, a faster visa process is "the semi-perfect solution."
While critics may complain about the inflated cost of getting a visa through a privately-run application centre, Mr. Goldstein said consulates are still open to take visa applications directly.
"In the grand scheme of things, if you're booking a trip from São Paulo to Toronto, you're going to spend thousands of dollars between airfares, hotels and restaurants. Another $20, $30, $40 for convenience is not a significant investment," he said.
Visa application centres improve the productivity and processing times of visa posts for temporary resident applications, said Phil Mooney, president and CEO of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council.
"In most of the cases where they've been introduced the wait times for temporary resident applications have decreased," he said.
Concerns over adequate safeguards
But Mr. Mooney also said some immigration consultants have raised concerns. For example, visa application centre officials are to ensure applicants' forms are filled out correctly, but not to offer advice. The federal government passed a law this year to strengthen penalties against people who charge money but aren't authorized to give immigration advice.
CIC spokesperson Nancy Caron said that under the terms of the agreement signed between CIC and each centre operator, the service is subject to inspection and audit. If an operator doesn't comply, CIC could cancel the agreement.
"The government should be more open in how they monitor these facilities and there should be reports that are readily available to individuals about that," said Mr. Mooney, adding that this would help maintain the integrity of the system.
He also raised concerns about sensitive personal information falling into wrong hands, for example if the business running a visa application centre must be licensed by the country in which it operates, and the state security service requires access to the company's files.
NDP immigration critic Don Davies said there are certain government functions that it must do itself, such as adjudicating income tax returns and visa processing. Every deviation from that direct relationship between the government and its client, he argued, raises the potential for risk in dealing with sensitive information such as bank records.
"If you're in India and you're handing this information to a third-party provider, what kind of guarantees do you have? That company could go out of business next week and flee the country," he said. "They could be selling that information to someone else. They could have a breach of security."
VFS Global, which runs Canadian visa application centres in eight countries including China and India, did come under pressure in 2007 when a security breach meant the personal data of people applying online through VFS for a visa to the UK were visible to others visiting the site. VFS has since said it has improved information security by following industry best practices.
Vancouver immigration lawyer Richard Kurland said he's concerned that contractors or subcontractors in other countries might flout legislated privacy safeguards that the private and public sectors in Canada must both follow.
Monitoring should be done by third parties, he also argued, not "the foxes guarding the foxes." And there should be accessible means of recourse for users if something goes wrong.
Anne-Marie Hayden, a spokesperson for the federal privacy commissioner's office, outlined similar concerns. She also said there are plans for some visa application centres to collect and transit biometric information, such as fingerprints, which is especially sensitive personal information. CIC should work to mitigate and manage such "privacy challenges and risks," she said.
She noted that CIC has sought and is seeking advice from her office as it establishes visa application centre management contracts. The office is currently reviewing a CIC privacy impact assessment for some of its visa application centres. And privacy and security requirements will be built into CIC's assessment of candidates in a coming request for proposal process related to the creation and management of a global visa application centre network.
Ms. Caron noted that safeguards on the protection of personal information are built into agreements with application centre operators. Background checks and screening are done on all centre staff, she said, and they must be given proper training as provided or authorized by CIC.
Mr. Davies suggested the government open small satellite offices to process applications rather than use outside providers.

Volunteers sought to mentor new immigrants


 
 
The Community Immigrant Mentorship program is on the lookout for newcomers and not-so-new-anymore immigrants to New Westminster
The program, offered by Family Services of Greater Vancouver, pairs established immigrants (mentors) with newcomers, immigrants or refugees.
Launched in January 2010, the program has been fine-tuned to better meet the needs of its participants.
"We started with a leadership program," said facilitator/community liaison Maylen Crespo. "It changed to a mentorship program."
The first mentorship program required a six-month commitment for mentors and newcomers. Participants recommended it be reduced to four months.
"It's a long commitment," Crespo said about six months. "People start getting jobs and getting more involved in the community. It was too long."
The program is now looking for mentors and newcomers wanting to get involved in upcoming classes. Ten mentors and 10 newcomers will participate in sessions getting underway in September and January.
"I have quite a few application for mentors," Crespo said. "To get to newcomers, that is the most difficult thing."
Crespo said people from other communities have expressed an interest in attending the program, but it's really focused on New Westminster.
"The purpose this time is going to be a little bit different. We are going to create a manual on how to run a mentorship program," Crespo added. "It will be for any other communities who want to create a program to support immigrants."
The Community Immigrant Mentorship program
includes weekly workshops for newcomers where they learn about local resources, building relationships and learn the benefits of volunteering.
While the program provides newcomers with important information that helps them settle into New Westminster, Crespo said the guest speakers have also noted that they've gleaned a lot of helpful information from their visits with the newcomers. Guests have included representatives from government (federal, provincial and municipal), and police, health, library and recreation services.
"Every time it is a new session, I learn something new," said Crespo, who immigrated to Canada 10 years ago.
Newcomers who participate in the program have to set a personal goal that they want to accomplish during the four months they're involved with the program, whether that's becoming more active in the community, exploring the city or volunteering. They also have to agree to share their experiences and knowledge with others, which could be something as simple as helping to make others aware of good places to find cheap meals.
"They have to do a practicum," Crespo said. "They have to share information they have learned. The mentor will be assisting them with all of this."
In addition to those weekly sessions, the newcomers and mentors meet to decide how often they'll meet and the sorts of things they'll do to help the newcomers become active members of the community.
Crespo said people who have been mentored through the program have said they have an increased sense of belonging in the community. The mentors, having once been newcomers themselves, enjoyed sharing their knowledge and experiences.
For more information on the free program or to receive an application, contact Maylen Crespo at 604-525-9144 or email mcrespo@fsgv.ca.
tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com


Read more:http://www.royalcityrecord.com/life/Program+reaches+Canadians/5300247/story.html#ixzz1W0Vx785p

More immigrants are in Canada's national interest


From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney’s announcement that he’s launching stakeholder consultations on Canada’s immigration program presents a timely opportunity for a national conversation. How will we adapt to a century of unprecedented mobility? Will we harness migration to build a more dynamic society and economy, or will we quietly recede from the frontiers of globalization, sacrificing innovation and prosperity for a more static society?



With new policies aimed at clamping down on human smugglers and enhancing U.S.-Canada border security, many perceive that Canada’s door is closing. This is false – so far. Canada accepted 17 per cent more migrants last year than in 2005. In a time of recession when other Western governments are imposing strict limits on migration, Canada admitted 50,000 more migrants in 2010 than in 2009.
Over the past 25 years, the total number of international migrants doubled to more than 200 million. We should expect that number to double again in the next two decades. The world is entering a period of hypermobility, the product of a growing supply of potential migrants from developing countries and a burgeoning demand for both low- and high-skilled workers in developed countries such as Canada. Skype, Western Union, low-cost airlines and other advances are enabling an unprecedented scale of movement.
The drivers of mobility will grow stronger in the coming decades for three reasons:
• Intercountry inequality is increasing rapidly. Millions of Europeans left for the Americas in the late 19th century to seek, among other things, wages that were two to four times higher than those at home. Today, migrants stand to earn as much as 15 times more by moving to another country to work.
• The connected processes of economic development, urbanization and population growth in developing countries are positioning more people to seek their fortunes abroad. Those with the greatest propensity to move are educated young people with access to resources and networks for migration. Climate change will also threaten rural livelihoods, pushing more people into cities and some across borders.
• Demand for migrants will increase as declining fertility and population aging create severe labour shortages, often in developed countries such as Canada. The fiscal burden of an aging population will be borne by a shrinking work force, and staff for nursing homes and retirement facilities will continue to be scarce. Just as Canadian farms rely on temporary foreign workers during harvest time, our elderly population will benefit from the care provided by new Canadians.
We should embrace higher levels of migration because it’s in our national interest. High-skilled migrants innovate at a higher rate than the native-born population, and low-skilled migrants meet crucial service sector gaps. On the whole, migrants contribute more to the public purse than they receive in benefits. It’s no wonder the provinces are seeking increased quotas.
We should also increase levels of migration because it can deliver far more for global prosperity than foreign aid and international trade ever will. Completely opening borders, World Bank economists predict, would produce gains as high as $39-trillion for the world economy over 25 years. These numbers compare with the $70-billion that is currently spent every year in overseas development assistance and the estimated gains of $100-billion from fully liberalizing international trade. If we want to revolutionize our foreign aid policy, we can start by giving more people a chance to work in Canada.
The debate on immigration policy is undermined in many countries by partisan agendas and dysfunctional politics. Other governments are tempted to choke off migration in the interest of short-term expediency and political gain. We must resist this trend, remembering that Canada is a society built with the ingenuity and hard work of generations of migrants.
Geoffrey Cameron, a research associate with the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford, works in Ottawa. Ian Goldin is director of the Oxford Martin School and a professorial fellow at Balliol College, Oxford. With Meera Balarajan, they are the authors of Exceptional People: How Migration Shaped Our World and Will Define Our Future.

Durham's changing workforce


August 24, 2011
By Geoff Zochodne/The Oshawa Express
Twenty years from now, two of the following three will be true of the labour force:
It will be older. It will be more diverse. It will be based on the second moon of Jupiter.
The first two are accurate, states a recent report from Statistics Canada. The third is a flight of fancy.
StatsCan’s report, titled “Projected trends to 2031 for the Canadian labour force,” outlines a future workforce that contains more workers over the age of 55 and who were born outside Canada.
Overall, the labour force will increase by at least 20 million additional workers. And, according to StatsCan, nearly one in four of those workers will be over 55. By 2031 one in three members of the labour force would be foreign-born as well.
This forthcoming trend will not escape Durham Region either. A general demographics report done by the Toronto Region Research Alliance (TRRA), “a public-private partnership supported by the governments of Ontario and Canada, and a wide range of regional stakeholders from the private sector, universities, colleges, and research hospitals,” says similar things for the local scene.
In the report, the Oshawa Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), which includes Clarington and Whitby, is expected to grow both older and more diverse in the near future.
By 2015, more than one-third of the Oshawa CMA’s population would be over 55 and a fourth would be immigrants.
An aging population and workforce is not a bad thing, says Jim Freeman, president of the Durham Region Labour Council; if you prepare ahead of time. What Freeman would like to see is an increased Canadian Pension Plan (CPP), which would entice older workers to retire comfortably while opening up jobs to a younger generation as well.
“The Canada Pension Plan as it stands is not enough to keep seniors out of poverty,” says Freeman. “If you actually make it affordable for people to retire they would.”
He also thinks that the jobs of the future are green ones and that the government should be investing in new technology for skilled workers.
“The factories are already there and they’re sitting there empty,” he states.
As for an increased amount of immigrants living and working in Durham Region, Freeman is concerned they are not being given the chance to become Canadian citizens and instead wind up being rented workers.
“They aren’t given the same rights as other Canadian workers,” he says. “They’re bringing them in and then sending them home.”
Deficit-cutting may be the hot-button issue in Ottawa right now, continues Freeman, but he asks why the government is cutting jobs that could be used for the same purpose.
“The smartest way to get out of the deficit is create jobs and you don’t do that by laying people off,” he explains.
Aubrey Andrews, a manager for diversity and immigration for Durham Region Social Services, says that the growing immigrant population will be part of the reason why Durham will top over a million residents by 2031.
“A fair bit of that growth can be attributed to immigrants,” she says, adding that between 2001 and 2006, 34 per cent of all growth in the region came from immigrants; which is being incorporated into the local economy.
“If you’re in business, you’re in the business of serving a diverse population,” Andrews explains. “We anticipate population shifting.”
Durham Region is not a first-stop population for immigrant families, she adds.
“Durham is traditionally a site of secondary migration.”
But enticing foreign-born workers here can do things for the region, like opening up foreign markets and diversify and bolster creativity among the work force, maintains Andrews.
“I think that immigration is an opportunity, and it’s an opportunity to live in a place like Durham Region.”

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