New report puts world population at 7 billion by 2011

By Ethian Gavish

By 2011, the world’s population should reach 7 billion, according to a new report put forth by the Population Reference Bureau’s 2009 World Population Data Sheet.

The report states that 97% of global growth over the next 40 years will occur in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

“The great bulk of today's 1.2 billion youth - nearly 90% - are in developing countries,” said Carl Haub, a co-author of the report, to CNN.

Immigration of the rural youth into more developed places will probably continue into 2011.

“During the next few decades, these young people will most likely continue the current trend of moving from rural areas to cities in search of education and training opportunities, gainful employment and adequate health care,” Haub told CNN.

The U.S. and Canada will account for most of the growth in the developed world - half coming from immigration alone - the report states.

The report also says that high fertility rates combined with a young population base is the fuel behind most of the growth in the developing world. In Africa, women give birth to six or seven children on average, compared with about two children in the U.S. and 1.5 in Canada.

By 2050, the report shows that Canadian population will be up from 31 million to 42 million, while Uganda will increase a staggering 34 million to 96 million.

“Even with declining fertility rates in many countries, world population is still growing at a rapid rate,” Bill Butz, president of the bureau, told CNN. “The increase from 6 billion to 7 billion is likely to take 12 years, as did the increase from 5 billion to 6 billion. Both events are unprecedented in world history.”

The report forecasts that India will lead the world in population by 2050, increasing to 1.7 billion. Such a boost in population will overtake ranking leader China, where the population is predicated to reach 1.4 billion.

According to the report, the No. 3 slot in 2050 will go to the U.S., with a projected population of 439 million.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/08/13/2009-08-13_new_report_puts_world_population_at_7_billion_by_2011.html#ixzz0O6uLn8Vh

Canada to move to 5th place in economic performance in 2010: Conference Board

By Krystle Chow, Ottawa Business Journal Staff

Canada's keeping its "B" grade on international economic performance this year and the next, but it's also expected to climb in the rankings, although it's partly because other countries have been harder-hit, according to the Conference Board of Canada.

The Conference Board's "How Canada Performs" forecast for 2010 said the country is expected in 2010 to move to fifth place out of the 17 countries ranked, just missing an "A" grade and jumping six spots from 2008.

Six "C" grades among the eight measures pulled down Canada's ranking in the last Conference Board report, although the country had scored highly on inflation and gross domestic product growth.

However, in 2010 Canada is expected to improve its relative ranking on GDP growth, unemployment, job growth, and both inward- and outward-flowing foreign direct investment performance, due mostly to the country's resilience in the face of harsh economic troubles worldwide.

"Canada is expected to weather the global recession better than most of its peers, which is a credit to its stable financial sector and a relatively healthier economic position upon entering the downturn," said Glen Hodgson, the board's chief economist and senior vice-president, in a statement. Still, he warned: "But achieving a higher rank because other countries are falling farther is not the basis for sustainable prosperity. Some of Canada's fundamentals, such as labour productivity, remain weaker than those of the global leaders."

The United Kingdom is expected to see one of the most severe drops in overall economic performance between 2008 and 2010, as the financial crisis has hurt the U.K. credit markets and housing prices, leading to weaker consumer spending and business investment, the report said.

However, the top and bottom rankings won't change, with Norway staying put as the strongest performer due in part to its large petroleum industry, while Ireland will continue to rank last.

The Emerald Isle fell from first to 17th place in 2008 amid a 2.7-per-cent contraction in economic output and a drastic deterioration in its domestic property market and construction sector. As well, its per-capita income, which was the third-highest in 2008, is forecasted to fall to 7th in 2010.

Available Options to Come to Canada under Category of Skilled Worker

Saskatchewan offers many skilled worker immigration categories that suite people with different occupations and education background, generally speaking, Saskatchewan is one of the few provinces who offers immigration programs to both high and low skilled workers. Let's take a moment to take you through the options that's available in this province:

Option One: skilled workers, professionals or managers who have a full-time, permanent job offer from a Saskatchewan employer.
You may qualify to apply under this Category if:
You live outside of Canada or you have proof of legal status in Canada, you are not a refugee claimant and you have one of the following:
An offer of permanent, full-time employment in Saskatchewan either in an occupation or trade in the NOC level “A” or “B”, or in a designated trade in Saskatchewan (Skilled Workers/Professionals Sub-Category);
An offer of permanent, full-time employment in Saskatchewan in a management position in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Matrix level “0” (Critical Occupations Sub-Category); or
Have worked in Saskatchewan for at least six months on a temporary work permit either in an occupation or trade that is in the National Occupational Classification Matrix level “A” or “B”, or in a designated trade in Saskatchewan (Existing Work Permit Sub-Category).

Option Two: Physicians
Under this category, Saskatchewan can nominate individuals whose educational and professional certifications qualify them for employment in Saskatchewan as a physician. The applicant must be currently working on Temporary Work Permit for a Saskatchewan health occupation employer and be supported by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CoPSS), Saskatchewan Health and the appropriate regional health authority.

Option Three: Nurses
Under this category, Saskatchewan can nominate nurses as Licensed Practical Nurses, Psychiatric Nurses or Registered Nurses, whose educational and professional certifications qualify them for employment in Saskatchewan. The applicant must be currently working on Temporary Work Permit for a Saskatchewan health occupation employer and be supported by the appropriate licensing body, Saskatchewan Health and the appropriate regional health authority.

Option Four: Other Health Professions Category
Under this category, Saskatchewan can nominate other health professionals currently working in health occupations that fall into the National Occupational Classification Matrix level "A" or "B" or requires at least one (1) academic year of post secondary education or 1 year of job specific training and is supported by the appropriate licensing body (if applicable), Saskatchewan Health, the appropriate regional health authority or other employer.
Many health occupations require a license or other credential in order to practice in Saskatchewan. There are twenty-three health regulatory authorities in Saskatchewan that license and certify health occupations. If you are not currently employed in Saskatchewan in a health occupation, you should contact the appropriate regulatory authority, to ascertain what further studies, examinations and/or certifications are needed in order to qualify to work in Saskatchewan. Here is a list of regulatory authorities in Saskatchewan.

Option Five: long-haul truck drivers
This program is to attract long-haul truck drivers to Saskatchewan trucking firms.
Under the Long-Haul Truck Driver Project, Saskatchewan trucking firms may be authorized to bring in foreign workers initially under SC’s Temporary Foreign Worker policy for occupations requiring high school diploma or specific on the job training, and subsequently retain them as permanent employees through the SINP. Long haul truck drivers can begin working in Saskatchewan for approved trucking firms on a foreign work permit and, if offered permanent employment by their employer after a minimum of six months employment, may apply to the SINP for permanent resident status.

Option Six: International Students
Graduated foreign students working for a Saskatchewan employer can apply for nomination and permanent landed status when:
The applicant has graduated from a program of at least one academic year of full-time study in Saskatchewan and has received a certificate, diploma, or degree from a recognized Saskatchewan post secondary educational institution;
The applicant has worked for a Saskatchewan employer for a minimum of six (6) months under a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) post graduation work permit; and
The applicant has a current permanent full-time job offer from their employer.

Source from Visa Serminar International

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Canadian immigration launches Transit Without Visa Program

By Mark Johnstone.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) have announced that they are to roll out the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) Program nationwide.

The TWOV programme allows citizens of particular counties, who have valid US visas, to also move to Canada without having a Canadian visa.
The programme applies to people from Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand and China, although China is included on a trial basis for a year from 30 July 2009. Anyone from China hoping to transit Canada via the China Transit Trial scheme must have left for Canada from Shanghai, Taipei, Manila, Hong Kong, Guangzhou or Beijing.
People are only able to transit Canada under the scheme if they have a valid US visa, are booked onto an onward flight leaving Canada immediately and have passports proving citizenship of one of the participating countries. They must also have arrived in Canada on either China Airlines, Cathay Pacific or Philippine Airlines. Travellers transiting under the scheme are prevented from applying for temporary residency in Canada.
Although the scheme is being rolled out, Vancouver airport is currently the only one eligible to accept TWOV flights and passengers.
 Source: Global Visas

Faster route to Canadian immigration offered by Quebec by Mark Johnstone

The province of Quebec has launched its own version of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) route for people hoping to move to Canada permanently. The accelerated programme is for use by skilled permanent residency applicants who are working in Canada or have been studying in Canada for some time.

The new scheme, called the Quebec Experience Class (PEQ), was announced by Quebec Immigration Minister, Yolande James. She says that attracting skilled foreigners who have come to work in Canada and foreign students who are studying in Canada to settle in Quebec is essential for the region’s economic future.

Under the scheme, foreign students can apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) if they have completed a level B1 French course at a educational institution in Quebec, have studied in Quebec for two years and have completed a diploma or a degree at a recognised educational institution in the province.

People working in Quebec on temporary work permits will be able to gain a CSQ if they are employed legally in Quebec at the time of applying, have worked for 12 months in Quebec in a managerial, skilled or professional capacity and have completed a B1 level French course or can pass a French proficiency test.

Applying for permanent residency under the PEQ is simpler and quicker than doing so under the Canadian Experience Class, which was introduced earlier this year. The PEQ is to be launched before October 2009.

Source: Globalvisas.com