A programme that allows international students to work for up to three years after graduation just might increase Canada's recruitment competitiveness. Employment of that duration puts them on an immigration fast track.
The Canadian Post-Graduation Work Permit Program has already proved popular and is attracting a flood of applications. International students, immigration advocates, student advisers and universities have long called for more attractive post-graduation working conditions and welcomed the scheme.
This had definitely made Canada more competitive, said Anna Done Choudhury, an international student adviser at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.
Choudhury said that allowing students to work three years after graduation "has closed the gap between international students and Canada wanting qualified immigrants". Having taught immigration studies, she said many students who previously wanted to increase their eligibility for permanent residency had to go to the US to work and then return to Canada to apply.
Canada uses a points system in deciding who best qualifies to be a citizen and a simple university degree, without post graduation work in Canada, earns few points. The new programme takes those who have worked during the post-graduation period out of the points system and either passes or fails them although an overwhelming number, more than 95%, have passed.
According to the 2009 Survey of International Students, released at the Canadian Bureau for International Education conference in Toronto last week, half the students surveyed said post-graduation work opportunities in Canada were an important factor in choosing to study in the country.
The same number said they planned to work in Canada after they graduated. An even larger number, almost three in four students, cited the work opportunities as an important reason. In 2008, 18,000 work permits were issued by the government, a 63% increase on the year before.
In a session at the CBIE conference, Citizen and Immigration Canada's Jorge Aceytuno told delegates introduction of the postgraduate work programme had led to the interest in work permits. Aceytuno said his ministry would like to see a large increase in work permits as a result of the programme.
Bureau Vice-President Jennifer Humphries agreed there was now more than just a university choice for international students interested in studying in Canada. People were looking at the potential for career advancement for their education. If they had three years of work after graduation, this looked better on their resumes, Humphries said.
Part of the rationale for introducing the programme was probably playing catch-up with recruiters from England and Australia which have similar schemes, as well as to gain an edge over the US whose postgraduate work programme is not as liberal.
Choudhury's colleague Lise Pedersen was also relieved to see the programme, saying it helped not only in getting students some employment after graduation but also gave them more opportunity during their studies.
Even though the government had earlier introduced a scheme that allowed students to work off campus, Pedersen said employers were sometimes reluctant to hire international students for co-op programmes because of their lack of future availability for what might turn into a permanent position.
Now, she said, they knew the student could work not only up to three years following graduation but also they were likely to become a Canadian citizen.
External link: http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20091113142434988
Source:Career-journal.com
China-Canada agreement to boost tourism.
By Mel Tobias.
British Columbia’s tourism industry will definitely get an economic boost to the tune of something like $15 million a year or more, with the announcement that the Chinese government granted Canada approved destination status after many years of waiting.
As approved destination, the province can expect to receive about 15 percent more visitors from China, up from the 100,000 that now visit BC. Current visitors spend about $1,000 each, so the increased numbers would mean about $15 million annually. BC tourism suffered badly with the significant drops in US visitors. There was a 12 percent drop from last year. American visi-tors spend an average $800 each.
With China’s emerging middle class looking to spend disposable income on travel, China is expected to be one of the world’s largest outbound markets, sending 100 million tourists out of the country by 2020. And for the first time, Canadian tour operators will be allowed to advertise and book groups of Chinese tourists in China.
The China-Canada agreement will also make it easier for Chinese residents to visit Canada in time for the 2010 Olympics. More than 130 countries already have China’s approved destina-tion status, and have enjoyed the Chinese tourism windfall.
The 2nd Annual Expat Experience survey revealed that expats in Canada have the best quality of life and found it among the easiest places in the world to integrate with the local popula-tion. Australia and Thailand also came in the top three in the survey of people working in 30 different industries and 50 countries. Last year, Germany, Canada and Spain were the top coun-tries deemed to have the best lifestyle for expats.
British Columbia’s tourism industry will definitely get an economic boost to the tune of something like $15 million a year or more, with the announcement that the Chinese government granted Canada approved destination status after many years of waiting.
As approved destination, the province can expect to receive about 15 percent more visitors from China, up from the 100,000 that now visit BC. Current visitors spend about $1,000 each, so the increased numbers would mean about $15 million annually. BC tourism suffered badly with the significant drops in US visitors. There was a 12 percent drop from last year. American visi-tors spend an average $800 each.
With China’s emerging middle class looking to spend disposable income on travel, China is expected to be one of the world’s largest outbound markets, sending 100 million tourists out of the country by 2020. And for the first time, Canadian tour operators will be allowed to advertise and book groups of Chinese tourists in China.
The China-Canada agreement will also make it easier for Chinese residents to visit Canada in time for the 2010 Olympics. More than 130 countries already have China’s approved destina-tion status, and have enjoyed the Chinese tourism windfall.
The 2nd Annual Expat Experience survey revealed that expats in Canada have the best quality of life and found it among the easiest places in the world to integrate with the local popula-tion. Australia and Thailand also came in the top three in the survey of people working in 30 different industries and 50 countries. Last year, Germany, Canada and Spain were the top coun-tries deemed to have the best lifestyle for expats.
Giving immigrants hope; Ottawa's one-year credentials plan gets a qualified welcome
Canwest News Service
When Iranian-born Fariborz Birjandian came to Canada 21 years ago with a degree in management and maritime science, he quickly realized he had transferable skills that could be applied to several occupations.
At the time, the process of foreign credential recognition was nearly non-existent compared with today and that process is now undergoing what the federal government says is another step to speed up the assessment of internationally trained immigrants.
Ottawa recently announced a plan to ensure newcomers to Canada in certain fields will know within one year whether their qualifications will be recognized by provincial and professional regulatory and accreditation bodies across Canada, working in conjunction with provincial officials to coordinate implementation of the new framework.
"We have to give these people hope to see light at the end of the tunnel," says Birjandian, who is now the executive director of the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society. "At least the federal government is trying to engage all other partners in a meaningful way. Hopefully, there will be some accountability around it."
The Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications sets an initial deadline of Dec. 31, 2010 to assess the first round of eight occupations: architects, engineers, financial auditors and accountants, medical laboratory technologists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and registered nurses. It's part of Ottawa's previously announced $50-million plan to work with provincial and territorial ministers to address barriers to credential recognition.
"This framework complements initiatives such as the Action Plan for Faster Immigration, as they make our immigration system better meet the needs of our labour market," says Jason Kenney, federal minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism, in a news release.
During the next phase of implementation ending December 2012, the framework will expand to include dentists, engineering technicians, licensed practical nurses, medical radiation technologists, physicians and primary school teachers.
"Ensuring that foreign credentials and qualifications are assessed … in a timely manner will enable newcomers to maximize their talents," adds Diane Finley, minister of human resources and skills development.
Birjandian hopes the plan will address the length of time it can take to immigrate to Canada, which he says is often four or five years — delays that can cause highly sought-after workers to find their skills no longer needed upon arrival.
At the start of the boom in Alberta, for example, welders were in high demand. By the time they were recruited and accredited in Canada, the recession took hold and many now find themselves working in menial jobs. Similar stories are heard from engineers.
"We think that if we deal with those [credential recognition] issues they have … we're going to solve the problem, but at the end of the day, it's employers that accept the assessment or not," says Birjandian. "If we don't address the numbers [of new immigrants], we're still going to be in the same situation where everybody will be qualified and certified in Canada, but supply and demand will tell us how many of them get jobs."
The Foreign Credentials Referral Office, established in May 2007, helps foreign-trained workers get the information and support services they need to speed up the process of credential recognition in Canada and before they arrive.
While Birjandian is encouraged by the recent announcement, he worries Canada's immigrant selection system, based on a points scale targeting specific occupations, will result in unneeded professionals as supply and demand shifts.
"It's a rapidly-changing environment we're dealing with in the business community worldwide," he says.
CCIS helps new immigrants identify transferable skills that can be applied to occupations that utilize their skills to avoid highly trained newcomers working as taxi drivers or day labourers.
The new framework is meant to improve pre-arrival services, timely assessments that are fair and eventually improved workforce participation.
When Iranian-born Fariborz Birjandian came to Canada 21 years ago with a degree in management and maritime science, he quickly realized he had transferable skills that could be applied to several occupations.
At the time, the process of foreign credential recognition was nearly non-existent compared with today and that process is now undergoing what the federal government says is another step to speed up the assessment of internationally trained immigrants.
Ottawa recently announced a plan to ensure newcomers to Canada in certain fields will know within one year whether their qualifications will be recognized by provincial and professional regulatory and accreditation bodies across Canada, working in conjunction with provincial officials to coordinate implementation of the new framework.
"We have to give these people hope to see light at the end of the tunnel," says Birjandian, who is now the executive director of the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society. "At least the federal government is trying to engage all other partners in a meaningful way. Hopefully, there will be some accountability around it."
The Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications sets an initial deadline of Dec. 31, 2010 to assess the first round of eight occupations: architects, engineers, financial auditors and accountants, medical laboratory technologists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and registered nurses. It's part of Ottawa's previously announced $50-million plan to work with provincial and territorial ministers to address barriers to credential recognition.
"This framework complements initiatives such as the Action Plan for Faster Immigration, as they make our immigration system better meet the needs of our labour market," says Jason Kenney, federal minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism, in a news release.
During the next phase of implementation ending December 2012, the framework will expand to include dentists, engineering technicians, licensed practical nurses, medical radiation technologists, physicians and primary school teachers.
"Ensuring that foreign credentials and qualifications are assessed … in a timely manner will enable newcomers to maximize their talents," adds Diane Finley, minister of human resources and skills development.
Birjandian hopes the plan will address the length of time it can take to immigrate to Canada, which he says is often four or five years — delays that can cause highly sought-after workers to find their skills no longer needed upon arrival.
At the start of the boom in Alberta, for example, welders were in high demand. By the time they were recruited and accredited in Canada, the recession took hold and many now find themselves working in menial jobs. Similar stories are heard from engineers.
"We think that if we deal with those [credential recognition] issues they have … we're going to solve the problem, but at the end of the day, it's employers that accept the assessment or not," says Birjandian. "If we don't address the numbers [of new immigrants], we're still going to be in the same situation where everybody will be qualified and certified in Canada, but supply and demand will tell us how many of them get jobs."
The Foreign Credentials Referral Office, established in May 2007, helps foreign-trained workers get the information and support services they need to speed up the process of credential recognition in Canada and before they arrive.
While Birjandian is encouraged by the recent announcement, he worries Canada's immigrant selection system, based on a points scale targeting specific occupations, will result in unneeded professionals as supply and demand shifts.
"It's a rapidly-changing environment we're dealing with in the business community worldwide," he says.
CCIS helps new immigrants identify transferable skills that can be applied to occupations that utilize their skills to avoid highly trained newcomers working as taxi drivers or day labourers.
The new framework is meant to improve pre-arrival services, timely assessments that are fair and eventually improved workforce participation.
Expats weigh in on ‘Destination Canada’
By Fouzia Khan
Source: Saudi Gazette
Canada is a popular immigration destination for expatriates here as it continues to provide funding to support new migrants and assist them to settle, this apparently being one of the reasons for its huge popularity.
“Canadian immigration, which is a set of rules, regulations, directives, policies and the Act of Parliament that regulates the entry of each person into Canada, has always played a central role in Canadian history,” said Colin R. Singer, an immigration lawyer at a Canada-based immigration company.
He said his firm provides the necessary employment-based search consulting assistance that applicants to Canada require.
According to another immigration company, Canada has implemented fast-tracking of visa applications for “safe” countries, and formalized the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) program, in order to make traveling easier for tourists and other travelers.
Akbar Ali, a taxi driver in Canada, says that despite major inconveniences caused to immigrants, people still prefer migrating to Canada and other western countries, in general, because their governments “take care of the citizens even after retirement and children can get a better education”.
“The hard work pays off after retirement as individual companies or the government provides high pensions, free medical care, etc.,” he said. Mirroring Ali’s views, Imran Ahmed, an accountant in Jeddah who is soon moving with his family to Canada, said a potential Canadian immigrant had to satisfy 40 different criteria, with clauses, such as, professional experience, education, relatives already living in the country, if any, etc.
“I applied through a Canadian immigration firm, which assured me that they would not charge me unless I got my visa,” said Ahmed.
The cost of living in Saudi Arabia is less than that in Canada or any European country, where there are various commodity taxes. However, when it comes to higher education, these countries score well above the Kingdom.
“I have joined an Islamic center here called Huda Institute that is excellent for Islamic Studies for Muslim girls. Quality education is not hard to find here,” said Ameena Kapoor, a 14-year-old girl living in Canada.
“I plan to join one of the best universities in Canada for my higher education, which otherwise would not have been possible in Saudi Arabia, where there are not many opportunities for higher education,” she added.
The Canadian Temporary Work Permit is one of the most popular ways for newcomers to come to Canada, earn money, and gain valuable Canadian work experience.
“Immigration policies and conditions are constantly changing, and some of these changes may affect an immigrant’s eligibility to immigrate to Canada, the UK, Australia or the US,” am immigration agency statement said.
Process of obtaining Canadian immigration:
The Canadian Immigration and Citizenship department, also known as CIC Canada, is one of the most important departments of the Canadian government. In order to obtain Canadian immigration, an applicant is required to fill in the prescribed immigration forms.
He must first apply to a well-known Canadian immigration company that will help him through the process of moving to Canada.
For example, some immigration agencies require the applicant to be registered with them, take a free Canadian Visa Eligibility Assessment according to the type and requirements of the visa, e.g., work visa, student’s visa, general immigration, business immigration, etc.
For general immigration, the individual’s evaluation is based on their education, training and work experience, which reflects their ability to economically establish themselves in Canada. –
Source: Saudi Gazette
Canada is a popular immigration destination for expatriates here as it continues to provide funding to support new migrants and assist them to settle, this apparently being one of the reasons for its huge popularity.
“Canadian immigration, which is a set of rules, regulations, directives, policies and the Act of Parliament that regulates the entry of each person into Canada, has always played a central role in Canadian history,” said Colin R. Singer, an immigration lawyer at a Canada-based immigration company.
He said his firm provides the necessary employment-based search consulting assistance that applicants to Canada require.
According to another immigration company, Canada has implemented fast-tracking of visa applications for “safe” countries, and formalized the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) program, in order to make traveling easier for tourists and other travelers.
Akbar Ali, a taxi driver in Canada, says that despite major inconveniences caused to immigrants, people still prefer migrating to Canada and other western countries, in general, because their governments “take care of the citizens even after retirement and children can get a better education”.
“The hard work pays off after retirement as individual companies or the government provides high pensions, free medical care, etc.,” he said. Mirroring Ali’s views, Imran Ahmed, an accountant in Jeddah who is soon moving with his family to Canada, said a potential Canadian immigrant had to satisfy 40 different criteria, with clauses, such as, professional experience, education, relatives already living in the country, if any, etc.
“I applied through a Canadian immigration firm, which assured me that they would not charge me unless I got my visa,” said Ahmed.
The cost of living in Saudi Arabia is less than that in Canada or any European country, where there are various commodity taxes. However, when it comes to higher education, these countries score well above the Kingdom.
“I have joined an Islamic center here called Huda Institute that is excellent for Islamic Studies for Muslim girls. Quality education is not hard to find here,” said Ameena Kapoor, a 14-year-old girl living in Canada.
“I plan to join one of the best universities in Canada for my higher education, which otherwise would not have been possible in Saudi Arabia, where there are not many opportunities for higher education,” she added.
The Canadian Temporary Work Permit is one of the most popular ways for newcomers to come to Canada, earn money, and gain valuable Canadian work experience.
“Immigration policies and conditions are constantly changing, and some of these changes may affect an immigrant’s eligibility to immigrate to Canada, the UK, Australia or the US,” am immigration agency statement said.
Process of obtaining Canadian immigration:
The Canadian Immigration and Citizenship department, also known as CIC Canada, is one of the most important departments of the Canadian government. In order to obtain Canadian immigration, an applicant is required to fill in the prescribed immigration forms.
He must first apply to a well-known Canadian immigration company that will help him through the process of moving to Canada.
For example, some immigration agencies require the applicant to be registered with them, take a free Canadian Visa Eligibility Assessment according to the type and requirements of the visa, e.g., work visa, student’s visa, general immigration, business immigration, etc.
For general immigration, the individual’s evaluation is based on their education, training and work experience, which reflects their ability to economically establish themselves in Canada. –
Canada: The best place in the world to live
Submitted by Carolyn B. Heller on November 30, 2009
Source: Living Abroad in Canada.
Is Canada the best place in the world for expats to live?
According to the 2009 HSBC Expat Experience Survey, it is.
Canada topped the list of best places to live, with expats there reporting the highest overall increase in their quality of life since arriving in the country.
The survey polled more than 3,000 expats around the world, assessing whether their overall quality of life increased or decreased during their overseas assignment.
Canada was also number 1 in “quality of accommodation,” with 68% of expats reporting that their homes were better in Canada than in their native country.
Canada received high scores in how easy it is for expats to make friends, to pursue hobbies, and to improve the quality of life with their families.
According to survey respondents, the top reasons for living in Canada include:
* Better environment/quality of life for my children (39%)
* Lifestyle (38%)
* Career prospects (35%)
* Less crime (13%)
Other interesting findings:
* Canada has a high proportion of retired expats: 24% compared with 7% worldwide.
* Canada’s expat community is older than average, with 61% age 45 or over.
* More than two-thirds of Canadian expats own property in the country, which is double the global average of 31%.
* More than 60% of expats in Canada reported that organizing their finances and their health care was easy.
* Nearly 40 percent said that their health improved since arriving in Canada.
Source: Living Abroad in Canada.
Is Canada the best place in the world for expats to live?
According to the 2009 HSBC Expat Experience Survey, it is.
Canada topped the list of best places to live, with expats there reporting the highest overall increase in their quality of life since arriving in the country.
The survey polled more than 3,000 expats around the world, assessing whether their overall quality of life increased or decreased during their overseas assignment.
Canada was also number 1 in “quality of accommodation,” with 68% of expats reporting that their homes were better in Canada than in their native country.
Canada received high scores in how easy it is for expats to make friends, to pursue hobbies, and to improve the quality of life with their families.
According to survey respondents, the top reasons for living in Canada include:
* Better environment/quality of life for my children (39%)
* Lifestyle (38%)
* Career prospects (35%)
* Less crime (13%)
Other interesting findings:
* Canada has a high proportion of retired expats: 24% compared with 7% worldwide.
* Canada’s expat community is older than average, with 61% age 45 or over.
* More than two-thirds of Canadian expats own property in the country, which is double the global average of 31%.
* More than 60% of expats in Canada reported that organizing their finances and their health care was easy.
* Nearly 40 percent said that their health improved since arriving in Canada.
Canada to recognize foreign credentials sooner
OTTAWA — Canada will soon fast-track verification of foreign work qualifications to help stem a growing shortage of skilled workers, the government announced Monday.
Many immigrants are now forced to take jobs in fields unrelated to their expertise while employers are struggling to fill vacancies for work that newcomers could do but lack the proper Canadian credentials.
Some wait years for their foreign work experience and education to be assessed as comparable, or not, to standards established for Canadian professionals.
"We want newcomers to be able to use their skills and work to their full potential. It's good for them and good for the Canadian economy," Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said in a statement.
Under the new rules, foreign-trained workers who submit an application to be licensed or registered to work in specific fields will be advised within one year whether their qualifications will be recognized in Canada.
As well, assessments are to be fair, transparent and consistent, said a government statement.
Foreign-trained architects, engineers, accountants, pharmacists, physiotherapists and nurses will be among the first to know speedily if their qualifications meet Canadian standards, by the end of 2010.
Two years later, dentists, physicians and teachers can expect fast-tracked checks of their credentials too.
"Attracting and retaining the best international talent to address existing and future labor market challenges is critical to Canada's long-term economic success," said Human Resources Minister Diane Finley.
"Ensuring that foreign credentials and qualifications are assessed and recognized in a timely manner will enable newcomers to maximize their talents," she said in a statement.
According to Statistics Canada, six in 10 immigrants do not work in their chosen field and 42 percent are overqualified for their current job.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
Many immigrants are now forced to take jobs in fields unrelated to their expertise while employers are struggling to fill vacancies for work that newcomers could do but lack the proper Canadian credentials.
Some wait years for their foreign work experience and education to be assessed as comparable, or not, to standards established for Canadian professionals.
"We want newcomers to be able to use their skills and work to their full potential. It's good for them and good for the Canadian economy," Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said in a statement.
Under the new rules, foreign-trained workers who submit an application to be licensed or registered to work in specific fields will be advised within one year whether their qualifications will be recognized in Canada.
As well, assessments are to be fair, transparent and consistent, said a government statement.
Foreign-trained architects, engineers, accountants, pharmacists, physiotherapists and nurses will be among the first to know speedily if their qualifications meet Canadian standards, by the end of 2010.
Two years later, dentists, physicians and teachers can expect fast-tracked checks of their credentials too.
"Attracting and retaining the best international talent to address existing and future labor market challenges is critical to Canada's long-term economic success," said Human Resources Minister Diane Finley.
"Ensuring that foreign credentials and qualifications are assessed and recognized in a timely manner will enable newcomers to maximize their talents," she said in a statement.
According to Statistics Canada, six in 10 immigrants do not work in their chosen field and 42 percent are overqualified for their current job.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
Canada, Australia ranked best places for expats
CANBERRA (Reuters) - Looking to work overseas? Head to Canada, Australia or Thailand, according to an annual global survey which found recession-hit Britain was one of the worst locations to live for expatriates.
The second annual Expat Experience survey, commissioned by HSBC Bank International, revealed that expats in Canada have the best quality of life and found it among the easiest places in the world to integrate with the local population.
Australia and Thailand also came in the top three in the survey of 3,146 people working in 30 different industries and 50 countries, even though Thailand was one of the countries worst-hit by the recession for expats.
"We have seen that there is a distinct trade-off between income and overall quality of life, as many of the top performers ... scored toward the bottom of this report's league table (of the best places to make and save money)," said Betony Taylor, spokeswoman for HSBC Bank International.
"What is clear is that the locations where salaries may not be as high, such as Canada and Australia, are where expats are really enjoying not only an increased quality of life but are also finding it easy to fit in to their new communities."
Last year Germany, Canada and Spain were the top three countries deemed to have the best lifestyle for expats.
This year Britain was one of the lowest ranked locations when it came to lifestyle after being named as one of the most expensive places for expats with the recession taking its toll.
About 44 percent of expats in Britain are considering returning home, compared with only 15 percent of expats overall.
About 41 percent of expats in Britain find it difficult to find somewhere to live, most find the quality of their accommodation drops after moving to Britain, and a third claim their health has deteriorated since moving there.
"Despite this, the UK does hold the crown for being expat entertainment capital of the world, with over half (58 percent) of expats in the UK saying that the quality of entertainment had increased," said Taylor.
She added that 62 percent of expats also said that employment prospects were the main reason keeping them in the region.
Results from a different section of the survey, which was conducted by research company FreshMinds, released earlier found Russia was home to the highest proportion of expats earning more than $250,000 with 30 percent of international workers there banking that amount, followed by Hong Kong and Japan.
The lowest-paid expats live in Australia and Belgium with the majority -- 63 percent and 61 percent respectively -- earning less than $100,000.
© Thomson Reuters 2009
Source: www.working.com
The second annual Expat Experience survey, commissioned by HSBC Bank International, revealed that expats in Canada have the best quality of life and found it among the easiest places in the world to integrate with the local population.
Australia and Thailand also came in the top three in the survey of 3,146 people working in 30 different industries and 50 countries, even though Thailand was one of the countries worst-hit by the recession for expats.
"We have seen that there is a distinct trade-off between income and overall quality of life, as many of the top performers ... scored toward the bottom of this report's league table (of the best places to make and save money)," said Betony Taylor, spokeswoman for HSBC Bank International.
"What is clear is that the locations where salaries may not be as high, such as Canada and Australia, are where expats are really enjoying not only an increased quality of life but are also finding it easy to fit in to their new communities."
Last year Germany, Canada and Spain were the top three countries deemed to have the best lifestyle for expats.
This year Britain was one of the lowest ranked locations when it came to lifestyle after being named as one of the most expensive places for expats with the recession taking its toll.
About 44 percent of expats in Britain are considering returning home, compared with only 15 percent of expats overall.
About 41 percent of expats in Britain find it difficult to find somewhere to live, most find the quality of their accommodation drops after moving to Britain, and a third claim their health has deteriorated since moving there.
"Despite this, the UK does hold the crown for being expat entertainment capital of the world, with over half (58 percent) of expats in the UK saying that the quality of entertainment had increased," said Taylor.
She added that 62 percent of expats also said that employment prospects were the main reason keeping them in the region.
Results from a different section of the survey, which was conducted by research company FreshMinds, released earlier found Russia was home to the highest proportion of expats earning more than $250,000 with 30 percent of international workers there banking that amount, followed by Hong Kong and Japan.
The lowest-paid expats live in Australia and Belgium with the majority -- 63 percent and 61 percent respectively -- earning less than $100,000.
© Thomson Reuters 2009
Source: www.working.com
Aging workforce, lack of immigration threaten Atlantic region
Financial PostNovember 26, 2009
OTTAWA — All those years of watching the cream of its youth go west for better opportunities has left Atlantic Canada in a bit of a pickle, according to a report by the C.D. Howe Institute.
In a report titled Stress Test: Demographic Pressures and Policy Options in Atlantic Canada, the think-tank says it will take "courage and imaginative approaches" to ride out the storm that looms if the provinces are not able to attract enough immigration to offset the rising costs of dealing with an aging population.
While the quaint, small-town charm of the Atlantic provinces is attractive to tourists, it is less so to the region's own educated citizens and migrants from other provinces and abroad, the report suggests.
The region's population is 8.3 per cent rural, according to authors Colin Busby, William B.P. Robson and Pierre-Marcel Desjardins, compared with 2.6 per cent in most of the rest of the country outside of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. While rural areas tend to have a better hold on the people already living there, cities are far more successful at attracting fresh blood.
"The scarcity of population-attracting large urban centres in the region is a sobering fact for those hoping to address Atlantic Canada's demographic pressures through large inward flows of migrants," the report says.
"Without large future increases in output per working-age person in the Atlantic provinces, a shrinking workforce — which may be the case as soon as 2010 — will dampen future economic growth," the authors conclude. They urge an early start to preparations on many fronts — migration, education and skills training, investment and fiscal programs — to make sure the region continues to prosper.
One way to mitigate the future costs of health care would be to establish a Canada Pension Plan-style of pre-funding for health programs, the report suggests.
Governments will have to enact policies to maintain the area's standard of living, including rules to allow better labour-market participation incentives and labour-force flexibility; promote training to improve skills and literacy; improve the school system to fuel growth and better match graduates' skills to employers' needs; attract and retain new migrants in the workforce; and contain rising program costs.
One way to increase workforce participation, the report says, is to remove the regional application of EI benefits, which it says encourage workers to stay in the Atlantic region when they might have better prospects elsewhere and also leads to skills degradation in workers who are unemployed for extended periods. Another is to keep workers on the job longer, perhaps by increasing the CPP entitlements for people who retire later than 65.
Source: Canada.com
OTTAWA — All those years of watching the cream of its youth go west for better opportunities has left Atlantic Canada in a bit of a pickle, according to a report by the C.D. Howe Institute.
In a report titled Stress Test: Demographic Pressures and Policy Options in Atlantic Canada, the think-tank says it will take "courage and imaginative approaches" to ride out the storm that looms if the provinces are not able to attract enough immigration to offset the rising costs of dealing with an aging population.
While the quaint, small-town charm of the Atlantic provinces is attractive to tourists, it is less so to the region's own educated citizens and migrants from other provinces and abroad, the report suggests.
The region's population is 8.3 per cent rural, according to authors Colin Busby, William B.P. Robson and Pierre-Marcel Desjardins, compared with 2.6 per cent in most of the rest of the country outside of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. While rural areas tend to have a better hold on the people already living there, cities are far more successful at attracting fresh blood.
"The scarcity of population-attracting large urban centres in the region is a sobering fact for those hoping to address Atlantic Canada's demographic pressures through large inward flows of migrants," the report says.
"Without large future increases in output per working-age person in the Atlantic provinces, a shrinking workforce — which may be the case as soon as 2010 — will dampen future economic growth," the authors conclude. They urge an early start to preparations on many fronts — migration, education and skills training, investment and fiscal programs — to make sure the region continues to prosper.
One way to mitigate the future costs of health care would be to establish a Canada Pension Plan-style of pre-funding for health programs, the report suggests.
Governments will have to enact policies to maintain the area's standard of living, including rules to allow better labour-market participation incentives and labour-force flexibility; promote training to improve skills and literacy; improve the school system to fuel growth and better match graduates' skills to employers' needs; attract and retain new migrants in the workforce; and contain rising program costs.
One way to increase workforce participation, the report says, is to remove the regional application of EI benefits, which it says encourage workers to stay in the Atlantic region when they might have better prospects elsewhere and also leads to skills degradation in workers who are unemployed for extended periods. Another is to keep workers on the job longer, perhaps by increasing the CPP entitlements for people who retire later than 65.
Source: Canada.com
Realising its need to have talented people, Canada keen to accept immigrants
Punjab Newsline Network
Thursday, 26 November 2009
LUDHIANA: With aging population and impending labour problem, this year Canada is accepting the highest- ever number of immigrants from across the globe in the past 15 years, said Lt Col BS Sandhu, chairman and managing director of the World Wide Immigration Consultancy Services (WWICS).
Addressing a press conference here, Sandhu said with the introduction of the fast track immigration, the entire procedure had become simpler for the immigrants, who could seek immigration under different categories of skilled worker category, federal investor category and Quebec investor category.
“Realising its need to have young and talented people, the Canadian government has implemented major changes to ease the influx of talented and hard working immigrants,” he added.
Economy in Canada and Australia depend heavily on immigrants to fill the shortfall in its labour market, therefore, applicants falling under the Canada’s 38 priority occupation list and the Australia’s critical skill list are processed on fast-track system and aspiring candidates gets nod within six to 12 months, he added.
Businessmen can easily make it to their dream destination as permanent residencies under the Canadian Federal Investor Programme and the Quebec Investor Programme, without having to worry about clearing IELTS, he added.
With an investment of just Rs 50 lakh, the wannabe immigrants can immigrate through the fast track system within this period. Banks can readily finance the balance money. With just two years business experience and having net worth equivalent to CDN 800,000, businessmen qualify for this opportunity enabling their entire family to immigrate.
Sandhu added that besides providing opportunity to the business class, Canada is an attractive destination for students pursuing quality education.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cehpS4TUqy2oIpM37KZ1NZDFmmTv0vUs4oYw_x002B_YJo10ES4QkTm663xhtCdlWYCZ0nbbTQ8ktwJUvh2QS_x002F_QWuoa5i
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/357836/andy_rodriguez.html
Thursday, 26 November 2009
LUDHIANA: With aging population and impending labour problem, this year Canada is accepting the highest- ever number of immigrants from across the globe in the past 15 years, said Lt Col BS Sandhu, chairman and managing director of the World Wide Immigration Consultancy Services (WWICS).
Addressing a press conference here, Sandhu said with the introduction of the fast track immigration, the entire procedure had become simpler for the immigrants, who could seek immigration under different categories of skilled worker category, federal investor category and Quebec investor category.
“Realising its need to have young and talented people, the Canadian government has implemented major changes to ease the influx of talented and hard working immigrants,” he added.
Economy in Canada and Australia depend heavily on immigrants to fill the shortfall in its labour market, therefore, applicants falling under the Canada’s 38 priority occupation list and the Australia’s critical skill list are processed on fast-track system and aspiring candidates gets nod within six to 12 months, he added.
Businessmen can easily make it to their dream destination as permanent residencies under the Canadian Federal Investor Programme and the Quebec Investor Programme, without having to worry about clearing IELTS, he added.
With an investment of just Rs 50 lakh, the wannabe immigrants can immigrate through the fast track system within this period. Banks can readily finance the balance money. With just two years business experience and having net worth equivalent to CDN 800,000, businessmen qualify for this opportunity enabling their entire family to immigrate.
Sandhu added that besides providing opportunity to the business class, Canada is an attractive destination for students pursuing quality education.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cehpS4TUqy2oIpM37KZ1NZDFmmTv0vUs4oYw_x002B_YJo10ES4QkTm663xhtCdlWYCZ0nbbTQ8ktwJUvh2QS_x002F_QWuoa5i
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/357836/andy_rodriguez.html
Become a Nurse in Canada – Are you a Registered Nurse in Another Country?
By Beverly Hansen OMalley.
Source:http://rinie.info/2009/11/26/become-a-nurse-in-canada-are-you-a-registered-nurse-in-another-country/
Do you want to become a nurse in Canada? Did you graduate and work as a registered nurse in another country? The Canadian immigration doors are open to professionals particularly nurses who want to work in Canada.
Why would you want to become a nurse in Canada?
Providing that the Canadian immigration rules, policies, and working visa requirements are met you must follow the correct procedure to become a nurse in Canada. With the exception of providing proof of language proficiency this procedure is the same for all applicants even those educated in Canada.
Apply for your registration.
Write and Pass the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam
Once all your documentation is reviewed and accepted as “equivalent” you will be given permission to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam or the Canadian Registered Practical Nurse Exam. Which exam you write will depend on what type of nursing license you are seeking and what you qualify for. All provinces have separate nursing regulatory bodies for registered nursing and licensed practical nursing except in Ontario where all nurses are under the same regulatory association.
Substantially Equivalent Competency Assessment
The number of internationally educated nurses who want to become a nurse in Canada is increasing every year and there have been some instances where nurses were entering the system unprepared for the real job of aregistered nurse in Canada. Because of the variations in Education for nurses around the globe reviewing educational preparation and documentation turned out to not be a good predictor of success in the workplace in all cases. As a result a new evaluation has emerged called the Substantially Equivalent Competency assessment or SEC.
This is an evaluation that uses both a written test and an observation of your applied clinical skills using simulated nursing situations for the Canadianhealth care system.
The SEC evaluations are being done mostly in the western provinces. You may be required to undergo an SEC if your paperwork is not sufficient to support an equivalent education or experience as would be required of aregistered nurse in Canada. This often happens when a nurse graduated in another country some time ago and has many years of experience but cannot produce the complete educational documentation to support the application.
When your application to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam is complete there may be a waiting period because the exam is only offered every four months. However, you may be allowed to work during that time under a temporary nursing license provided all other requirements have been met. You must however, have an employer willing to hire you under a temporary permit and if you do not pass the CanadianRegistered Nurse Exam your temporary permit will be revoked.
Many internationally educated nurses are successful in obtaining their nursing license in Canada and the number of internationally educated nurses working in the Canadian health care system has gone up dramatically since the 1990’s. Between 2000 and 2007 approximately 20% of the candidates who wrote the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam were not educated in Canada.
Your journey to become a nurse in Canada might be lengthy so don’t give up! Being a registered nurse in the Canada health care system means having a secure well paid job that can provide you with challenge and meaning in your life, so it might just be worth it!
For more information, please visit:
http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cehpS4TUqy2oIpM37KZ1NZDFmmTv0vUs4oYw_x002B_YJo10ES4QkTm663xhtCdlWYCZ0nbbTQ8ktwJUvh2QS_x002F_QWuoa5i
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/357836/andy_rodriguez.html
Source:http://rinie.info/2009/11/26/become-a-nurse-in-canada-are-you-a-registered-nurse-in-another-country/
Do you want to become a nurse in Canada? Did you graduate and work as a registered nurse in another country? The Canadian immigration doors are open to professionals particularly nurses who want to work in Canada.
Why would you want to become a nurse in Canada?
Providing that the Canadian immigration rules, policies, and working visa requirements are met you must follow the correct procedure to become a nurse in Canada. With the exception of providing proof of language proficiency this procedure is the same for all applicants even those educated in Canada.
Apply for your registration.
Write and Pass the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam
Once all your documentation is reviewed and accepted as “equivalent” you will be given permission to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam or the Canadian Registered Practical Nurse Exam. Which exam you write will depend on what type of nursing license you are seeking and what you qualify for. All provinces have separate nursing regulatory bodies for registered nursing and licensed practical nursing except in Ontario where all nurses are under the same regulatory association.
Substantially Equivalent Competency Assessment
The number of internationally educated nurses who want to become a nurse in Canada is increasing every year and there have been some instances where nurses were entering the system unprepared for the real job of aregistered nurse in Canada. Because of the variations in Education for nurses around the globe reviewing educational preparation and documentation turned out to not be a good predictor of success in the workplace in all cases. As a result a new evaluation has emerged called the Substantially Equivalent Competency assessment or SEC.
This is an evaluation that uses both a written test and an observation of your applied clinical skills using simulated nursing situations for the Canadianhealth care system.
The SEC evaluations are being done mostly in the western provinces. You may be required to undergo an SEC if your paperwork is not sufficient to support an equivalent education or experience as would be required of aregistered nurse in Canada. This often happens when a nurse graduated in another country some time ago and has many years of experience but cannot produce the complete educational documentation to support the application.
When your application to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam is complete there may be a waiting period because the exam is only offered every four months. However, you may be allowed to work during that time under a temporary nursing license provided all other requirements have been met. You must however, have an employer willing to hire you under a temporary permit and if you do not pass the CanadianRegistered Nurse Exam your temporary permit will be revoked.
Many internationally educated nurses are successful in obtaining their nursing license in Canada and the number of internationally educated nurses working in the Canadian health care system has gone up dramatically since the 1990’s. Between 2000 and 2007 approximately 20% of the candidates who wrote the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam were not educated in Canada.
Your journey to become a nurse in Canada might be lengthy so don’t give up! Being a registered nurse in the Canada health care system means having a secure well paid job that can provide you with challenge and meaning in your life, so it might just be worth it!
For more information, please visit:
http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cehpS4TUqy2oIpM37KZ1NZDFmmTv0vUs4oYw_x002B_YJo10ES4QkTm663xhtCdlWYCZ0nbbTQ8ktwJUvh2QS_x002F_QWuoa5i
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/357836/andy_rodriguez.html
New tool helps match engineers, jobs
Job-seekers itemize skills and experience to be easily accessed by potential employers
Nicholas Keung
Despite being the largest cohort of skilled immigrants to Canada, internationally trained engineers have been locked out of the profession for years – only 15 per cent find work in their field.
On Wednesday, an organization dedicated to helping this group officially launches an online database and search engine designed to match qualified foreign-trained and Canadian graduate engineers with jobs for which they are trained.
The new tool, dubbed Leveraging Global Engineering Skills and funded by the province, has already won the support of Owais Rafiq, vice-president of a Toronto engineering firm.
His DOERS Inc. has hired a dozen internationally trained engineers for contract jobs through a pilot developed by the Toronto-based non-profit organization Council for Access to the Profession of Engineering (CAPE).
"The tool is based on P.Eng. (professional engineering) descriptions. Employers put in what is needed and get a short list. It certainly can help internationally trained engineers get their foot in the door and be confident that their skills are captured accurately," Rafiq said.
Roughly 12,000 engineers have arrived each year in the past decade, but most cite a lack of Canadian experience and professional networking as barriers to finding work.
"This (database) means that applicants are no longer customizing their resumes to jobs or making hundreds of job applications," said CAPE executive director Gurmeet Bambrah. "And employers don't have to wade through thousands of customized resumes to find employees."
Bambrah said the new tool focuses on narrowing competency and skills descriptions in a thorough checklist used by both employers and job seekers, so "they are on the same page."
Peggy Pan, an environmental engineer in waste water and sewage treatment, said the standardized job descriptions helped her better describe her skill sets in Canadian engineering terminology.
"I didn't know what kind of jobs here would match my background. I didn't know what my experience was relevant to an employer," said Tan, who came here from China in 2007 and landed a job in the same field in April after participating in the pilot project.
Rafiq said the search engine is user-friendly and turns up a list of the most fitting candidates, while running a skills-gap analysis that identifies a candidate's missing skills so employers can decide what additional training is needed.
For information, visit www.capeinfo.ca/LGEC.php.
http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cehpS4TUqy2oIpM37KZ1NZDFmmTv0vUs4oYw_x002B_YJo10ES4QkTm663xhtCdlWYCZ0nbbTQ8ktwJUvh2QS_x002F_QWuoa5i
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/357836/andy_rodriguez.html
Nicholas Keung
Despite being the largest cohort of skilled immigrants to Canada, internationally trained engineers have been locked out of the profession for years – only 15 per cent find work in their field.
On Wednesday, an organization dedicated to helping this group officially launches an online database and search engine designed to match qualified foreign-trained and Canadian graduate engineers with jobs for which they are trained.
The new tool, dubbed Leveraging Global Engineering Skills and funded by the province, has already won the support of Owais Rafiq, vice-president of a Toronto engineering firm.
His DOERS Inc. has hired a dozen internationally trained engineers for contract jobs through a pilot developed by the Toronto-based non-profit organization Council for Access to the Profession of Engineering (CAPE).
"The tool is based on P.Eng. (professional engineering) descriptions. Employers put in what is needed and get a short list. It certainly can help internationally trained engineers get their foot in the door and be confident that their skills are captured accurately," Rafiq said.
Roughly 12,000 engineers have arrived each year in the past decade, but most cite a lack of Canadian experience and professional networking as barriers to finding work.
"This (database) means that applicants are no longer customizing their resumes to jobs or making hundreds of job applications," said CAPE executive director Gurmeet Bambrah. "And employers don't have to wade through thousands of customized resumes to find employees."
Bambrah said the new tool focuses on narrowing competency and skills descriptions in a thorough checklist used by both employers and job seekers, so "they are on the same page."
Peggy Pan, an environmental engineer in waste water and sewage treatment, said the standardized job descriptions helped her better describe her skill sets in Canadian engineering terminology.
"I didn't know what kind of jobs here would match my background. I didn't know what my experience was relevant to an employer," said Tan, who came here from China in 2007 and landed a job in the same field in April after participating in the pilot project.
Rafiq said the search engine is user-friendly and turns up a list of the most fitting candidates, while running a skills-gap analysis that identifies a candidate's missing skills so employers can decide what additional training is needed.
For information, visit www.capeinfo.ca/LGEC.php.
http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cehpS4TUqy2oIpM37KZ1NZDFmmTv0vUs4oYw_x002B_YJo10ES4QkTm663xhtCdlWYCZ0nbbTQ8ktwJUvh2QS_x002F_QWuoa5i
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/357836/andy_rodriguez.html
Expats’ Top 10 Choice Of Countries To Live
An HSBC poll of expatriates lists its top 10 countries with the best quality of life.
1. Canada
2. Australia
3. Thailand
4. Singapore
5. Bahrain
6. South Africa
7. France
8. USA
9. Spain
10. Hong Kong
For more information, please follow the links below:
http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cehpS4TUqy2oIpM37KZ1NZDFmmTv0vUs4oYw_x002B_YJo10ES4QkTm663xhtCdlWYCZ0nbbTQ8ktwJUvh2QS_x002F_QWuoa5i
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/357836/andy_rodriguez.html
1. Canada
2. Australia
3. Thailand
4. Singapore
5. Bahrain
6. South Africa
7. France
8. USA
9. Spain
10. Hong Kong
For more information, please follow the links below:
http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cehpS4TUqy2oIpM37KZ1NZDFmmTv0vUs4oYw_x002B_YJo10ES4QkTm663xhtCdlWYCZ0nbbTQ8ktwJUvh2QS_x002F_QWuoa5i
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/357836/andy_rodriguez.html
Saskatchewan set to pass Ontario in wealth stakes
OTTAWA -- Saskatchewan will surpass Ontario this year as Canada’s second-wealthiest province as measured by living standards, the result of a recession that has shown no mercy on the country’s industrial heartland, according to an independent analysis issued Tuesday.
Moreover, the report from Dale Orr Economic Insight said Canada’s overall standard of living -- or real GDP per capita -- will have dropped by a startling 4.3% as a result of the economic crisis, with the bulk of the drop to be recorded this year. The bigger provinces, most notably Alberta and Ontario, sustained the deepest hits, of 6.2% and 5.8% respectively.
Put in context, Canada’s standard of living grew at an average rate of 2.3% for the 24-year period ended 2008, as expansion in output outstripped population growth. A higher standard of living means a better quality and quantity of goods and services available to households.
The findings from Dale Orr, a leading fiscal and economic forecaster, are based on his own predictions for economic and population growth in each province. In an interview, he said the numbers he’s using are close to the Bay Street consensus, such as a 2.4% economic contraction for the country this year.
The analysis is yet another piece of evidence documenting the economic decay Ontario faces. According to Mr. Orr, the one-time manufacturing hot bed has seen its living standards decrease dramatically this decade, to the point at which Saskatchewan is set to overtake Ontario as the No. 2 province in terms of living standards, trailing only Alberta which remains comfortably in first place.
In the mid-1980s, which is as far back as Mr. Orr examined, Ontario’s living standard was 113% of the national average and solidly in the No. 2 spot behind Alberta. But it has stumbled steadily, to roughly 109% at the start of this decade to a projected 103% once the 2009 data are calculated. Living standards in Saskatchewan, meanwhile, will be the equivalent of 104% of the national average as of the end of this year
Mr. Orr said much of Ontario’s precipitous drop has coincided with the Canadian dollar’s surge from the low-US60¢ level to parity with the U.S. currency.
The currency’s appreciation “was harder on Ontario than any other province,” Mr. Orr said, adding he expects the loonie to trade, on average, at par with its U.S. counterpart for most of next year. “What people don’t know is that Ontario’s standard of living had been declining, relative to the Canadian average, well before the start of the decade. It is just the rate of decline has picked up, and got worse with the problems in the auto sector.”
Mr. Orr said big challenges remain for the Ontario economy even though the recession likely came to an end last quarter.
For starters, some of the manufacturing capacity that was shut down during this downturn is unlikely to return. Manufacturers that opt to continue operating will attempt to do so with possibly fewer workers.
And then there’s Ontario bulging budget deficit, which will limit the provincial government’s ability to influence growth.
For its part, Saskatchewan’s ascent is attributed to its natural resources, from oil and natural gas, to potash and wheat. “They have been riding some really winning horses and they have had a good open-for-business climate as well,” Mr. Orr said.
However, he warned commodity prices remain volatile and a sharp pullback could hit Saskatchewan’s living standards.
By Paul Vieira, Financial Post
For more information about Canada. please follow the links below:
http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cehpS4TUqy2oIpM37KZ1NZDFmmTv0vUs4oYw_x002B_YJo10ES4QkTm663xhtCdlWYCZ0nbbTQ8ktwJUvh2QS_x002F_QWuoa5i
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/357836/andy_rodriguez.html
Moreover, the report from Dale Orr Economic Insight said Canada’s overall standard of living -- or real GDP per capita -- will have dropped by a startling 4.3% as a result of the economic crisis, with the bulk of the drop to be recorded this year. The bigger provinces, most notably Alberta and Ontario, sustained the deepest hits, of 6.2% and 5.8% respectively.
Put in context, Canada’s standard of living grew at an average rate of 2.3% for the 24-year period ended 2008, as expansion in output outstripped population growth. A higher standard of living means a better quality and quantity of goods and services available to households.
The findings from Dale Orr, a leading fiscal and economic forecaster, are based on his own predictions for economic and population growth in each province. In an interview, he said the numbers he’s using are close to the Bay Street consensus, such as a 2.4% economic contraction for the country this year.
The analysis is yet another piece of evidence documenting the economic decay Ontario faces. According to Mr. Orr, the one-time manufacturing hot bed has seen its living standards decrease dramatically this decade, to the point at which Saskatchewan is set to overtake Ontario as the No. 2 province in terms of living standards, trailing only Alberta which remains comfortably in first place.
In the mid-1980s, which is as far back as Mr. Orr examined, Ontario’s living standard was 113% of the national average and solidly in the No. 2 spot behind Alberta. But it has stumbled steadily, to roughly 109% at the start of this decade to a projected 103% once the 2009 data are calculated. Living standards in Saskatchewan, meanwhile, will be the equivalent of 104% of the national average as of the end of this year
Mr. Orr said much of Ontario’s precipitous drop has coincided with the Canadian dollar’s surge from the low-US60¢ level to parity with the U.S. currency.
The currency’s appreciation “was harder on Ontario than any other province,” Mr. Orr said, adding he expects the loonie to trade, on average, at par with its U.S. counterpart for most of next year. “What people don’t know is that Ontario’s standard of living had been declining, relative to the Canadian average, well before the start of the decade. It is just the rate of decline has picked up, and got worse with the problems in the auto sector.”
Mr. Orr said big challenges remain for the Ontario economy even though the recession likely came to an end last quarter.
For starters, some of the manufacturing capacity that was shut down during this downturn is unlikely to return. Manufacturers that opt to continue operating will attempt to do so with possibly fewer workers.
And then there’s Ontario bulging budget deficit, which will limit the provincial government’s ability to influence growth.
For its part, Saskatchewan’s ascent is attributed to its natural resources, from oil and natural gas, to potash and wheat. “They have been riding some really winning horses and they have had a good open-for-business climate as well,” Mr. Orr said.
However, he warned commodity prices remain volatile and a sharp pullback could hit Saskatchewan’s living standards.
By Paul Vieira, Financial Post
For more information about Canada. please follow the links below:
http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cehpS4TUqy2oIpM37KZ1NZDFmmTv0vUs4oYw_x002B_YJo10ES4QkTm663xhtCdlWYCZ0nbbTQ8ktwJUvh2QS_x002F_QWuoa5i
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/357836/andy_rodriguez.html
TORONTO: Canada has announced a new liberal business visa regime for Indian businessmen to catch up with other industrialised nations in boosting
trade with India.
The new visa regime was announced by the government here close on the heels of the visit of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to India.
Under the new system, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said applications from Indian citizens for business visas will be cleared within 24 hours. The express visa service offers multiple entry visas to applicants.
Along with the liberal visa regime, Toronto has also announced that a new nuclear cooperation pact and a mutual investment protection agreement was on the fast track. The nuclear agreement will pave the way for supply of enriched uranium for India's civil nuclear energy needs.
"We're actively negotiating a nuclear cooperation pact and have an investment protection agreement, and have established one of our most widespread overseas networks in India, with three new trade offices opened by our government since 2006," Kenney said.
Also Read
http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cehpS4TUqy2oIpM37KZ1NZDFmmTv0vUs4oYw_x002B_YJo10ES4QkTm663xhtCdlWYCZ0nbbTQ8ktwJUvh2QS_x002F_QWuoa5i
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/357836/andy_rodriguez.html
"We have also decided to double the number of Indian students coming to Canada," the minister said adding that the country is working with India on several initiatives aimed at boosting bilateral trade, currently at a "ridiculously low" level, to around USD 15 billion in next five years.
The minister was speaking at a function last night organised by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce also attended by Indian Consul General to Canada, Preeti Saran.
Describing Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to India as "extremely successful, Consul General Preeti Saran said that it would go a long way in strengthening strategic partnership between the two countries. She added that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's visit to India next month would further strengthen cooperation in the energy sector.
Meanwhile, Ontario Minister of Government Services
Harinder Takhar commended the contributions made by Indo-Canadians in the economic development of Canada and said that India's rapidly growing economy and its commitment to expand investment would provide significant opportunities for investors in a variety of sectors, including infrastructure, education, and energy.
ICCC President Asha Luthra said that Chamber of Commerce has taken a number of initiatives to boost bilateral trade and investment between the two countries, and also highlighted ICCC's achievements in the past one year.
trade with India.
The new visa regime was announced by the government here close on the heels of the visit of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to India.
Under the new system, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said applications from Indian citizens for business visas will be cleared within 24 hours. The express visa service offers multiple entry visas to applicants.
Along with the liberal visa regime, Toronto has also announced that a new nuclear cooperation pact and a mutual investment protection agreement was on the fast track. The nuclear agreement will pave the way for supply of enriched uranium for India's civil nuclear energy needs.
"We're actively negotiating a nuclear cooperation pact and have an investment protection agreement, and have established one of our most widespread overseas networks in India, with three new trade offices opened by our government since 2006," Kenney said.
Also Read
http://www.liveperson.com/professional/expert-profile.aspx?Q91B5TrZ6cehpS4TUqy2oIpM37KZ1NZDFmmTv0vUs4oYw_x002B_YJo10ES4QkTm663xhtCdlWYCZ0nbbTQ8ktwJUvh2QS_x002F_QWuoa5i
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/357836/andy_rodriguez.html
"We have also decided to double the number of Indian students coming to Canada," the minister said adding that the country is working with India on several initiatives aimed at boosting bilateral trade, currently at a "ridiculously low" level, to around USD 15 billion in next five years.
The minister was speaking at a function last night organised by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce also attended by Indian Consul General to Canada, Preeti Saran.
Describing Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's visit to India as "extremely successful, Consul General Preeti Saran said that it would go a long way in strengthening strategic partnership between the two countries. She added that Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's visit to India next month would further strengthen cooperation in the energy sector.
Meanwhile, Ontario Minister of Government Services
Harinder Takhar commended the contributions made by Indo-Canadians in the economic development of Canada and said that India's rapidly growing economy and its commitment to expand investment would provide significant opportunities for investors in a variety of sectors, including infrastructure, education, and energy.
ICCC President Asha Luthra said that Chamber of Commerce has taken a number of initiatives to boost bilateral trade and investment between the two countries, and also highlighted ICCC's achievements in the past one year.
Canada best for immigrants, says UNDP
Toronto, Oct 6 (IANS) Canada has been lauded as a role model for the rest of the world for accepting new immigrants.
A new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) praises Canada for its liberal and fair immigration policies.
A new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) praises Canada for its liberal and fair immigration policies.
Canada accepts more immigrants per capita than any other nation on earth in proportion to its population. With a population of about 34 million, Canada accepts more than 250,000 immigrants each year. They come from more than 150 countries, with India and China topping as the two main sources for immigration.
More than 30,000 Indians enter Canada as new immigrant each year, though it may take them up to six years to get their applications processed in New Delhi.
The UNDP report, which rates Canada as the fourth best country to live in, says immigration has benefited Canada and other wealthy countries as their populations age.
“All Canadians can be proud of what the report says about Canada,” David Morrison, UNDP executive secretary, said here Monday.
He said: “There are one billion people on the move and that number is going to grow as we look to the future. So the report argues that migration is a process to be managed rather than problem to be solved.
“The report really singles out Canada as a model as a receiving country.”
The UNDP official said: “Canada is historically a very open country. It is a country based on immigration to a very great extent. Today, Canada is one of the most open countries to migration in the world and accepts a large number of migrants each year, both on a permanent basis and as temporary workers.
It also accepts a large number, per capita given Canada’s population size, of asylum seekers.”
Citing how many other countries make it difficult for new immigrants to enter, the 217-page report says the cost of moving from Vietnam to Japan is six times the annual income per capita in that country.
“In one in 10 countries, the costs of a passport are about 10 per cent of the money you could expect to make on an annual basis,” the UNDP executive secretary said.
“So just preparing to become a legal migrant can be burdensome, which is why we have so many people migrating through illegal channels,” he added.
For more information and videos, please visit:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Check our online courses now
Click Here now!!!!