By:Kathleen Legris
In a move that may be designed to take advantage of Australia's and Britain's recent problems in the Indian-student market, Quebec is offering Canadian citizenship to international students who graduate from any university in the province.
The province's premier, Jean Charest, who is leading a delegation of university heads on a visit to India, told students and experts at the University of Mumbai on Monday that, beginning on February 14th, international students who graduate from universities in Quebec would get "a certificate of selection" that would put them on a fast track to Canadian citizenship.
According to The Times of India, Charest told the packed house that, "Any student who secures a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from any university in Quebec will obtain a certificate of selection to become a citizen of Canada.” Mr. Charest said that once foreign students had the certificate, the federal government would then carry out security and health checks before awarding citizenship.
The premier's announcement may encourage Indian students to think about Canada, especially in the wake of recent issues in two popular countries of study. In Australia, racial violence against Indian students has increased, and the sudden closure of four colleges left thousands of Indian students without credentials, while in the U.K., a report over the weekend revealed that British authorities had temporarily suspended all student-visa applications from northern India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, British officials feel the system has been overwhelmed and there are concerns that many cases are not genuine.
The move by Quebec reflects a broader national interest in focusing on India. Canadian universities appear to be showing an increased interest in strategic engagement with India, and Quebec universities, like their counterparts in other provinces, already have a number of partnerships with Indian institutions.
A pilot project run by Canadian immigration authorities and community colleges to speed up applications from India has doubled the acceptance rate, according to a report released by the government in late January. It showed that processing visas took an average of about two and a half weeks. The program is designed to uncover any fraud with a variety of checks, including a requirement that applicants provide verifiable documentation and a feedback mechanism in which colleges report back on whether students show up.
Additionally, the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) recently published a guidebook designed to assist universities and colleges in identifying good practices for recruiting international students in India.
Tougher laws sought to punish "ghost" immigration consultants
By Mike Barber, Canwest News ServiceFebruary 3, 2010
OTTAWA — The federal government needs to introduce tough penalties for uncertified immigration consultants, the industry's professional society urged Wednesday.
The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants said vulnerable new Canadians need protection from "ghost" consultants who "don't have to prove their competence and (are) not accountable to anyone."
John Ryan, the society's chief executive officer, said ghost agents routinely prey upon landed immigrants, providing false advice and posing as guarantors of their clients' citizenship ambitions.
There are about 1,600 certified consultants across Canada. But with more than 200,000 immigrants coming here each year, some are bound to end up working with those outside of the professional body's jurisdiction.
As it stands, there is a provision under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that punishes fraud by up to five years in prison and a fine of $100,000. But Ryan said the breadth of the law is too narrow, allowing agents to charge for services without ever committing their signature to paper.
Ghost agents "'front end' their advice by providing representation and consultation functions and simply withhold their name from submitted applications, said Ryan. "When things go wrong, it is the consumer who is ultimately responsible and ends a victim."
With prospective Canadians paying anywhere from $1,000 to $30,000 for a consultant's services, a failed application can all but scuttle the chances of some for becoming a citizen.
Calling it a "serious offence," Karen Shadd, a spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, confirmed that the minister, Jason Kenney, "intends to tighten the rules to make it more difficult for unauthorized third parties to operate."
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
OTTAWA — The federal government needs to introduce tough penalties for uncertified immigration consultants, the industry's professional society urged Wednesday.
The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants said vulnerable new Canadians need protection from "ghost" consultants who "don't have to prove their competence and (are) not accountable to anyone."
John Ryan, the society's chief executive officer, said ghost agents routinely prey upon landed immigrants, providing false advice and posing as guarantors of their clients' citizenship ambitions.
There are about 1,600 certified consultants across Canada. But with more than 200,000 immigrants coming here each year, some are bound to end up working with those outside of the professional body's jurisdiction.
As it stands, there is a provision under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that punishes fraud by up to five years in prison and a fine of $100,000. But Ryan said the breadth of the law is too narrow, allowing agents to charge for services without ever committing their signature to paper.
Ghost agents "'front end' their advice by providing representation and consultation functions and simply withhold their name from submitted applications, said Ryan. "When things go wrong, it is the consumer who is ultimately responsible and ends a victim."
With prospective Canadians paying anywhere from $1,000 to $30,000 for a consultant's services, a failed application can all but scuttle the chances of some for becoming a citizen.
Calling it a "serious offence," Karen Shadd, a spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, confirmed that the minister, Jason Kenney, "intends to tighten the rules to make it more difficult for unauthorized third parties to operate."
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
Employers urged to use immigrants to fill jobs
ctvottawa.ca
With at least 425,000 jobs opening up in Canada this year due to baby-boomer retirements, employment analysts are looking to immigrants to fill the gap. Trouble is, not everyone is ready for the shift.
Studies indicate between 50 and 60 per cent of Canadian newcomers are working in fields other than what they trained for.
In cross-country workshops organized by the Conference Board of Canada, the business group is trying to raise awareness of the problem and to come up with solutions to put these skilled people in the right spot.
"We have a need not only for the highly trained workers, but for all kinds of workers such as tradespeople," says the board's Diane MacKay.
"We need them, we need them working and this is an issue that employers need to pay attention to."
'I won't get a job just because I say . . . give me a job'
In Ottawa, immigrants like Karina Regalia are trying to upgrade their skills and volunteer in places related to their field to make themselves more attractive for employers.
But the new arrival from Poland, who came less than a year ago, says it's been tough going to find a job.
"The newcomers have to change to be part of the way things are done in Canada," she acknowledges.
"I won't get a job just because I say that I am Karina from Poland and now give me a job. That is not the way its going to happen."
A new approach to fill the gap
Tech firms are more experienced at looking outside of Canada for workers -- they're well-aware that labour shortages can hold them back from expansion.
Hire Immigrants Ottawa cautions that smaller employers may not be aware of that pool of talent.
"The statistics show clearly that in the next year or two, if you hire a new employee you will hire an immigrant," says Kelly McGahey, who works with the organization.
Adds Ottawa consultant Alice Kubicek, the solution to the shortage problem will have to come quickly.
"People may hope that this is a problem that is just going to go away, but it's not. It's not going to get any easier to find and hire the talent you need, and you also need to work at how to keep them ."
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Paul Brent
With at least 425,000 jobs opening up in Canada this year due to baby-boomer retirements, employment analysts are looking to immigrants to fill the gap. Trouble is, not everyone is ready for the shift.
Studies indicate between 50 and 60 per cent of Canadian newcomers are working in fields other than what they trained for.
In cross-country workshops organized by the Conference Board of Canada, the business group is trying to raise awareness of the problem and to come up with solutions to put these skilled people in the right spot.
"We have a need not only for the highly trained workers, but for all kinds of workers such as tradespeople," says the board's Diane MacKay.
"We need them, we need them working and this is an issue that employers need to pay attention to."
'I won't get a job just because I say . . . give me a job'
In Ottawa, immigrants like Karina Regalia are trying to upgrade their skills and volunteer in places related to their field to make themselves more attractive for employers.
But the new arrival from Poland, who came less than a year ago, says it's been tough going to find a job.
"The newcomers have to change to be part of the way things are done in Canada," she acknowledges.
"I won't get a job just because I say that I am Karina from Poland and now give me a job. That is not the way its going to happen."
A new approach to fill the gap
Tech firms are more experienced at looking outside of Canada for workers -- they're well-aware that labour shortages can hold them back from expansion.
Hire Immigrants Ottawa cautions that smaller employers may not be aware of that pool of talent.
"The statistics show clearly that in the next year or two, if you hire a new employee you will hire an immigrant," says Kelly McGahey, who works with the organization.
Adds Ottawa consultant Alice Kubicek, the solution to the shortage problem will have to come quickly.
"People may hope that this is a problem that is just going to go away, but it's not. It's not going to get any easier to find and hire the talent you need, and you also need to work at how to keep them ."
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Paul Brent
Quebec to expand sponsorship program for Haitians
Quebec will allow Haitian-Quebecers to sponsor a wider range of relatives as part of an expanded immigration policy.
Immigration Minister Yolande James says her government is changing the rules because of last month's devastating earthquake, and as a result the list of Haitians who can be sponsored now includes brothers and sisters and their families, and adult children.
Quebecers who do not have relatives in Haiti will also be allowed to act as co-sponsors.
"In the face of this terrible tragedy, our government has chosen to use its discretionary power to offer a concrete response," said James.
"It's a recognition to some of the requests coming from members of the Haitian community and to see a reunification of family take place in Quebec."
Families relieved
Savienne Charlot, whose three nephews in Haiti were orphaned by the earthquake, is relieved by the decision.
"I was going to go to Haiti next week to be with them, but now I will try to bring them here to live with me and my mother instead," said Charlot.
A maximum of 3,000 Haitians will be allowed into Canada under the sponsorship program, which will run from Feb. 17 until Dec. 31, 2010.
The magnitude-7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12 killed at least 150,000 people and demolished much of the capital of Port-au-Prince.
1 million people are homeless, many huddling in crude tents and bed sheets.
Previously, Haitians in Quebec who wanted to sponsor relatives could only bring in their own children, spouses, parents and grandparents.
Hotline
A 24-hour hotline has been set up to connect the public with registered immigration consultants.
The number is 1-877-311-7926.
Also on Wednesday Quebec said it would waive tuition fees and student fees for foreign students from Haiti for the winter semester.
The measure affects 350 students in Quebec, and will cost taxpayers about $1.3 million.
Immigration Minister Yolande James says her government is changing the rules because of last month's devastating earthquake, and as a result the list of Haitians who can be sponsored now includes brothers and sisters and their families, and adult children.
Quebecers who do not have relatives in Haiti will also be allowed to act as co-sponsors.
"In the face of this terrible tragedy, our government has chosen to use its discretionary power to offer a concrete response," said James.
"It's a recognition to some of the requests coming from members of the Haitian community and to see a reunification of family take place in Quebec."
Families relieved
Savienne Charlot, whose three nephews in Haiti were orphaned by the earthquake, is relieved by the decision.
"I was going to go to Haiti next week to be with them, but now I will try to bring them here to live with me and my mother instead," said Charlot.
A maximum of 3,000 Haitians will be allowed into Canada under the sponsorship program, which will run from Feb. 17 until Dec. 31, 2010.
The magnitude-7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12 killed at least 150,000 people and demolished much of the capital of Port-au-Prince.
1 million people are homeless, many huddling in crude tents and bed sheets.
Previously, Haitians in Quebec who wanted to sponsor relatives could only bring in their own children, spouses, parents and grandparents.
Hotline
A 24-hour hotline has been set up to connect the public with registered immigration consultants.
The number is 1-877-311-7926.
Also on Wednesday Quebec said it would waive tuition fees and student fees for foreign students from Haiti for the winter semester.
The measure affects 350 students in Quebec, and will cost taxpayers about $1.3 million.
Skills shortage to leave Ontarians jobless by 2021: report
By QMI Agency
A shortage of skills and lack of education will mean that more than 700,000 people in Ontario will be unemployable by 2021, according to Seneca College President emeritus Rick Miner.
That figure would add to the 5% of people who are traditionally unemployed, boosting the total of jobless to 1.1 million, he said in a speech to the Canadian Club of Toronto.
"If current trends continue, hundreds of thousands of people will lack the necessary skills to find any work," Miner said presenting a report. "The unemployment crisis in Ontario will be far more severe than the current recession."
Although Miner’s study focused on Ontario, a similar trend has been noted in separate studies Canada-wide. A lack of skills coupled with the retirement of the baby-boomer generation may mean the country will have to rely on immigration to fill the available jobs, reports have found.
"The reality is that immigration could account for virtually all labour force growth in Canada within the next decade," Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said recently.
Miner say immigration alone won't be enough to fill in the employment gaps and that more education is needed.
The study said it can be conservatively estimated that at least 75% of workers in Ontario will need postsecondary education and/or training by 2021 if they are to be employable in Ontario's new innovation economy.
However, if current trends continue, only about 64% is actually expected to have acquired postsecondary credentials by that point.
Miner said Ontario must begin taking action now to address this challenge.
"We need to make significant changes," he said. "If we don't, the result will be an economy that can't compete globally and a society that can't provide opportunities for people to find employment."
A shortage of skills and lack of education will mean that more than 700,000 people in Ontario will be unemployable by 2021, according to Seneca College President emeritus Rick Miner.
That figure would add to the 5% of people who are traditionally unemployed, boosting the total of jobless to 1.1 million, he said in a speech to the Canadian Club of Toronto.
"If current trends continue, hundreds of thousands of people will lack the necessary skills to find any work," Miner said presenting a report. "The unemployment crisis in Ontario will be far more severe than the current recession."
Although Miner’s study focused on Ontario, a similar trend has been noted in separate studies Canada-wide. A lack of skills coupled with the retirement of the baby-boomer generation may mean the country will have to rely on immigration to fill the available jobs, reports have found.
"The reality is that immigration could account for virtually all labour force growth in Canada within the next decade," Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said recently.
Miner say immigration alone won't be enough to fill in the employment gaps and that more education is needed.
The study said it can be conservatively estimated that at least 75% of workers in Ontario will need postsecondary education and/or training by 2021 if they are to be employable in Ontario's new innovation economy.
However, if current trends continue, only about 64% is actually expected to have acquired postsecondary credentials by that point.
Miner said Ontario must begin taking action now to address this challenge.
"We need to make significant changes," he said. "If we don't, the result will be an economy that can't compete globally and a society that can't provide opportunities for people to find employment."
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