Changes Expected to the Federal Skilled Worker Program

Image via Wikipedia(CIC) recently announced they are consulting with relevant stakeholders about changing various aspects of the Federal Skilled Worker Program. CIC is considering changing the number of points awarded in three of the six selection factors. CIC is also proposing changes to educational requirements and stricter rules for assessing the validity of Canadian job offers. According to CIC, these suggested changes are meant to reflect the current needs of the Canadian economy and enable immigrants to better integrate into the Canadian economy.

Points Changes in Selection Factors

Applicants will still be required to attain at least 67 points out of 100, in addition to meeting eligibility requirements, in order to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. CIC is proposing to change the maximum number of points applicants can receive in the following three selection factors: language, age, and work experience. Currently, applicants can receive a maximum of 24 points for their first and second official Canadian language, a maximum of 10 points for age if an applicant is between the ages of 21 and 49, and a maximum of 21 points for paid skilled work experience within the past 10 years.
i. Language

One proposed change would increase the number of points applicants can receive for a first official Canadian language (English or French) to 20 points, rather than the current 16. CIC is also considering establishing minimum language requirements for certain occupational skill levels. A higher minimum language requirement would be required for applicants with work experience in professional occupations, such as doctors, nurses, and engineers. Applicants with work experience in skilled trades would have a lower minimum language requirement.
ii. Age

CIC is proposing to increase the number of points in the age factor from 10 to a maximum of 12 points. Rather than maximum points being awarded until age 49, the suggested change will only allow applicants to gain maximum age points until the age of 35.
iii. Work Experience

CIC is proposing to lower the maximum points for work experience from 21 to 15 points and increase the years of experience required to obtain maximum points. CIC has noted that foreign work experience is not a strong indicator of success in the Canadian labour market and the additional points would be more beneficial in the language and age factor.
Other proposed changes

In order to make the Federal Skilled Worker Program more accessible to applicants with trade skills, CIC is proposing to reduce the number of years associated with education for those with a trade or non-university certificate. Currently, applicants who have a one year trade diploma must have also completed 13 years of full-time education in order to claim maximum points for that diploma under the education factor. Applicants who have a two year trade diploma must have completed 14 years and those with a three year trade diploma must have completed 15 years of education. If the proposed change is accepted, applicants with trade diplomas would be able to claim maximum points for their education with fewer years of full-time education.
CIC is also considering requiring applicants to prove their credentials are recognized by the appropriate Canadian authorities if their profession is regulated in Canada. For example, engineering is a regulated profession in Canada. Under the proposed change, any applicant who has work experience as an engineer would be required to have their credentials recognized by a Canadian professional licensing body before they submit their application for Canadian permanent residency.
Finally, CIC is proposing to establish clearer regulations for assessing employers and assessing whether a job offer is genuine. The Arranged Employment factor is an important aspect of the Federal Skilled Worker Program and CIC has noted that applicants who have Arranged Employment fare better upon arrival in Canada compared to those who do not have Arranged Employment. There have been numerous cases of fraudulent job offers from employers looking to exploit immigrants for money. With clearer guidelines for assessing job offers and employers, CIC is hoping to deter potential fraud.
Attorney David Cohen warns of a potential challenge with the proposed changes, “CIC will not be giving advanced warning of when these proposed changes will come into effect. If these changes are made to the program, applicants who are over the age of 35 and have lower language proficiency levels could have difficulties qualifying for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. If you qualify now for immigration under the current Federal Skilled Worker Program, you should submit your application as soon as possible as you may not qualify once the changes have been implemented.”
While CIC has not announced when they expect to change the Federal Skilled worker Program, Canadavisa.com and CICNews.com will report on any information as soon as it is revealed.

A new wave of young Irish workers head for Canada

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Tamsin McMahon, National Post · Monday, Feb. 28, 2011

On a chilly night last month, nearly 300 Irish men and women gathered at a downtown Toronto pub. The catch: they weren't there for a night of drinking, but for a sold-out seminar on how to navigate Canada's immigration system and find a job.
And they aren't the only ones. Ireland's Economic and Social Research Institute estimates that nearly 1,000 people are leaving the Republic each week. Most are young and educated and desperate to escape the country's economic woes, creating the largest exodus since the 1980s. And as they look abroad for new opportunities, the Irish are increasingly choosing Canada.
Traditionally, Irish economic migrants have flocked to the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. But Canada has seen a recent explosion in the number of Irish youth arriving, lured by its reputation of having weathered the global economic turmoil better than most countries.
"Worldwide, [Canada] is looking like the superstar of how to manage your economy," said Eamonn O'Loghlin, executive director of the Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce. "So you have all these young, educated, highly skilled people in Ireland who are suddenly in a situation where there are very few jobs. They're looking around and they see how Canada has come through the recession and they see more opportunity here."
The number of temporary workers coming to Canada from Ireland has doubled since 2004. The upward trend began before the global recession. With demand for jobs abroad increasing, the Irish government pressured Canada to increase the number of working holiday visas given to their young people. These visas allow citizens of Ireland (and certain other countries) between the ages of 18 and 35 to work in Canada for up to two years. Canada plans to issue 5,000 of the visas to Irish citizens this year. That is double the number offered in 2009, and all will probably be taken, said Ray Bassett, Ireland's Ambassador to Canada. Last year, Canada planned to offer 4,000 working holiday visas but granted 4,229 due to demand.
"Canada's stock around the world has grown very, very considerably in the recent economic crisis and there has definitely been a big surge in immigration," Mr. Bassett said. "We'd prefer if our people didn't have to move, but they do at the moment because there isn't enough jobs and we're going through an economic downtown. The worst thing in the world would be if we didn't face up to that fact."
In the past, most working holiday visas went to students taking time off to go abroad, allowing them to work at bars and ski hills to pay for their vacations. These days, the visas are increasingly being sought by skilled workers struggling to find work in Ireland's mori-bund construction industry, along with university graduates looking for a quick way into Canada in the hope of finding full-time employment with a company that will eventually sponsor them.
" The numbers have changed, and probably the complexity of the migrants have changed," Mr. Bassett said. "There's probably a broader sweep of the socioeconomic group than I would say there was in the past."
Even people who immigrated to Ireland during the boom are leaving the country and using their Irish work experience to get entry into Canada, said Chris Willis, a Montreal based immigration consultant whose practice specializes in migration from Britain and Ireland.
He has noticed a sharp increase in business. "I had over 300 people show up to a seminar in Cork and over 200 in Galway, and there's a trade show in Dublin which had about 4,000 people come through the doors in two days," Mr. Willis said. "So those are pretty significant numbers."
In Ireland, the exodus is seen as a mixed blessing. It helps keep the country's unemployment rate, predicted to remain around 13% for the next two years, from skyrocketing. But it also means huge numbers of skilled workers are leaving in search of jobs.
"There's a fairly steady stream of inquiries from people who might be asking for help or information if they're thinking of going to work in Canada," said Sean Heading, of Ireland's Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, which held a seminar in November for unemployed skilled workers looking to work abroad. The sessions included representatives from Alberta's construction unions.
Mr. Heading worries about the dim economic opportunities in Ireland for his two teenaged sons. "I would not like to think that the only prospect they will have is emigration," he said. "We don't want to be exporting all our young people. It's not a nice prospect for mothers and fathers to be facing."
Increasing emigration put renewed pressure on the Irish government to allow expatriates to vote in Friday's general election. (Non-residents were not allowed to cast ballots.) The restriction was put in place to keep Ireland's huge diaspora from dominating the vote: The estimated three million Irish passport-holders living abroad would roughly equal the number of domestic voters.
"I have a network of friends around the world ... because everyone has left," said Brian Reynolds, a 29-year-old who moved from Ireland to Toronto 18 months ago and started ballotbox.ie, a website that allowed members of the Irish diaspora to cast a mock vote. "There's a lot of talk about the situation back home and the government and who's to blame and how it's going to recover. That kind of discussion wasn't ever there among my friends before now."
Mr. Reynolds said most workers have left so they would not be a drain on the unemployment system, and are using their earnings in Canada and elsewhere to pay down their debts in Ireland. Many are looking to move home when the economy recovers. He argues they should have had a say in the country's most-watched national election in years -in which longtime ruling party Fianna Fáil was booted out of office.
"If we could sort out the economy soon, and make it so jobs are increasing rather than decreasing, then I think we can get all the people back very quickly," he said. "I do have a lot of friends [who are] taking a few years out, letting Ireland get back on its feet, and they'll be back there to set up family and have kids."
Mr. Reynolds' own future is "up in the air." His girlfriend is sponsoring him as a permanent resident in Canada.
However, he said, "I'd say my future lies back in Ireland."

Related articles

• A new wave of young Irish workers head for Canada (nationalpost.com)
• With unemployment soaring and an economy on its knees (thepressnet.com)
• Irish emigration worse than 1980s (guardian.co.uk)
• Ireland has Flashbacks as Thousands Emigrate for Better Life (online.wsj.com)
• Irish Remedy for Hard Times: Leaving (online.wsj.com)

Canada third in global study on welcoming immigrants

Image by saruwine via Flickr

By Carmen Chai, Postmedia News
International researchers have applauded Canada's efforts at helping newcomers integrate in a report that ranks this country third in the world in how it reaches out to its immigrant population.
Canada placed two notches higher compared to last year — just behind Sweden and Portugal — in the annual Migration Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) released Monday by the British Council and the Migration Policy Group, organizations that track immigration policy in dozens of countries.
Overall, Canada received 72 points out of a possible 100, while Sweden, sitting at No. 1 on the list, received 83.
Canada moved up on the list because of the federal government's recent focus on recognizing the education and credentials of immigrants, results showed.
The MIPEX findings, which compare 31 North American and European countries, are meant to help governments examine their current policies, said Jan Niessen, director of the Migration Policy Group. He noted that the study doesn't completely convey an immigrant's experience in each country, though.
Officials should examine the findings carefully as the demand for skilled immigrants increases, according to Howard Duncan, executive head of Metropolis, a Canadian organization that studies immigration.
"One thing we're seeing, not just in North America and Europe, is a growing competition for immigrants who have a high level of education and high level of skill. . . . The competition for migrants is going to be, in part, won or lost in terms of integration policies," he said.
For the study, about 100 researchers from around the world looked at 150 factors, broken into seven categories, such as access to education and the labour market, chances of reuniting with family, the possibility of permanent residency and political rights.
Canada's large backlog of immigration applications awaiting processing was a source a concern. The report said Canada's wait list is a "major weakness."
While Canada tied with the United States for promoting anti-discrimination and equal opportunities, the report showed that Canada limits newcomers' voting rights and input in public discussion, Niessen said.
Canada received a "slightly unfavourable" 38 points in the political participation category because it has not extended the right to vote to those in line for citizenship, while 18 European Union countries already do.
Recent national surveys on the issue show that Canadians are divided on whether potential citizens should be allowed to vote, said Jack Jedwab, executive director of the Association for Canadian Studies.
Jedwab said the findings should be interpreted with "caution."
"We need to look at the overall rankings and where we stand and not determine or be satisfied with being third best on the list," he said.
"We do know on the ground from various research that immigrants do face challenges when it comes to labour-market integration and the labour-market situation," he said.
But Canada also ranked high in the labour-mobility stream compared to Europe and the U.S.
"Migrant workers and their families have some of the best labour market opportunities in Canada . . . foreign residents and nationals have the same right to work in any sector, start a business and use public job services. All have the same working conditions and access to social security," the report said.
Canada was in second place after Sweden in the education category, which showed that Canada addressed the specific needs of immigrant children with its English-as-a-second-language programs.
Jedwab said Canadian cities should step in to fill in gaps in the integration experience for newcomers. For example, cities known to have high rates of immigration should consider creating services that will help new residents prepare for citizenship tests, he said.
Earlier this month, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Canada admitted a record number of immigrants in 2009 when more than 280,000 people moved to the country.
It was the largest number of newcomers to Canada in 57 years, he said.
cchai@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/Carmen_Chai
Top 10 countries, and their scores, in a global study of immigrant experience:
1. Sweden — 83
2. Portugal — 79
3. Canada — 72
4. Finland — 69
5. Netherlands — 68
6. Belgium — 67
7. Norway — 66
8. Spain — 63
9. U.S. — 62
10. Italy — 60
Worst 10 countries, and their scores:
1. Czech Republic — 46
1. Estonia — 46
2. Hungary — 45
2. Romania — 45
3. Switzerland — 43
4. Austria — 42
4. Poland — 42
5. Bulgaria — 41
6. Lithuania — 40
7. Malta — 37
8. Slovakia — 36
9. Cyprus — 35
10. Latvia — 31

© Copyright (c) Postmedia News

Read more: http://www.canada.com/news/Canada+third+global+study+welcoming+immigrants/4360628/story.html#ixzz1FMSX4XVe

Related articles

• Canada third in global study on welcoming immigrants (canada.com)
• Canada ranks third in immigration integration: study (nationalpost.com)
• Canada near top in integrating immigrants, survey says (theglobeandmail.com)
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Stable Canadian economy and good quality of life is luring 'planeloads' of overseas buyers eager to invest

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When real estate entrepreneur Cam Good hosted a group of predominantly mainland Chinese investors this Wednesday at a White Rock condo showing, he was tapping into a market that's surging across much of Metro Vancouver.
Good, president of The Key, a Vancouver-based sales and marketing firm that's focusing on a new wave of Chinese buyers, figures he's sold more than 500 homes to mainland Chinese investors and immigrants in January and February in Vancouver and Toronto.
He's also opened an office in Beijing's business district -The Key China -where Chinese buyers can purchase Canadian condos from a presentation centre and view videos that showcase various condo developments and the virtues of Canada.
"[Chinese investors] have really picked up a lot of steam in the last two or three months," Good said in an interview. "And I believe this is just the tip of the iceberg. There's an über-wealthy upper class forming and there's a strong middle class growing in China. This massive middle class is now getting to a point where they can afford international real estate. And Canada is viewed by the Chinese as a very stable place to put their money.
"There are literally planeloads of Chinese coming here to buy real estate."
Wednesday's attraction was Avra, a 17-storey condominium tower that's slated to be built over the next two years, and Good took along a busload of investors -some from China and some already living here -and their agents to view the plans.
But it's not just condos that are attracting Chinese buyers, with single-family homes and large lots topping the list.
Across the Lower Mainland, especially Richmond and Vancouver's west side, mainland Chinese buyers and immigrants are becoming a major part of the market, in some cases competing with each other through multiple offers.
But the phenomenon is starting to spread to other areas including Burnaby, West Vancouver, White Rock and beyond.
"We predict that this will be a dominant trend for a long time," Scott Brown, senior vicepresident, Western Canada for Colliers International residential marketing, said in an interview. "Some of the most expensive [Vancouver] real estate is only being marketed to Chinese buyers. And Vancouver and Toronto are very popular."
According to a report on new multi-family home sales in the Lower Mainland by Colliers, which recently opened a dedicated office in Shanghai to deal with the increasing demand, a total of 2,711 new multi-family units were sold in the region in the fourth quarter of 2010, making it the most active quarter of the past year.
"As in each quarter in 2010, the health of the market is expected to continue to be positively impacted by increasing Asian immigrant and investment demand," the report, prepared by Colliers and Urban Analytics, concluded.
Scott said the expected offshore demand will continue to be "the dominant story in 2011 that it was in every quarter of 2010 especially in Vancouver-west, Metrotown and Richmond."
The demand for Vancouver properties appears to be fuelled by many factors -including, ironically, a crackdown on property purchases in mainland China that may be moving much of that investment overseas, particularly to Canada.

Local real estate companies are tapping into the demand, which realtors say is also partly fuelled by an easing of travel restrictions by China with the granting of approved destination status to Canada.
As well, local Vancouver area Chinese-language newspapers are being used by realtors and agents to specifically target mainland Chinese buyers, citing Canada and Vancouver's stability and strong local real estate returns.
A recent report in the China Daily, a state-run publication based in Beijing, said Canada was "the most popular choice" for overseas investors while "growing restrictions on property purchases in major Chinese cities [are driving] the country's nouveau riche to look overseas for investment opportunities."
The newspaper noted that most overseas property purchases are motivated by a combination of factors including immigration, education and investment, with Canada, Australia and the U.K. topping the list of destinations.
The China Daily report also said buyers from the Chinese mainland represent between 40 and 50 per cent of the current market for pre-sale projects in Vancouver.
But China's effort to cool an overheating market is just one reason investment is pouring into Canada.
Brown believes there are many factors, especially Canada's image as a great country to live in and a safe place to invest money. "There's no one easy answer, but one of the main drivers is [they] believe that having their children educated in Canada [is good]. The other driver is that Vancouver is a beautiful, livable city and they want to buy their own piece of it."
One recent buyer is former Beijing resident Yang Yang, who moved to B.C. with her husband and young daughter last summer, purchased a detached house in Surrey, and accompanied Good to the White Rock condo showing.
"We prefer the peaceful life here," Yang said in an interview. "Beijing is very crowded and the air pollution is bad there."
Yang said that she and her husband, an IT engineer, are considering a condo at Avra as a place to retire when they no longer need their larger home.
Yang's realtor, Hong Lui, with Interlink Realty in Richmond, said she first noticed a surge in mainland Chinese interest last spring and it's grown increasingly stronger, with a mix of investors, including those who want to immigrate to Canada and others who are looking here after the Chinese government restricted their ability to own several homes.
Richmond MacDonald Realty realtor David Lindsay said: "January and February has been almost exclusively mainland Chinese buyers of big lots, with a house of little value on it. And we're getting multiple offers."
He said, for example, that a typical lot in the Seafair area, which sold for $800,000 in October, is now selling in the $1.2-million range. "I sold one last Sunday and we had four offers. The winning bid was $1.03 million. It was on the market for $968,000." Lindsay believes there's speculation is going on, because some buyers are getting an accepted contract with a clause that allows them to assign the contract to a third party before the sale is completed. "One buyer didn't even set foot on the property."
Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver president Jake Moldowan said he believes lifestyle is the core reason for the interest. "Vancouver is an extremely desirable place to be."
He said that Richmond lots are now going for $1 million to $1.3 million. "And I know that there have been realtors from Hong Kong and mainland China, who fly over there, put packages together, and then bring people over."
Meanwhile, Bosa Properties announced this week that its 34-storey Sovereign tower in Burnaby's Metrotown sold out immediately, surpassing the single day sales record in the Burnaby market by selling $98-million worth of real estate.
bmorton@vancouversun.com

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Chinese+investment+surge+hits+Metro+Vancouver+housing+market/4352746/story.html#ixzz1FAnYPzAl

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Canada to allow skilled immigrants without degrees

Image via WikipediaCHANDIGARH: People who do not possess university degrees or have not cleared language proficiency tests but have the skills in required trades will now find seeking immigration to Canada a little easier, an immigration consultant said Friday.

B.S. Sandhu, chairman and managing director of the World Wide Immigration Consultancy Services (WWICS) group, said that as per the new proposed immigrant selection system, the newcomers whose skills are in demand in Canada will be allowed to enter the country.

"They may not have university degrees or language proficiency. The new changes would accommodate skilled workers who do not have university degrees and are not equipped with full language proficiency to qualify under the federal skilled programme.

"By this way, more potential workers would reach Canada and this is a step in the right direction," said Sandhu, who heads one of the biggest immigration consultancies in the country.

The Canadian government has indicated the "points grid" system for immigrant selection is likely to be changed to accommodate skilled workers required in the country.

Sandhu said that Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney had recently said that last year (2010), Canada touched record figures in admitting the highest number of immigrants.

"Permanent Residency (PR) figures in Canada have touched an all-time high since the last 57 years. Immigrants to the tune of 280,600 attained Permanent Residency and this figure is the highest in the country since the last 57 years," Kenney had said.

The Canadian minister had called for more flexiblity in the immigration rules, saying that "the skilled trades people who don't have university degrees or who have very limited English or French language proficiency typically cannot make it through the points grid, but we have a huge and growing need for such skilled trades people".

Sandhu said that the main criteria that is being considered include requiring a minimum level of language proficiency, making the programme more accessible to skilled trades people and redirecting points from work experience to other factors.

While laying emphasis on allowing younger skilled workers to immigrate, the proposed changes aim at selecting people who are most likely to succeed once they reach Canada.

Related articles

• Youth, tradespeople take focus in new immigration proposal (theglobeandmail.com)
• Visas for skilled workers set to drop (cbc.ca)
• Record number of immigrants welcomed to Canada in 2010 (canada.com)
• Kenney defends new citizenship test (nationalpost.com)
• These immigration targets are sensible (theglobeandmail.com)
• Tories propose new immigration point system (ctv.ca)
• Tories propose new immigration point system (thestar.com)

Canada and Yukon Sign Agreement on Temporary Foreign Workers

Image via WikipediaWHITEHORSE, YUKON--(Marketwire - Feb. 23, 2011) - The Governments of Canada and Yukon have signed an agreement that gives Yukon a role in managing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program within the Territory.
Senator Daniel Lang made the announcement today with Patrick Rouble, Yukon Minister of Education and Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. Senator Lang spoke on behalf of Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism and Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
"The Government of Yukon has a role to play in protecting temporary foreign workers from exploitation and in identifying how immigration can help address gaps in its labour market," said Senator Lang. "This agreement formally recognizes these roles."
The agreement will improve the responsiveness of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program by providing Yukon with a greater role in helping these workers come to Canada. The Government of Yukon will be able to recommend the entry of some temporary foreign workers without requiring a Service Canada assessment of whether there are Canadians or permanent residents available to fill the vacant positions. Such exemptions will be determined according to criteria to be set by the territorial government, in line with its economic plans and priorities.
"This agreement provides one more tool for Yukon's labour market stakeholders to address Yukon's labour market opportunities, both now and into the future," said Minister Rouble. "Our first priority is to work with underrepresented groups in Yukon to meet labour force demands and turn to temporary foreign workers when the need arises."
"Today marks an important step in making the Temporary Foreign Worker Program more responsive to Yukon's particular labour needs. Meeting those needs translates into more opportunities for all Yukon residents," the Senator added.
The agreement provides a framework for closer cooperation between the two levels of government to better educate employers and potential workers about their rights and responsibilities.
A number of innovative pilot initiatives are also planned as part of the agreement. These initiatives are designed to respond to region-specific issues concerning temporary foreign workers, and are aligned with the economic and social development priorities of Yukon.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is driven by employer demand and aimed at filling identified labour shortages where no suitable Canadian workers or permanent residents are available.

Related articles

• Yukon can fast-track some foreign workers (cbc.ca)

Youth, tradespeople take focus in new immigration proposal

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JOE FRIESEN — DEMOGRAPHICS REPORTER

Canada’s immigration system will be overhauled to place more emphasis on youth, language ability and skilled trades under a new proposal from the Conservative government.

But experts warn the government should be careful not to diminish Canada’s record of attracting highly educated, adaptable newcomers.

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney will immediately begin one month of public consultations on changes to the points system, which is used to assess skilled worker applications from overseas.

“There’s no shortage of people who want to come to Canada, and we should frankly do all we can to attract the best and brightest,” Mr. Kenney said. “There are certain traits which seem to be more heavily correlated with higher income and better employment, such as younger immigrants and higher levels of language proficiency.”

At the moment, the system is based on a 100-point scale, and 67 points are required to be accepted. About a quarter of the assessment is based on English and French proficiency, a quarter on education, 20 per cent on years of work experience and 10 per cent each on age, adaptability and having arranged employment in Canada.

The current setup tends to favour applicants with advanced degrees. Tradespeople do less well because their qualifications aren’t highly rewarded and they’re judged on language skills that may not be required in their field. Mr. Kenney hopes to address those issues.

And although language is likely to be important in the new system, Mr. Kenney said he wants some leeway built in.

“A welder from Poland doesn’t need to have university-level French, but somebody expecting to work as a medical doctor does. Perhaps the points system should be more intelligent and flexible to correspond,” Mr. Kenney said.

Naomi Alboim, an immigration expert at Queen’s University, said the Canadian labour market discounts foreign work experience, so re-jigging the system to reflect that reality is useful. It’s also wise, in her view, to place a premium on youth, which is a good predictor of successful integration.

But while she recognizes a need to tweak the system to attract tradespeople, Prof. Alboim is strongly opposed to anything that would water down educational requirements.

“I think that high levels of education are really important given the types of new jobs that are being created as we move toward a knowledge economy,” she said.

“All the research shows the more education you have, the better you do, the more adaptable you are for changing labour markets and the more effective it is [as policy].”

NDP Immigration critic Olivia Chow said the review should also reward applicants with strong family ties to Canada, such as brothers and sisters in the country.

A little more than 85,000 people arrived under the federal skilled worker program in 2010, not including their spouses and children. The target range for 2011 is much lower, at about 47,000, according to figures supplied by the ministry. Mr. Kenney said in an ideal world the numbers wouldn’t be reduced, but the government is simultaneously expanding the provincial nominee program, which has grown to about 37,000 admissions from 8,000 in five years.

Provincial nominees tend to have lower levels of education but almost always have a pre-arranged job. The growth of the nominee program has also contributed to a greater dispersal of immigrants, as the share going to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver has dropped to 75 per cent from about 90 per cent, according to Mr. Kenney, with the balance going to the Prairies and Atlantic Canada.

“In the short term, we see provincial nominees actually doing better than foreign skilled workers,” Mr. Kenney said. “They typically don’t go through the survival job struggle of skilled workers with university degrees as they wait for credential recognition.”

Related articles

• Youth, tradespeople take focus in new immigration proposal (theglobeandmail.com)
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• Tories propose new immigration point system (ctv.ca)

Government of Canada Consults on Immigrant Skilled Worker Program

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OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 17, 2011) - Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is proposing changes to the Federal Skilled Worker Program to help Canada select immigrants who have the best chance of integrating and making a better contribution to the Canadian economy. CIC will be consulting with stakeholders and the public on the proposed changes beginning today.

The consultations follow the release of an evaluation of the program, which found that skilled workers are faring far better in Canada than their predecessors, thanks to their stronger language skills and arranged employment. The evaluation does show, however, that there is room for improvement.

"To stay competitive globally, we have to make sure the skilled immigrants we choose are the ones that we need, and the most likely to succeed when they get here," said Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. "Research points to some key changes that will help us meet those goals."

The input received through the consultations process will be taken into account in the development of new regulations. The proposed changes could place more emphasis on youth and language ability, and are expected to increase the number of skilled tradespeople.

CIC will consult on:

• requiring federal skilled workers to have a minimum level of language proficiency;
• making the program more accessible to skilled tradespeople, technicians and apprentices;
• placing greater emphasis on younger immigrants who will adapt more easily and be active members of the work force for a longer time frame;
• redirecting points from work experience to other factors that better contribute to success in the Canadian work force; and
• reducing the potential for fraudulent job offers.

The current Federal Skilled Worker Program was introduced in June 2002 with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The program is based on an objective and transparent points system, which considers factors such as language skills, age and education in the selection of immigrants. The system aims to be more effective at selecting those who will succeed economically.

In-person consultation sessions will take place with key stakeholders in five cities across the country beginning February 17. These sessions are not open to the general public or the media. Other organizations or interested individuals who wish to provide input can submit their feedback online at www.cic.gc.ca until March 17.

A summary of the results of this process will be published on our website in spring/summer 2011.

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CitImmCanada.

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• Tories propose new immigration point system (thestar.com)
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A Six Figure Family Day

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As Canadian families prepare to celebrate Family Day next week, they find themselves in six figure territory. Unfortunately it is on the wrong side of the ledger. In its 12th annual assessment of the state of Canadian family finances, the Vanier Institute of the Family reports that average family debt has now hit $100,000. Not only that, the debt-to-income ratio, which measures household debt against income, stands at a record 150%, meaning that for every thousand dollars in after-tax income, Canadian families owe one thousand five hundred dollars.

The Institute, Canada’s foremost authority on family issues, has been sounding the alarm for many years over the issue of debt stress facing Canadian households. The debt-to-income ratio has been steadily climbing for the past 20 years.  In 1990, average family debt stood at $56,800, with a debt-to-income ratio of 93%. The $100,000 figure represents a real increase of 78% over the past two decades.

Just as the debt ratio has climbed, the savings rate has slid downward. In 1990, Canadian families managed to put away $8,000, a savings rate of 13.0%. In 2010, that savings rate was down to 4.2%, averaging $2,500 per household.

Katherine Scott, the Institute’s Director of Programs, says, “Even though standard economic indicators tell us the recession is technically over, the confidence Canadian families have in their economic and financial situation is shaky. As governments at all levels craft their budgets for the coming year and look at cutting programs to reduce their deficits, they need to be mindful that the state of Canadian family finances continues to be fragile in many households.” 

The stress of debt can be seen in many areas of family finances. The number of households which have fallen behind in their mortgage payments by three or more months climbed to 17,400 in the fall of 2010, up nearly 50% since the recession began. Credit card delinquency and bankruptcy rates also remained higher than pre-recessionary levels. If the government implements recommendations from the federal Task Force on Financial Literacy, families will have access to new resources to help better manage their financial situation.  

The Vanier report notes that despite recent job gains, governments at all levels need to be concerned about the prospect of rising unemployment as workers who dropped out of the labour market attempt to jump back in – and as those who are working part-time hours (over 900,000 workers) continue to seek full-time hours.

In particular, families with younger members preparing to enter the workforce face tremendous pressure. Only 5% of the new jobs created since mid 2009 went to the 15-24 age group. The report also points out that the types of jobs being created are in the service sector, with very few returning in the manufacturing sector.

Author Roger Sauvė says this is one of the key findings of this report. “While in aggregate numbers, almost all of the jobs lost during the recession have returned. But the hidden reality is that those who lost their jobs are often not the ones who are landing the new ones. And many are finding work that doesn’t pay what their old jobs did.”

Among young people trying to better their job prospects with post-secondary education, about 57% of them are now financing part of their schooling with student loans, which may amount to an average student debt of $18,000 when they graduate.

This year’s report from the Vanier Institute also has a special section that looks at the experiences of middle-income households. It can be downloaded from the Vanier Institute website at: www.vifamily.ca.

For interviews and more informationon this report, please contact: 

Katherine Scott
Director of Programs,
Vanier Institute of the Family
(613) 228-8500 x219
kscott@vifamily.ca

Related articles

• Household debt surpasses six-figure mark (theglobeandmail.com)
• Average family debt hits $100,000: report (theglobeandmail.com)
• Family debt-to-income ratio hits record (cbc.ca)
• Average Canadian family debt hits $100,000: report (ctv.ca)

Average Canadian family debt hits $100,000

Image via Wikipedia

A new report suggests the average family debt in Canada has now hit the $100,000 mark.

In addition, says the Vanier Institute of the Family, the debt-to-income ratio measuring household debt against income, is a record 150 per cent.

This means that for every $1,000 in after-tax income, Canadian families owe $1,500.

The Institute says in 1990, average family debt stood at $56,800, with a debt-to-income ratio of 93 per cent.

Just as the debt ratio has climbed, the savings rate has slid downward.

In 1990, says the Institute, Canadian families managed to put away $8,000 for a savings rate of 13 per cent. Last year, the savings rate had fallen to 4.2 per cent, averaging just $2,500 per household.

Other data compiled by the Institute shows the number of households behind in mortgage payments by three or more months climbed to 17,400 in the fall of 2010, up nearly 50 per cent since the recession began.

Related articles

• Average Canadian family debt hits $100,000: report (ctv.ca)
• Average family debt hits $100,000: report (theglobeandmail.com)
• Average family debt hits $100,000 (theglobeandmail.com)
• Family debt-to-income ratio hits record (cbc.ca)
• Household debt surpasses six-figure mark (theglobeandmail.com)
• Average Canadian family's debt hits $100,000 (theprovince.com)
• Average Canadian family's debt hits $100,000 (canada.com)
• Average family debt in Canada hits six figures (financialpost.com)
• B.C. most vulnerable to economic downturn (globaltvbc.com)
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Visas for skilled workers set to drop

Image via WikipediaEmployment and industry groups are reacting negatively to a government plan to cut substantially the number of visas issued for federal skilled workers this year.
New figures obtained through Access to Information show the government will cut all economic class visas by nearly seven per cent, and federal skilled worker visas specifically by 20 per cent, in 2011.
"The notion of reducing the number of skilled workers we aim to take in 2011 is certainly a move in the wrong direction given where we expect the economy right across the country to be heading," said Elsbeth Mehrer, director of research and workforce strategy for Calgary Economic Development.
"This is a time when we need to ensure we're ramping up to meet worker demand," Mehrer told CBC News Tuesday. "And while we had some great success last year in terms of having our highest ever number of immigrants coming into the country, we need to make sure we keep the foot on the gas to meet labour demand in the future."
In question period Monday, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney noted that in 2010 Canada hit a record high by welcoming "281,000 permanent residents to Canada, 106,000 more than the Liberals did shortly after they came to office and cut immigration levels."

Overseas visa targets

	2010	2011	% change
Federal skilled worker visa	69,915	55,900	- 20
Provincial nominees visas	36,650	40,300	+ 9
Total economic class visa	161,630	151,000	- 6.6

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada/Access to information release

And when asked about his department's cuts to another category, visas for parents and grandparents, Kenney responded by emphasizing his long-standing effort to boost economic immigration.
"There are tradeoffs. And this government is focused on the priority of Canadians, which is economic growth and prosperity," he said. "Mr. Speaker we need more newcomers working and paying taxes and contributing to our health-care system. And that's the focus of our immigration sytem."
The problem is, the government isn't robbing Peter to pay Paul — it's robbing them both, says Richard Kurland, a Vancouver immigration lawyer.
Kurland, who obtained the target numbers through Access to Information, notes the government is not boosting economic visas overall. In fact, across all categories (including federal skilled workers, provincial nominees, Quebec skilled workers, and the Canadian experience and business classes) there will be 6.6 per cent fewer economic class visas issued this year over last.
"The 2011 targets dramatically show the substantial reduction in federal skilled workers and a slight increase in provincial selection," Kurland says. "We really should be targeting more skilled workers to make up for Canadians' inability to demographically reproduce. We need the young workers to pay the taxes to support the pensions for Canada's aging population."
Vancouver immigration lawyer Richard Kurland obtained details about planned cuts to overseas visa targets through Access to Information. (CBC) Officials at Citizenship and Immigration caution that the targets found in the documents do not represent the final number of immigrants to be accepted this year. That's because the targets are for overseas visas only and do not include inland claims.
However, experts say the extent of the cuts — specifically to parents and grandparents and skilled worker categories — mean there will undoubtedly be significantly fewer immigrants accepted in those categories this year.
Michael Atkinson, head of the Canadian Construction Association, says the cuts to the federal skilled worker category won't affect the construction industry directly, because those companies have had trouble for years getting workers through the point system, which is heavily skewed toward post-secondary education and language proficiency.
But Atkinson is still concerned about the government's motivation for cutting the economic visas overall.
"If the motivation behind reducing those target levels is, 'Well gee, the economy is improving, we don't need as many skilled workers,' then I would suggest that is a huge mistake, given the fact that just our aging workforce, our aging population, our low fertility rate shows us and other industries that it is only going to get worse.
"We are facing bigger challenges in the future with respect to building our workforce and training them than we ever have before," Atkinson says.
He adds his industry expects to face a shortfall of 400,000 workers by 2018 if government policies — both federal and provincial — don't move with the times.
Atkinson notes the government has taken a step in the right direction by opening a review process of the point system for federal skilled workers.

'We are facing bigger challenges in the future with respect to building our workforce and training them than we ever have before.'—Michael Atkinson, Canadian Construction Association

The irony, according to Mehrer, is that the government has managed to reduce wait times for federal skilled workers through a new system of ministerial instruction brought in in 2008. Workers under the old system still wait for years for a decision, but new applications that fit one of a list of 29 occupations are being processed in seven to eight months.
That success is leading many employers to believe the government's current motivation is a political one, rather than a policy decision.
"It's really difficult to say, but certainly the speculation I hear from employers here is that it's based on political pressure that may be coming from other parts of Canada, where the unemployment remains higher and where the understanding of the labour market dynamics in Alberta and in much of the west are less clear," Mehrer says.
She adds that the economic recession is no argument for the cuts, as things are improving rapidly out west.
"We're already starting to see re-employment of Canadians and Albertans who lost their work during the recession," Mehrer says.
"I'm already hearing from some industries who recognize that their talent pools are shrinking in terms of the skill set they are going to need. So as much as they may not be in foreign markets right now looking for talent, we certainly expect that by the latter half of this year there will be certain skill sets we simply won't have available in the province."
Louise Elliott is the immigration reporter for CBC Ottawa. She can be reached at louise.elliott@cbc.ca.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2011/02/15/pol-visas-skilled-workers.html#ixzz1EAsvjnYB

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• Visas for skilled workers set to drop (cbc.ca)
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Canada offers affordable education

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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