Amendments - Labour Market Opinion

Image via WikipediaIn addition to the standard requirements to apply for a labour market opinion (LMO) under each stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)/Service Canada will also evaluate the following criteria starting April 1, 2011:

1. All employers must use the new LMO application form specific to each program stream, and provide:
   • the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number which applies to all Canadian-based employers;
   • a description of the main business activities;
   • an explanation of how hiring a temporary foreign worker (TFW) meets the employment needs of the employer; and
   • a signed statement attesting that the employer will abide by the Program requirements.
   When applying for an LMO, all new employers to the TFWP will be required to provide a copy of their business licence or permit. Should an employer not be required by the municipality to obtain a licence or permit to operate, the documents listed below may be provided instead:
   
   • CRA documents, including: T4 Summary of Remuneration Paid, Schedules 100 and 125 of the T2 Corporation Income Tax Return, T2125 Statement of Business or Professional Activities;
   • business contracts for goods and/or services;
   • provincial workers compensation clearance letter or other appropriate provincial documentation; and
   • attestation by a lawyer, notary public or chartered accountant confirming that the employer exists and the type of business the employer operates.
   Upon request, returning employers may also be asked to submit any or all of the documents listed above.
   
2. The genuineness of the job offer made to the TFW will be assessed based on whether the:
   • employer is actively engaged in the business in which the job offer is being made;
   • job offered to the TFW meets the employment needs of the employer, and is consistent with the type of business the employer is engaged in;
   • employer can fulfil the terms and conditions of the job offer; and
   • employer, or the third party representative acting on behalf of the employer, is compliant with the relevant federal-provincial/territorial employment and recruitment legislation.
3. All returning employers must demonstrate that they have met the terms and conditions of employment set out in previous LMO confirmation letters and annexes (if applicable). In addition, some employers may be required to submit documentation to support a more detailed employer compliance review (ECR), including any or all of the following documents:
   • payroll records;
   • time sheets;
   • job descriptions;
   • copies of the employer-employee contract;
   • collective agreements;
   • TFW’s work permit ;
   • provincial workers compensation clearance letter or other appropriate provincial documentation;
   • receipts for private health insurance (if applicable);
   • receipts for transportation costs; and
   • information about accommodations provided by the employer;
   If it appears that employers did not fully respect the terms and conditions of employment set out in the LMO confirmation letters and annexes (if applicable), the employer will have the opportunity to provide a rationale. In this case, HRSDC/Service Canada will work with the employer to implement the appropriate corrective action, which may include providing compensation to the TFW. Employers may be found non-compliant if they refuse to provide a rationale and/or provide only partial compensation to the TFW.
   If the employer is found to be non-compliant:
   
   • HRSDC/Service Canada may issue a negative LMO and revoke all positions on confirmed LMOs for which work permits have not yet been issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
   • CIC may deem the employer ineligible to hire TFWs for two years. The employer’s name, address and period of ineligibility may also be published on a list of ineligible employers posted on CIC Web site.

Related articles

• Russia and Canada (socyberty.com)
• Quebec budget revamps pensions to create plan for all workers (theglobeandmail.com)

Alberta performs best in Canada’s Top Entrepreneurial Cities rankings

16 March 2011 According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Communities in Boom research report, Alberta province takes out five of the top ten places for top Entrepreneurial Canadian cities in 2010.

Entrepreneurial cities are measured by a variety of indicators designed to assess the success and development of small to medium enterprise (SME). With 53 per cent of all working individuals in Canada employed by SME’s, this information will be of strong interest to migrants researching destination and employment options.

Some of the main indicators of entrepreneurial hot spots in the study are, the high concentration of entrepreneurs, high business start-up rate, high levels of business owner optimism and success and the presence of supportive local government tax and regulatory policies.

City Entrepreneurial Index: Top 10 Rankings, 2010

1. Grande Prairie, Alberta
2. Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan
3 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
4. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
5. Kelowna, British Columbia
6. Edmonton, Alberta
7. Red Deer, Alberta
8 Parksville, British Columbia
9. Saint-Georges, Quebec
10. Wood Buffalo, Alberta

According to the study by Ted Mallett and Queenie Wong, 'Scores are slightly higher than last year, mainly because the economy is further in recovery. However, only two out of 100 cities scored higher than 70 out of 100- which shows there is room for considerable improvement…”.

Alberta has been reported to have 57,774 foreign workers present, as at December 1, 2010, according to preliminary data released by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). This is the third highest province home to foreign workers after Ontario with 99,747 and British Columbia with 67,755. The preliminary data also indicted there were a total of 283,096 foreign workers present in 2010, up from 160,908 in 2006.

Related articles

• Alberta wholesale trade increase among nation's highest (calgaryherald.com)
• New arrivals boost settlement funding for Alberta (calgaryherald.com)
• Alberta economy set for solid growth in 2011: RBC report (calgaryherald.com)

Canada immigration and citizenship guide for Facebook and mobile application

Image via CrunchBase

by Harleen Kaur - March 7, 2011            

Canada, 7th March: Jason Kenney, Canadian immigration minister has launched an educational and a fun Facebook and mobile application in a bid to attract new audiences.

The application takes tour of the ‘Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship’, the Canada immigration guide, and checks your knowledge regarding values, history, symbols and political institutes of Canada.

Learn through fun-Helpful for new immigrants to know facts about Canada--

This new online fun and educational tool was launched by Kenney on 3rd March, 2011.

This will prove to be of great help for new immigrants wanting to learn basic facts about Canada.

The initiative by Canada immigration minister has been aptly named ‘How Canadian are you, EH!’ It comprises of 122 queries which can be taken time and again as long as you wish to on your Android, iPhone or your Blackberry.

Every time you play this application, you will be asked 20 questions selected at random from a total of 122 questions.

You need to select one answer out of different answers provided for each question in the quiz. Speaking about the application, minister Kenney said that the application can be downloaded for taking the quiz and it can also be shared with your friends.

It’s a way to find how Canadian any person living in Canada is, added Kenney. Basically, this new tool is targeted to provide basic facts about Canada’s past and its politics to students currently enrolled between grade five till grade 12, yet, it is beneficial for many.

Everyone can gain from CIC guide--

It’s not just for newcomers in Canada, even if you are an immigrant living in Canada for quite some time but don’t have thorough knowledge about your new nation, then this new online tool is appropriate for you as well.

The application draws its material from ‘Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship’, the Canada citizenship study guide.

Its part of the ongoing initiative named “A Fun Path to Learning”, an online tool launched by Canada immigration department-CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) way back in April last year. It can be found easily within Facebook, in Android marketplace, in Blackberry app and even at the app store of iTunes.

Related articles

• Canada near top in integrating immigrants, survey says (theglobeandmail.com)

Skilled Workers Have a Path to Citizenship in Canada

Image via Wikipedia

By Katherine at Legal Language
Posted 01/05/2011
In Immigration

Canada needs more skilled workers. To encourage immigration, the Canadian government has established a quick path for qualified workers to obtain permanent residence.

Skilled workers must meet specific criteria before their applications are processed, however — not to mention the specific list of occupations that qualify for this immigration path.

Which Occupations Are Accepted?

If you are interested in coming to Canada as a skilled worker, but you do not yet have an offer of employment, the very first thing you should do is find out whether or not your occupation is acceptable for this particular route to immigration.

Canada allows people of any occupation to immigrate as skilled workers if they have an employment offer from a Canadian business. If you do not have an offer, Canada will accept skilled workers from the following occupations:

• Primary production managers
• Professional occupations in business services to management
• Insurance adjusters and claims examiners
• Biologists and related scientists
• Architects
• Specialist physicians
• General practitioners and family physicians
• Dentists
• Pharmacists
• Physiotherapists
• Registered nurses
• Medical radiation technologists
• Dental hygienists and dental therapists
• Licensed practical nurses
• Psychologists
• Social workers
• Chefs
• Cooks
• Contractors and supervisors in carpentry trades
• Contractors and supervisors in mechanic trades
• Electricians
• Industrial electricians
• Plumbers
• Welders and related machine operators
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
• Crane operators
• Drillers and blasters in surface mining, quarrying and construction
• Supervisors in oil, gas drilling and related services

Further Eligibility Requirements

If you have a job offer or if you have worked in one of the above occupations, you must still meet additional eligibility requirements before your application can be processed.

These include:

• Taking a language proficiency exam — you must be fluent in one or both of Canada’s official languages, English and French
• You must have worked for at least one year, either full time or the equivalent in part time, continuously, within the last 10 years
• You must have been compensated for your work
• You must prove that you have enough money to support yourself and any dependents during the move to Canada

If you meet the above minimum requirements, your application will be processed according to the six selection factors in the skilled worker points grid, which are:

• Your education experience
• Your language abilities
• Your work experience
• Your age
• Whether you have arranged employment in Canada
• Your adaptability

How Skilled Workers Can Apply

To apply as a skilled worker, you will need to download and fill out the following forms:

• IMM 0008: Application for Permanent Residence in Canada
• IMM 0008 SCHEDULE 1: Schedule 1 Background/Declaration
• IMM 0008 SCHEDULE 3: Schedule 3 – Economic Classes – Federal Skilled Workers
• IMM 5406: Additional Family Information

Once the forms are filled out truthfully and to the best of your ability, you must mail them, along with fees and proof of language proficiency, to the Centralized Intake Office for Federal Skilled Worker Applications in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Keep in mind that Citizenship and Immigration Canada will contact you about going through medical, criminal and background checks.

Related articles

• Visas for skilled workers set to drop (cbc.ca)
• Key to Prosperity: Fix Immigration Policies, Says Dallas Fed (blogs.wsj.com)
• Canada admits record-high number of immigrants (thestar.com)
• Immigrant visas to drop 5 per cent: records (cbc.ca)
• Record number of immigrants welcomed to Canada in 2010 (canada.com)

New immigration streams added to Provincial Nominee Program

Image via Wikipedia

nnovation and Advanced Learning

The Government of Prince Edward Island is introducing new streams to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) which will continue to build on the programs successful record of attracting business people and skilled workers to immigrate and settle in Prince Edward Island, Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister Allan Campbell says.

In recent years, our nominee programs have helped Prince Edward Island reach its highest ever level of immigration and have paved the way for thousands of people from around the world to explore new opportunities in our Island community, said Minister Campbell.

Equally impressive has been the significant contributions newcomers have made to Prince Edward Island by starting new businesses, purchasing homes and services, and overall contributions to enhancing our cultural diversity.

After a rigorous period of consultation with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, we are pleased to be moving forward with new nominee streams that meet federal immigration requirements and will create opportunities for entrepreneurship and community development for both newcomers and established Islanders.

Under the Provincial Nominee Program, the government of Prince Edward Island may nominate qualified foreign nationals seeking to move to Canada. The program will be limited to people who meet all federal immigration requirements, and have demonstrated a commitment to settling in Prince Edward Island as active employees or owners in Island businesses.

The revamped PEI PNP will include a Business Impact Category with three streams and a Labour Impact Category with four streams. Two streams within the Labour Impact Category will be new and include an International Student Stream (for recent graduates of Canadian Universities) and a pilot Critical Worker Stream (for lower-skilled workers where significant labour shortages exist).

The government of Prince Edward Island will immediately issue a Request for Proposals from individuals qualified to act as Island Agents in the Business Impact Category under the Provincial Nominee Program.

Under the new program, government will give priority to new Islanders wanting to own and operate businesses in strategic sectors including the provinces primary industries or in the four pillar sectors identified under the Island Prosperity Strategy: aerospace, bioscience, renewable energy and information technology. Priority will also be given to those wishing to own/establish businesses in rural Prince Edward Island. New Islanders have made a tremendous contribution to Prince Edward Island in recent years. Through the programs announced today, we expect to see more new Islanders have the opportunity to integrate into our province as business leaders and community members, said Minister Campbell.

Ongoing results of the Provincial Nominee Program will be published each year in the annual report of Island Investment Development Inc. The programs operations will be overseen by the Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning and subject to review by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Auditor General of Prince Edward Island.

For more information on the Provincial Nominee Program, visitwww.gov.pe.ca/immigration or call Immigration Services at (902) 620-3628.

BACKGROUNDER

Labour Impact Category

Skilled Worker Stream:

Prince Edward Island employers wishing to hire a potential new employee they have identified outside of Canada may do so through nomination via the Skilled Worker Stream. Those potential nominees who possesses the necessary skills and fall under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level O, A or B are eligible provided they have obtained a post-secondary degree/diploma and experience in the intended profession.

Critical Worker Stream:

Prince Edward Island employers that have hired a foreign worker may support that worker to obtain permanent residency in Canada through the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Critical Worker Program. The Provincial Nominee Program helps to fill labour market shortages by enabling foreign workers to apply to become permanent residents.

International Graduate Stream:

The International Graduate Stream is employer-driven and provides the opportunity for Prince Edward Island employers to hire a recent graduate from a recognized accredited Canadian university or college. The international graduate must have a full-time job offer in the field of study under National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A or B which represents professional, managerial and skilled-trade positions. The international graduate must have a valid post graduation work permit with the Prince Edward Island employer the applicant is working for at the time of application and is expected to have worked a minimum of six months in the position before submitting an application for nomination.

Family Connection Stream:

The Family Connection Stream strives to identify applicants who will help to grow our economy, enrich our experiences and enhance cultural diversity. Family members who have been identified for possible nomination must have the ability to independently economically establish within the province. Under this stream, close family members (champions) in Prince Edward Island may serve in a supporting capacity to assist the applicant to integrate and settle in Prince Edward Island.

For specific program criteria, please visit: www.gov.pe.ca/immigration

Business Impact Category

100% Ownership Stream:

Business people are integral to the advancement of the Prince Edward Island economy. Prince Edward Island recognizes that this is still the fact and welcomes any capable individuals with entrepreneurial spirit to come to our province and help the progress continue. For foreign nationals, one avenue for entry into the province to showcase entrepreneurial ability is through the 100% Ownership Stream. As the name would suggest, this stream requires the applicant to obtain 100% control of a business through the outright purchase of an existing business or the start of a new business in Prince Edward Island.

Partial Ownership Stream:

The Partial Ownership Stream is designed for applicants who wish to transition into the Prince Edward Island business community by becoming a part owner in a business. The applicant must follow the step-by-step application process. If approved by Immigration Services, the applicant will receive a nomination from Prince Edward Island and will sign the necessary agreements. The applicant, amongst other conditions, must obtain 33 1/3% of the businesss equity or invest $1,000,000 CAD in the equity of the business and be active in the day-to-day management of the business.

Work Permit Stream:

Applicants may wish to transition in a more timely fashion to start a new life and business utilizing a work permit to enter Canada and begin the journey. The Work Permit Stream will allow applicants to come to Prince Edward Island and begin working and learning about the business they will be investing in prior to nomination by the Province of Prince Edward Island.

For specific program criteria or to get information on priority sectors or eligibility, please visit: www.gov.pe.ca/immigration

Media Contact: Ron Ryder

Related articles

• P.E.I. family frustrated by immigration wait (cbc.ca)
• P.E.I. gets new immigrant program (cbc.ca)
• Immigrant influx changing P.E.I. (news.nationalpost.com)