1. Canada urged to target euro migrants

    January 18, 2012 by oe-admin

    Most of Europe’s dismal financial situation combined with its high rates of unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, has led some analysts to urge Canadian immigration authorities to take their pick of the best and brightest Europe has to offer.

    With just a precious few European countries such as Germany, Austria and Holland managing to resist the recession that has gripped the majority of Europe, many countries have been left with high unemployment rates and talented, capable workers desperate for new opportunities.

    Spain has an unemployment rate of 22.9% and Greece, 18.8% according to data from the European Union. Canada has a comparatively low unemployment rate of just 7.5%.

    While these unemployment rates are worrying, the youth unemployment rates of those under 25 in Europe are even more cause for concern: Spain’s youth unemployment rate is an incredible 49.6% while Greece, again the country with the second worst record, is 45.6%.

    Canada has a youth unemployment rate of just 15%.

    Canadian Immigration Minster Jason Kenny has stated that the country intends to take in 250,000 immigrants in 2012, yet despite the outrageous rates of unemployment in Europe, Canada looks set to continue to grant the majority of Canadian visas to immigrants from Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

    Canadian immigration policies have been concentrated on diversification since the 1960s when efforts were made to encourage a greater number of ethnicities and nationalities to Canada. In 1957, Canada accepted over a quarter of a million European migrants and just over 3,000 from Asia. By the 1970s however, Asian migrants had become the largest source of Canadian migrants, with more than 30,000 migrants than Europe in 1979.

    This policy has continued to the present day with Europeans now representing just 15% of the total number of migrants entering Canada. Migrants from African and the Middle East have also become a significant portion of the total number of migrants with 67,000 Middle Eastern and African migrants entering Canada in 2011.

    However, while European migrations rates remain so restricted, some commentators have claimed that Canada is not taking advantage of the opportunity to recruit some of Europe’s frustrated and desperate unemployed workforce, many of whom and young, well educated and English or French speaking.

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  2. Canada to increase migrant intake in 2012

    December 5, 2011 by oe-admin

    The Canadian Government has said it will boost the number of skilled visas in its 2012 migration intake, coinciding with the release of a research paper pushing for more skilled labour in the Canadian economy.

    Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has indicated the government will change its approach to immigration intake in 2012, opting for a greater focus on skilled migration.

    Mr Kenney told the Canadian Parliament of his department’s intention to admit between 55,000 and 57,000 skilled workers in 2012, an increase of 8-10,000 from the current figure of 47,000.

    “The government’s number one priority remains the economy,” Kenney said.

    “We recognize the importance of immigration to our labour market and we value the contributions of skilled immigrants who add to our international competitiveness.

    “We are committed to facilitating the arrival of the best and the brightest to our country.”

    In October, Kenney flagged the government’s intention to keep the overall migration figure at 250,000 entrants per year. The government has not deviating from this pledge, suggesting that the increase in skilled migration will be at the direct expense of prospective migrants taking other Canadian visa paths.

    The decision to increase the skilled migration intake has been supported by a paper released by the Institute for Research on Public Policy, a non-partisan Quebec-based think-tank.

    The research paper said that Canada needs to focus more directly on importing skilled labour if it is to remain globally competitive.

    “Canada cannot afford to be complacent in seeking to attract and retain skilled workers,” the report states.

    It also found that skilled migrants receive much higher wages upon entry to Canada and “easily made the most contribution to the country’s labour market”, relative to other migrant types.

    The report also recommended reform of the visa application process, with particular mention of amending processing wait times, the current points system and the recognition of foreign qualifications.

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  3. Canadian Government announces new ‘super visa’ in effort to deal with backlog

    November 17, 2011 by oe-admin

    The Canadian Government will stop accepting permanent residency applications from parents and grandparents of Canadian residents, announcing a new ‘super visa’ as a replacement.

    In an effort to clear the 165,000-strong backlog of permanent residency applications, Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney has this week flagged changes to the family reunification system.

    ‘Wait times for Family Class sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents now exceed seven years, and without taking action, those times will continue to grow, and that is unacceptable’, Mr Kenney said.

    ‘Action must be taken to cut the backlog, reduce the wait times, and ensure that the parents and grandparents program is sustainable over the long run.’

    The action proposed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) authorities is to stop accepting and processing permanent residency applications from parents and granparents of citizens and residents for a period of two years.

    Over this hiatus CIC intends to boost the number of parents and grandparents entering Canada by issuing a new Canada visa valid for extended stays of up to two years.

    CIC expects that the grandly named ‘Parent and Grandparent Super Visa’ will increase the number admitted by more than 60% in 2012.

    The visa is conditional on a number of requirements including proof of private medical insurance, and a ‘written commitment of financial support from a child or grandchild in Canada who meets a minimum income threshold’.

    CIC claims it will issue these ‘super visas’ within eight weeks of application.

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  4. Canada considers visa limit to deal with backlog

    November 3, 2011 by oe-admin

    Canada is considering limiting the number of visa applications it receives and processes as a solution to the backlog of demand for Canadian immigration, which has now reached one million names.

    Canadian immigration and citizenship minister Jason Kenney has raised the possibility of accepting fewer applications to a Canada visa, meaning fewer opportunities for immigration. He raised the policy proposal as a solution to the processing backlog.

    ‘Those are the only two possible solutions. It’s a math problem’, Mr Kenney said, going on to explain that Canada must either vastly increase immigration acceptances – which is unlikely given the tough immigration stance of the current government – or take fewer applications in the first place.

    The Minister pointed to the ‘family class’ path to migration as one of the reasons behind the backlog. Under Canadian immigration law, parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens are eligible for immigration which saw 37,500 applications in 2010 and has a ten year wait for processing.

    Kenney said the government is considering adding conditions to the family class, including possible prerequisites of family income, family health insurance or a bond, similar to the proposal currently before the UK House of Commons.

    Immigration law specialist Richard Kurland has expressed support for a tightening of the family migration scheme.

    ‘Unless you solve the intake problem, you’re going to have a growing backlog with growing processing times and it’s time to bite the bullet’, he said.

    The NDC opposition has responded cautiously, immigration spokesperson Don Davies saying a cap on family migration is ‘not the only policy tool available to the minister’.

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  5. Canada looks to migrants to drive the economy forward

    October 7, 2011 by oe-admin

    The Canadian Government views immigration as a key factor in building strength in the economy following the recession, and it is looking at deregulation of the Temporary Foreign Worker program.

    Canadian Immigration, Federal Citizenship and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenny has told the news media that while the Canadian economy has emerged from the global recession with relative strength, immigration is now needed to further economic growth.

    Speaking at a Chamber of Commerce meeting in Camrose, Alberta last week, Mr Kenny argued for a change to the status quo in Canadian immigration.

    ‘For a couple of generations Canadians have been deciding to have fewer kids than we need to grow or maintain our population, which means ultimately fewer workers and fewer taxpayers to pay for benefits, health care and pensions for our growing number of retired folk…This is where immigration comes in’, he said.

    Mr Kenny emphasised the potential role of the Temporary Foreign Worker program in driving economic growth filling gaps in the labour market and explained the Government’s reasoning behind limiting the program over recent years.

    ‘In 2009 when we had the recession, because unemployment was going up and a significant number of Canadians were being laid off, the Government wanted to be sure that we weren’t extending foreign workers into an economy where Canadians were going to need those jobs.

    ‘That’s why they tightened up to the one-year Labour Market Option (LMO). Now that things are moving and unemployment is going down and the labour market is getting tighter, we recognise that there’s a need to relax these rules’, he said.

    The Minister acknowledged the bureaucratic hassles and ‘red tape’ often encountered by applicants for Canadian visas and employers attempting to bring foreigners to Canada under the Temporary Foreign Workers scheme.

    In response to these problems, Kenny indicated that his department will seek to streamline its visa application process and move case files to an electronic – and thereby more accessible – system.

    A consultation will be held between the Government and Canadian public over the next month on general immigration issues.

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  6. Canada launches new movement to attract entrepreneurs

    September 6, 2011 by oe-admin

    Startup Visa Canada is a new Canadian immigration movement which is looking to make it easier for international entrepreneurs to emigrate to Canada and work with Canadian investors to launch new science and technology companies.

    The movement is comprised of three founding principles: Boris Wertz, Danny Robinson and the Canadian Venture Capital Association (CVCA). Both Wertz and Robinson have history as entrepreneurs and investors, and the CVCA is comprised of over 1,800 members who have a combined capital of over CA$75 billion under management.

    The reasoning behind Startup Visa Canada being formed was summarised by Wertz: ‘We are already falling behind countries like Chile, Singapore and Britain, who have already upgraded their programs….but I believe we can learn from their programs and make ours better’.

    CVCA’s director also commented on the need for the Canada visa process for entrepreneurs to be overhauled. ‘Our belief is that we must promote a culture of entrepreneurship in order to successfully compete in the new global economy’, he said.

    ‘Canada can become a beacon, attracting the best and the brightest from across the globe.’

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  7. Kenney in consultations over Canadian immigration levels

    July 25, 2011 by oe-admin

    The Federal Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister, Jason Kenney, has launched a series of consultations across Canada in order to discuss immigration issues.

    Mr Kenney will meet immigration industry players and members of the public to discuss such matters as immigration levels, including the appropriate level of immigration for Canada, and the most suitable mix between economic, family class and protected person centered visas.

    The first sessions took place in Calgary on July 12th and July 18th, and Toronto on July 20th and Montreal on July 22nd. In addition to these sessions, there will also be online consultations in the summer, which will be open to the public.

    Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for determining the total number of people to admit to Canada as permanent residents. In doing so, it balances both immigration objectives and other factors, such as government commitments, input from provinces and territories and current and future economic conditions.

    By providing immigration stakeholders and the public the opportunity to provide input, CIC says it will share some of the considerations and difficult choices entailed within the migration system.

    For more information on Canadian visas, please visit our website on a regular basis for the latest updates as they appear.

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  8. Royal couple attend Canadian immigration ceremony

    July 11, 2011 by oe-admin

    As part of their official visit to Canada, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attended a Canadian immigration ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Civilization on Canada Day, 1st July.

    The Canadian immigration citizenship ceremony is a Canada Day event that saw 25 residents of Ottawa and Gatineau taking the oath of citizenship to become Canadian citizens.

    The 25 migrants were chosen by officials at Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Ottawa and Gatineau regional offices. All had written and passed a citizenship test and met all other requirements. They range in age from seven to 47.

    Though most citizenship ceremonies are open to the public, this one was not, due to the presence of the royal couple. However, members of the public were allowed on the museum’s ground and were able to see HRH William and Catherine as they arrived at 10:30 AM and then again when they departed about an hour later.

    The oath at the ceremony was administered by Gov. Gen. David Johnston. The new citizens were congratulated and welcomed by Prince William and Duchess Catherine, and also presented with a Canadian flag.

    Prince William and Catherine were cheered by tens of thousands who lined the streets of the Canadian capital to get a glimpse of them.

    Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper later welcomed them to an afternoon meeting at Parliament Hill as ‘the world’s most famous newlyweds’ and said they represent ‘our unbreakable link with our past and our unqualified optimism for the future’.

    For more information on Canadian visas, please visit our website on a regular basis for the latest updates as they appear.

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  9. Canadian economists back increased immigration

    June 8, 2011 by oe-admin

    Several economists in Canada are saying that the country should increase its focus on immigration as a key means of maintaining growth and that Canada should work towards attracting an additonal 100,000 skilled migrants per year to this end.

    York University’s Tony Fang and the University of Toronto’s Peter Dungan and Morley Gunderson say that raising immigration numbers in Canada will increase gross domestic product, lead to increased investment in the Canadian property market, and lead to increased spending which will boost government tax revenues.

    Canada already welcomes 250,000 immigrants a year, more immigrants per capita than any other country in the world.

    Canada’s political climate is already largely pro-immigration. In contrast to European countries, Canada’s major political parties support more immigration and see skilled migration as a  key motor of continued ecomomic growth.

    For more information on Canadian visas, please visit our website on a regular basis for the latest updates as they appear.

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  10. Former Canadian immigration director calls for migrant increase

    May 16, 2011 by oe-admin

    A former director of Federal-Provincial Relations at Immigration Canada, Robert Vineberg, has asked the Canadian Government to ‘start talking about how to make the policy changes necessary to responsibly increase Canada’s annual immigration intake’.

    Mr Vineberg is now a Research Fellow at the Canada West Foundation, an organisation which aims to bring the perspectives of Western Canada to national policy debates. Mr Vineberg has previously held a number of prominent positions with Immigration Canada, including Director of Federal-Provincial Relations and Director, Immigration Case Analysis.

    Mr Vineberg is arguing that, due to Canada’s own population and labour force growth stagnating, the country should now look to increase the number of arrivals coming via Canadian immigration.

    The call comes as a result of Canada’s major political parties failing to address the over-arching issue of how many immigrants Canada needs, despite all of them expressing support for an increase in migrant numbers.

    Mr Vineberg said: ‘Most provinces, and particularly the western provinces, want to increase their population and see increased immigration as a major way to do so. The way to expand the federal immigration streams is not to freeze growth in provincial programs but to increase overall levels during the next several years.

    ‘An increase in immigration levels by 50,000 to 300,000 per year would bring the ratio back to the 0.87% figure of two decades ago. An increase of 100,000 to 350,000 per year would see Canada finally achieve the one-percent-per-year goal that all parties ostensibly espouse.’

    For more information on Canadian visas, please visit our website.

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