Canadian government announces measures to ease labour shortage

Speaking about the issue of the ongoing labour shortage in Canada, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said that highly skilled tradesmen including welders, carpenters and heavy duty mechanics will now gain entry to Canada under a new temporary work permit scheme announced on 16th July, 2012. According to Mr Kenney, the changes are among several steps being introduced by the federal government to ensure the development of the Canadian economy. The focus will be on attracting immigrants with required skills and training. The new immigration programme announced by Mr Kenney for temporary skilled foreign workers will aim to bring desired improvements to the current system which has been dogged by long delays in visa grants. The improvements are designed to put to an end to the long wait of six to seven months (and sometimes longer) for grants to be issued. The proposed changes will allow employers to hire skilled trades people from visa exempt nations and allow for them to obtain a Canadian work permit at the airport of Calgary and Edmonton instantly. The new Canadian work permits will allow temporary foreign workers to live and work in Canada for a maximum of two years.