Canada Immigration News

Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced a new proposal that would change how foreign skilled workers' education credentials are assessed. The proposed new requirement would require applicants wishing to immigrate under the Federal Skilled Worker program to have their foreign education credentials assessed and verified before they arrive in Canada.

As part of Canadian immigration's plan to reduce the backlog of visa applications, the government will be rejecting almost 300,000 people who applied for a Canadian visa before 2008. Their applications are being returned and $130 million worth of fees will be refunded as the government aims to decrease the massive backlog they say has been standing in the way of major reform to the immigration system.

The Canadian High Commission has just released 5,350 working visa places for young people wishing to spend a year in the country under the International Experience Canada (IEC) programme. "There is a big call for skilled labour in hospitality and construction in the western provinces, Alberta and British Colombia and in Toronto and the ski resorts," said Gordon Campbell, Canada's High commissioner to the UK. "We are one of the economies in the western world that is currently very strong."

Nova Scotia held an International Careers Fair in Halifax on 6 March 2012 that attracted many new immigrants looking for jobs in the province.Hundreds of job seekers attended the job fair to meet with nearly 80 local businesses to see what job opportunities were available. Nova Scotia held the event to connect skilled immigrants, international graduates, and temporary foreign workers with local businesses.The province is facing a looming shortage of skilled workers; Connecting immigrants with local companies is becoming increasingly important.

Canadian Immigration announced last week that they will provide more help to local employers seeking to recruit immigrant workers from abroad for both permanent and temporary positions.

Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) launched a the Professional Immigrant Networks website last month to help connect immigrants with jobs. Financed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada as well as Scotiabank, the networking site will connect various groups of skilled immigrant workers with Greater Toronto Area firms.