Canada Immigration News

Canada's federal Conservative government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants to work with Canadian provinces to help immigrants have their foreign credentials recognized in Canada.

"That's one of things Harper raised last night as an issue that he would like us to collaborate with him on, which is the recognition of credentials from the foreign community," Premier Dalton McGuinty said Feb. 25.

"We're more than pleased to do that."

Toronto, Canada's Globe and Mail on Friday examined the challenges facing HIV-positive recent immigrants in Toronto and the ways in which they receive support.

In 2005, 19% of new HIV cases in Toronto occurred among people born in countries with endemic HIV, according to the Globe and Mail. About 20% to 50% of new cases among immigrants occur after they arrive in Canada, Robert Remis, a researcher at the University of Toronto, said.

Canada's new immigration minister says the Conservative government does not plan to restrict immigrant family reunification or change the overall annual target number for newcomers.

But Monte Solberg said the mix of immigrants and the means they use to enter the country may need to change to reflect a greater emphasis on labour shortages.

Rural communities in Manitoba, Canada are experiencing immigration growth, despite recent statistics showing a marked decrease in Manitoba's population.In the first three quarters of 2005, 17,867 Manitobans left the province for other parts of Canada while 11,656 people moved to the province, according to Statistics Canada. But thanks to a successful government program, the population drain isn't as bad as it could be.

Construction industry leaders from British Columbia (B.C.), Canada are hoping that skilled trades workers from Europe can help solve the province's skilled labour shortage.

Next month, Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) president Keith Sashaw will travel to Europe to promote B.C. construction-job opportunities Germany, England and Scotland. He hopes to recruit journeymen-level employees who can help meet increasing demand for workers on Olympic, major infrastructure and other projects.

For the fourth year in a row, Vancouver, Canada has claimed the top spot on an international ranking of the world's most livable cities.

In its annual survey of world cities, the think-tank division of the London-based Economist magazine ranks the British Columbia metropolis first among 127.

To create its list, the Economist Intelligence Unit surveyed the cities, assigning each one a 'hardship rating' based on such factors as infrastructure, health care, public safety and access to goods and services.