Canada Immigration News

Despite its cold climate, Canada is fast becoming the country of choice for many middle-class professional Filipinos. They are leaving the tropical Philippines to immigrate to Canada in hopes of finding a better future, reports AFP.

Unemployment is running at about 11 percent in the Philippines and rising, and, with 700,000 new college graduates every year, the country cannot create enough skilled jobs to accommodate them.

Canadian human resources specialists are eager to bring German skilled workers to Canada. They say that many skilled German workers are also interested in migrating to Canada.

Canadian companies are reaching out to immigrants frustrated by US restrictions.

The Canadian government has been making an effort in recent weeks to attract students and skilled workers from all over the world. Canadian companies promising jobs and visas are also attracting Mexican professionals.

Canada's future is dependent on immigration, says Canada's Minister for Citizenship and Immigration. Joe Volpe spoke in defence of the country's new Internationally Trained Workers Initiative in a speech on 28 April.

Volpe pointed out that Canada's birth rate is among the lowest in the western world, and its unemployment rate continues to fall. This means that Canada must recruit new immigrants to Canada.

The Government of Canada has launched a new programme entitled Internationally Trained Workers Initiative. It is hoped that the project will improve the integration of immigrants and internationally trained Canadians into the work force.

Canada announced on 18 April several changes to its immigration rules intended to attract talented students, to help families unite and to cut waiting time for approved immigrants.

To compete for talented foreign students, Canada will permit foreign students to work off-campus while studying and also for one year after obtaining their diplomas. The Government of Canada is investing $10 million a year for five years to support these two initiatives.