Jul 9, 2014 | Working In Canada
Although it is clearly for political purposes, Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party have provided a voice to speak out against Jason Kenney by supporting the Liberal Party’s call for a fair opportunity for foreign workers in Canada to obtain permanent residence.
At present, Jason Kenney, who moved from Immigration Canada to the department governing foreign workers, is in the process of (a) closing the door to foreign workers in Canada and (b) preventing Canadian employers from importing foreign workers. (He has already begun his smear campaign on imported nannies, who are the next target in his sights.).
Please express yourself on the issue by (a) signing the petition by clicking the link below, and (b) requesting your friends, colleagues and family members to sign the petition too. If you do not have a Canadian postal code, you could use Jason Kenney’s postal code: T2J-6T6.
Make your voice heard!
http://www.liberal.ca/temporary-foreign-worker-kenney-failure/?utm_source=liberal&utm_medium=facebook.com&utm_campaign=shareable_20140703_TFWP
May 3, 2013 | In the News, New Laws, Skilled Workers, Why you need an immigration specialist, Work Permits, Working In Canada
In an attempt to prevent foreign workers from displacing Canadian workers, the government is making some big changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. These changes will give Canadian citizens and permanent residents first shot at filling a position once it becomes available. Additionally, “these reforms will require that greater efforts be made to recruit and train Canadians to fill available jobs.” (Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism).
The main purpose of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is to fill positions which Canadian employers are unable to fill due to lack of education, training, or experience on the part of the Canadian workers; or perhaps the lack of Canadians interested in working in certain fields. Temporary foreign workers are brought in to do the jobs that Canadians are unable or unwilling to do. There are major shortages in some of Canada’s necessary occupations and temporary foreign workers are needed to fill these gaps. However, in order to prevent misuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the government has decided to implement changes to the program which may make it more difficult for Canadian employers to hire temporary foreign workers from here on out.
Following is a list of updates to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Some of these changes have already been put into effect, while a few of them will be put into effect soon:
- Employers must pay temporary foreign workers the prevailing wage. There will no longer be any flexibility in the wages of temporary foreign workers. This will prevent employers from seeking temporary foreign workers as a way to cut costs.
- The Accelerated Labour Market Opinion (A-LMO) process has been put on hold indefinitely. Further review will assess whether the A-LMO process is beneficial to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and to the Canadian economy. The A-LMO allowed Canada employers who received a positive LMO in the past to apply for expedited processing of any additional LMOs, thus allowing them to hire more temporary foreign workers in a shorter period of time. With the suspension of the A-LMO process, employers must now wait months instead of days to receive an LMO each and every time they apply for one.
- The government will now have more authority to suspend and revoke work permits and LMOs if they believe that the employers and/or temporary foreign workers are misusing the program.
- Employers will now be required to pay a fee for processing an LMO; in the past, employers did not pay for LMO processing. Additionally, the fees for work permits will increase, making it more difficult for temporary foreign workers to find employment and obtain a work permit. Employers may be less likely to seek temporary foreign workers now that they will have to pay for the LMO and in many cases, employers who were willing to cover the costs for the temporary foreign worker to obtain a work permit may not want to pay the increased work permit fees on top of the LMO fee. This will ensure employers will try harder to find Canadians to fill the positions in their company instead of rushing into hiring temporary foreign workers.
- LMO applications will be updated to include more questions that will help prevent the misuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program by Canadian employers and their workers.
- English and French will be the only languages allowed to be used as a job requirement for temporary foreign workers.
The government asserts that these new regulations will strengthen and improve the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and prevent its misuse. As stated, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program was designed to temporarily fill the gaps in positions which could not be filled by Canadians and to help Canadian businesses train and eventually hire Canadians for these positions. By design, this program is only meant to employ temporary foreign workers for a finite period of time (as is implied by the name of the program). So temporary foreign workers who come to work in Canada must be willing to return to their home country once they have finished doing the temporary job that they came here to do. At the end of the day, what this all boils down to is preventing temporary foreign workers taking jobs away from Canadians.
Some Canadian workers may be thrilled by this news, but it could mean disaster for Canadian employers as well as temporary foreign workers who are in Canada or wishing to enter Canada on a work permit.
Canadian employers will need to make stronger efforts to hire Canadians before being allowed to hire temporary foreign workers, making the decision to hire temporary foreign workers much more difficult. And they must prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have made the utmost efforts to recruit Canadian workers, that the temporary foreign worker is absolutely necessary for the success of the company, and that these temporary foreign workers will eventually lead to more jobs opening up for Canadians. Additionally, they must show that the temporary foreign worker is really being brought in to fill a temporary position and that they will leave Canada once this task has been completed. The decision to hire a temporary foreign worker is intended to be a last resort for employers. The changes made to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program should prevent Canadian employers from choosing a temporary foreign worker when there are Canadians willing and qualified to do the job.
Further changes will continue to be made to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program based on ongoing reviews by the government and the input provided by Canadians regarding this program. The changes being made are intended to strengthen the economy and help Canadian workers and businesses be successful.
If you are a temporary foreign worker or someone who wishes to apply for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, this news may be frightening to you. We urge you to share your thoughts and concerns with us here on our blog or by calling our office at 416-665-3939 (toll free at 1-888-808-7338).
Additionally, if you are wondering whether you are at risk of losing your work permit; or if you are waiting to get a response on an LMO application; or even if you just have questions about the changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program, please contact our office to speak with an immigration consultant. Canadian businesses who rely on foreign workers should also contact us to discuss these changes and how they may affect your business.
Whether you are a Canadian citizen, a temporary foreign worker, a Canadian employer, or any person interested in Canada immigration laws; we would love to hear your opinions on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program changes. If you have questions, your answers are just a mouse click or phone call away. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
Mar 22, 2013 | In the News, New Immigration Programs, Permanent Residency, Skilled Workers, Working In Canada
A new immigration program, the Skilled Trades Immigration program, for skilled workers interested in immigration to Canada, has been added this year, opening up the door for candidates in specific occupations which do not require university education (e.g. carpenters, electricians). The previous immigration program for skilled workers was the Federal Skilled Worker Program. This program requires work experience in an occupation which is of a higher level (usually requiring university-level education). With the Skilled Trades Program in place, workers who are certified in a specific trade may qualify to immigrate to Canada without the need for a university education. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has come up with a list of 43 skilled trades which are eligible for the Skilled Trades Immigration program.
While this new immigration program may provide an opportunity for those who previously had no options, there is a limit on how many applications will be accepted for the Skilled Trades program and only applications which are put together properly will be considered. If you qualify for the Skilled Trades Program, you must submit your application quickly and accurately as you may not get a second chance. Applications submitted with errors or missing information will be returned and will not be processed. Additionally, there is a cap of 3,000 applications for the Skilled Trades Program as a whole and in some trades, only 100 applications will be considered. So if you apply too late, you may miss your chance for this year. The Skilled Trades Program will be available again next year but we do not know which jobs will be on the list. Your job may be on the list for this year and not be on the list next year. So those who do not get their applications in on time may not have another opportunity to do so.
We recommend that you contact a licensed immigration consultant to discuss the qualifications and requirements of the Skilled Trades Program. If you have experience and training in one of the 43 listed occupations for the Skilled Trades Program, you should start the application process as soon as possible so as to not miss your chance to immigrate to Canada. Our knowledgeable immigration consultants can assess your situation and get the ball rolling quickly for your skilled trades immigration application. We can help you prepare your application properly so there is no risk of errors causing your application to be returned to you. Give us a call today to get started.
Dec 21, 2012 | Immigrate to Canada, Immigration, In the News, New Laws, Permanent Residency, Processing Times, Skilled Workers, Work Permits, Working In Canada
A new program has been introduced to allow skilled workers working in Canada to continue working as they wait for their permanent residence application to be processed. The new Bridging Open Work Permit will benefit skilled workers who have applied for permanent residence under one of the following Canada immigration options:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
This program will allow you to receive an open work permit should your current work permit expire before you receive permanent residence in Canada. The Bridging Open Work Permit will prevent skilled workers from losing status and being unable to work in Canada if their application for permanent residence is still in process and their work permit is about to expire.
Prior to the introduction of the Bridging Open Work Permit, Canadian employers would have to submit an application for a Labour Market Opinion and the skilled worker could submit a request for extension of their work permit only if the LMO was issued. The Bridging Open Work Permit will prevent “unnecessary disruption in the lives of newcomers who are already contributing and successfully integrating into the Canadian economy,” declares Minister Kenney. Open work permits are already available in other immigration streams and this new Bridging Open Work Permit gives foreign skilled workers a chance to apply for permanent residence with less worry of processing times.
If you are a skilled worker who is currently working for a Canadian employer and interested in submitting an application for permanent residence, you may take our free assessment to see which of the Canada immigration options will best meet your needs. If you have a work permit that is close to expiring and would like more information about the Bridging Open Work Permit, you should contact us to speak to a qualified immigration consultant.
Share your opinions on the new Bridging Open Work Permit by commenting on our blog or visit us on Facebook and Twitter to share, like, comment or tweet about the Bridging Open Work Permit.
Dec 20, 2012 | Immigrate to Canada, Immigration, In the News, Skilled Workers, Working In Canada
Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney has announced new regulations for the Federal Skilled Worker Program which will begin taking new applications starting May 4, 2013. In an attempt to create jobs and promote economic growth, the government of Canada has made improvements to the Federal Skilled Worker Program. The majority of the changes made to the Federal Skilled Worker Program are based on research which has shown the two most important factors for successful adaptation into Canada to be language and age. As such, the following changes have been made to the Federal Skilled Worker Program in an attempt to ensure adaptability of new applicants:
- The minimum language proficiency requirement has been increased so that language is now the most important factor.
- Emphasis has been put on the age of new applicants and younger applicants will benefit from this update to the Federal Skilled Worker Program. It is known that younger applicants will adapt more easily in Canada and will spend more time working and aiding in Canada’s economic growth.
- The new Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) will ensure that points awarded for education will reflect the true value of the foreign credentials.
- Changes made to the arranged employment process will make it easier for Canadian employers to hire workers for in-demand occupations.
- Applicants for the Federal Skilled Worker Program will be able to obtain more adaptability points for the language ability and Canadian work experience of their spouse.
With all of the above changes to the Federal Skilled Worker Program, qualified applicants interested in Canada immigration will have the chance to apply and obtain status in Canada faster and easier. If you are interested in immigration to Canada, call our office for more information about the Federal Skilled Worker Program or any other Canada immigration program. Our qualified immigration consultants will answer any of your questions and assist you in deciding which immigration option is the right one for you.
Dec 12, 2012 | Immigrate to Canada, Immigration, In the News, New Immigration Programs, New Laws, Permanent Residency, Skilled Workers, Working In Canada
Among the many program updates being made for the new year, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is changing the requirements of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) to make it easier and faster for qualified applicants to obtain permanent residence in Canada. Changes to the program will allow skilled workers to apply for the Canadian Experience Class with only 12 months of Canadian work experience instead of the 24 months which was previously required. Skilled workers applying for Canada immigration through the Canadian Experience Class will therefore be able to become permanent residents of Canada a year sooner than before.
In addition to these changes for skilled workers, the Canadian Experience Class will now be easier for international students who are applying for permanent residence. Students applying for immigration to Canada through the Canadian Experience Class are required to earn one (1) year of work experience prior to their application for permanent residence. In the past, students were required to earn this experience within 24 months of graduating. Part of the changes to the Canadian Experience Class will now allow students 36 months in which to obtain their work experience.
With these changes to the Canadian Experience Class, CIC expects to accept close to 10,000 applications for permanent residents. This is a huge number compared to previous years. The Canadian Experience Class is growing quickly and the government is intent on making it easier for skilled workers to transition to permanent residence status. These changes will be put in place on January 2nd.
If you are a skilled worker or an international graduate who is interested in immigration to Canada, you may contact our office to speak with an immigration consultant about the Canadian Experience Class. You may also take our free assessment to find out if you qualify for this Canada immigration program. We urge you to share your thoughts with us and to spread the good news to any of your friends and family who may be affected by these changes. Call us today for more information on the Canadian Experience Class and/or to get answers to any of your Canada immigration questions.
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