Working In Canada Archives - Page 8 of 8 - CanadianVisas

Federal Skilled Trades Program – a new Canada immigration program to start off the New Year

Dec 11, 2012 | Immigrate to Canada, Immigration, In the News, New Immigration Programs, Skilled Workers, Working In Canada

In an ongoing effort to improve Canada’s economic health and fill gaps in skilled trades, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has developed a new program for foreign workers wishing to immigrate and work in Canada. The Federal Skilled Trades Program, which will be launched at the start of the new year, will “help address serious labour shortages in some regions of the country, and support economic growth,” according to Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. This new Federal Skilled Trades Program is designed to replace the outdated Federal Skilled Worker Program and make it easier for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada. Minister Kenney has added that “The Federal Skilled Trades Program will help transform Canada’s immigration system into a fast and flexible system focused on jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.”

While the specifics of the Federal Skilled Trades Program have not yet been released, we do know that there will be minimum requirements that one must meet in order to be eligible for immigration to Canada under this new program. Applicants for the Federal Skilled Trades Program must show that they have the skills and experience required to be successful in Canada.

You may be eligible to apply for the Federal Skilled Trades Program if you meet the following four requirements:

You must have a job offer from a Canadian employer or a certificate of qualification from a province or territory which attests to the fact that you are qualified and available to work upon entry to Canada;
You must meet the basic language requirements for Canada immigration;
You must have a minimum of two years of work experience in your trade; and
You must have the necessary skills and experience as set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC B) system.

Applicants for the Federal Skilled Trades Program must be skilled in a trade which is in high demand and for which Canadian employers are unable to find Canadians to fill the gaps. Some of the occupations which will be included in the Federal Skilled Trades Program include electricians, welders, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, pipefitters, and others. More specific details regarding the Federal Skilled Trades Program – including a list of occupations that qualify for the program – will be made available at the launch of the program on January 2^nd, 2013. We recommend that you contact our office after January 2^nd to speak to an immigration consultant and get more information about the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Our consultants can assess your situation and tell you whether you qualify for this or any other Canada immigration program.

As always, we wish to hear from our readers about this new plan. Do you think the Federal Skilled Trades Program will benefit Canada’s economy? Are you a skilled tradesperson who is interested in immigration to Canada and would like to know if you qualify? We urge you to share your opinions on this new program and to share this news with your friends and family on Facebook, twitter, or any other social network. Comments posted on our blog are monitored closely but if you have specific questions, we recommend that you contact us directly or take our free assessment (after January 2^nd) to see if you meet the eligibility requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. We look forward to hearing from you!

Temporary Foreign Worker Program: What employers need to know

Oct 4, 2012 | Legally Speaking, Work Permits, Working In Canada

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) enables Canadian employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary basis. This program is designed to help fill the labour shortages when Canadians and permanent residents are not available. Employers can recruit workers from any country as long as both the employer and the foreign worker meet the program requirements.

Employers must receive approval from the Federal government to employ a foreign worker. The company must be able to satisfy the Canadian government that they have made reasonable efforts to employ Canadians and/or permanent residents for the position offered. Employers must also agree to pay the prevailing wage for the position to the foreign worker. Upon receiving approval, the foreign worker may apply for a work permit.

Foreign workers must meet strict requirements including, proving their past experience, language proficiency, pass a criminal background check, and in some cases a medical examination. Foreign workers who are approved a work permit must only work for the company that “sponsored” them. Employers can be sure that if an employee leaves the company or gets laid off, their work permit is no longer valid. In cases such as this, it is the onus of the foreign worker to secure another job offer, otherwise they must leave Canada.

Temporary foreign workers employed in one location cannot work in another location without the employer applying for and receiving a new approval, and the worker receiving a new work permit. If an employer has received an approval in the past, they may be required to demonstrate that they have met the requirements of the program.

Processing times for the employer/company approval currently take 30-60 days, however, if an employer has been approved in the two (2) years proceeding the most recent application, they may have their applications expedited, in which case an approval can be issued within 10 business days from date of application.

For more detailed information on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or to speak with an immigration adviser regarding your company needs, call our office today at 1-416-665-3939 or toll-free at 1-888-808-7338.

Alberta, highest demand for temporary workers

Jul 17, 2012 | How to find Employment, New Laws, Work Permits, Working In Canada

Alberta is currently in demand for temporary workers. As one of Canada’s most quickly growing provinces, they are at a shortage of workers.

As a result, and to facilitate faster processing and entry of foreign workers into the province, Alberta is expanding their pilot project for specific occupations.

If your occupation is listed below and you have a job offer from an employer in Alberta, your employer will be exempt from having to obtain an LMO (company approval to hire foreign workers). The LMO process normally takes 2 to 4 months. Once an LMO has been issued, the foreign worker may apply for a temporary work permit. A job offer in an occupation below will exempt the employer from having to obtain approval, in turn reducing the overall processing time by approximately 3 months.

Occupations under the expanded Pilot Project:

Carpenter
Estimator
Heavy duty equipment mechanic
Ironworker
Millwright and industrial mechanic
Steamfitter and pipefitter
Welder

This pilot project is due to expire on July 31st, 2013.

For further information or if you have a job offer and would like to confirm if you qualify to apply directly for a work permit, please contact our office to speak with our immigration council.

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