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Also available is my new eBook, "How To Immigrate To Canada In The Family Class: The Authoritative Guide Including Québec And Super Visa Opportunities". Get it at Amazon or the other e-retailers noted above.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Kenney has his say - Canada has not become ugly and intolerant

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney wrote a response to an article in the UK's Guardian newspaper yesterday that is well worth reading; if only to understand the Tory take on basic immigration mathematics. While I rarely agree with Kenney on many fronts, I appreciate his stepping up to defend Canada from an overly, and somewhat inaccurate critique.

Read the article, "Maple leaf ragged: what ails Canada?"

Read Minister Kenney's response here 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

"Pinkwashing"?

CTV reports:
Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is being accused of 'pinkwashing' after thousands of Canadians received an unsolicited email lauding the government's policy on gay and lesbian refugees.

Read more 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

News Release — Revised Federal Skilled Worker Program Unveiled

Ottawa, August 17, 2012 — Proposed regulatory changes announced today to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) will allow Canada to better select skilled workers who can “hit the ground running” upon arrival.

“The Federal Skilled Worker Program is Canada’s largest economic immigration program,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “The changes we are making to update the selection criteria are based on a large body of data and evidence we've accumulated over the years showing what skills and qualifications are most likely to lead to success for skilled immigrants.”

Following an extensive program evaluation, stakeholder and public consultations, as well as other research, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is proposing the following changes to the FSWP:
  • Making language the most important selection factor by establishing new minimum official language thresholds and increasing points for language; 
  • Increasing the emphasis on younger immigrants, who are more likely to acquire valuable Canadian experience and remain in the workforce longer; 
  • Increasing points for Canadian work experience and reducing points for foreign work experience; 
  • Simplifying the arranged employment process to prevent fraud and abuse yet enable employers to staff positions quickly; 
  • Awarding points for spousal language ability and Canadian experience.
Another proposed change is the introduction of the Educational Credential Assessment – a mandatory requirement that FSWP applicants have their education abroad assessed against Canadian education standards by designated organizations. CIC will then award points according to how an applicant’s foreign educational credential compares to a completed educational credential in Canada. It does not necessarily guarantee that they would become licensed to practice in a regulated occupation.

“This is an important step we are taking to address the problem of immigrants arriving and not being able to work in their field,” stated Minister Kenney. “This new requirement will help potential newcomers make informed choices about immigration and Canadian career paths.”

CIC will be issuing a Call for Service Proposals on August 20, 2012, inviting submissions from organizations with expertise in foreign credential assessment to conduct the reviews. The deadline for submissions is September 21, 2012. For more information, please visit CIC’s International Qualifications Network website.

The full text of the proposed FSWP regulatory changes is now available online in the Canada Gazette. They also include improvements to the Canadian Experience Class and the creation of a new Federal Skilled Trades Program. The Department welcomes input from stakeholders and interested parties.

Final publication is scheduled for late 2012 and the new FSWP points grid will likely take effect in January 2013. While there is currently a pause on new applications (except for FSWP candidates with a qualifying offer of arranged employment or those applying under the PhD stream), CIC expects to begin accepting applications again early next year.

These changes have been announced by Minister Kenney in the past year.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Kenney can't stop tinkering with economic immigration

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney can't stop tinkering with economic immigration programs. On September 11, he announced yet another class of immigration he wants to add to his complicated bag of tricks. This time, the proposal is called the "Startup Visa" and it is aimed at luring venture capitalists in Canada to recruit talent from countries like the U.S. to start their firms in Canada. Venture investment funds would choose entrepreneurs in whom they would invest, and the government would try to clear them for entry into Canada within weeks.

Proof again that under the Harper Government and Minister's Kenney's leadership, immigration to Canada is going up for sale. His limited view of immigration as a purely internal economic facilitator is out of touch with the broad range of motivations immigrants choose Canada for in the first place, and of the overall impact immigrants have to the cultural, political and social fabric of our nation.

Like all Harper programs, they've announced it before they've figured it all out, and the devil is in details they have so far shown themselves unable to manage.

Read the National Post article here.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Citizenship fraud

It's not often that I agree with the Harper Government, but I have to applaud them for going after those who would try to gain status in Canada through fraudulent means. My love and I struggled for years, obeying the rules and procedures for us to gain my permanent residence status. If you want to cheat and not work within the system (even if it's working to change the system), I don't have a lot of compassion for you. I'll assume all 3,100 people who are currently under scrutiny for fraud in the citizenship process to be innocent until otherwise shown, but hats off to the government for sending a message that if you try and cheat your way into this wonderful country, you do so at your own risk.