UPDATE 2013: Changes to the Skilled Worker program and their relation to my eBook

Since I published my eBook, How To Immigrate To Canada For Skilled Workers: The Authoritative Guide To Federal And Provincial Opportunities in April of 2012, there have been some modest changes to the Federal Skilled Worker program. None of these changes have made the book obsolete - it is as valuable to skilled worker applicants as ever. The adjustments the government has made simply re-balance the program's points system to be more in keeping with studies that show younger applicants, and those with strong language proficiency have the best opportunity to integrate into the Canadian economy. 

There is only ONE new requirement not covered in the book, which is the Educational Credential Assessment. CIC now is requiring applicants to prove  their foreign educational credential is authentic and equivalent to a completed credential in Canada. 

Here's what's changed in the Federal Skilled Worker Program since the publication of my book:

• There are currently only 24 approved occupation categories  that skilled workers must have experience in, in order to apply (these can change at any time, as the government tries to estimate market demand for these skills).
• New language proficiency threshold: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) is the new level applicants must achieve.
• Arranged Employment - Previously, employers have applied for an Arranged Employment Opinion (AEO) from Human Resources Skills Development Canada when they wished to hire a foreign national on a permanent, full-time basis and support their employee’s application for permanent residence through the FSWP. Starting on May 4, 2013, CIC will no longer accept AEOs in support of an FSWP application. Instead, most offers of arranged employment will require a Labour Market Opinion.
• NEW Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) - Another important change that takes effect on May 4, 2013, is the introduction of the educational credential assessment (ECA). Prospective applicants may start the process of getting an ECA before May 4 if they are planning to submit a foreign educational credential. However, applicants should keep in mind the other program eligibility requirements listed above, i.e. whether they have a qualifying offer of arranged employment or are applying under the PhD stream or eligible occupations stream; and if they meet the minimum language threshold through a designated third-party test. Applicants who have Canadian educational credentials do not need to get an ECA, unless they are also submitting a foreign educational credential in support of their application. You can read more about this new requirement here

Good luck with your Skilled Worker class application!    

Canada & The United States: Bizarre Borders Part 2 by CGP Grey

This great little video explains the border between Canada and the US in hilarious fashion. Enjoy!

Preparing for the Canadian citizenship test

In a little over a year, I'll be applying for Canadian citizenship. I'm excited by the possibility of becoming a citizen of my new country, and there is the added benefit that I don't have to give up my US citizenship unless I chose to.

One of the major parts of the application process is the citizenship test. Any individual between 18 and 54 who meets the basic requirements for citizenship has to take this test.

There are lots of ways to prepare for the test, including classes, books, even apps (like in the Google Android Play store). In order to prepare, I have been using two apps that CIC offers. One is the app version of Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. This study guide is offered in many forms, including print and PDF. The app makes the content available, in a primitive way, to smartphones and tablets. I am also using CIC's sample test generator, How Canadian are you , eh? 

Why am I using just the CIC's tools? Simple. It is only the content found in Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship that you will be tested on. Any other material you might learn about will be good for you and your understanding of Canada, but you will only be tested on the content of that study guide.

The guidebook is a challenge. It's poorly written, with fact after fact jammed in one on top of the other. And the test might ask you about any of them, in a number of ways. For instance, here's a fact from the guide:

The Vikings from Iceland who colonized Greenland 1,000 years ago also reached Labrador and the island of Newfoundland. The remains of their settlement, l’Anse aux Meadows, are a World Heritage site.

And that fact could be part of the test in the following ways:

• What peoples reached Labrador and Newfoundland 1,000 years ago?
• Which Canadian site is listed as a World Heritage site?
• Where did the Vikings who reached Labrador and Newfoundland come from?
•  How many years ago did Vikings first visit Canada?

So, you have to know this material inside and out. That's why I'm only focusing on the CIC materials. If you are taking a class, be sure that they teach from this source as well. It really is the information, the only information, that the test will be based on!

Not being there

You have to understand I love pets. I love dogs and cats. I've raised a few and they are really, as predictable as it sounds, like your own children. My brother's puppy passed away suddenly last night of natural causes. He was almost 14 - and that's a long life for a beautiful, large dog as he was. My last few years in the US, he was like my dog too - a wonderful companion. One of the most difficult things to cope with emotionally when leaving the US was leaving him, and knowing he wouldn't understand why I wasn't there anymore. And now I'm also not there to give my brother the support I wish I could. This too, is part of the immigrant experience, and something that troubles the expatriate mind.

Fraser Institute report - Immigrant selection process should make better use of private-sector employment needs

The Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank, released a report today, Canada’s Immigrant Selection Policies: Recent Record, Marginal Changes, and Needed Reforms, advocating that Canada's Immigrant selection process "should make better use of private-sector employment needs to ensure new immigrants can succeed economically."

While I believe this is an admirable position to take on behalf of Skilled Worker immigrants (who make up over 60% of all immigrants to Canada on a yearly basis), I also maintain the position that it is incredibly short-sighted.

The Institute notes that current Skilled Worker class immigrants have been largely unsuccessful, and their burden on Canada's various support system equals a heady $20 billion per year. "To fully eliminate the current fiscal burden, Grubel (the report's author) recommends abandoning the points system and replacing it with pre-arranged contracts for work in Canada as main selection criterion for economic immigrants."

Maybe in days gone by - days of big manufacturing - an immigration policy that was tuned in fully to the market needs of employers might have made sense. But modern employers currently seek highly specialized workers for specific economic opportunities. When those opportunities are gone, so is the job - there is no long term loyalty given, or frankly, expected. The no-longer-critical employee is released, and Canada is left with an immigrant with a very specific skill set who can't get another job in their area of expertise.

I believe Canada's immigration policy in the area of Skilled Workers should reward and fast track applicants with arranged employment. That makes a lot of sense. But it needs to be balanced with applicants who bring a range of expertise and adaptability as well.

I know in my own situation that the opportunities here are much different than the ones I had in the US - even putting the barriers to employment in Canada aside. But I have been able to carve out a living - because I adapted. Canada cannot afford to undervalue the worth of immigrants who are eager to build a life in this country, and able to adapt to its economic realities. These are the ones that start new businesses, innovate - because they have to.

Read the Fraser Institute news release and get the full report here

Super Visa popularity - a good thing for Canada?

According to the CIC, The Parent and Grandparent Super Visa program is an overwhelming success. More than 1,000 visas a month are now being granted under this program.

The Super Visa is a multiple entry visa that is valid for up to ten years, offering holders the option of staying in Canada for up to two years at a time. This reduces the need for frequent visitors to renew their status during an extended family visit.

But is this success a good thing? One thing the program does not offer is a path to permanent residence for parents and grandparents. Family reunification is one of the foundations of Canadian immigration programs, yet this category of immigrant has been cut off for over two years while a huge backlog of applications has been cut down. The program starts up again in 2014, but at that time, only 5,000 applications a year will be accepted.

The Super Visa demand illustrates that families want to be reunited in Canada, and provides the illusion that they are: however, these visitors, no matter if they are here a few months, or ten years, are still just visitors, with none of the rights of permanent residence, without the ability to work, without healthcare or any social support.

The Super Visa program puts a huge stress on sponsors, and robs Canada of motivated, mature individuals who could otherwise contribute to the growth of our nation.

Life on The Esplanade

Looking west from a city park on The Esplanade

I had a quiet morning with work I needed to deliver for my clients in the States, so I decided to get some exercise and go shoot some basketball down the street from me. As I walked east down The Esplanade, it was hard not to recognize how good I've got it here in Canada.

Here's a little about my neighbourhood with some help from Wikipedia:

The St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood I live in has been here since 1793 (though The Esplanade was underwater at that time - the shoreline of Lake Ontario being Front Street). The area was infilled to provide more land for port and industrial uses adjacent. St. Lawrence was the first industrial area of York. The first parliament buildings in Upper Canada in 1793 were constructed on the southwest corner of Parliament and Front Street.

A Saturday farmers' market began operation at Front and Jarvis in 1803. The current Market building, south of Front, is open daily, selling foods and other goods, while the Saturday farmers' market operates in the north building, on the north side of Front Street.

In 1834, Toronto's first city hall was built on the southwest corner of King St. East & Jarvis St. at the old 'Market' building from 1834 (the year of Toronto's incorporation from the former town of York) to 1844.

The former city hall was converted into and expanded into the market gallery or 'South Market'. The old council chamber is all that remains of the original city hall and is located on the gallery's second floor.

The Esplanade, a 100 feet (30 m)-wide road, was proposed, just south of Front Street, with new water lots made from cribbing and filling of the shore to the south. The waterfront was extended to a survey line from the point of the Gooderham windmill west to a point due east of the old Fort Rouille. In exchange for 40 feet (12 m) of the Esplanade, the railways underwrote the infilling of the harbour. The Esplanade (my street) and infill project was complete by 1865.

Walking along the street today and the most prominent features are the blocks of parks and social housing. The parks stretch for six city blocks, and the housing is so well integrated into the neighbourhood that you'd never realize what is private and what is public. This mix of incomes makes my home diverse and exciting. I meet people of all ages and races when I'm out and about - not something that occurs in the more tawny neighbourhoods of Toronto.

Near Parliament Street is a basketball court I play at. There are usually a few kids shooting hoops too, but they don't seem to mind an old man joining them.

I love my home, if you can't tell. If you're coming to visit Toronto, be sure and come to our part of town, You'll love it here too.

South Asia Mail - Canada welcomes first immigrants under new Federal Skilled Trades Program

Toronto, ON, August 16, 2013 — Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander today officially welcomed one of the first permanent residents under the new Federal Skilled Trades Program: Eric Byrne, originally from Ireland. 

“Our Government remains focused on job creation, economic growth and long-term prosperity,” said Alexander. “The new Federal Skilled Trades Program enables us to attract and retain skilled workers—like Eric—so we can address regional labour shortages and strengthen Canada’s economy. It gives me great pleasure to personally welcome one of Canada’s first successful immigrants through our Skilled Trades stream.” 

Read the article here

Happy Anniversary

Two years ago today, I landed as a permanent resident of Canada at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, and my life changed forever. As I noted in my last post, I am so grateful to be here in the country I love, with the woman I love.

So how am I spending my anniversary? Like a lot of other Canadians, I'm painting the condo!

I hope you treasure your landing day the same way I will always remember and celebrate mine. 

Two years in Canada and counting

Toronto - my home of two years now!

In a few days, I will complete two years as a Permanent Resident in Canada. I've said it before - time flies. So am I happy with my choice to leave the US to live here? The answer, with some caveats, is "yes."

Because I moved here for love, not for work, I think its easier for me to be content with my situation here. My love and I share a beautiful home in a fantastic city, and between us we do very well by anybody's measure.

Toronto is a fantastic city, full of culture and diversity, and I take full advantage of it, getting around as much as possible, enjoying free events, site-seeing like a tourist, and creating a routine and memories each day. In the mornings, I walk my love to her office, then I return home where I work (and write my books and this blog). I get out an exercise at some point most days: skating at Harbourfront Centre in the winter, playing hoop at the playgrounds on The Esplanade in the nice weather. Weekends are for chores, grocery shopping at the St. Lawrence Market, catching up on reading, or adventuring around Ontario.

If I had come here for work, I know after two years, I would have a different view of Canada. Frankly, its been hard to find any work in my former field of expertise. I had my share of interviews where the dreaded "how much Canadian experience do you have?" question was raised. Once that comes up, you pretty much know you wont get the gig. But I have continued to find whatever short term opportunities I can here, and have strung them together into a living. I'm sure many immigrants have the same experience. Maybe because I didn't expect the opportunities here to be the same as I had in the US, I'm more accepting of the reality that they are very different.

One area that exceeds expectation is the health care that is available to me. While the facilities are nowhere near the modern level I experienced in Seattle (mind you, a very wealthy US city), they are very good, and best of all, I have access to them when I really need them. This was not the case in the US. I take better care of myself here because its not always an economic decision to do so. That's quite a change for the better.

As I've said before, and this doesn't change - I miss family and friends I've left behind. Being an immigrant can be lonely many days. And there's no counting that phenomenon of change that occurs at home which causes it to become more and more unfamiliar, coupled with the fact that you are in a long process of learning about your new country. Feeling lost between two worlds happens more frequently the longer you are away.

I love Canada. I love Toronto. I love my life here with my love. I am a year away from applying for citizenship, the next step in my immigration journey. Yes, in spite of the challenges, life in Canada is the best life I have had.