Canada Immigration: Bracing to Welcome More Than Double the Immigrants

Welcoming More into the Fold:
Canada is bracing itself to welcome more than double the immigrants that it has in the recent past. It will admit a record number of 40,000 immigrants said Jason Kenney, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. This is being done through the Provincial Nominee Program. This number is five times more than what was seen in 2006.

Importance of Looking Outward:
The highest number admitted before this influx was 36,428 in 2010. Kenney said that the government recognizes the importance of nominee programs for spreading out the benefits that accrue from immigration throughout the country. Provinces and territories are allowed to seek migrants who match the skills that they need for their jurisdiction.
Conventionally, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver have attracted the most number of skilled immigrants coming into Canada. However, according to the government, the top three provinces that attract the Provincial Nominees are Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Because of the provincial Nominee Program, more than a fourth of the economic immigrants accepted as permanent residents of Canada are destined for provinces other than Ontario, British Columbia or Quebec as compared to just 11 per cent in 1997.

“We understand the desire of provinces and territories to identify their own economic immigrants and that is why we have continued to increase our projected admissions for nominees each year,” said Kenney. He also said that they are committed to working with the provincial partners to improve the design, integrity and the selection standards as well as the management of the nominee programs.

Better Way In For Skilled Labor:
The Provincial Nominee Program is a good way to get more skilled workers into the country since it is faster than the normal procedure. One an average, applications are processed within a period of 12 months. Also federal skilled worker applications take a similar amount of time to be processed. In fact, Provincial Nominee Programs will be discussed at this month’s cross-Canada consultations that will discuss the level and the mix of the program.

Ignorance WAS Bliss:
In fact, it has come to light that many of the applicants who do not qualify for the Federal Skilled Workers Program can actually qualify for the Provincial Nominee Program. That is because although the federal skilled workers program requires applicants who have skilled work experience only, the Provincial Nominee Program can also accept those candidates that have worked in a semi skilled position. For them to qualify for some of the PNP, expatriate workers must first obtain a job offer from a Canadian employer after which he can apply for a Temporary Work Permit. However, before that permit can be applied for, the Canadian employer who desires to employ the foreign worker has to apply for and should be granted a positive Labor Market Opinion (LMO)