Canada visa rules can kill media industry

Canada, 6th July: According to several critics, Canada visa rules actually meant to help Canadian jobs are likely to hinder growth of media industry.

The rules introduced by Canada immigration are said to be resulting in big loopholes in getting the required workforce for the Canadian media industry. 

Canada has been promoting Vancouver as the favored digital hub for foreigners to live and work there. This resulted in arrival of several renowned media giants including Digital Domain and Pixar setting up big studios at Vancouver and employing local workers on its rolls. 

Digital Domain happens to the company that created The Curious Case of Bengamin Button and Titanic, two of the many Academy Award-winning films. 

Many other companies are likely to follow them in setting up their establishments in Canada and make further development. 

As late as 1990s, several high-tech giants have been bringing in highly-talented foreign staff into Canada under the federal IT worker category. Under this category of Canada visa, companies based in Canada were allowed to club together project teams for completion of their projects.

Canada immigration department has announced putting on freeze the special Canada visa federal IT worker category by September-end. This has led to increased concerns among the visual effects and digital media industry in Vancouver. 

Such changes in the Canadian visa rules will mar the growth and development of digital media industry and will also have a negative impact on the Canadian economy.  

In the absence of Canada visa IT category, companies will feel compelled to make applications for temporary Canada work visas in the same way as any other company(in any other industry) not listed on Canadian Priority Occupation List. 

In the absence of IT category, all companies will have to get an LMO(Labor Market Opinion) from Service Canada, Ottawa whereby companies have to show that the job position is in accordance with the wage guidelines, allows new knowledge and skills, and does not, in any way, affect Canadian workers’ job prospects. 

Some of the occupations in high demand as per Canada Priority Occupation List include Dental Therapists, dental hygienists, Industrial Electricians, Licensed Nurses and Restaurant and Food Service Managers. 

Expressing deep concern over the recent Canada visa changes to affect the media and gaming industry in Vancouver, Mayor of Vancouver Gregor Robertson stated through an email that the economy of Vancouver will be affected poorly by the latest Canada immigration rules.