Canadian immigration to accelerate residency for professional immigrants to Quebec

Announcing about this latest move, Yolande James, the Immigration and Cultural Communities Minister said IT industry was an example of an industry facing acute shortage of skilled workers. Hence, Canadian immigration can be relied upon for filling up this shortage.

The announcement was made by the minister at the Science Center in Old Port, Montreal. He was accompanied by executives from CGI and Electronic Arts, Montreal’s two leading high-tech firms.

Beginning from February 15, 2010, the new program is a step forward to help Montreal employers retain foreign-trained workers recruited for work here. The first document needed to gain permanent residency is a certificate of selection and this program will make the process of getting this certificate very simple.

So, now, it will be a matter of just few days or say, a few weeks, to get certificate of selection and result in slashing the long waiting time comprising several weeks, Montreal International’s vice-president of mobility, Bernard de Jaham stated.

Not only will it reduce the time needed for getting certificate, but it will also present Montreal as a destination offering higher standard of living and bright career prospects for immigrants. 

However, the eligibility criteria for the program includes working experience of one year in Quebec and intermediate knowledge of French language.

James said that while Canada is in dire need of professionals including doctors, nurses etc., the agony is that numerous foreign-born professionals are wasting their experience and training. The biggest hurdle faced by several foreign-born professionals is delay or denial of recognition of their credentials and curriculum. The latest program will remove all such barriers faced by immigrant professionals. 

By initiating such program, the government is going to help attract and retain brightest talent to Montreal, stated general manager of Electronic Arts (Montreal) Alan Tascan.