Suspension of BCPNP ELSS and occupations related to Tourism/Hospitality/PR/Marketing?

[EpicHam]

As of March 30th, the BC government has decided to suspend a number of jobs within the BCPNP program.

The rationale behind this move is to protect the welfare of British Columbians who have been affected by the Covid19 pandemic. Perfectly understandable of course but it does raise some concerns about whether or not this is permanent since I just so happen to work in those occupations, and if they are suspending the program permanently I am basically screwed when my work permit runs out. And so I decided to write to the BCPNP program to get some clarity.
This is the response I got.

So basically the agent responding doesn't know if this change is permanent either and he just said BCPNP can change the program any way they want.

So I am casting this out into the forums to see if anyone who also wrote to BCPNP inquiring about the change. This is big cos if they are suspending it permanently I might as well as just move to another province right now, I only have so many years on my work permit.

 

[Copingwithlife]

As of March 30th, the BC government has decided to suspend a number of jobs within the BCPNP program.

The rationale behind this move is to protect the welfare of British Columbians who have been affected by the Covid19 pandemic. Perfectly understandable of course but it does raise some concerns about whether or not this is permanent since I just so happen to work in those occupations, and if they are suspending the program permanently I am basically screwed when my work permit runs out. And so I decided to write to the BCPNP program to get some clarity.
This is the response I got.

So basically the agent responding doesn't know if this change is permanent either and he just said BCPNP can change the program any way they want.

So I am casting this out into the forums to see if anyone who also wrote to BCPNP inquiring about the change. This is big cos if they are suspending it permanently I might as well as just move to another province right now, I only have so many years on my work permit.

I would not be surprised in the slightest if all provinces didn’t start excluding occupations to protect the job market

 

[EpicHam]

I would not be surprised in the slightest if all provinces didn’t start excluding occupations to protect the job market

I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being permanent either tho a part of me is holding out hopes just MAYBE just MAYBE they MIGHT resume it after the pandemic is over or else I might as well as just go home right now before they put me on a plane and discard me once my use to them expires. Feeling kinda used now.

 

[Copingwithlife]

Whether it’s permanent or not will depend on how many Canadians have permanently lost their jobs . I highly doubt it will be permanent, but the government is aware, because it’s happened in the past , where foreigners were being hired before Canadians when the unemployment rate was high. It’s the same in many countries.

 

[canuck78]

Agree that it is not unusual for countries to reduce immigration when their unemployment rates increase. Given that Canada is likely to go through a severe recession it makes no sense to have people immigrate if they will not be able to find jobs or find jobs before people who have been PRs or citizens for longer periods of times.

 

[EpicHam]

Agree that it is not unusual for countries to reduce immigration when their unemployment rates increase. Given that Canada is likely to go through a severe recession it makes no sense to have people immigrate if they will not be able to find jobs or find jobs before people who have been PRs or citizens for longer periods of times.

The difference is tho for the PNP program you need to have been working for your employer for at least the past 9 months and have a valid indeterminate job offer. Now I still have time on my work permit but for people whose permit is set to expire within a few months, they're basically shit out of luck even if they have been working in their position for 9 months, have an indeterminate job offers and have been progressing in their career for the past several years. Suddenly "sorry, you gotta go home now, thanks for the taxes".

 

[canuck78]

The difference is tho for the PNP program you need to have been working for your employer for at least the past 9 months and have a valid indeterminate job offer. Now I still have time on my work permit but for people whose permit is set to expire within a few months, they're basically shit out of luck even if they have been working in their position for 9 months, have an indeterminate job offers and have been progressing in their career for the past several years. Suddenly "sorry, you gotta go home now, thanks for the taxes".

Unfortunately governments need to make tough choices when it comes to serious economic issues. This doesn’t mean you will not qualify to immigrate but unfortunately it doesn’t look like it will be through this program at this time.

 

[EpicHam]

Unfortunately governments need to make tough choices when it comes to serious economic issues. This doesn’t mean you will not qualify to immigrate but unfortunately it doesn’t look like it will be through this program at this time.

I just wish they would give us some clarity on the issue instead of just saying "excluded from the current draw". When you're living on borrowed time in a country, every day you lose living on hope is a day you're not getting back.
If it's gone for good, okay I can plan around that.
If it's just temporary, I'm not about to uproot my entire career and living if it's going back to normal when the pandemic is over in say a year or two.

They make it sound temporary with "excluded in this draw" but with how they've removed the link to the ELSS program they make it sound like it's permanent, and yet you can still find the ELSS program on their domain if you've bookmarked the page, that makes it sound like it's temporary again. All this uncertainty is just causing unnecessary stress on people imo.

 

[canuck78]

I just wish they would give us some clarity on the issue instead of just saying "excluded from the current draw". When you're living on borrowed time in a country, every day you lose living on hope is a day you're not getting back.
If it's gone for good, okay I can plan around that.
If it's just temporary, I'm not about to uproot my entire career and living if it's going back to normal when the pandemic is over in say a year or two.

They make it sound temporary with "excluded in this draw" but with how they've removed the link to the ELSS program they make it sound like it's permanent, and yet you can still find the ELSS program on their domain if you've bookmarked the page, that makes it sound like it's temporary again. All this uncertainty is just causing unnecessary stress on people imo.

The pandemic is a fluid situation and so will the economic impacts. Until there is a vaccine and everyone has been vaccinated we are living in uncertain times so it is very hard for the government to also plan ahead. I would be looking at other express entry programs.