Whats New in Canada-Update on CA

[mayankpandya]

Employment Equity in Federal Jobs in Canada to Set the Trend

The Employment Equity will tip the balance in favour of the four classes identified to be given a fair chance on available federal jobs.

This has raised many questions in the past and will do so even now. You may need to go over the realities of this legislation before you take a stand.

The four classified groups are – women, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and visible minorities. Most often the people belonging to these groups have been less fortunate in getting a coveted post due to their category. The federal government seeks to correct this trend in the society and the job market with the employment equity program.

The Employment Equity Fact Sheet clarifies the program resourced from the Canadian Government Policies on Employment Equity, Federal Contractors Program, Canadian Human Rights Commission – Employment Equity and other renowned sources.

First this equity means ‘treating everyone with fairness, taking into account people’s differences.’ This includes different religious beliefs and technically outfitted workplaces to accommodate people with disabilities.

Second, this enables equal opportunities for all by removing barriers faced by certain groups in the employment field. However, it does not mean people will lose their jobs due to this legislation.

Third, the program prohibits quota system, but gives the employers time and achievable goals to integrate this legislation into their business practices.

Fourth, it does not mean employers are bound to employ unqualified people from the classified groups. Only individuals who are qualified for the job shall be employed, irrespective of whether he or she belongs to any group.

Five, the program does not intend to lower the job standards, rather match the requirements of the job with the candidate’s abilities. For example, to realistically decide whether the post requires the so called “Canadian experience” or whether the job needs a driving license, etc. .

Six, it has been found the expense to set up a work station to accommodate a physically challenged employee is minimal – less than $500.

Seven, the Employment Equity seeks to lead the path to equal employment opportunities and remove the jinx (may not be intentional) for certain people in gaining profitable employment even in the private corporate sectors.

If you fall under any one of the above groups or if any of your family members do so this could mean opening of doors that were closed for so long. Opportunities will come your way and situations in life will undergo a major change. The diverse and multi ethnic and multi cultural population of Canada may well prosper or have a set back depending on your opinion.

 

[mayankpandya]

Canada’s live-in care giver program is being abused

The debate over Canada’s immigration policy is not likely to produce any satisfying outcome since it does not go with the science of evolutionary psychology.

Mass immigration is profoundly constrained by the fundamental features of human nature including natural bias towards one’s own kind and certain weariness of others, which makes harmony in multi-ethnic societies problematic.

The new revisions in the federal regulations that were introduced earlier this year proved to be troublesome for Canadian employers hiring foreign employees, since the new rules are making the employers more vulnerable to abuse. The abuse commonly comes from a handful of unscrupulous individuals who are using Canada’s care giver program as a front to enter the country.

Employer complains from abusive caregivers

Problems arise when supposedly care givers who are sponsored by Canadian employers would unexpectedly walk out from their employers in as much as three months from their two-year contract.

Canada is confronted with an aging population as well as very high costs of daycare. Canadians who need help in caring for their loved ones are turning to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program from the government which is the live-in care giver program.

Situation resulting to Canada’s demand for caregivers

Canada’s population is a shrinking population amidst the world’s problem of population growth. More people in Canada die and there are a very few children born everyday, resulting in more and more people getting old, retire and receive pension from the government through taxes. The only problem is, there are not enough young people left to earn salaries and pay taxes. In this problem, the Canadian government has come up with the solution of opening up immigration and invites workers from other countries to pick up the bill for the retiring Canadian population, giving rise to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which includes the live-in care giver program in the country.

The live-in care giver program can lead to a permanent residence in Canada if the applicant can successfully complete 24 months of authorized full-time employment. The changes in the program however gave more financial responsibilities to would-be employers to improve protections for care givers, which gave rise to the abuse, since the live-in caregivers have a four-year working visa, but has no legal obligation to remain with the family that brought them in.

Employer complaints include caregivers leaving them within two weeks of the program to find jobs in cities where they have families, and for some who are hired, but who never show up for work at all.

The government’s as well as the people’s reaction to the problem

The complains from the employers are being ignored by the government saying that the Canadians are growing more desperate for in-home care that they are expected to face a growing risk themselves.

Non-government organizations state that the program needs to be revamped from top to bottom, and it has to be improved. The call for another revision has been brought about by the complaints from employers from dishonest caregivers which could be brought about by disgruntled recruiting agencies who are overcharging workers desperately seeking for a better life in Canada.

In the situation between the caregiver and employer, it is the caregivers who are the most vulnerable, and the government’s position is to protect what little gain they would have.

 

[mayankpandya]

Thanks Can_Visa.

I am new to this forum. Great place to see all about Canada. Good job Mayank

 

[mayankpandya]

Canada's visible minorities earn less

The country’s multicultural image is under the lens with claims of there being a wage gap between the native Canadians and Canadian-born visible minorities.

Canada is known to be a refuge for people from different cultural backgrounds, to start a new life. But the country’s multicultural image is under the lens with claims of there being a wage gap between the native Canadians and Canadian-born visible minorities.

Canadian-born visible minorities refers to the children of the immigrants from the 1960-70’s and the immigrants who moved to Canada as children. The claim that the visible minorities earn less than their white counterparts, has been the talk on the streets for a long time.

According to a study conducted by economist Krishna Pendakur of the Simor Fraser University, there is a gap of about 18 per cent in the earnings of a Canadian-born visible minority man with similar education and experience, as that of a Canadian-born white man. In contrast, the wage gap for their female counterparts is 3 per cent.

Another study by economist Mikal Skuterud also revealed that there is a difference of 8 per cent in the earnings of Canadian-born Chinese. The study also revealed that for South Asians and black Caribbeans, the wage gap stood at 13 per cent and at about 19 per cent respectively.

According to the recent reports, visible minority immigrants in the age group of 25 to 44 years, earned an average of $39,814 as compared to non visible minority immigrants who earned an average of $45,352 and the non-immigrants who earned an average of $40,358 each year.

A study titled ‘Color by numbers: Minority earnings in Canada 1996-2006’, by Professor Pendakur, along with his brother, sociologist Ravi Pendakur, showed that there were differences in wages across regions, in the country, as well. In Montreal, the gap for men was as high as 30 per cent, while in Toronto it was down to 15 per cent and further down to 10 per cent in Vancouver.

The wage difference varied between the public and the private sectors too. In a study by the government’s StatsCan, it was revealed that the difference in earnings for men stood at 3 per cent only, much lower than the private sector.

According to the study by Pendankur brothers, the situation of visible-minority men has been on the decline across the country between the years 1996 and 2006. It was revealed in the study that the visible minorities men wage gap with the white men stood at 14 per cent in 1996, increasing to 17 per cent in 2001 and further deeper to 18 per cent by 2006.

 

[mayankpandya]

Tougher rules for Canada work visas likely next month

Canada, 3rd March: The Canada government is all set to introduce new rules in the next month which will make it more difficult for firms offering sponsorships to international workers to come and work in Canada.

The rules will result imposing stricter restrictions on employers in Canada.

To come into effect from 1st April, 2011, the new rules for temporary foreign workers in Canada will effect almost every type of foreign worker wanting to work in Canada including live-in caregivers, oilpatch workers and so on.

Temporary foreign workers will have a vital role in the growth of the nation as the population of the nation ages in the coming times, states a Calgary based business immigration lawyer, Evelyn Ackah.

Foreign workers, including high-skilled and low-skilled, will be important for Canada’s future growth and development, asserted Ackah and that’s exactly what the new stricter rules for Canada work visas actually mean, she maintained.

She accepted that the earlier rules did result in some sort of misuse of foreign workers in Canada.

New rules will reinforce that before proceeding towards hiring temporary foreign workers, employers in Canada will make sure to look for workers with requisite skills within Canada.

And any employer in Canada found not to be adhering to the changed policies for Canada foreign worker program will risk himself for getting blackballed on the official website of Canada immigration department CIC(Citizenship and Immigration Canada).

This will make him ineligible from hiring temporary foreign workers for a period of two years, Ackah warns.

Moreover, it will also result in tarnishing his international image and his power to use such workers, she quipped.

The changes in the rules for temporary foreign workers to be allowed entry into Canada are the need of the hour as these were formulated during the boom in Canada and were thus found to be favoring foreign workers over Canada permanent residents and Canadians.

Hence, the new rules will ensure to curb the high rate of hiring foreign workers in Canada and shift the focus on hiring Canadians with required skill for the jobs in Canada, she maintained.

Changes in the Canada temporary foreign worker scheme—

• The maximum time for any temporary foreign worker has been restricted to four years in total. And once this period expires, he will have to move out of Canada and not enter Canada again for work at least before the expiry of another four years.

• Ban on bad employers who breach any conditions in the program.

• Offers of jobs mentioned under the opinion of labor market should be validated and followed strictly.

• A new opinion will be required to be submitted in case a work visa is not obtained before the six-month expiry.

 

[mayankpandya]

Canada ranked 3rd, US ranked ninth in integrating newcomers-Survey

United States, 3rd March: In a latest survey undertaken by the Migration Policy Group and the British Council, Canada has been ranked 3rd for its immigrant integration policies while the US has come at ninth place.

The survey titled MIPEX (Migrant Integration Policy Index) compared integration policies for immigrants across different nations in North America and Europe.

The study was undertaken on 31 nations and gave a ranking of number one to the United States in terms of its best anti-discrimination protections and laws but in terms of its integration rules, the US was placed at ninth position by the survey.

Moreover, the US got a sufficiently higher ranking for the accessibility offered to newcomers to gain US citizenship and thus take part in the public life of the nation.

The nations are given rankings based on their scores in 148 policy indicators by the advocates, researchers and policymakers after a detailed comparable and objective figures are presented to them in an interactive tool and a reference guide.

In the survey, Canada received 3rd ranking in the MIPEX.

The nation owes its ranking to its widely accessible system of education that is in tune with the requirements of the immigrants.

However, the reason why Canada could not make to the top in the survey by MIPEX is apparently due to its inability to provide voting rights for new immigrants.

According to the study by Migration Policy Group bases in Brussels and the British Council based in London, opening up of civil and political rights is a clear signal of a nation that is confident of immigration. Its open political policies help all residents take part in democratic life, the study added.

The 148 policy indicators used by the MIPEX survey done twice a year, the participating nations are assessed in terms of education conditions, chances of reunification of families abroad, political participation, and accessibility to equality and citizenship laws and labor mobility for immigrants.

The nations participating in the survey are Norway, Canada, Switzerland, the US and all 27 states which are members of EU(European Union). The target of the MIPEX survey to know which immigration policies are effective and which are not of any use.

 

[mayankpandya]

New Employment Immigration Rules in Canada

The amendments in previous working rules

Canada government has introduced new employer rules, for the temporary foreign workers, come into being from 1st April 2011.These new rules have its applicability to both labor market and exempt work permits. These changes will provide government with greater power to keep a watch on temporary foreign workers and their employers. Fail to comply with the changes leads to serious penalties on part of guilty employer.

The new rules will increase compliance in the foreign worker system, irrespective of which government department approves the Temporary Worker Application; the new rules apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Canada Border Services Agency and Human Resources and Social Development Canada. Any one of these three ministries must judge the merits of a foreign worker before giving grant to the individual, right to work in Canada.


Why these changes are required.

The government affirms that through these amendments, through it they aim to reduce Temporary Foreign Worker exploitation by employers and agents. Through it they could protect them. It will also help to increase employer’s accountability including denial of service and to encourage adherence to terms and conditions. To highlight the fact that work permits are meant to be for temporary purpose only.

New Rules:

· Now there is a requirement to show that offer of employment is genuine and the attendant needs to prove current and previous compliance with foreign workers on staff.

· Any difference from such conformity is questionable and justification is expected on legal grounds.

·However, I appropriate justification is not provided, serious consequences can include a two year ban from hiring any foreign workers. It will put them on “Black list”, which may land them with a negative reputation.

·As now only four year limit on the length of the work term will be provided in Canada, which would be followed by a four year exclusion from obtaining another Work Permit. Employers will now have to plan ahead, and consider whether they can reallocate the foreign workers or not.

The government promises to enforce Canada's foreign worker laws through the new compliance regime. It has been missing from the Temporary Foreign Worker program in the past. It would bring Canada in line with worldwide trends towards compliance with immigration laws. Now it is to be found that the whether the Regulations have gone too far.

 

[mayankpandya]

Vancouver housing market allures investment from Chinese

Canada, 4th March: High standard of living and stability in the economy of Canada is attracting immigrants, especially Chinese, to invest in Vancouver’s housing market.

Vancouver offers a high quality of living and it’s the lifestyle that’s inviting more and more Chinese buy a piece of land in this city.

As per Cam Good, president of a leading sales and marketing firm in Vancouver, the city is witnessing a fresh wave of foreign buyers hailing from China.

In the months of January and February alone, as many as 500 houses have been already bought by Chinese immigrants and investors in Toronto and Vancouver, quotes Good.

No wonder, this has encouraged Good to open a new office in Beijing to help more and more Chinese buy Canadian houses and condos after watching videos of latest developments in Canadian housing market.

The Canadian housing market is perking up with latest surge in the number of Chinese showing interest in making investments, Good was quoted during an interview recently.

And in the coming few months or so, Canada is going to emerge as a leading destination for buying property by not just the upper-class Chinese but even the middle-class Chinese as well, Good added.

It’s the stability of the Canadian economy which is responsible for bringing an imminent boom for the real estate in Canada, specifically Vancouver, Good asserted.

Chinese buyers are not just looking to buy condos in Canada but the single-family houses as well. Chinese comprise a major percentage of buyers of real estate in Mainland Vancouver and Richmond.

The competition is gaining momentum and its Vancouver which seems to be in the win-win situation anyways.

That’s because Chinese are competing with themselves to grab the available property in Vancouver. And the scenario is also spreading to West Vancouver, Burnaby and several other areas too.

The trend of huge investment spree by Chinese in the Canadian housing market is likely to continue for quite a long time, feels senior vice-president of Western Canada for Colliers International residential marketing, Scott Brown.

High demand for Canada housing market created by increasing number of Asian immigrants including Chinese will stay in the coming times, the report by Colliers and Urban Analytics states.

 

[deep_pan]

Chinese..peoples...??? good sign..for economy...

Vancouver housing market allures investment from Chinese

Canada, 4th March: High standard of living and stability in the economy of Canada is attracting immigrants, especially Chinese, to invest in Vancouver's housing market.

Vancouver offers a high quality of living and it's the lifestyle that's inviting more and more Chinese buy a piece of land in this city.

As per Cam Good, president of a leading sales and marketing firm in Vancouver, the city is witnessing a fresh wave of foreign buyers hailing from China.

In the months of January and February alone, as many as 500 houses have been already bought by Chinese immigrants and investors in Toronto and Vancouver, quotes Good.

No wonder, this has encouraged Good to open a new office in Beijing to help more and more Chinese buy Canadian houses and condos after watching videos of latest developments in Canadian housing market.

The Canadian housing market is perking up with latest surge in the number of Chinese showing interest in making investments, Good was quoted during an interview recently.

And in the coming few months or so, Canada is going to emerge as a leading destination for buying property by not just the upper-class Chinese but even the middle-class Chinese as well, Good added.

It's the stability of the Canadian economy which is responsible for bringing an imminent boom for the real estate in Canada, specifically Vancouver, Good asserted.

Chinese buyers are not just looking to buy condos in Canada but the single-family houses as well. Chinese comprise a major percentage of buyers of real estate in Mainland Vancouver and Richmond.

The competition is gaining momentum and its Vancouver which seems to be in the win-win situation anyways.

That's because Chinese are competing with themselves to grab the available property in Vancouver. And the scenario is also spreading to West Vancouver, Burnaby and several other areas too.

The trend of huge investment spree by Chinese in the Canadian housing market is likely to continue for quite a long time, feels senior vice-president of Western Canada for Colliers International residential marketing, Scott Brown.

High demand for Canada housing market created by increasing number of Asian immigrants including Chinese will stay in the coming times, the report by Colliers and Urban Analytics states.

 

[fariza]

Chinese..peoples...??? good sign..for economy...

None can ignore or stop Chinese entering into economic partner for development..... So no wonder even in Canada!!

 

[mayankpandya]

Let me share some good news to those who are planning to Land in Toronto .

Toronto wants to waive waiting period for immigrants’ health insurance

Canada, 5th March: The Toronto Board of Health is urging to slash the waiting period for new immigrants health coverage and asking for instant insurance coverage for them.

The board says the province must provide health coverage to immigrants immediately after their arrival here. As of now, immigrants have to wait for three-months before getting health coverage as per the OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan).

Ending the three-month waiting period for new immigrants in Canada will facilitate timely diagnosis as well as treatment of several communicable diseases.

Delay of three months leads to exacerbation of health problems and spreading of diseases which could otherwise be treated easily.

Tuberculosis is widespread in several nations and immigrants coming from such nations arrive in Canada. And since tuberculosis is a communicable disease, this is a big threat to Toronto as around 300 immigrants are found to be suffering from this disease each year.

The only exception to the current rule of Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is the newborns, a few adopted kids and some refugees who are not required to wait for three months before becoming eligible for receiving health coverage in Canada.

And this is not good, asserts Dr. David McKeown.

The medical officer of health for Toronto, Dr. McKeown said that since new immigrants to Ontario have not only spent time as well as money in getting immigrant status in Canada, hence, they must not be made to wait for three months before becoming eligible for OHIP.

And this is especially noticeable as far as the timely diagnosis and immediate treatment of diseases that are communicable, added McKeown.

New immigrants in Canada without having health coverage or health insurance feel hesitant to visit a doctor and that’s what puts their health as well as that of others at great risk, asserted McKeown.

Apart from Ontario, B.C.(British Columbia) is another Canadian province that is calling for ending the waiting period for new immigrants to gain health coverage in their province.

Health insurance coverage in Quebec is based on several factors including the severity of the disease but also has numerous exemptions to the rules of health coverage.

 

[mayankpandya]

Canada Housing Loans Under Scrutiny

The various housing loans provided in the country of Canada has come under fresh scrutiny off late.

As the current rule of the land states that tax deductions are inevitable if there is somebody who is owning a home and comes under the purview of a mortgage loan. But though the law sounds good, there has been a considerable amount of debate surrounding the same in the recent times. According to the opinion of some individuals, this type of a policy is not suitable and should be overhauled at the earliest.

As per the opinion of some of the financial experts, these types of loan schemes which provides a considerable amount of emphasis on tax deductions is a kind of a burden on the government treasury. The financial status of the Canadian government has not been healthy in the recent times so these types of schemes are not going to help it in the days to come. If the overall economic structure of Canada is taken into account, there are different income groups which exist in the country. These type of a scheme does not augur well for the families who represent the lower income range.

But one of the problems which surround these tax deduction schemes is that it has existed for a long time in the country of Canada. Although various kinds of measures can be taken by the government to change it, it is not possible to overhaul it straightaway. If this kind of a policy is implemented by the government, the market leaders of the real estate industry would not support this kind of a cause in any way. These kind of measures will provide a jolt to their interests and ruin the chances of earning more revenues from the market.

Considering the overall standard of the Canadian real estate industry, it is very important to make all the income groups invest in home buying. If the tax deduction scheme is removed as far as mortgage loans on housing finances are concerned, the situation can have a two fold impact. It is very hard to predict just how the various income groups will react to the scheme if it is implemented ever in the future. The top players of the real estate market wants a healthy future as far as controlling these types of schemes are concerned. An instant overhaul would not be catering to the financial needs of these housing schemes in any way.

 

[fariza]

Let me share some good news to those who are planning to Land in Toronto .

Thats really good news and encouraging too....Thanks for sharing

 

[Bobby554]

Dear Mayankpandya...every post by you is an eye opener...some of them scary, some quite encouraging and few are really interesting...I won't ask about the source...just keep them posting and enjoy the good work...Thanks so much and +1 from me !

...Bobby554

 

[bijupv007]

Great info buddy and vvvvv Good job - keep it up buddy

Biju