Canadian Immigration News

The Government of Canada announced yesterday it is launching the Federal Internship for Newcomers program designed to assist newcomers gain valuable Canadian work experience. Through this program, immigrants to Canada now have the opportunity to acquire some temporary work experience in fields they are qualified to work in based on their skills and previous work experience.

Ontario is helping skilled newcomers prepare to get jobs that match their education, qualifications and experience. The Ontario provincial government is investing $3.6 million in three Ontario cities to support programs designed to train new skilled immigrants to find employment in their professions and areas of expertise.

Canada intends to work domestically and internationally to eliminate the crime and fraud associated with the often dangerous journey some immigrants make to Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney met earlier this week with the Australian Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, to talk about potential solutions to address the problem of migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

Earlier this week, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and Rosalinda Baldoz, Secretary of the Philippines Department of Labour and Employment, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to extend an existing partnership that connects Filipino workers with employment opportunities in Manitoba. This partnership also makes the immigration process more efficient and helps prepare Filipino workers for a new life in Manitoba.

Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney, was in Bejing last week to meet with Chinese officials. China is one of the most important source countries for Canadian immigration. Now, more Chinese visitors and students are also coming to Canada than ever before.

Yesterday, the Government of Manitoba announced changes to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program that will make it faster and easier for international students to apply for a Canadian Immigration (permanent resident) visa to stay and work in the province.

Ontario aims to attract and retain highly-skilled international students who will ultimately help Ontario, and Canada, compete in the global economy. Since April 2010, international graduates from Ontario PhD programs have been eligible to apply for a Canadian Immigration (permanent residence) visa without a job offer through the Opportunities Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This week it has been announced that the program has been expanded to also allow international students graduating from Ontario master’s degree programs to apply for Canadian permanent residence without a job offer.

The Government of Canada is proving its commitment to help immigrants succeed by announcing it is investing $686,000 in a Newcomers’ Centre that provides settlement services to immigrants in Scarborough, one of the most diverse and multicultural areas of the Greater Toronto Area.

Employment in Canada increased by 36,000 jobs in August. There were increases in the educational services, professional, scientific and technical services, and natural resources sectors in August. Quebec, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland were areas in Canada that showed particularly strong increases in employment.

Canada and India are connected both economically and culturally and there is great potential for even stronger ties between the two countries. Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is in Delhi, India this week to discuss how to expand and deepen the ties between Canada and India by helping a growing number of Indians to visit, work, study in and immigrate to Canada.