Recently, the government announced its Affordability Plan. The purpose of this plan is to reduce the impact on inflation. The feds are aiming to help Canadians to beat the rising costs. Also, the plan has various measures like childcare benefits, dental care as well as making housing affordable.
“We know that Canadians are worried about inflation and that they’re asking what their government is going to do about it. That’s why we have a new Affordability Plan — $8.9 billion in new support this year — that is going to put more money in the pockets of Canadians at a time when they need it most.”
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland
The federal government has decided to help Canadians who are struggling to pay their rent. So, you might receive a one-time payment from the feds this year. The government aims to make life more affordable in Canada.
The feds have confirmed that each eligible low-income renter will get a one-time payment of $500 in 2022. Around one million people in Canada might be eligible to receive this money.
More details about the one-time payment are still to come out. However, the officials previously stated that the cost of support in 2022 and 2023 would be around $475 million.
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Reasons Behind This Affordability Plan
Recently, most Canadians are struggling to buy a house in Canada. So, this is one of the many initiatives to help new and prospective home buyers in Canada. Some other measures include Tax-Free First Home Savings Account and a ban on foreign investment in housing.
The federal budget of 2022 has set out billions of dollars to make housing projects more affordable. Also, the fed government announced a $4billion Housing Accelerator Fund. This means that 100,000 new housing units would be created within the next five years.
The plan is for people who are earning low income and are struggling to pay their rents. However, the specifics of the eligibility are yet to be announced. Also, the method of delivery for the payments is also going to be announced on a later date.
Furthermore, the government has announced various other plans to help Canadians struggling with inflation. Moreover, the government has taken some other measures like—
- Enhancing the Canada Workers Benefit.
- Making early learning and child care affordable by reducing the cost of child care by an average of 50%.
- Increasing the Old Age Security benefit by 10%
- Proving dental care converges for lower-income Canadians.
- Lastly, indexing other benefits to inflation.
Thus, these are some of the steps that the government has taken to boost benefits in line with inflation. If you are live in Canada and are struggling with the costs, make sure you take advantage of all these benefits.
- Canada Budget 2023 New Proposals For Immigration
Today, the finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland unveiled Canada budget 2023 amid rising grocery costs.
Budget reiterated that Canada will welcome 500,000 new permanent residents per year by 2025 with the vast majority of whom will be skilled employees.
This will assist in addressing the labour shortages that so many Canadian firms are currently facing.
The budget proposes new funding to improve processing and boost visitors to Canada.
Additionally, it also allocates new funding for promoting francophone funding as well as to support legal aid for Asylum Seekers.
Canada Budget 2023 Proposal for Immigration
Canada budget 2023 proposes $104.3 million for citizenship, visitors, asylum seekers + $123.2 million for promoting francophone immigration.
As per 2022 budget, Canada already has plan to spend $1.6 billion over six years and $315 million ongoing to achieve ambitious target of welcoming 500,000 new permanent residents annually by 2025.
Moreover, $50 million is also being spend to address immigration backlogs.
Safe and Efficient Citizenship Applications: $10 million over 5 years
Applications for citizenship are screened using name-based searches rather than biometric methods like fingerprints, which are used in visa and permanent residency applications.
Name-based searches take longer and are less precise, resulting in longer processing times.
So, budget 2023 proposes $10 million over five years, beginning in 2023-24, with a remaining amortization of $14.6 million for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to implement biometrics.
Supporting Travel to Canada: $50.8 million in forgone revenue over 4 years
Canada acknowledges that Visitors to Canada generate billions of dollars in revenue. The federal government is dedicated to simplifying and streamlining the application process for anyone wishing to visit Canada, while not compromising national security.
Budget 2023 proposes expanding eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) eligibility to low-risk, trusted travellers from additional visa-required countries.
This will assist to make Canada a more appealing destination for trustworthy travellers while also allowing the government to direct resources where they are most needed, such as screening higher-risk travellers.
This approach will cost $50.8 million in forgone revenue over four years. The list of qualifying countries will be released in upcoming weeks.
Legal Aid for Asylum Seekers: $43.5 million
As per Canadian government, access to legal counsel, information, and guidance guarantees that Canada’s asylum procedure is fair and efficient for all.
In collaboration with provinces and territories, the federal government helps fund legal aid services for asylum seekers who cannot afford it.
Canada budget 2023 proposes to give Justice Canada $43.5 million in 2023-24 to sustain government financing for immigration and refugee legal aid programmes.
Francophone (French-Speaking) immigration: $123.2 million
Budget proposes $123.2 million to enhance Francophone immigration in Canada. Although, it is immigration related, but it falls under the action plan for official languages section of the budget.
This includes assistance to Canadian firms in recruiting French-speaking overseas employees and improved assistance to these immigrants after they arrive.
Grocery Rebate Canada Budget 2023
Most talked across Canada is the “grocery rebate” announced by the minister, which is a one-time payment (a maximum amount of $153 per adult, $81 per child, and $81 for singles).
As a result, eligible couples with 2 children may receive up to $467, while individuals may receive up to an extra $234. Furthermore, Seniors may receive up to $225.
This is expected to benefit For 11 million low- and modest-income Canadians and families to offset the cost of rising grocery inflation. However, this is too petite amount.
Example explained in the budget on Grocery Rebate eligibility
Sam works part-time as a cook at a restaurant, while Alex works as a clerk at a convenience store. They make $38,000 each year to support their two young children.
Increasing grocery prices have stretched their already limited budget, and they are fighting to make ends meet.
In addition to the improved Canada Workers Benefit, Canada Child Benefit, and GST Credit they already get, the Food Rebate will provide them with $467 to help them afford the healthful food their growing children require.
- Canada Foreign Worker Program Transitioning To LMIA Online Portal Effective April 3
Effective April 3, 2023 the Canada Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will begin shifting to the LMIA Online Portal as the primary means of submitting LMIAs.
The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that a Canadian business or employer require before recruiting a foreign worker.
With positive LMIA, a foreign worker can apply for a work permit and come to Canada for employment.
This change to LMIA Online Portal will streamline processing even further, allowing firms to respond labour market demands more swiftly.
New Extension of Temporary Foreign Worker Program COVID Measures
Furthermore, Minister of Employment, Carla Qualtrough extended below listed temporary measures until October 23, 2023. These measures were introduced during the COVID.
- Allowing employers in seven sectors with demonstrated labour shortages (such as accommodation and food services, construction, and food manufacturing) to hire up to 30% of their workforce for low-wage positions through the TFWP;
- extending the validity period of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) to 18 months; and
- extending the maximum duration of employment for low-wage positions to two years.
The Canadian labour market remains tighter than it was prior to the pandemic, with the job vacancy rate reaching an all-time high in the third quarter of 2021.
Still unemployment rate in Canada continues to remain near-record low at 5.0%.
As of March 19, 2023, 56.5% more files (108,592) have been processed this year than during the same time period the prior fiscal year (69,379).
Despite the huge rise in demand, national average LMIA processing times improved by more than ten days in fiscal year 2022-23.
LMIA processing times have continued to improve and are now at 29 days nationwide, down from 40 days at the start of this fiscal year.
What is the LMIA Online Portal
The LMIA Online Portal is a trustworthy and secure electronic resource.
It enables Canadian employers and third-party representatives to submit an LMIA application to Service Canada on their behalf.
LMIA Online Portal Features
Employers or third-party representatives can do the following in the LMIA Online Portal after setting up a Job Bank account:
- Submit LMIA application anytime (24×7 = 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
- Complete or revise an LMIA application at any time prior to submitting it to Service Canada
- Upload supporting documents
- Securely pay LMIA fees
- Receive real-time updates on the status of LMIA application
- Employer can access and follow the status of application, when a third party representative is submitting an LMIA application on employer’s behalf
- View correspondence and decision letters issued by Service Canada,
- Review previously submitted applications,
- Create a new LMIA application by copying the information from a previous application, and
- Contact TFWP system experts for help with technical issues.
“We are taking a balanced approach to adjust the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to meet the changing needs of Canada’s workforce and Canadian employers. Renewing these measures addresses immediate labour shortages, while ensuring Canadians have access to jobs. We’ll continue working with provinces, territories and other partners to build the strong, skilled workforce Canada needs to support our economy.”
– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla QualtroughHow to request an exemption
If applicants meet one of the below listed exemptions, then they may contact edsc.demande.formulaire.ptet-tfwp.form.request@servicecanada.gc.ca to make a request for an exemption and request a PDF LMIA application form.
- business name
- business telephone
- justification(s) for the exemption(s), citing the exception to which applicant is entitled
- the stream(s) applicant want to apply for
If you fulfil the requirements for the exemption, Service Canada will assess your request and make a determination. Email replies will be sent out within two business days.
LMIA Portal Exemptions
In April 2023, all LMIA application forms will be taken down from Canada.ca website.
However, employer or their representative is unable to use the LMIA Online Portal because of the below listed reasons, then they might be granted exemption from submitting the application online.
Exemption 1
Employers or their representative is/are unable get a Job Bank account if they;
- don’t have a SIN
- don’t have a payroll account number associated with CRA business number
Exemption 2
Employers is facing limitations or technical difficulties (example, limited internet or computer access).
Exemption 3
Applicants cannot use the Online Portal due to a system outage. In this situation, a notification outlining the steps to submit an LMIA application during this time will be placed on the Online Portal.
Temporary Foreign Worker LMIA Employers List
Below is the latest official list of Employers who have been issued positive LMIAs so far.
What is LMIA Online Portal?
The LMIA Online Portal is a trustworthy and secure electronic resource. It enables Canadian employers and third-party representatives to submit an LMIA application to Service Canada on their behalf.
Effective April 3, 2023 the Canada Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will be transitioning to the LMIA Online Portal as the primary means of submitting LMIAs.
- Canada Population 2023 Approaches 40 Million Due To Immigration
Canada population is estimated to be at 39,566,248 as on January 1, 2023, following a record population rise of 1,050,110 individuals from January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023.
Canada’s real-time population clock displayed total population of 39,732,937 as on March 23, 2023.
This is the first 12-month period in Canadian history in which the population increased by more than one million people, and the greatest annual population growth rate (+2.7%) on record since 1957 (+3.3%).
Canada continues to dominate the G7 countries in population growth in 2022.
Canada’s population rose by 273,893 (+0.7%) from October 1 to December 31, 2022, marking the fourth quarter of 2022.
This was the best fourth-quarter growth rate since the same time in 1956 (+0.7%). During the fourth quarter of 2022, immigration accounted for virtually all of the rise (97.7%).
This quarter witnessed the greatest projected net new non-permanent residents (+196,262) of any fourth quarter for which comparable statistics exist, with 83,152 immigrants added.
As per Statistics Canada report, temporary immigration is the most important source of growth in Canada.
Canada accepted 437,180 immigrants in 2022, with a net increase in non-permanent residents anticipated at 607,782.
Both of these figures are the highest on record, indicating greater immigration objectives and a milestone-breaking year for immigration application processing at IRCC.
The net expected number of non-permanent temporary residents in all provinces and territories increased year-over-year in 2022.
Number of new work and study permits as well as the number of asylum seekers increased across Canada in 2022.
Latest Canada Population 2023 (Estimated)
Geography Total Population Net Change Percentage Change Canada 39,566,248 1,050,110 2.73% Ontario 15,386,407 445,495 2.98% Quebec 8,787,554 149,904 1.74% British Columbia 5,399,118 147,540 2.81% Alberta 4,647,178 164,793 3.68% Manitoba 1,431,792 33,489 2.39% Saskatchewan 1,214,618 29,307 2.47% Nova Scotia 1,037,782 35,341 3.53% New Brunswick 825,474 26,229 3.28% Newfoundland and Labrador 531,948 9,447 1.81% Prince Edward Island 173,954 7,096 4.25% Northwest Territories 45,493 -217 -0.47% Yukon 44,238 997 2.31% Nunavut 40,692 689 1.72% Interprovincial Migration In 2022
In total 396,281 Canadians changed their usual place of residence and moved to another province.
Alberta continues to be the top gainer in net interprovincial migration, with Canadian residents moving to the province for better prospects.
Ontario being the largest province by area and population, lost net 52,017 residents to interprovincial migration.
Geography In-Migrants Out-Migrants Net Change Alberta 111,899 66,373 45,526 Nova Scotia 28,928 16,711 12,217 New Brunswick 22,562 13,273 9,289 Newfoundland and Labrador 9,532 7,213 2,319 Prince Edward Island 6,287 4189 2098 British Columbia 69,788 69,307 481 Yukon 1812 1734 78 Nunavut 1623 1581 42 Northwest Territories 1856 2756 -900 Quebec 30,123 33,241 -3,118 Saskatchewan 18,424 24,307 -5,883 Manitoba 13,989 24,121 -10,132 Ontario 79,458 131,475 -52,017
- New Minimum Wage In Canada And 5 Provinces Effective April 1
On April 1, 2023, the federal new minimum wage in Canada will increase from $15.55 to $16.65 per hour in order to keep up with inflation.
As a result, about 26,000 Canadian workers who make less than the current wage will benefit from the raise.
The federal minimum wage in Canada is mandated for all federally regulated private sectors, including banking, postal and courier services, as well as interprovincial air, rail, road, and maritime transportation.
Furthermore, employees in these sectors get higher rate if their provincial or territory minimum pay is greater than the federal minimum wage.
The federal minimum wage in Canada is revised every year on April 1 based on the Consumer Price Index (inflation).
Previously, the federal minimum wage increased from $15 in 2021 to $15.55 on April 1, 2022.
The April 2023 hike in minimum wage is double ($1.10) as compared to that $0.55 raise last year.
New Minimum Wage In Canada Provinces Effective April 1
Apart from the rise in federal minimum wage in Canada, Manitoba and Yukon will also increase their provincial minimum wage effective April 1, 2023.
Minimum wage in Manitoba will increase by $0.65 to $14.15 per hour.
Manitoba’s minimum wage was increased on October 1, 2022 from $11.95 to $13.50 per hour.
Now Manitoba will revert to yearly changes based on province CPI, and it is anticipated that on October 1, 2023, the hourly wage will again increase to $15 per hour.
Furthermore, minimum wage in Yukon will also increase by $1.05 to $16.77 per hour.
Nova Scotia minimum wage is also set to increase to $14.50 per hour.
New Brunswick new minimum wage effective April 1, 2023 will be $14.75 per hour, up from $13.75.
The minimum wage will also rise for Newfoundland & Labrador by 80 cents per hour on April 1, 2023, reaching $14.50 per hour.
New Minimum Wage In Canada
Below listed are the latest minimum wage in Canada as of April 1, 2023.
Geography Minimum Wage Per Hour Next Raise Canada (Federally regulated private sectors) $16.65 April 1, 2024 Ontario $15.50 October 1, 2023 Manitoba $14.15 October 1, 2023 New Brunswick $14.75 April 1, 2024 (Expected) Nova Scotia $14.50 October 1, 2023 Saskatchewan $13.00 October 1, 2023 Newfoundland & Labrador $14.50 October 1, 2023 Alberta $15.00 To Be Decided (TBD) British Columbia $15.65 To Be Decided (TBD) Quebec $14.25 May 1, 2023 Nunavut $16.00 To Be Decided (TBD) Prince Edward Island $14.50 October 1, 2023 Northwest Territories $15.20 September 1, 2023 Yukon $16.77 April 1, 2024 What is Canada’s minimum wage 2023?
$16.65 per hour is the new minimum wage effective April 1, 2023 applicable to for all federally regulated private sectors. The federal regulated private sectors include banking, postal and courier services, as well as interprovincial air, rail, road, and maritime transportation.What is the highest minimum wage in Canada?
Yukon has the highest minimum wage at $16.77 per hour, followed by Federal minimum wage that is $16.65 per hour, and Nunavut which has the minimum wage of $16 per hour.What is minimum wage Ontario 2023 and when will it increase?
Starting in 2022, the minimum wage rates may rise yearly on October 1st. The new rates that will take effect on October 1 will be released no later than April 1.
Currently, $15.50 is the minimum wage in Ontario.What is the minimum wage in British Columbia?
$15.65 effective since June 1, 2022Federally regulated private sectors
- air transportation, including airlines, airports, aerodromes and aircraft operations
- banks, including authorized foreign banks
- grain elevators, feed and seed mills, feed warehouses and grain-seed cleaning plants
- First Nations band councils and Indigenous self-governments (certain activities)
- most federal Crown corporations, for example, Canada Post Corporation
- port services, marine shipping, ferries, tunnels, canals, bridges and pipelines (oil and gas) that cross international or provincial borders
- postal and courier services
- radio and television broadcasting
- railways that cross provincial or international borders and some short-line railways
- road transportation services, including trucks and buses, that cross provincial or international borders
- telecommunications, such as, telephone, Internet, telegraph and cable systems
- uranium mining and processing and atomic energy
- any business that is vital, essential or integral to the operation of one of the above activities
- Federally regulated public sector (parts II and IV of the Code only):
- the federal public service
- Parliament (such as, the Senate, the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament)
- Private-sector firms and municipalities in Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (part I of the Code only)
Canada Minimum wages 2023 - Canada Announces New Open Work Permit For Turkish & Syrian Nationals
Today, immigration minister of Canada, the Honourable Sean Fraser announced new measures to support Turkish and Syrian temporary residents.
Effective from March 29, 2023 nationals of Türkiye and Syria will benefit from below listed new measures:
- extension of temporary status (study, work or visitor) within Canada free of charge.
- priority processing of immigration applications submitted by earthquake victims
- new open work permit of up to 3 years for temporary residents already in Canada.
- easier transition between temporary residents statuses.
- no requirement of passports and travel document requirements for the Canadian permanent residence applicants outside Canada.
- For Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Turkey and Syria, there will be no costs for temporary passports, passports with restricted validity, emergency travel papers, Canadian citizenship certificates, or permanent resident travel documents.
Applications for temporary residency from the impacted areas, both new and old, as well as applications for permanent residence, including applications for refugee resettlement, are all being processed on a priority basis.
This includes requests for visiting visas for members of a person’s immediate family who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents so they can visit their loved ones.
The purpose of these new immigration measures announced today is to assist Turkish and Syrian temporary residents who may not be able to leave Canada at this time owing to the devastation caused by the recent earthquakes in the area.
Over 16,000 applicants have applications being processed in Turkey and Syria as of February 8, 2023.
Among them, about 1,700 (750 permanent residents and 920 temporary residents) came from the earthquake-affected region.
These new measures will stay in effect until September 25, 2023.
As part of its resettlement programme, Canada is also collaborating with UN partners in the region to offer temporary housing to refugees who have been negatively affected while they wait for their applications to be reviewed.
Further details on how to apply for these new measures will be accessible on the IRCC website in the upcoming weeks.
- Canada May Soon Introduce The New One-Click Citizenship Oath
Beginning in as soon as June 2023, new citizens of Canada may be able to take the oath without the necessity for a citizenship judge.
The Canada Gazette published on February 25, 2023 in regards to regulations amending the citizenship regulations (Oath of Citizenship).
This amendment is now open for a 30-day consultation period until March 27, 2023 and can come into force around June 2023 after consultation process is completed.
Critics believe that this will cheapen the processing of citizenship oath as swearing an oath has been a legal condition of becoming a citizen in this country since 1947.
In this oath, citizenship candidates make a solemn promise to uphold Canadian laws and fulfil their responsibilities as citizens.
As reported by Toronto Star, Daniel Bernhard (CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship) criticizes this move.
He says it will be as easy as to just read and click the terms and conditions to take oath of citizenship, as it has been to create any social media accounts such as Facebook or TikTok.
Latest statement by the immigration department says that new citizens would now be able to complete the requirements of citizenship by signing a written attestation online without a witness.
However, applicants would still have the choice to do so in front of a citizenship judge.
What Are The Exact Proposed Amendments?
Below are simplified version of official amendments to citizenship regulations.
- Any person (at least 14 years old) on the day they are given citizenship must, at the Minister’s invitation, take the oath of citizenship, whether in or outside of Canada,
- through the means that the Minister makes accessible or specifies for that purpose; or
- before the Minister, a person authorized in writing by the Minister to act on the Minister’s behalf, or a citizenship judge.
- An individual shall be delivered the citizenship certificate after they have taken the oath of citizenship.
- While taking the oath of citizenship as per the above listed regulation, the individual must sign the document provided by the Minister, verifying that they have taken the oath.
- Any person who has been granted citizenship may take the oath of citizenship in front of
- the Minister,
- a person the Minister has authorized in writing to act on their behalf,
- as well as a citizenship judge
February 14, 2023 Citizenship Oath Ceremony
Why new changes?
New statistics shows a 20-year decline in citizenship uptake, which could be the biggest reason for the proposed adjustment.
Lesser permanent residents are now converting to Canadian citizens.
Just 45.7% of permanent residents became citizens as per 2021 census, down from 60% in 2016 and 75.1% in 2001.
Although, the number of citizenship applications granted yearly having increased dramatically over the previous 5 years from 113,000 to 243,000.
But, the processing time for citizenship has doubled during the pandemic compared to the previous 12-month service standard.
As per IRCC data dated January 31, 2023 – there were total of 303,000 citizenship applications under processing.
Out of these, 83,000 applications were still being processed after exceeding the normal service standard. While 220,000 are still being processed under normal service standards.
- Any person (at least 14 years old) on the day they are given citizenship must, at the Minister’s invitation, take the oath of citizenship, whether in or outside of Canada,
- IRCC Makes New Extension For Visitors to Work Permit Policy By 2 Years
Today, IRCC announces new extension to temporary policy allowing visitor visa holders to apply for work permit within Canada, until 2025.
This extension came in as previous temporary policy was due to expire today. This is a huge news for visitor visa holders.
Canada implemented this policy during pandemic to fill in labour gaps with visitors in the country. Usually, foreign nationals holding a visitor visa cannot apply for work permit from within Canada.
As per IRCC news release, foreign nationals who are visiting Canada and obtain a genuine employment offer will be able to apply for and acquire a work permit without leaving the country.
Visitors applying under this public policy who have held a work permit within the past 12 months may also obtain temporary work permit to begin working for their new company.
So, this public policy has now been extended by two years, until February 28, 2025. Aim of the this extension is give firms in Canada another choice, since many are suffering major labour shortages.
Eligibility Criteria:
An applicant seeking benefit from this temporary public policy must:
- have a valid visitor status in Canada on the day they apply
- have a job offer backed by a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment
- submit an application for an employer-specific work permit before February 28, 2025, and
- satisfy all other standard admissibility requirements
Candidates with visitor status who already held a work permit in last 12 months under this temporary policy are also eligible, if they meet below listed criteria:
- When you apply, you must be physically present in Canada.
- You must remain in Canada while your application is being processed.
- You will not be eligible for this public policy if you depart while your application is being processed.
- While applying for a work permit, you must be a visitor with valid status.
- If your visitor status has expired, you must restore it before applying for a work permit.
- applied for an employer-specific work permit between August 24, 2020, and February 28, 2025
- had a valid work permit in the 12 months before to applying for a new work permit
Candidates with visitor status who have held a valid work permit in the last 12 months can follow specific guidelines to get interim work authorization.
How To Get Interim Work Authorization:
Reiterating, Interim Work Authorization is only available to visitor visa holders who held a valid work permit in the last 12 months under this temporary policy.
After applying for work permit under this policy, applicants will need to fill out the IRCC Web form with message as specified by IRCC.
After filling out the webform, you will need to wait for an email from IRCC informing you that you may begin working. This might take up to 30 days (6 weeks).
- Canada Failing To Utilize Skills of Immigrants: New RBC Report
On February 22, 2023 RBC released a report with headline as we quote “Canada is failing to put immigrant skills to work.”
The Royal Bank of Canada is a Canadian multinational financial services corporation and the country’s largest bank by market value.
Report is focused that the main barrier to properly using immigrant expertise is because of the low recognition of foreign credentials.
So, it will be essential to remove this barrier to ensure that the Canadian workforce is not just larger, but also more productive.
The report emphasizes that, Canada attracts the most immigrants among the G7 countries, accounting for 90% of population increase today.
Furthermore, it states that immigrants to Canada are better educated and younger than the domestic workforce.
Yet, they are working in professions that requires significantly lower educational requirements as compared to their education and work history.
Immigration Statistics
In 2021, increased immigration accounted for over 90% of total population growth.
By 2050, Statistics Canada projects that to be 100%.
So, only immigration will be able to make up for population ageing and reduced birth rates.
These immigrants are bringing critical talents in the face of ongoing labour shortages.
In fact, more than half of the 1.5 million immigrants that the Canadian government plans to bring over the next 3 years will be under the skilled economic immigration.
RBC anticipates that Canada’s Economy will grow faster than other advanced nations mostly due to these skilled immigrants and accompanying stronger workforce.
Newcomers Are Young & Educated, Yet Not Able To Work In Their Field
Also, newcomers to Canada are younger and often more educated.
Compared to little over 1/5th of non-immigrants, more over 1/3rd of immigrants hold advanced degrees, meaning a bachelor’s degree or higher.
More educated immigrants are also more likely to have majored in STEM-related subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math).
However, immigrants typically do poorly when it comes to obtaining a suitable employment, despite being younger and having higher academic achievement.
In simpler words, a greater proportion of individuals ends up working in jobs that demand less education than they already possess.
This problem, which affects many industries, is especially difficult for those who have degrees in medical, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or optometry.
According to RBC calculations, foreign-born workers are 6 times more likely to hold positions that don’t need for specialized training.
As a result, as compared to non-immigrants with equivalent degrees, their abilities are “under-utilized.”
Immigrants’ Skills Recognition Will Help
As per RBC, higher levels of immigration will not solve long-term structural labour supply challenges, but they will help.
They may be of much greater assistance if immigrant skill sets are well utilized to fill in the gap.
New immigrants can fill unfilled positions, but they also enhance housing and consumer goods demand, which raises labour demand.
They are also more likely to live in houses that are inadequate for the size or composition of their family.
All of these stresses may be alleviated by making the economy more productive.
Since last summer, the number of job openings in Canada has decreased. According to the Bank of Canada’s Business Outlook Survey, more Canadian firms foresee a poorer outlook in Q4 2022.
Moreover, due to aggressive interest rate rises and increasing inflation, the economy is entering a modest slowdown.
As a result, fears about inadequate consumer spending have grown substantially, while investment and hiring aspirations have declined.
The greatest obstacle to properly using immigrant abilities is a lack of acknowledgment of foreign credentials properly.
Looking forward, removing such hurdles will be important to guaranteeing Canada’s continued success in attracting immigrants.
Effective integration of their abilities might help address worker shortages, contribute to a more productive labour force, and alleviate inflation and housing pressures.
- New IRCC Policy For Iranian Temporary Residents In Canada
On February 23, 2023 IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) announced new measures for Iranians on temporary status in Canada making it easier for them extend their stay.
This new temporary policy announced by Canada will come in effect on March 1, 2023 and will be applicable until February 28, 2024.
This temporary IRCC policy was signed by Canadian immigration minister, Sean Fraser on February 9, 2023.
This new measure will allow Iranians to switch between temporary streams, allowing them to continue studying, working, or visiting relatives in Canada by simply applying for a new permit from within Canada.
Furthermore, an open work permit will also be made available to Iranians who are currently in Canada. Moreover, applications from Iranians living in Canada will also be prioritized.
Additionally, the Canadian government is eliminating processing fees (including biometrics) for Iranians applying for open work permit, study permits, and extension of temporary resident status in Canada.
Canada will also waive fees for limited-validity Canadian passport, Canadian citizenship certificates, and permanent resident travel document (PRTD) for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who seek to leave Iran.
Important: This new policy will not be applicable to applications already under processing. It will only apply to applications submitted on or after March 1, 2023.
Details on how to apply will be made public by IRCC on March 1, 2023.
Canada is also looking into reforms to other programs, such as the Human Rights Defenders stream. This is one of the few in the world with a dedicated, permanent immigration program for people who guard and promote human rights.
For refugees who are outside their home country and unable to return, Canada has three resettlement options. The Government-Assisted Refugees Program, the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program, and the Blended Visa Office-Referred Program.
Previously, the Government of Canada announced actions on October 7, 2022, including labelling the Iranian regime as one that participates in serious or systematic human rights violations and terrorism.
As a result, this made top officials of that regime inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- Canada Immigration Backlog Increases By 6% – New IRCC Data
Canada immigration backlog ends 4-month reduction streak as per latest IRCC data updated yesterday. IRCC backlog stood at 974,600.
This is a 6% increase in backlog numbers as compared to the official IRCC data of December 2022.
Immigration backlog was continuously reducing since September 2022. It came down from 1,322,500 to 918,300 as of December 31, 2022.
Increase is backlog was only recorded among temporary residence applications (+15%), but permanent residence (-3.5%) and citizenship applications (-2.35%) actually saw a drop in backlog.
Furthermore, 969,900 applications were still being processed within the IRCC service standards. This is a drop from 1.055 million applications in December.
Overall, IRCC was processing total of 1,944,500 applications according to data noted on January 31.
Date Backlog Total Applications
Under ProcessingJanuary 31, 2023 974,600 1,944,500 December 31, 2022 918,300 1,973,800 November 30, 2022 1,086,200 2,111,400 October 31, 2022 1,202,790 2,239,700 September 30, 2022 1,322,500 2,610,700 For example, if spousal sponsorship has a 12-month standard processing period, an application that is handled within 12 months is “NOT” a backlog. It will instead be regarded as normal processing.
But, if it exceeds the 12-month service standard, then only it should be considered a backlog.
IRCC aims to finish 80% of applications within these service standards. Click here to know more about IRCC service standards.
Application Type Overall Processing Inventory Backlog Within Service Standards Citizenship 303,000 83,000 220,000 Permanent Residence 617,500 348,600 268,900 Temporary Residence 1,024,000 543,000 481,000 Total 1,944,500 974,600 969,900 IRCC Projections On Canada Immigration Backlog For 2023
1. Backlog Projections For Federal High Skilled
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 89% Feb 22 92% Mar 22 98% Apr 22 99% May 22 100% Jun 22 100% Jul 22 99% Aug 22 90% 86% Sep 22 68% 72% Oct 22 45% 59% Nov 22 31% 46% Dec 22 22% 20% Jan 23 20% 20% Feb 23 – 20% Mar 23 – 20% 2. Backlog Projections For Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 56% Feb 22 55% Mar 22 54% Apr 22 51% May 22 47% Jun 22 45% Jul 22 43% Aug 22 42% 39% Sep 22 40% 35% Oct 22 42% 31% Nov 22 42% 28% Dec 22 41% 20% Jan 23 38% 40% Feb 23 – 39% Mar 23 – 38% 3. Backlog Projections for Spouses, Partners and children applications
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 34% Feb 22 32% Mar 22 30% Apr 22 29% May 22 27% Jun 22 27% Jul 22 26% Aug 22 25% 24% Sep 22 25% 23% Oct 22 24% 22% Nov 22 24% 20% Dec 22 24% 19% Jan 23 24% 24% Feb 23 – 24% Mar 23 – 24% 4. Citizenship Backlog Projections
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 46% Feb 22 45% Mar 22 42% Apr 22 40% May 22 39% Jun 22 37% Jul 22 35% Aug 22 30% 30% Sep 22 30% 30% Oct 22 28% 28% Nov 22 29% 27% Dec 22 28% 26% Jan 23 27% 26% Feb 23 – 25% Mar 23 – 24% 5. Study Permit Applications’ Backlog Projections
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 42% Feb 22 34% Mar 22 27% Apr 22 32% May 22 31% Jun 22 30% Jul 22 31% Aug 22 38% 39% Sep 22 31% 42% Oct 22 26% 33% Nov 22 28% 31% Dec 22 32% 33% Jan 23 35% 36% Feb 23 – 33% Mar 23 – 23% 6. Work Permit Applications’ Backlog Projections
**According to IRCC, about 73% of work visa applications originate from the Canada-Ukraine emergency travel permission.
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 48% Feb 22 51% Mar 22 29% Apr 22 23% May 22 26% Jun 22 28% Jul 22 28% Aug 22 34% 29% Sep 22 27% 35% Oct 22 23% 49% Nov 22 24% 55% Dec 22 25% 60% Jan 23 26% 26% Feb 23 – 28% Mar 23 – 28% 7. Backlog Projections For Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Visitor Visa
**The Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel accounts for 20% of temporary resident visa or visitor visa applications, according to IRCC.
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 70% Feb 22 74% Mar 22 55% Apr 22 55% May 22 56% Jun 22 71% Jul 22 67% Aug 22 71% 68% Sep 22 74% 71% Oct 22 74% 70% Nov 22 70% 67% Dec 22 70% 77% Jan 23 68% 68% Feb 23 – 68% Mar 23 – 65%
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