Last Updated On 1 December 2022, 8:50 PM EST (Toronto Time)
Today, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, the Honourable Sean Fraser, launched the IEC 2023 (International Experience Canada) Program, with a 20% increase in the number of applicants who can apply. Applicants can start applying beginning on January 9, 2023.
Through the IEC Program, Canada has youth mobility agreements with 36 countries and overseas territories that allow youth from Canada’s partner nations to work and visit in Canada for up to two years. Depending on the nation, the ages range from 18 to 35.
The IEC permits Canadian and international youth from eligible countries to work and travel in each other’s nations. This increase implies that approximately 90,000 individuals, including Francophone youngsters, will be allowed to work and travel in Canada, assisting companies in filling labour needs, particularly seasonal job possibilities in Canada’s tourist industry.
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- Canada Youth Mobility Program – Eligibility & How to Apply!
- International Experience Canada – Eligibility & How To Apply
IEC Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for an IEC-
- Your country of citizenship should have an agreement with Canada.
- You may be able to use a recognized organization
- Your maximum age must be 35 years old
What is International Experience Canada (IEC)?
- Working Holiday—This visa is perfect for applicants who want the freedom to work for any employer in Canada. Moreover, applicants under this program receive an open work permit. This means that you can change your employer and location while living in Canada.
- Young Professionals—Applicants under this program can get Canadian work experience by working with a Canadian employer. Applicants need to have a valid Canadian job offer to apply. However, this program issues an employer-specific work permit, which means you have to work for the same employer in the same location.
- International Co-op— This program lets international students complete an internship or work placement in Canada. However, this is only valid in cases where it is a requirement for their post-secondary education. Under this program, applicants receive an employer-specific work permit, which means that they have to work for the same employer at the same location during their entire period of stay in Canada.
List of Eligible Countries For IEC (International Experience Canada)
| Andorra |
| Australia |
| Austria |
| Belgium |
| Chile |
| Costa Rica |
| Croatia |
| Czech Republic |
| Denmark (Danish citizens who reside in Greenland and the Faroe Islands are also eligible) |
| Estonia |
| France |
| Germany |
| Greece |
| Hong Kong |
| Ireland |
| Italy |
| Japan |
| Latvia |
| Lithuania |
| Luxembourg |
| Mexico |
| Netherlands |
| New Zealand |
| Norway |
| Poland |
| Portugal |
| San Marino |
| Slovakia |
| Slovenia |
| South Korea |
| Spain |
| Sweden |
| Switzerland |
| Taiwan |
| Ukraine |
| United Kingdom |
Source: IRCC
New Canada Workers Benefit Payment 2023 Is Now Rolling Out
- Ontario Drive Test Pass Rates | Latest Location Wise List
This article provides the latest Ontario drive test pass rates for full G and G2 driving licenses for all major cities in the province.
It is always recommended for your own safety to learn all the driving rules and only take a driving test once you are confident and fluent with driving on Canadian roads.
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Location-Wise Ontario drive test pass rates
The best drive test locations for the G2 and G License Road Test in Ontario based on pass rates are:
Drive Test Centre G Full Road Test G2 Road Test Espanola 93.00% 79.00% Kapuskasing 91.00% 79.00% Sudbury 89.00% 86.00% Kirkland Lake 88.00% 73.00% Sault Ste. Marie 88.00% 89.00% Kenora 84.00% 93.00% Timmins 83.00% 75.00% Huntsville 82.00% 73.00% Winchester 81.05% 80.00% Thunder Bay 81.00% 80.00% Belleville 80.00% 78.00% Chatham-Kent 80.00% 73.00% Dryden 80.00% 81.00% Cornwall 78.00% 64.00% North Bay 78.00% 77.00% Fort Frances 77.00% 72.00% Sarnia 77.00% 76.00% Barrie 76.00% 70.00% Orillia 75.00% 74.00% Ottawa Walkley 75.00% 70.00% Woodstock 75.00% 65.00% Kingston 72.00% 74.00% Brantford 71.00% 65.00% Lindsay 71.00% 68.00% Oshawa 71.00% 64.00% Stratford 71.00% 76.00% Bancroft 70.00% 79.00% Clinton 70.00% 65.00% Renfrew 70.00% 58.00% Burlington 69.00% 64.00% Hawkesbury 69.00% 74.00% London 69.00% 69.00% Peterborough 69.00% 62.00% Walkerton 69.00% 68.00% Windsor 69.00% 59.00% Kitchener 68.00% 69.00% Owen Sound 67.00% 63.00% Simcoe 67.00% 74.00% Smiths Falls 67.00% 63.00% St. Catharines 67.00% 69.00% New Liskeard 66.00% 60.00% Ottawa Canotek 66.00% 68.00% Tillsonburg 66.00% 54.00% East York 65.00% 56.00% Toronto Metro East 65.00% 56.00% Pembroke 64.00% 64.00% Guelph 63.00% 63.00% Orangeville 63.00% 63.00% Newmarket 62.00% 74.00% Hamilton 61.00% 62.00% Brampton 59.00% 47.00% Mississauga 57.00% 48.00% Oakville 55.00% 57.00% Toronto Downsview 55.00% 48.00% Toronto Port Union 54.00% 53.00% Toronto Etobicoke 47.00% 51.00% Ontario G or G2 test pass rates Just FYI, Guelph is the most favourite location for most of the driving instructors in the Brampton and Etobicoke Area, given the highway maximum speed of 80 km/h and the easily predictable route.
Making an informed choice on where to take your G2 and G road tests is possible now that you are aware of some statistics about the pass rates for various locations across Ontario.
Factors that affect G or G2 driving test
Several factors can affect the pass rates at Ontario DriveTest locations.
1. Road Test Location: While some testing facilities are located in crowded urban areas, others are in more serene rural settings.
Since driving in congested city traffic is frequently more difficult than driving in a serene rural environment, this may have an impact on how demanding the test is.
Furthermore, highway speed limits vary depending on the location; for example, Highway 427 has a speed limit of 100 km/h, but a highway in Guelph has a speed limit of 80 km/h.
2. Popularity: Some centres could have a reputation for being more forgiving or more challenging, which may affect their pass rates due to increased or decreased test taker volume.
3. Instructor and school quality: The calibre of driving instructors greatly influences students’ performance on exams.
Some instructors may not adequately prepare their students for the challenges of the test.
Guide to get Driver’s License in Ontario
What is the easiest location to give a driving test in Ontario?
Espanola and Kapuskasing have the highest success percentages for the full G Road tests, with pass rates above 90%, while Kenora and Sault Ste. Marie have the highest pass rates for the G2 road test.
However, the actual experience can vary widely based on a variety of circumstances, including personal abilities, knowledge of the regulations, and the state of the roads on the test day.What are the best places to take your G or G2 road test in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)?
East York and Toronto Metro East have the highest pass rates in G2 and the full G driving test in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).What errors are permitted in the Ontario G2 test?
The precise number of permitted errors isn’t fixed, though; it depends on the kind and seriousness of the errors.
Small driving mistakes are usually acceptable, but any reckless behaviour, disregard for directions, or infraction of the law will result in failure right away. Additionally, the total number of small errors must stay within allowable bounds, which may differ based on the evaluator’s discretion.What is the full G driving test pass rate in Brampton?
Brampton has a pass rate of 59% for the full G driving test and 47% for the G2 driving test.Which locations have the highest G2 passing rate in Ontario?
Kenora (93%), Sault Ste. Marie (89%), Sudbury (86%), Dryden (81%), and Winchester (80%) have the highest G2 passing rates in Ontario.
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- India Canada Latest News and Updates | Ongoing Diplomatic Issue
This page enlists all the India Canada latest news and updates related to the ongoing diplomatic issue between the two countries.
We (INC – Immigration News Canada) are updating this page in real-time, as the situation is unfolding with LIVE, official verified updates from both countries.
Navigation
September 22 Update
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau continues his stand, asking India to work constructively to get to the bottom of this matter.
PM Trudeau said, “Canada has shared the credible allegations that I talked about on Monday with India. We did that many weeks ago and we are there to work constructively with India. We hope that they engage with us so that we can get to the bottom of this very serious matter.”
Morning update:
Canadian government sources are saying that Canada is weighing a response to the visa suspension by India but has made no decision yet.
It is being reported that India is making an effort to get the U.S. on its side by inviting Joe Biden to be the guest of honour at India’s Republic Day.
Joe Biden has not yet accepted that invitation, but the Financial Times has reported that Biden did raise the Nijjar murder with Indian PM Narendera Modi directly when he met with him at the G20 Summit.
CBC News reports that there were several efforts to talk to India even before Prime Minister Trudeau travelled to India and met with Modi at the G20 summit.
Canada’s national security adviser, Jody Thomas, went there for four days in August and then again a couple of days before the G20.
Canadian government sources are saying that contrary to what the Indian government is saying in public, Indian authorities have not denied these allegations in private meetings.
Previous Updates
September 21 New Canadian Update
New Update: According to the latest report by CBC News, the Canadian government sources claim there is human and signal intelligence to back up the allegation, including messages between Indian officials and intelligence from an unnamed Five Eyes alliance member, but as of September 21, 2023, the Canadian government has not made the allegation public.
The U.S. has now said some words as a sigh of relief for Canada, urging India to cooperate with the Canadian investigation.
U.S. National Security Advisor Mr. Sullivan stated that the United States has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to work with Canada to apprehend those responsible for the gangland-style death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
He also said, “We are in constant contact with our Canadian counterparts. We are consulting with them. We support the efforts that they are undertaking in this investigation and we have also been in contact with the Indian government.”
Mr. Sullivan told reporters. “I firmly reject the idea that there is a wedge between the U.S. and Canada. We have deep concerns about the allegations and we would like to see this investigation move forward and the perpetrators held to account.”
Morning Update:
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues his stand on asking India to work with them in the investigation of Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s case and Indian involvement.
Trudeau reiterated his government’s claim that it has “credible” intelligence that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government was involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
PM did not provide a definite answer on whether they will also stop processing Canadian visas in India.
The Canadian government is decreasing personnel levels at its diplomatic posts in India, citing concerns for the safety of its employees as bilateral tensions remain high.
The Department of Global Affairs also stated that it expects the Indian government to continue to protect its diplomatic staff.
“In light of the current environment of heightened tensions, we are taking steps to ensure the safety of our diplomats.”
With some ambassadors receiving threats on various social media platforms, Global Affairs Canada is examining its personnel complement in India, according to Global Affairs spokesman Jean-Pierre Godbout.
“As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily adjust our staff presence in India.”
Mr. Godbout stated that Canada’s high commission, or embassy, in New Delhi, as well as Canadian consulates throughout the South Asian country, remain open.
“In the context of respect for Vienna Convention obligations, we expect India to provide for the security of our accredited diplomats and consular officers in India, just as we do for theirs here,” he said.
“Global Affairs Canada will continue to take all necessary precautions to protect the health and safety of all our personnel, including locally employed personnel, as well as our operations in India. Decisions are made based on a variety of considerations, including an employee’s professional profile and personal circumstances.”
Mr. Godbout refused to say how many Canadian employees are being reassigned from Canada’s embassies and consulates in India.
September 21 New Indian Update
The Indian High Commission and Consulate in Canada have temporarily halted processing visa applications for Canadians.
This is due to ongoing security threats being faced by Indian High Commission and Consulate in Canada, causing disruptions in normal functioning
An Indian government spokesman says this situation will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Furthermore, the Indian government has informed Canada to have parity in its mutual diplomatic presence.
The number of Canadian diplomats in India is very much higher than the number of Indian diplomats in Canada.
Details are being worked out and India expects Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence in India.
Our opinion on this latest update: It will be important to see the Canadian government’s response to India’s commentary on halting visas for Canadians.
If diplomatic presence in India is reduced, then it will definitely affect the processing of Canadian visas for Indians, including study visas, visitor visas, work visas, and permanent residency visas.
Stay tuned for the latest news and updates.
September 20 Canadian update
On September 20, Immigration Minister Marc Miller corrected his statement on date of Hardeep Singh Nijjar becoming a Canadian citizen, saying that Mr. Nijjar became a Canadian citizen on May 25, 2007.
He said, “Mr. Nijjar became a Canadian citizen on May 25, 2007, earlier than I stated below. The error in dates is my responsibility to assume. Again, nothing justifies the killing of Mr. Nijjar.”
Liberal Ministers face questions on the possible link between the Indian government and the June 2023 killing of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C.
Indian update on September 20
The Indian government issues a travel advisory for Indian nationals and Indian students in Canada, urging them to exercise the utmost caution in view of growing anti-India activities, politically-condoned hate crimes, and criminal violence in Canada.
The advisory said, “Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant.”
They also asked Indian nationals and students from India in Canada to register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through their respective websites or the MADAD portal, madad.gov.in
Canadian update on September 19
On September 19, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said they were not looking to provoke or escalate the situation with India but to encourage the Indian government to cooperate in the ongoing investigation.
PM Trudeau also asked the Indian government to take things seriously in this matter.
There was an ongoing viral question by people in Canada saying that Hardeep Singh Nijjar was not a Canadian citizen.
In response to this, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller first confirmed that Hardeep Singh Nijjar became a Canadian citizen on March 3, 2015.
In an interview, Stephen Brown, CEO of the National Council for Canadian Muslims and Balpreet Singh, legal counsel for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, called on the Canadian Government to do four more things
- Immediate recall of Canada’s Ambassador
- Start the process to expel India’s ambassador to Canada
- Cease all discussions of trade negotiations with India
- Immediate banning of the RSS organization in Canada and the expulsion of all of its Agents from the country
India’s First Response and September 19 update
The Indian government released an official statement rejecting all the allegations made by the Canadian government.
Furthermore, they also asked a senior Canadian diplomat in India to leave within the next five days.
Situation Worsens on September 18
The situation caught fire when Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced that they had expelled a top Indian diplomat from Canada.
Canada also updated their travel advisory for India, asking Canadians to “exercise a high degree of caution” due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country.
Previously, this issue got viral when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced possible allegations against Indian interference in Canada, with already fumes around Canada-India relations at the G20 summit.
On the first day of the House of Commons on September 18, he said that Canadian intelligence is actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Indian government and the killing of Canadian citizen and Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Diplomatic Commentary Began on September 10
The Canada-India issue of Khalistani Sikhs has always been a topic of discussion, but the situation got highlighted at the September G20 summit in India.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised the issue of Indian interference in Canada, especially in relation to the killing of Sikh leaders on Canadian soil.
The situation was still good at that time, with the Canadian PM saying, “We recognize that India is an extraordinarily important economy in the world and an important partner to Canada.”
Who was Hardeep Singh Nijjar?
Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Sikh separatist from India who was active in the Khalistan movement. Nijjar was wanted by Indian authorities and declared a terrorist under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after allegedly plotting the murder of a Hindu priest in Punjab. On June 18, 2023, Nijjar was shot and killed in British Columbia.How will the Canada-India issue affect immigration?
The Canada-India issue may impact immigration between the two countries. It is advisable to stay updated with the latest news and official statements from the governments involved to understand the specific effects and any changes in immigration policies or procedures.
India has already indicated that they are halting the visa processing for Canadians in Canada due to service disruption.
Canada is yet to respond on this situation.Is Canada suspending visas for Indians?
As of now, Canada has not suspended visas for Indians. According to Canadian government sources, Canada is considering a response to India’s visa suspension but has not yet made a decision.
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- Universal Eye Care Deemed Essential for Canadians
Today, Canadians are facing a unique health crisis that continues to baffle researchers and plague the nation’s healthcare system.
Over eight million citizens are living with at least one of the following major blinding eye diseases: age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.
But despite 75% of visual impairment being avoidable when detected and treated early, over 1.2 million Canadians are living with vision loss.
This has spurred the country’s vision health stakeholders to urge the Government of Canada to support eye care in its federal budget, seeing as the total cost of vision loss in Canada was $32.9 billion in 2019 and is expected to balloon to $56 billion in 2050.
More importantly, blindness can negatively impact a person’s financial health and sense of independence.
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So, if a simple and typically inexpensive eye exam can prevent a debilitating and expensive condition such as blindness, why are more and more Canadians suffering from it?
There are various factors at play here, such as the ripple effects of the global pandemic, accessibility to doctors, and the country’s rapidly aging population.
There is a clear and immediate need to bridge the gap between those at risk for vision loss—older adults aged 55 and above—and the eye care programs they sorely need.
Vision issues faced by Canadians
Most of Canada’s population is concentrated in urban areas, resulting in an uneven distribution of eye doctors.
A 2020 study found that the average distribution of optometrists was only 1.70 per 10,000 people.
In some remote areas, low vision care was attributed to a lack of access to government-insured eye doctors.
Because optometrists can detect and diagnose vision problems before they progress, it’s critical to address this issue.
That said, even adding more eye doctors and access to available coverage in certain areas may not help matters.
According to Clearly’s study on Canadian vision care, almost half of Canadians regularly experience vision issues, but 34% of Canadians are long overdue for an eye exam.
Their reported symptoms included blurred vision, floaters, and glare at least a few times per month.
This is concerning because plenty of eye diseases can progress without one noticing vision changes; seeing actual changes in vision merits an eye exam all the more.
However, there is an even more vulnerable group that the health sector needs to pay closer attention to: Canadian immigrants.
Immigrants and eye care
There are several reasons Canadian immigrants, in particular, need eye care. First, it’s important to note that diabetes is linked to vision loss, particularly macular edema and retinopathy.
Second, the number of Indians who became Canadian permanent residents increased by 260% from 2013 to 2022.
In a study of over 1.7 million immigrants to Canada for ethnic differences in prediabetes incidence, South Asians were the highest risk group, with 47.9% incidence in the 50-64 year age range.
That means this ethnic group has a significantly higher risk of eye problems among the current pool of immigrants.
Therefore, governments should not only make blanket changes to eye care policies but also provide special attention to minorities and the Canadian provinces where their population incidence is higher.
Some provinces give Canadian immigrants access to primary healthcare as soon as they land, while in major cities, it may take up to three months.
Nevertheless, it appears that access is not a concern. New research published in BMC Primary Care has found that recent immigrants are less likely to have a family doctor, which means a lack of familiarity in a new country may impact people’s willingness to see even a general physician, much less an eye doctor.
To avoid further burdening the healthcare system and worsening the country’s vision crisis, addressing seemingly minor barriers like language, transportation, and a sense of belonging may be necessary to encourage immigrants to prioritize their eye health.
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- New Report On International Students in Canada
Today, Canadian Senate members issued a report describing ways to improve the integrity of the program for international students in Canada.
While the survey reveals that international students benefit Canada’s economy as well as its social and cultural landscape, there are a slew of integrity challenges inside Canada’s international student program.
The report emphasizes, “While the Canadian government is being forthright about the highly competitive nature of the permanent residence application process, it could do more to be forthright about the immigration benefits of studying in Canada.”
The report makes the following major recommendations
National review of the financial sustainability of DLIs
The report suggests that the Canadian post-secondary education sector is too vulnerable because of its reliance on foreign students for funding.
If there are any future downward “shifts in global international student trends” away from Canada, or if there are any “diplomatic disputes” that reduce international student enrollment in this country, Canada could be negatively impacted.
Greater oversight on DLIs including private colleges
This report suggests that oversight of Canada’s educational institutions could positively impact the lives of international students in this country by ensuring DLIs across the country work tirelessly and constantly to provide international students with a “positive on- and off-campus experience.”
This is because such scrutiny can result in pro-student policies such as requiring DLIs to demonstrate how they will assist international students in finding housing and jobs, as well as handle other settlement difficulties such as mental health.
According to the Senate report, “DLIs that do not meet the standard should be subject to losing their ability to welcome additional international students.”
Raise awareness among international students
As mentioned above in the section about education brokers, enrolling in PGWP-ineligible programs is a major issue for international students.
To that end, the research contends that the Canadian government at all levels can do a better job of informing students about which programs are and are not eligible for a PGWP.
This is significant because “strong motivation exists among international students to obtain PGWPs and permanent residence” after graduation.
Housing supply for international students
This recommendation, which necessitates an initial discussion about educational institutions’ ability to support themselves financially outside of international student enrollment, requests that the federal government take the following steps to ensure adequate international student accommodation:
- Obtaining federal statistics on student housing is critical for making educated decisions.
- Creating a dedicated funding stream for postsecondary institutions to develop affordable housing choices for students is part of the National Housing Strategy.
Increase international students’ understanding of their legal rights
According to the report’s authors, DLIs, as the initial point of contact for many international students in this country, and the Canadian government both need to do a better job of informing international students about their rights regarding housing, employment, and sexual abuse.
Because many of these infractions occur and go unreported due to a lack of understanding, informing students of their rights and what they can do if they are a victim of these issues will help mitigate future concerns.
National policy approach for temporary resident to permanent resident paths
When expressed clearly, this type of national strategy can help limit disappointment among international students while also informing them of the realities of Canadian permanent residence (PR), namely that there are a much smaller number of PR spots in Canada than students may have been told when planning their studies and life in Canada.
National policy on international student settlement assistance
This report, like the other national policy suggestion, highlights various advantages of implementing the same method with settlement help for international students. These are some examples:
- Better care for international students and a better overall experience
- Addressing the issues raised earlier in the report
- Providing a means to better educate and prepare international students for life as permanent citizen in Canada
- Recommendations from the federal government
Nationwide linguistic standard for DLI entrance
Standardizing how DLIs convey admission standards will reduce uncertainty among international students and assure more success–both academically and otherwise–when they arrive to Canada.
Following in the footsteps of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a uniform baseline for international student admission standards could be helpful to all stakeholders.
Improve the LOA verification process
This report recommends that IRCC strengthen the verification process for Letters of Admission (LOAs), as this would “strengthen the integrity of the international student program while also saving trouble and resources down the line,” such as IRCC spending time and other resources on court proceedings and deportations later on.
According to the research, this process can be accelerated by utilizing current technology, such as those presently available in the private sector.
Amending IRPA and IRPR to further control the conduct of education agents
A fresh look at reforming Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) can help introduce federal policies to regulate the conduct of unsuspecting and desperate students by overseas education agents and post-secondary institutions.
This research, for example, advises that “stronger penalties, such as fines and the revocation of DLI status, should be considered for those who violate” new policy measures enacted following the reform of IRPA and Canada’s IRPR.
Look at further regulations governing international student tuition
Increased regulations in this situation, according to the report, should take into account factors like lowering the cap on tuition increases for international students.
This is in line with the report’s first recommendation because it is only possible to do so by reducing DLIs’ reliance on international student fees to pay for operational costs.
Increase education agent restrictions and sanctions
To the same extent as recommendation 10, other provinces and territories should follow Manitoba’s lead in adequately regulating foreign educational agents/international student recruiters.
Manitoba’s International Education Act outlines a variety of measures that govern behaviour and penalties placed on parties who demonstrate poor behaviour, including fines and a code of conduct that can serve as a teaching tool for Canada’s other provinces and territories.
Will there be a cap on international students in Canada?
Four members of Canada’s Senate released a report on improving the international student program in Canada and clearly ruled out any question of putting a cap on international students coming to Canada.Click here to view full report.
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- New Express Entry Draw For 10 Transport Occupations Is Out Now
Today, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship (IRCC), announced the first transport Express Entry draw as part of its new category-based selection.
This round of invitations emphasizes applicants with transportation experience, such as commercial truck drivers, pilots, and aircraft assembly workers, to help the industry attract the competent talent it requires across the country.
- Number of invitations issued: 1,000
- Rank required to be invited to apply: 1,000 or above
- Date and time of round: September 20, 2023 at 14:04:14 UTC
- CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 435
- Tie-breaking rule: June 17, 2023 at 06:44:01 UTC
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The Express Entry system in Canada is now customized to provide a simplified and fast pathway for those with significant subject expertise.
Canada aspires to fulfill the increasing demand for talent and fill essential positions that contribute to the nation’s economic growth and advancement by prioritizing the invitation of qualified newcomers with work experience in transportation occupations.
This targeted Express Entry draw is focused on profiles with at least six months of experience in one of the below-listed 10 occupations.
10 Occupations eligible for Transport Express Entry draws
- 93200: Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
- Example titles: Aircraft assembler
- Aircraft assembly inspector
- Airframe assembler
- Bench and structural assembler
- Bench fitter mechanic – aircraft assembly
- Rigger – aircraft assembly
- Wing tank mechanic – aircraft assembly
- 73300: Transport truck drivers
- Example titles: Bulk goods truck driver
- Dump truck driver
- Flatbed truck driver
- Heavy truck driver
- Logging truck driver
- Long haul truck driver
- Moving van driver
- Shunt truck driver
- Tow truck driver
- Tractor-trailer truck driver
- Transport driver
- Truck driver
- 72604: Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
- Example titles: Chief rail traffic controller
- Marine traffic regulator
- Rail traffic controller
- Train operator
- 72603: Engineer officers, water transport
- Example titles: Chief engineer – water transport
- Engineer officer – water transport
- Fourth engineer – water transport
- Marine engineer officer
- Second engineer
- Third engineer – water transport
- Tugboat engineer
- 72602: Deck officers, water transport
- Example titles: Coast Guard vessel first watchkeeping officer
- Coast Guard vessel navigation officer
- Coast Guard vessel watchkeeping officer
- Deck officer – water transport
- Ferryboat master
- Master mariner
- Ship first mate
- Ship pilot
- Ship second mate
- Ship third mate
- Ship’s captain
- Ship’s mate
- Tugboat captain
- 72601: Air traffic controllers and related occupations
- Example titles: Air traffic controller (ATC)
- Airport air traffic controller
- Enroute air traffic controller
- Flight dispatcher
- Flight service specialist (FSS)
- Instrument flight rules air traffic controller
- Terminal air traffic controller
- Visual flight rules air traffic controller
- 72600: Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
- Example titles: Air pilot
- Captain – air transport
- Check pilot
- Chief flying instructor
- Chief pilot
- Co-pilot
- Flight engineer
- Flying instructor
- Helicopter pilot
- Pilot instructor
- Relief pilot
- Second officer – air transport
- Test pilot
- 72404: Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
- Example titles: Aircraft gas turbine engine technician
- Aircraft hydraulics mechanic
- Aircraft inspector
- Aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) (except avionics)
- Aircraft mechanic
- Aircraft repair and overhaul inspector
- Aircraft repair shop inspector
- Aircraft structural repair technician
- Aircraft systems inspector
- Aviation mechanical component shop technician
- Certified aircraft technician
- Flight test inspector
- 72403: Railway carmen/women
- Example titles: Rail vehicle mechanic
- Railway car inspector
- Railway carman/woman
- Railway carman/woman apprentice
- Streetcar and subway car mechanic
- 70020: Managers in transportation
- Example titles: Bus company manager
- Distribution manager – logistics
- Flight operations manager
- Freight forwarding manager
- Marine superintendent
- Rail operations superintendent
- Railway freight manager
- Traffic manager – transportation
- Transport department manager
- Transportation manager
- Urban transit system manager
Canada confirms its commitment to attracting top global talent and assisting in meeting the economy’s need for transportation workers through category-based selection.
These category-based selection rounds, as well as general and program-specific invitation rounds, will continue throughout the year.
Things to Watch out
It will be important to see the size of this Express Entry draw targeted for transport occupations since it will determine the CRS cutoff score.
We are expecting the CRS cutoff score to be between 350 and 400, similar to what we saw in targeted trades draw.
Furthermore, it will be interesting to watch out to see if IRCC will be holding other targeted draws as well as the no program specified draw since there hasn’t been any round of invitations since August 15.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is an online system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for permanent residence from skilled workers.
It is a points-based system that ranks candidates based on factors such as age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and adaptability.
The highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence through regular draws conducted by the Canadian government.
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- New Ontario-OINP Draw On Sep 19 Sent Out 608 PR Invitations
On September 19, 2023, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program-OINP draw issued 608 invitations to apply for permanent residency (PR) in general draws under two different streams.
537 invitations have been sent under the Masters Graduate Stream to all the Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles with a score of 41 and above.
Furthermore, 71 invitations to apply are issued under the PhD Graduate stream to all the EOI profiles with a score of 40 and above.
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Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles created under the above mentioned streams between November 22, 2022, and September 19, 2023, were considered for the OINP draw today.
Summary of OINP Draws today
Stream Invitations Score range Masters Graduate Stream 537 41 and above PhD Graduate Stream 71 40 and above OINP Draws – September 19 Invited candidates will now have 14 days to submit their application in support of the information mentioned in their Expression of Interest profile to get permanent residency (PR) in Ontario.
Reiterating our suggestion for Canada permanent residency aspirants in times of increasing Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores in Express Entry draws.
Rather than purchasing LMIAs or running payrolls, international students seeking PR in Canada can enroll in a Masters degree at one of the qualifying universities, which will:
- boost their academic performance for future career opportunities
- offer them the right to remain in Canada as students, and
- offer a significantly better chance of obtaining permanent residency.
Because no job offer is required for the OINP Masters Graduate Stream, it is better to spend your money developing your career profile rather than buying employment offers/LMIAs/Payrolls.
OINP Masters Graduate Stream Draws 2023
Date Invitations Score range September 19, 2023 537 41 and above August 30, 2023 772 44 and above August 1, 2023 755 48 and above June 6, 2023 1,175 46 and above April 4, 2023 752 52 and above January 25, 2023 692 44 and above OINP Masters Graduate Stream Draws 2023 All The OINP Draws 2023
OINP’s Expression of Interest has issued a total of 12,954 invitations for permanent residency so far.
The Masters Graduate stream is the largest stream, bagging nearly 4,683 invitations, followed by the Foreign Worker stream with 4,032 invitations so far.
OINP Streams Number of Invitations Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream 4,032 Employer Job Offer: International Student stream 2,963 Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream 807 Masters Graduate stream 4,683 PhD Graduate stream 420 Total 2023 EOI invitations 12,905 OINP Expression of Interest Streams Summary 2023 When was the last draw for the Ontario PNP?
The most recent draw for the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) was on September 19, 2023, which sent 608 invitations to apply for permanent residency under the Masters Graduate Stream and PhD Stream.
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- New Express Entry Draw Today Invites 3,200 Profiles For PR
IRCC sent out 3,200 invitations to apply (ITAs) in a new Express Entry draw today, considering profiles from all the programs.
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score jumped significantly by 35 points from 496 to 531 because of the absence of any round of invitations since August 15, 2023.
Below are the details of the Express Entry draw today:
- No Program Specified
- Number of invitations issued: 3,200
- Rank required to be invited to apply: 3,200 or above
- Date and time of round: September 19, 2023 at 15:04:11 UTC
- CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 531
- Tie-breaking rule: September 12, 2023 at 12:16:31 UTC
IRCC will also be unveiling its first targeted draw for transport occupations. You can check for updates here.
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IRCC has invited a total of 80,948 profiles in 26 Express Entry draws this year.
In 2023, the CRS threshold ranges from as low as 375 in the Francophile draw to 463 for 35 Healthcare occupations, 486 for 24 STEM occupations, and 531 in the recent no program specified draw today on September 19, 2023.
CRS Score Distribution in the Pool: September 19
CRS score range Number of candidates 601-1200 2,637 501-600 3,091 451-500 58,838 491-500 3,596 481-490 8,510 471-480 19,326 461-470 15,170 451-460 12,236 401-450 54,240 441-450 11,331 431-440 11,601 421-430 9,813 411-420 10,414 401-410 11,081 351-400 60,575 301-350 31,418 0-300 5,236 Total 216,035 CRS Score distribution in the pool What is Express Entry?
Canada Express Entry is an online application management system, that IRCC uses to select candidates for permanent residency based on their Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS).
Express Entry is in charge of administering the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.
When determining who to invite to apply for Canadian permanent residency, the CRS considers factors including work experience, industry, language skills, education, age, and more.
When an eligible Express Entry candidate creates their profile on the IRCC website, they are assigned a CRS number and placed in a classification pool with other candidates based on these factors.
Candidates with high CRS Scores have the best chance of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residency.What occupations are being targeted by Express Entry system in 2023?
In 2023, new occupation based Express Entry draws are focusing on candidates who have at least 6 months of work experience in the last 3 years in one of the following sectors:
1. healthcare
2. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
3. trades, such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors
4. transport
5. agriculture and agri-food
You can obtain a comprehensive list of occupations with NOC codes for each sector by clicking on the links above.Always stay updated with the latest Canada Immigration News with INC – Immigration News Canada – INC News
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- Migrants March On Streets Demanding New Permanent Residency Pathway
Migrants, including undocumented persons, students, and refugees, marched in cities throughout Canada on Sunday to seek permanent residency status for all before the federal parliament reconvenes on Monday.
In Toronto, migrants and sympathizers marched across downtown, including past the intersection of Yonge and Dundas Streets, causing police to post on social media that traffic had been delayed in the area.
Protesters are urging the government to establish an uncapped program that will offer permanent residence status to all migrants and illegal immigrants, with no exceptions.
The protest comes after a United Nations expert called Canada’s temporary foreign worker program a “breeding ground for contemporary forms of slavery” earlier this month.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Modern Forms of Slavery, Tomoya Obokata, has urged the federal government to provide all temporary foreign workers with a path to longer-term or permanent residency.
According to Sarom Rho, an organizer with the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, the demonstrators are asking the government to develop an unlimited program that would offer permanent residency status to all migrants and undocumented persons without any exclusions.
According to Rho, there are 1.7 million people in Canada with temporary study or work permits without any clear pathway to permanent residency.
She claims they are raising Canada’s food, caring for children, and working in front-line jobs.
Rho said that without permanent resident status, undocumented people face massive exploitation at work, are denied life-saving medical treatments, and live in daily fear of deportation and the agony of family separation.
At the time, a representative for Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s office refused to comment on whether such a permanent pathway would be implemented.
“That’s one in every 23 people, and it hurts all of us when a segment of our society is denied the same rights and protections as everyone else,” Rho explained.
Jane, who has been living in Canada illegally for six years, says she wants permanent status so she can acquire a good job and be treated fairly.
“A fair job where you will not be discriminated against, where you will earn a decent wage, where you will be free to go wherever you want, to reunite with your families,” she continued. “Without status, you can’t do anything in this country.”
“We cannot make predictions about future policies.” “All new policies will be made public,” a spokesman from IRCC told CBC News in an email.
Source: CBC News
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- Top 5 High Demand Skilled Trade Jobs In Canada
Canada has more than 300 occupations designated as skilled trade jobs and most of them are in-demand across the country and offer attractive careers.
On top of this, Canada is now focusing even more on skilled trades by offering an easy pathway to permanent residency for individuals with experience inside or outside Canada in one of these.
Furthermore, Canada has a labour shortage in most of the skilled trades, with an estimated 256,000 new apprentices needed over the next 5 years to meet this demand.
Given the high number of occupations designated as skilled trades in Canada, individuals often get confused when selecting their career path or which one will fit them better.
This article lists high demand skilled trades jobs in Canada as well as all the provinces so that our readers can make an informed decision when choosing their career path.
As per the official Canadian estimate, listed below are the top in-demand skilled trades expected from 2022 to 2026:
Top 5 High Demand Skilled Trades
Top 5 High-Demand Skilled Trade jobs in Canada
1. Cooks
Cooks have the National Occupation Classification (NOC) code of 63200. They prepare and cook a wide range of dishes.
Cooks work in a variety of enterprises, including restaurants, lodging facilities, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, central food commissaries, and educational institutions.
Cook job titles
- Apprentice cook
- Cook
- Dietary cook
- First cook
- Grill cook
- Hospital cook
- Institutional cook
- Journeyman/woman cook
- Licensed cook
- Line cook
- Second cook
- Short order cook
2. Industrial Electricians and Electrical Contractors
Industrial electricians and electrical contractors have the NOC code 72201.
Industrial electricians maintain, test, diagnose, and fix industrial electrical machinery as well as the electronic and electrical controls that go along with it.
Electrical contractors, as well as the maintenance divisions of factories, plants, mines, shipyards, and other industrial facilities, employ them.
Industrial Electrician job titles
- Industrial electrician
- Industrial electrician apprentice
- Marine electrician
- Mill electrician
- Mine electrician
- Plant electrician
- Plant maintenance electrician
- Shipyard electrician
3. Industrial Mechanics (Millwrights)
Industrial mechanics and construction millwrights have the NOC code 72400, and they install, maintain, diagnose, overhaul, and repair mechanical equipment and stationary industrial machinery.
Industrial textile machinery mechanics and repairers are included in this unit group. Contractors for millwrighting work in the construction industry.
Manufacturing facilities, utilities, and other industrial establishments all employ industrial mechanics.
Industrial Mechanics job titles
- Card fixer
- Card grinder
- Construction millwright
- Industrial mechanic
- Industrial mechanic apprentice
- Industrial sewing machine mechanic
- Knitting machine mechanic
- Loom fixer
- Loom setter – textile manufacturing
- Loom technician
- Maintenance millwright
- Millwright
- Millwright apprentice
- Open-end technician
- Plant equipment mechanic
- Spinning fixer
- Textile fixer
- Textile machine mechanic
- Textile machinery fixer
- Treatment plant maintenance mechanic
4. Painters and Decorators
Painters and decorators have the NOC code 73112, and they cover the inside and exterior surfaces of buildings and other structures with paint, wallpaper, and other finishes.
They work for construction firms, painting contractors, and building maintenance firms, or they may be independent contractors.
Painters and Decorators job titles
- Construction painter
- Maintenance painter
- Painter
- Painter and decorator
- Painter and decorator apprentice
- Paperhanger
5. Welders
Welders have the NOC code 72106, and they use welding equipment to join ferrous and nonferrous metals together.
Machine operators who operate already-set-up production welding, brazing, and soldering equipment are also included in this unit group.
They can work for enterprises that make structural steel and platework, boilers, heavy machinery, aircraft and ships, and other metal products, as well as welding contractors and welding shops, or they can work for themselves.
Welders job titles
- Aviation welding technician
- Brazing machine operator
- Brazing machine setter
- Electric arc welder
- Journeyman/woman welder
- Laser welding operator
- Pressure vessel welder
- Production welder
- Soldering machine operator
- Spot welder
- Submerged arc welder
- Welder
- Welder apprentice
- Welder-fitter
What are in-demand skilled trades in Ontario?
Here are some in-demand skilled trades in Ontario:
1. Electricians
2. Plumbers
3. Carpenters
4. Welders
5. HVAC Technicians
6. Bricklayers/Masons
7. Industrial Mechanics
8. Heavy Equipment Technicians
9. Construction Managers
10. Elevator Mechanics
These trades have a strong demand in Ontario due to ongoing construction projects and infrastructure development.What are in-demand skilled trades in British Columbia?
Some in-demand skilled trades in British Columbia include electricians, carpenters, plumbers, welders, heavy equipment operators, and automotive service technicians.What are in-demand skilled trades in Alberta?
Some in-demand skilled trades in Alberta are:
1. Electricians
2. Welders
3. Heavy-duty equipment technicians
4. Plumbers
5. Carpenters
6. Steamfitters and pipefitters
7. Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
8. Industrial mechanics (millwrights)
9. Instrumentation and control technicians
10. Sheet metal workers
- New Working Holiday Visa Draws Sent 4,955 Work Permit Invitations
International Experience Canada (IEC) sent out 4,955 invitations to apply for open work permits in the new Working Holiday Visa rounds of invitations in the last 2 weeks.
15,819 spots are still available for candidates from 33 eligible countries interested in applying for a Working Holiday Visa to work and explore Canada.
Updates on the IEC 2023 rounds of invitations have been updated every week since the beginning of this year, but there was no update last week.
Country-specific quotas are also being redistributed among various categories of International Experience Canada (IEC).
In addition to the Working Holiday Visa category, 316 new closed work permit invitations have been sent in the Young Professional category, with 1,527 spots still available for candidates from eligible countries.
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The International Co-op (Internships) category sent out only 83 closed work permit invitations, with 815 spots still open for graduates from eligible countries.
The IEC 2023 season processing time is 9 weeks, according to the most recent IRCC processing time update.
The tables below provide extensive information on the number of invitations sent in the last 2 weeks, the overall number of invitations sent in 2023, candidates in the pool, the number of open spots, and the possibility of receiving an invitation the next week.
Working Holiday Visa 2023 Invitations
Country Invitations
Issued In
Last two weeksTotal
Invitations
2023Candidates
In PoolAvailable
SpotsIEC 2023
QuotaChances
of
receiving
an invite
next weekAndorra 2 26 0 14 25 Excellent Australia 475 10,028 143 unlimited unlimited Excellent Austria 3 277 37 0 168 Very Low Belgium 87 1,457 74 28 950 Excellent Chile 901 4,690 8,518 1,459 4,118 Very Low Costa Rica 2 2,054 924 2 1,150 Very Low Croatia 13 177 2 168 275 Excellent Czech Republic 62 1,171 19 301 1,000 Excellent Denmark 23 438 5 37 350 Excellent Estonia 11 141 0 29 110 Excellent France 0 16,885 14,167 76 12,700 Very Low Germany 254 5,650 56 819 4,490 Excellent Greece 21 415 7 104 378 Excellent Hong Kong 11 473 172 6 200 Very Low Ireland 264 8,084 74 5,887 10,500 Excellent Italy 209 2,942 52 309 1,855 Excellent Japan 298 8,238 332 100 6,500 Low Korea Republic 475 12,937 102 1,064 8,500 Excellent Latvia 1 79 33 0 40 Very Low Lithuania 0 398 86 0 185 Very Low Luxembourg 5 50 0 43 80 Excellent Netherlands 56 1,269 12 67 880 Excellent New Zealand 99 2,878 38 595 2,500 Excellent Norway 8 163 4 38 130 Excellent Poland 27 1,004 14 99 635 Excellent Portugal 69 1,282 28 928 1,750 Excellent San Marino 0 4 0 22 25 Excellent Slovakia 16 555 24 6 323 Low Slovenia 0 60 2 53 80 Excellent Spain 162 2,590 43 459 1,845 Excellent Sweden 37 529 6 306 580 Excellent Taiwan 583 5,951 1,494 527 3,425 Fair United Kingdom 781 14,347 215 2,273 10,000 Excellent Total 4,955 107,242 26,683 15,819 75,747 Working Holiday Visa Invitations Young Professionals Category Invitations
Country Invitations
Issued in
last 2 weeksTotal
Invitations
2023Candidates
In PoolAvailable
SpotsIEC
2023
QuotaChances of receiving an invitation next week Australia 8 186 3 unlimited unlimited Excellent Austria 0 14 0 7 10 Excellent Chile 46 517 11 67 130 Excellent Costa Rica 1 218 4 10 98 Excellent Croatia 1 13 2 16 20 Excellent Czech Republic 17 291 2 2 145 Excellent Estonia 1 16 0 0 10 Excellent France 152 3,545 33 495 2,550 Excellent France via Volontariat international en entreprise (VIE) 33 534 55 116 600 Excellent Germany 30 559 9 74 350 Excellent Greece 11 161 1 36 120 Excellent Ireland 9 147 6 123 150 Excellent Italy 1 198 0 60 130 Excellent Latvia 1 10 0 6 8 Excellent Lithuania 2 25 0 3 13 Excellent Luxembourg 0 3 0 8 10 Excellent Netherlands 7 170 2 20 120 Excellent Norway 0 11 0 9 15 Excellent Poland 2 90 1 74 110 Excellent Portugal 3 44 0 186 200 Excellent Slovakia 1 59 3 3 25 Excellent Slovenia 0 15 0 6 15 Excellent Spain -24 188 6 61 150 Excellent Spain via ICEX Vives 0 10 0 44 50 Excellent Sweden 4 41 0 85 100 Excellent Switzerland 8 287 3 5 200 Excellent Taiwan 2 171 1 11 73 Excellent Total 316 7,523 142 1,527 5,402 Young Professionals Invitations International Co-op (Internship) invitations
Country Invitations
Issued in
last 2 WeeksTotal
Invitations
2023Candidates
in poolAvailable
spotsIEC
2023
QuotaChances of receiving an invite next week Australia 1 1 0 Unlimited Unlimited Excellent Austria 0 2 0 0 2 Excellent Chile 0 7 0 1 2 Excellent Costa Rica 0 2 0 2 2 Excellent Croatia 1 1 0 4 5 Excellent Czech Republic 0 1 0 4 5 Excellent Estonia 0 0 0 5 5 Excellent France 69 4,033 16 489 3,150 Excellent Germany 5 120 1 99 160 Excellent Greece 1 1 0 1 2 Excellent Ireland 0 18 0 38 50 Excellent Italy 0 27 0 7 15 Excellent Latvia 0 0 0 2 2 Excellent Lithuania 0 0 0 2 2 Excellent Luxembourg 0 3 0 9 10 Excellent Norway 0 0 0 5 5 Excellent Poland 1 3 0 49 50 Excellent Portugal 0 3 0 49 50 Excellent Slovakia 0 0 0 2 2 Excellent Slovenia 0 0 0 5 5 Excellent Spain 0 5 0 3 5 Excellent Sweden 0 16 0 19 20 Excellent Switzerland 5 53 1 18 50 Excellent Taiwan 0 19 0 2 2 Excellent Total 83 4,315 18 815 3,601 International Co-op Invitations What is a Working Holiday Visa for Canada?
The Working Holiday Visa for Canada is a program that allows young individuals from 33 participating countries to work and travel in Canada for any employer.
It is designed to promote cultural exchange and offer temporary employment opportunities for international visitors.
Participants can engage in various types of work during their stay, allowing them to support themselves financially while exploring Canada.What is International Experience Canada?
International Experience Canada (IEC) is a program run by the Government of Canada that allows young individuals from eligible countries to work and travel in Canada for a specific period of time.
It provides opportunities for youngsters (mostly aged 18–35) to gain valuable work experience, explore Canadian culture, and broaden their horizons.
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- Cap On International Students – Here Is The Latest Update
New Housing Minister and former Immigration Minister Sean Fraser takes a kind of step back on the concept of placing a cap on international students.
Like we initially reported, it is not as easy as it sounds because there will be a lot of pushback from the Canadian education lobby given the amount of business international students bring.
In an interview with CTV, Minister Fraser was asked whether the Canadian government would proceed with the idea of capping international students.
Fraser stated that the federal government, along with its provincial and institutional partners, must ensure that international students are supported and that communities have the ability to “absorb them” when they arrive in Canada.
“My preference is to continue to welcome a significant number of international students because the program is good for Canada; both in the short term and the long term.” he said
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Fraser highlighted the need for the federal government to address some deficiencies in its temporary immigration programs, which now function “uncapped,” instead relying on demand as the determining factor.
The host asked the question, If he hasn’t had consultations with the institutions and provincial government, then why did he float the idea of a cap on international students in the first place.
The minister responded, “Sometimes I have a bad habit of answering questions directly. Realistically, if you go back and watch the tape of my original answer, you’ll see that I indicated that it may be premature to do something like that because we need to have conversation with our partners first.’
It is imperative for the federal government to thoroughly deliberate on immigration targets in collaboration with other levels of government.
This is because the responsibility of determining which institutions are open to international students falls under the jurisdiction of the provincial government.
Additionally, institutions that have a responsibility to provide housing for newcomers should also be involved in this decision-making process.
Minister Fraser said, “It’s important that when we’re looking at the answer to our housing challenges, we also focus on what we can do to increase the supply. I think it’s essential that we remember that immigration remains one of Canada’s strongest competitive advantages in the global economy.”
Many of these students have reported struggling to find affordable and adequate housing in this country.
Canada may reconsider immigration level plan
When it comes to solving the housing crisis in Canada, the housing minister and former immigration minister say they are not ruling out changes to its ambitious immigration targets.
The new immigration levels plan for 2024–2026 will be announced in November this year and we will have to see if there are any major changes.
During a recent interview on CTV’s Question Period, Sean Fraser expressed the importance of considering the absorptive capacity of communities, which encompasses various factors such as housing, healthcare, and infrastructure, when planning future immigration levels.
Fraser emphasized the need to maintain ambitious immigration targets while ensuring that immigration policies are better aligned with these community resources.
When Fraser was the immigration minister in November 2022, he unveiled Canada’s ambitious immigration plans, which included a target of bringing in 465,000 permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025.
He claimed at the time that the action was required to ensure Canada’s economic growth by assisting employers in filling employment vacancies and attracting the skills needed in important industries including healthcare, skilled crafts, manufacturing, and technology.
However, policy experts, opposition politicians, commercial banks, and academics have been warning the federal government that Canada’s high-growth immigration strategy is causing the country’s housing issue to worsen.
According to TD economists, Canada’s housing shortage might increase by roughly 500,000 units in just two years if the current immigration policy is maintained.
To attain any form of housing affordability, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. estimates the nation needs to build 3.5 million more homes by 2030 than it is currently on schedule for.
Minister Fraser said, “If we were going to shift the way that we operate, to set a target or to align the numbers with the housing capacity, it’s a monumental change in the way that Canada does immigration.”
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- Canada Announces New Measures To Tackle Housing Crisis & Rising Grocery Prices
On September 14, 2023, the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced a comprehensive set of new initiatives aimed at tackling the housing crisis and containing rising grocery prices.
This encompasses initiatives aimed at increasing the supply of rental accommodation, offering assistance to small company proprietors, and reducing grocery prices.
New Measures Announced Today
Housing Crisis In Canada
To continue taking immediate action to reduce housing costs across the country, including for renters, the federal government:
- will encourage the construction of much-needed rental dwellings by presenting legislation to repeal the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on new apartment buildings for renters.
- is encouraging provinces that already impose provincial sales taxes or the provincial share of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) to match the federal government’s refund for new rental homes.
In order for their Housing Accelerator Fund applications to be granted, local governments should abolish exclusionary zoning and stimulate the construction of flats near public transportation.
Initiative to Support of Small Business Owners
The Prime Minister also announced today that the government will support small company owners and their employees by:
- making adjustments to the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program by giving a 1-year extension for the term loan repayment, which was initially introduced during the pandemic to help small businesses stay afloat.
For Rising Grocery Prices
To combat the rising cost of groceries, the Prime Minister said that the government has called the heads of Canada’s top grocery chains for an immediate meeting in Ottawa to begin discussions toward this goal.
Furthermore, they are urging these big grocery store chains to keep grocery costs stable in the short term.
The Feds are also considering all available tools, including tax measures, in order to restore the grocery price stability that Canadians expect.
Additionally, the Canadian government is also looking forward to taking urgent actions to boost competition across the Canadian economy, with a focus on the grocery sector, lowering costs for middle-class Canadians.
The government intends to introduce a first set of legislative amendments to the Competition Act to:
- give the Competition Bureau the authority to require the submission of material in order to undertake effective and comprehensive market analyses
- abolish the efficiencies defence, which currently allows anti-competitive mergers to survive challenges if corporate efficiencies offset the harm to competition, even when Canadian consumers would pay higher prices and have fewer choices; and
- empower the Bureau to take action against alliances that impede competition and customer choice, particularly when giant grocers block smaller competitors from setting up shop nearby.
Source: PM Official News Release