Last Updated On 6 March 2023, 1:15 PM EST (Toronto Time)
On December 14, Ontario announced 2-year project for international entrepreneurs to invite investment outside of the Greater Toronto Area. This project will select 100 international entrepreneurs who wants to start a new business or purchase an existing business outside of the Greater Toronto Area. These areas are the ones that have been hit hard by pandemic.
This new project will be under the Entrepreneur Stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Minimum investment required by the applicants will be $200,000 and Ontario government is aiming at generating $20 million of investment from these 100 entrepreneurs. This new project is targeted to create more local jobs in the sectors such as information technology, life sciences, and tourism.
Previously, Minister of Labour has demanded from federal government to double the OINP quota to fill the labour shortages and improve economy of the province. Ontario has now again requested double its current nomination allocation for 2022 to support economic growth and drive new jobs and investment to the province.
Entrepreneur stream of OINP was started in 2015. However, only 2 nominations have been issued until today. This new project will be reviving this stream and ensure success by nominating 100 entrepreneurs.
Eligibility For International Entrepreneurs Stream:
- Applicants need to have net worth of $400,000 and be able to invest $200,000 in an existing business or create a new business with the same amount.
- Applicant’s stake should not be less than 33% in a business.
- Applicant must have at least 24 months of full-time business experience in the last 60 months.
- You must be actively involved, on an ongoing basis, in the management of the business.
- You must create at least one permanent full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- CLB4 in language proficiency is required (IELTS/CELPIP/TEF/TCF). Click here for language equivalency chart.
- You must be physically present in Ontario for 75% of the time.
How Does This Stream Work:
As per OINP website: There are 2 stages in this program
Stage-1
- Register an expression of interest by email.
- If invited, submit an online application.
- You and your business partner (if applicable) attend a mandatory interview. Each of you must demonstrate net worth of $400,000 and ability to invest $200,000.
- If your stage 1 application is successful, you must sign a performance agreement.
Stage-2
- OINP will issue a temporary work permit support letter so that you can apply to IRCC for a temporary work permit.
- Establish your business – you have 20 months from the date you arrive in Ontario to implement your business plan and submit a final report.
- If your business meets all requirements, OINP will ask you for documentation to make sure you are eligible for nomination for permanent residence.
Ineligible Types Of Businesses:
- Automated car wash business
- Holding companies
- Laundromats
- Pawnbrokers
- Pay day loan and related businesses
- Scrap metal recycling
- Project-based and seasonal businesses are ineligible.
- Tire recycling
- A business involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services
- Businesses which have been previously owned or operated by a current or former OINP Entrepreneur Stream nominee or a nominee under the former investor component of the Opportunities Ontario program
“As we continue to build back better, we want people across Ontario – no matter where they live – to find rewarding, well-paying careers in their communities. Our government is working for workers and spreading the jobs and opportunities that entrepreneurs bring to every corner of our province, not just our big cities.”
Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development.
Latest Canada Immigration News & Articles
- 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.
Jump To
Stay on top of the latest news and information with INC – Immigration News Canada.
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.
ontario g test pass rates, canada immigration news, immigration news canada, ontario g2 pass rates, highest g2 passing rate in ontario, road test failure rate,
- New Minimum Wage In Ontario and 5 Provinces Effective Oct 1
The new minimum wage in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island will come into effect on October 1, 2023.
This year, the minimum wage was raised by British Columbia on June 1 and Quebec on May 1, after the Federal minimum wage went up at $16.65 on April 1.
The minimum wage is the lowest wage rate set by Canadian provinces; it is the minimum remuneration below which a business cannot hire any employee legally.
This minimum wage applies to all employees, regardless of age or number of hours worked and paying less than the minimum set wage is illegal.
Jump To
New minimum wage in Ontario
Ontario’s new minimum wage, which goes into effect on October 1st, will be $16.55 per hour. This will be a $1.05 increase from $15.50 an hour.
On January 1, 2022, Ontario’s current minimum wage of $15 came into effect. On October 1, 2022, the general minimum wage in Ontario will rise to $15.50.
As per the Ontario government, this rise implies that someone earning the minimum wage and working 40 hours per week will see their salary increase by over $2,200 per year.
According to the Ontario Living Wage Network, the living wage in many parts of Ontario is $19/hr, but it is more than $23/hr in the GTA.
Students under the age of 18, who work 28 hours or less per week when school is in session or work during a school vacation or summer holidays, will also see their hourly wage rise from $14.60 to $15.60.
Minimum wage for homeworkers (people who do paid work from home for companies) will increased from $17.05 to $18.20 per hour.
Hunting, fishing, and wilderness guides minimum wage will raise from $77.60 and $82.85 per day while working fewer than five continuous hours, and from $155.25 and $165.75 per day when working five or more hours.
Labour supporters and opposition opponents, on the other hand, have stated that Ontario’s minimum wage should be at least $20 per hour.
Manitoba’s new minimum wage
Manitoba’s new minimum wage, which goes into effect on October 1st, will be $15.30 per hour. An increase of $1.15 from current minimum wage of $14.15 an hour.
Manitoba also increased the minimum wage on April 1, 2023 by $0.65 to $14.15 per hour.
As on October 1, the province has increased the minimum wage by a total of $1.80 per hour in 2023 from $13.50 an hour to $15.30 per hour.
Now the province will return to annual changes based on provincial CPI, with the next hourly rate expected to be revised on October 1, 2024.
New Nova Scotia minimum wage
Nova Scotia is also set to increase the minimum wage second time in 2023 to $15 per hour on October 1, 2023.
Previously, minimum wage was increased to $14.50 an hour on April 1, 2023 from $13.60 per hour. This is a $1.40 raise in the minimum wage.
The minimum wage rates would now be revised annually on October 1, 2024 according to inflation plus additional 1%.
Minimum wage increasing in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan will be increasing the minimum wage in province by $1 from $13 to $14 per hour, which goes into effect on October 1st.
Last raise was done on October 1, 2022 when the Saskatchewan government raised the minimum wage from $11.81 to $13.00 per hour.
The minimum wage will further increase to $15 per hour on October 1, 2024.
Newfoundland and Labrador New Minimum Wage
Newfoundland and Labrador is also increasing minimum wage for the second time this year. The new minimum wage will be $15 per hour, effective October 1.
Previously, on April 1, 2023, province raised the minimum wage to $14.50 per hour from $13.70 per hour.
The Minister is still examining the advice of the Minimum pay Review Committee to boost minimum pay rates by inflation plus 1% per year after 2024.
Prince Edward Island minimum wage raise
Minimum wage in Prince Edward Island (PEI) will increase by 50 cents from $14.50 an hour to $15 per hour on October 1, 2023.
Previously, PEI increased the minimum wage by 80 cents on January 1, 2023 to $14.50 per hour from $13.70 an hour.
Minimum wage in all the Canadian Provinces and Next Raise Schedule
Geography Current Minimum Wage Upcoming Raise Effective Date Ontario $15.50 $16.55 October 1, 2023 Manitoba $14.15 $15.30 October 1, 2023 Nova Scotia $14.50 $15.00 October 1, 2023 Saskatchewan $13.00 $15.00 October 1, 2023 Newfoundland & Labrador $14.50 $15.00 October 1, 2023 Prince Edward Island $14.50 $15.00 October 1, 2023 Canada (Federally regulated private sectors) $16.65 $17.75 (estimated) April 1, 2024 New Brunswick $14.75 $15.50 (estimated) April 1, 2024 (Expected) Alberta $15.00 TBD To Be Decided (TBD) British Columbia $16.75 $17.75 (estimated) June 1, 2024 Quebec $15.25 $16.25 (estimated) May 1, 2024 Nunavut $16.00 TBD April 1, 2024 Northwest Territories $16.05 $17 (estimated) September 1, 2024 Yukon $16.77 $17.50(estimated) April 1, 2024 Minimum Wages in Canadian provinces Alberta is the only province left to increase minimum wage in the province. In fact, Alberta has not increased their minimum wage since 2018.
Which province has the highest minimum wage in Canada?
British Columbia has the highest minimum wage in Canada at $16.75 per hour effective June 1, 2023 and is expected to increase further on June 1, 2024.What is minimum wage in Ontario?
The current minimum wage in Ontario is $15.50 per hour effective October 1, 2022, which is scheduled to increased on October 1, 2023 to $16.55 an hour.When does minimum wage go up in Ontario?
The minimum wage in Ontario is scheduled to increase on October 1, 2023 to $16.55 per hour.What is minimum wage in Saskatchewan?
The current minimum wage in Saskatchewan is $13.00 per hour effective October 1, 2022. This is scheduled to increase to $14 an hour effective October 1, 2023.What is minimum wage in Manitoba?
The current minimum wage in Manitoba is $14.15 per hour effective April 1, 2023. This minimum wage is set to increase again on October 1, 2023 to $15.30 an hour.
Photo by T. Royce Xan on Pexels.com 
minimum wage manitoba, minimum wage ns, minimum wage ontario 2023, minimum wage across Canada, ontario minimum wage, minimum wage 2023, minimum wage bc, ontario minimum wage 2023, minimum wage in canada, new minimum wage ontario, new minimum wage ontario 2023, new minimum wage 2023, minimum wage quebec, minimum wage nb, minimum wage toronto, minimum wage vancouver,
- 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.
canada immigration news, immigration news canada, canada india news today, canada travel advisory, india travel advisory, india suspends canada visa, india suspend visa services for canada, canada visa suspended, indian visa suspended, india suspends visa, india visa services suspended, what is happening between canada and india, why is india mad at canada, india canada,
- 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.
Jump To
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.
eye care in canada, universal eye care in Canada,
- 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.
canada immigration news, immigration news canada, new ircc update, new ircc news, new senate report, study visa, study permit,
- 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
Jump To
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.
express entry draw, express entry draw today, new express entry draw, transport express entry draw,