Canada’s new Start-Up Visa pilot program for entrepreneurs and investors officially begins receiving applications on April 1, 2013, announced Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) calls the Start-Up Visa program “the first of its kind in the world”. The new program allows foreign entrepreneurs to apply for permanent residence [...]
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty tabled the 2013 Federal Budget on March 21, 2013 and Announced Reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
According to Minister Flaherty, the Government will take action to reform Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program to ensure that Canadians are given the first chance at available jobs. The Government is focused on connecting Canadians with available jobs and ensuring that Canada’s domestic labour force is prioritized for job opportunities. Canada continues to experience major labour and [...]
Change to Offers of Arranged Employment in the Federal Skilled Worker Program effective March 4, 2013
Significant changes are coming very soon to the way that job offers are assessed in the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Beginning on May 4, 2013, most offers of arranged employment will require a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) from HRSDC, certifying that no Canadians or permanent residents are available for the position. LMOs are also used [...]
Changes to Quebec’s List of Skilled Workers Eligible for Simplified Processing
An agreement between the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada allows for a simplified application process for applications for a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and a Labour Market Opinion (LMO). This simplified procedure expedites the processing of applications dealing with occupations where there are labour market shortages. The CAQ and LMO applications are [...]
Canada Continued to Welcome Highest Sustained Level of Immigration in Canadian History in 2012
Preliminary data from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Canada indicates that as of 2012, Canada has maintained a continuous record breaking level of immigration for the past 7 years. Since 2006, approximately a quarter of a million immigrants have been welcomed to Canada each year. In 2012 alone, the number of permanent residents admitted [...]
