Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - February 2009
In a bid to attract more skilled workers, the government of Ontario has announced plans to expand immigration programs across the province.
The recent economic downturn has resulted in a rising unemployment rate in Canada, a trend that has led many to question the merits of expanding immigration targets for fear that newcomers will take jobs away from Canadians.
Meanwhile, despite the current economic worries, the province of Ontario has just announced plans to increase their own immigration levels through their Provincial Nominee Program. The PNP allows employers to nominate foreign workers for fast-track immigration, according to whose skills are most in demand.
Ontario is the only province that has consistently experienced decreasing immigration levels over the past four years. While this does signal that efforts to attract immigrants to other provinces have been successful, Ontario immigration minister Michael Chan is concerned about what this could mean for the future of his province.
“Now, more than ever, it is critical that Ontario’s employers have the resources they need to compete at home and abroad,” said Chan while speaking at a news conference. “The difficult financial time should not be used as an excuse to close the doors on immigrants.”
Toward this end, the province will now double the amount of immigrants that can be nominated for fast-track immigration. The Ontario government will also make it easier for employers and their jobs to qualify for the program.
Source: The Star
