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Canada Immigration Newsletter Archive - April 2007
Attorney Colin R. Singer, C.H.R.P. – Conference Speaker
Canadian immigration lawyer and employment recruitment specialist Colin R. Singer will be a conference speaker at the June 2007 Atlantic Workforce Shortages conference being hosted in Halifax, Nova Scotia by the Canadian Institute.
Read More: http://www.immigration.ca/jobs-gii-workforceshortage.asp
Employment: The Early Entry Alternative
Applications for permanent residence under Canada’s economic class including the skilled worker program entail lengthy processing delays that often exceed the expectations and objectives of applicants.
Read More:http://www.immigration.ca/jobs-earlyalternative.asp
Canada’s Provincial Immigration Programs Are Overrated
Acquiring permanent residence under Canada’s skilled worker program, the largest component of Canada’s immigration programs, falls under the federal domain. And with current backlogs of 800,000 applicants under all categories at Canadian missions abroad, processing delays often exceed the expectations and objectives of applicants and for Canada’s human resource managers.
Read More: http://www.immigration.ca/permres-pnp-overrated.asp
Our Featured Family Placement Profile: The Hams
Carpenter Builds a New Life in Canada
 Nothing in life is certain. Carpenter
Michael Ham knew that when he
decided to immigrate to Canada with
his family. Sure, there were times
when he questioned himself. All of
the big decisions in life come with
their doubts. Ham saw it through,
however, and now says he has no
regrets.
It wasn't that life in the United
Kingdom was particularly bad.
Michael Ham was born and raised in
North Wales. He attended college
and earned City & Guilds certificates in carpentry. After completing his apprenticeship, he stayed on with the company
another year but needed a change. Ham spent the next ten years serving in the British Marines, traveling extensively
throughout the world. "[I] Spent a lot of time in the Far East as well as Africa and the Middle East." he says. The
Marines employed him in various fields and he continued to pursue independent building projects during his time off.
In 2003, Ham returned to the construction industry and settled into family life with his wife and two children. He worked
hard and was quickly promoted to foreman and then Site Agent. There were aspects of life in the UK that bothered him
though. "The taxes were getting worse. The weather was usually damp and overcast which wasn't pleasant.
Mostly I just wanted to try for a more fulfilling life for myself and my family," Ham recalls.
Despite his past travel opportunities, Ham had never been to Canada before. Yet, from what he had seen on nature
shows, he felt the place appealed to his active, outdoorsman side. "It seemed the perfect blend of scenery and
good summers to do the things we enjoy- [which are] walking, fishing, horse riding and canoeing."
That outdoor fun would have to wait a bit, however. Ham and his family arrived in Calgary, Alberta at the outset of
winter in November of 2006. Despite the cold, he and his family are adjusting well. When asked about surviving his first
Canadian winter, Ham is surprisingly unfazed. "The snow is nice- if a little dicey for driving in. The really cold
spells aren't very nice but they're few and far between." Ham enjoys the above average amounts of sun seen in
Calgary year-round and is looking forward to the summer.
The biggest difference for Ham has actually been the little things such as the television programming, driving on the
other side of the road or different terminology used on the job. "We're often laughing at work trying to explain what
we mean by different things." The differences are not divisive, though. "My employer has been very welcoming
and is helping us to adjust with everything," he notes.
This sense of welcoming extends beyond work for Ham. "The people in Calgary are really very friendly and
elsewhere that we've visited also," he adds. "Everyone has the time to talk to you and offer advice and
assistance if required." His family is adjusting just as well. Ham's eldest son enjoys his new school while his wife
loves Calgary. The family is also impressed by the low tax rates in Alberta. "The equivalent to VAT in Alberta is only
6%," Ham marvels, "petrol (gas) is only 45 pence a liter," which means less government hands on his hard earned
money.
Ham recommends anyone considering the change to just make a go of it. "So many people talk about it but keep
putting it off until eventually you run out of time," he notes, citing a bit of lost funds as the worst outcome. For
those who have made the decision to take the risk, the best advice Ham has is to be flexible "just go with the flow,"
he says.
Having professional assistance does not hurt either. "It was invaluable in taking some of the pressure off the
move.” "You will have enough on your plate (...) the added stress of finding the right employer in the right
location and dealing with embassies and forms are something you can do without,” he notes.
Ham lives by the old adage "life is a journey, not a destination." Uncertainty is part of what makes the journey
worthwhile. At least you can tell yourself you tried, says Ham. "You will get stressed. You will get hot under the
collar. But it will all work out for the better in the end."
Quick Facts:
Name: Michael Ham
Occupation: Carpenter
Salary: $72,000+
From: North Wales
Family: Wife, 2 children
Arrived in Canada: November 2006
Destination: Calgary, Alberta
Best change: More sunshine
Quote: "Both I and my wife said on more than one occasion 'what are we doing?' but we saw it through and so far have no regrets at all."
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