The Canadian government will soon take a more aggressive approach when it comes to recruiting skilled workers from abroad.
Immigration Minister Chris Alexander says that his government’s “transformational” plan is to target specific people deemed desirable in Canada’s marketplace – “rare birds if you will.”
The plan is unique in that the government intends to tap into Canadian resources abroad, including “government officials, diplomats and representatives of Canadian industry” to help them reach out to desirable candidates.
“We are trying to get back to that outward and proactive [recruitment],” said Minister Alexander, referring to government strategies of targeted recruitment in the 1950s and 1960s. For instance, a student recruitment officer working at a Canadian consulate abroad might approach schools and student groups to give seminars on living and working in Canada.
The plan is part of a larger, ongoing immigration policy initiative that aims to hone in on the workers Canada will most need in the years ahead.
The government also announced the end of the Immigrant Investor Program wherein wealthy entrepreneurs could basically buy their way into Canada. Minister Alexander said the program was not effective.
Source: Wall Street Journal