Canadian Economy Surpasses Growth Expectations

The Canadian economy surpassed growth expectations last fall, renewing hope that the recession is slowing down. According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, the economy grew by 0.3 percent in both September and October, surpassing predictions. Overall the economy grew every month in 2013 excepting June. “Canada’s economy is showing sustained strength for the
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New Immigration Minister Reveals Goals for 2014

Canada’s newly appointed Immigration Minister Chris Alexander revealed his goals for his department in 2014. Speaking to Postmedia news this month, Alexander said that his main goal is to provide faster and more efficient immigration and visa services in the New Year. Alexander praised the work of his predecessor, former Immigration Minister and current Employment
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Three Canadian Cities Among Best Places to Live in the World

Three Canadian cities have ranked among the top five places to live in the world, according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The association, which is associated with the Economist magazine, ranks 140 cities in terms of quality of life – specifically looking at factors such as access to health care and security
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Temporary Workers Provide Short-term Solution to Long-term Issues

A new report suggests that Canada’s increasing reliance upon temporary foreign workers to solve labour shortages could have the unintended consequence of “de-skilling” the immigrant labour pool. The report, compiled and released this month by Montreal’s Institute for Research on Public Policy, specifically examined provincial nominee programs, which often help temporary foreign workers to fast-track
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CIC Processing Errors Raise Fairness Concerns

Concerns are being raised over fairness in Canada’s immigration system after hundreds of doctors were granted immigrant status due to processing errors. The blunder, which was made public this month, occurred in a Polish processing center in 2011. Approximately 1,000 applications from doctors were processed using out-of-date guidelines, which resulted in hundreds of acceptances which
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Policy Changes Likely Won’t Offset Cost of Sponsorships

Critics are expressing concern that recent changes to Canada’s parent and grandparent sponsorship programs will not be enough to offset the financial costs of welcoming aging immigrants. As of 2014, the government will reopen the popular sponsorship immigration stream, which had been suspended after a 160,000 application backlog had increased waiting times to as high
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Calgary to Launch New Immigrant Resource Program

Immigrant advocates in Calgary are launching a new program to help better inform newcomers about what challenges to expect upon arrival. Launched this month by the Calgary Immigrant Educational Society, the Welcome Resources Information Program’s key initiative is a website specifically designed to provide information and resources to newcomers before their arrival. The program will
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Experts Call for National Education Strategy to Address Skills Gap

A new report from the Conference Board of Canada has found that in Ontario alone, the gap between the skills that workers have and the skills that employers need is costing the province almost $24-billion per year. Despite the increasing university-graduation levels, employers say that one in five positions cannot be filled. Despite being one
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Francophone Immigrants Most Likely to Be Affected By Controversial Charter

Experts are concerned that Quebec’s controversial Charter of Values could end up driving away the much-desired francophone immigrants who help keep the language alive in the province. Immigrants from French-speaking countries like Lebanon, Algeria and Morocco have long been among the biggest group of new arrivals to the province, whose immigration system is specifically built
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Saskatchewan Aims to Streamline Provincial Nominee Program

Officials in Saskatchewan this month proposed changes to the province’s Immigrant Nominee Program, starting in January 2014. The changes are intended to improve the system by balancing the interests of both immigrants and government, according to Saskatchewan Economy Minister Bill Boyd. “There was a broad-based consultation with people across the province – immigrant consultants, immigrants
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