Immigration Minister Chris Alexander was in Richmond Hill on Tuesday where he spoke about Canada's new immigration system which will offer 'express entry' to qualified economic immigrants starting on Jan. 1, 2015. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)
The Canadian government is forging ahead with a new immigration system that will offer "express entry" to qualified immigrants starting in 2015 as a way to help fill open jobs for which there are no available Canadian workers.
Express Entry, formerly known as Expression of Interest, will be "a swifter path to Canada that will select immigrants based on the skills and attributes that Canada needs based on those identified by government but also by employers," said Immigration Minister Chris Alexander during a news conference in Richmond Hill, Ont., on Tuesday.
While the change in the name of the program was quietly announced in a news release two weeks ago, the government has been remodelling Canada's immigration system for the last 18 months or so.
Alexander said Canadian employers would be able to bring in workers through the Express Entry system with the long-term view that they would remain in Canada.
"You can bring your labour market opinion, your job offer, to the Express Entry system and ensure that the person you need comes to Canada as an immigrant, not as a temporary foreign worker. Not as someone who is here with an uncertain future and likely to go back, but as a full immigrant to Canada," Alexander said on Tuesday.
"And that I think is going to be very exciting because it's going to make the match between our economic immigrants and their families, and the needs of the Canadian job market much stronger."
Finding 'a match'
Under Canada's new immigration system, which would come into effect on Jan. 1, 2015, prospective immigrants would apply to express their interest in coming to Canada. In doing so, they would answer a series of questions about their professional skills, their education, languages spoken, etc.
Those applicants would then see their skills matched with labour needs identified by the provinces and territories, as well as employers.
While the subject of skills shortages has been hotly debated, Alexander maintained, "there are many parts of the country that have acute skills shortages, there are many sectors that have acute skills shortages."
In those instances where "a match" has been identified, Express Entry could be offered to anyone who has put in an application through one of the following four programs:
- Federal skilled workers.
- Federal skilled trades.
- Canadian experience class.
- Business class.
Alexander said prospective immigrants who apply through the Provincial Nominee Program could also benefit from the system but only if the province and territory in question has brought their program under the federal one.
"Provinces and territories will take their own decisions. We're in close touch with them. We have their support for the Express Entry system, they're very excited about it. And those that choose to come in early will benefit greatly," Alexander said.
Having a valid job offer, or a provincial or territorial nomination would guarantee that Express Entry candidates receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
Other features
Under the new program:
- Canada will be able to select "the best candidates" who are most likely to achieve success in Canada, "rather than the first person in line."
- An improved Job Bank will make it easier to find matches between Canadian employers and Express Entry candidates.
- The government will invest $14 million over two years and $4.7 million per year ongoing to ensuring the successful implementation of Express Entry.
- Qualified applicants can expect faster processing times of six months or less when invited to come to Canada, down from a wait of up to two years.
NDP immigration critic Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe was critical of the new system, saying it, "will promote the exact queue-jumping the Conservatives say they are trying to combat."
“This new program will put applicants in limbo because they may never be given a definitive answer on their application,” said Blanchette-Lamothe in a written statement.
McCallum told CBC News today that Canada's current immigration system is "anything but express." The Liberal immigration critic said he would like to see the government explain how it will process these applications in six months or less.
Alexander was in Richmond Hill on Tuesday to mark "the record number" of Chinese students and permanent residents welcomed to Canada in 2013.
China was once again "a top source" country for permanent residency in Canada, Alexander said.
Comments :Ah yes, after the Temporary Foreign Worker fiasco this is gonna be the next scam!
This is great! We'll take two dozen moderately intelligent pols from the Philippines to replace the incredibly corrupt and incompetent Conservative Party. Even though they will be replacing about 162 MP's, they will have no problem outperforming their obsolete and overpaid counterparts as we will no longer require 157 barking seals parroting fascist talking points. And of course, they can do the job for 15% less. When do we get started?
"Skilled immigrants to be offered 'express entry' to Canada in 2015"
... while soon to be disenfranchised Canadians will be offered 'express exit visas' with a "DO NOT RETURN TO SENDER" stamped on them, accompanied by a pre-paid one-way air-fare ticket to a destination of their choice (not within Canada).
Had enough yet Canada?
... while soon to be disenfranchised Canadians will be offered 'express exit visas' with a "DO NOT RETURN TO SENDER" stamped on them, accompanied by a pre-paid one-way air-fare ticket to a destination of their choice (not within Canada).
Had enough yet Canada?
Interesting that most skilled Immigrants do not traditionally vote for Pierre Poutine and the Outlaws , what scheme are they up to now , skilled people are usually left leaning and not sheep .
They are the Educated ones that believe in Science and not outdated Cowboys shooting Guns into the air and chanting YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO ! , strange!
They are the Educated ones that believe in Science and not outdated Cowboys shooting Guns into the air and chanting YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO ! , strange!
This all sounds great on paper but one has to wonder what jobs are employers identifying as not being able to fill with Canadian workers? From what the story says, even the government jobs will be filling some holes with these fast track immigrants.
You look around and you read how unemployment is growing all across Canada, yet Universities and Collages are stuffed at the seams with students that are just about to finish up and enter the work force. So now we need to ask our selves, Why would employers not be able to hire Canadians to fill the job needs that would force them to hire an immigrant instead? What kind of work is so hard to fill that you can not find a Canadian to do the job?
This just sounds like the Conservatives want to fast track people that will support them in an election. It has nothing to do with getting Canadians back to work as the government has no clue as to what jobs are so hard to fill.
You look around and you read how unemployment is growing all across Canada, yet Universities and Collages are stuffed at the seams with students that are just about to finish up and enter the work force. So now we need to ask our selves, Why would employers not be able to hire Canadians to fill the job needs that would force them to hire an immigrant instead? What kind of work is so hard to fill that you can not find a Canadian to do the job?
This just sounds like the Conservatives want to fast track people that will support them in an election. It has nothing to do with getting Canadians back to work as the government has no clue as to what jobs are so hard to fill.
If there was any real honour here, trolls would simply stop posting and the CBC would also stop censoring, too :S
Oh well, that's Canadian federal politics for you ...
DIRTY! :{
Oh well, that's Canadian federal politics for you ...
DIRTY! :{
@Arrdvark I lived in a country where there were no unions. Employers brought in foreign workers and held their passports. When family were sick or needed them at home, the employers would deny the time away. Slavery may be illegal, but there are many who see it as their "right" to profit off the work of others.
Why can't they train young people for the jobs? Just too cheap to spend money on Canadians....give it to the oil companies.
Canadians used to have training and ability. under Harper, we have to import these from 3rd world countries while our "trained" and "able" sit unemployed.
In March, the employment numbers were higher than anticipated, based largely on hiring in the PUBLIC SECTOR. Why were they hiring in the sector that Harper swore he was going to downsize? Because more people rely on benefits now. Unemployed, social assistance, either way some of those could be slinging burgers or serving coffee but they can't even find those jobs.
Harper you and every member of your caucus are a disgrace.
In March, the employment numbers were higher than anticipated, based largely on hiring in the PUBLIC SECTOR. Why were they hiring in the sector that Harper swore he was going to downsize? Because more people rely on benefits now. Unemployed, social assistance, either way some of those could be slinging burgers or serving coffee but they can't even find those jobs.
Harper you and every member of your caucus are a disgrace.
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