Minister Kenney Proposes To Assess Foreign Education Credentials Before Skilled Workers Arrive

Ottawa — Canada is proposing a major change to how foreign skilled workers’ education credentials are assessed, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.
The proposed new requirement would mean that applicants wanting to immigrate as Federal Skilled Workers would have their foreign education credentials assessed and verified by designated organizations before they arrive in Canada.
“Our Government is building an immigration system that is focused on economic growth and ensuring that all Canadians, including immigrants, are able to contribute to their maximum capacity,” said Jason Kenney.  “By having their foreign education credentials assessed before their arrival to Canada, foreign skilled workers will have a better sense of how their credentials fit into the Canadian labour market and will be able to contribute their full skill set to the economy more quickly. This proposal is part of a broader package of transformational changes that will make Canada’s immigration policies work better for the Canadian economy.”
A pre-arrival assessment would let applicants know how their education credentials compare to Canadian credentials and it will give immigrants a sense of how Canadian employers are likely to value their education. This will also screen out people without proper education levels and is an important step in helping to address the problem of immigrants arriving and not being able to work in their field.
The assessment of international educational credentials would not mean that Federal Skilled Workers would automatically find employment in Canada commensurate with their skills nor would it guarantee that they would become licensed to practice in a regulated occupation. Applicants who intend to work in a regulated profession would likely need to have their qualifications assessed in greater depth for purposes of licensure by a regulatory body specific to their profession and intended province of work.
“Internationally trained workers make an important contribution to Canada’s job market and the economy,” added Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “That’s why our Government is working in partnership to improve foreign credential recognition so that skilled newcomers can put their knowledge and skills to work sooner.”
Minister Kenney also used the occasion to release the 2011 Government of Canada Progress Report on Foreign Credential Recognition, Strengthening Canada’s Economy. The annual report, led by the Foreign Credentials Referral Office, highlights achievements made by Citizenship and Immigration Canada , Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and Health Canada to help foreign trained individuals integrate into the Canadian workforce.

Building a Fast and Flexible Economic Immigration System in Canada

Friday, April 20, 2012
According to an April 17 announcement by Canadian Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney, the country has been taking concrete steps to realize its vision of an immigration system that actively recruits talent rather than passively receives and processes all Canadian visa applications.

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With the purpose of ensuring Canadian long term economic success, Minister Kenney says that his department has been implementing the groundwork for making economic and labour force needs the central focus of the immigration efforts.
Accordingly, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will first work with provinces, territories, and employers to create a pool of skilled workers who are ready to begin employment in Canada.
"We are making transformational changes to Canada's immigration system," said Minister Kenney. "We want a system that is faster, more flexible – a system that attracts younger people who can help grow our economy the minute they arrive in Canada."
Proactive steps have been taken towards building a fast and flexible immigration system that meets Canada's economic needs such as the reform of the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) points system to reflect the importance of younger immigrants with Canadian work experience and better official language skills, as well as the strengthening of the assessment of educational credentials to ensure that immigrants are closer to being ready to work upon arrival in Canada.
Together with these actions, Minister Kenney also announced two additional changes that will help transform the Canadian Immigration system:

• Help CIC ensure FSW applicants meet current labour market needs by allowing new rules set out in Ministerial Instructions to apply to people who have already submitted an application
• Allow new regulations, once approved, to apply retrospectively to people who have already submitted an application.

"All of the changes we are exploring will make Canada more competitive with other similarly-placed countries and more attractive to the best and brightest from around the world, and will better match our immigration system with the best interests of the Canadian economy." added the Minister.

Processing for Certain Federal Skilled Worker Backlog Applications: Budget 2012 – amended version

CIC has instructed visa posts not to cease processing pre-27 February 2008 files until the legislation abolishing them has come into force.  See:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2012/ob413.asp

On the surface, it's good news because it means that visa posts have the authority to process older files at least until the legislation is passed.  However, the fact that they have the authority to process the older files does not mean that they will necessarily do so.  This directive could merely be a ploy to be used against the inevitable class-action court case -- a means for holding back the launching of any such lawsuit on the grounds that the files have not yet been closed and, thus, no cause of action yet exists.  (In contrast, the Bulletin strengthens our mandamus litigation, seeking an order to have the litigants' applications filed, because CIC has conceded our litigants' continued right to have their files assessed.)

Hong Kong, however, has been sending to those, who received an earlier direction to update their forms and documents, a second letter, rescinding the first direction.  Operational Bulletin 413 reinforces my advice to ignore the second letter and submit the forms and documents.  In fact, those who fail to comply with the first letter may find their files refused on the 121st day after the date of the letter sent.  Bulletin 413 is yet another example of why nothing CIC says should be trusted to remain true ten minutes after it has been said.

However, original documents should not be sent.  The Minister's office has advised a reporter that it will not be returning the application forms and documents because it does not wish to incur the cost of returning them.  This conduct fits squarely into the definition of theft found at section 322(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada and reinforces the moral bankruptcy of the decision-makers at Citizenship and Immigration Canada.  .

Regards,

Canada considers starting new startup visa program

April 19, 2012           

Canada, 19th April: Canada has plans to launch a new Canada startup visa program for attracting foreign entrepreneurs to the nation.

By beginning new Startup Visa program, Canada hopes to lure the next Steve Jobs or founder of Google.
Canada considers to float new ‘startup visa’ program—To import immigrants having brilliant business ideas, Canada is considering launch of a new visa program shortly.
To be named Canada new startup visa program, it will aim to lure foreign entrepreneurs who are creative and willing to invest in Canada. This special new immigration stream will target foreign entrepreneurs having good startup business ideas, Canada immigration minister Jason Kenney informed.

Have brilliant business ideas, Canada beckons you to come and set up business here. That’s exactly what the planned new startup visa program seems to convey to prospective immigrant entrepreneurs willing to immigrate to Canada.

He has launched nationwide consultations with industry associations for chalking out ways to attract budding immigrant entrepreneurs to the nation.
Job creation, Canada’s top priority—While speaking on the occasion, immigration minister Kenney said Canada government remains committed to job creation and long-term prosperity of the nation. He affirmed that Canada simply cannot afford to be a loser in the global competition for immigrant entrepreneurs.
And by inviting immigrant entrepreneurs to come and set up businesses here, Canada can look forward to creation of new jobs for Canadians, he maintained.
So, it must chalk out a plan to enable foreign entrepreneurs having innovative skills to take Canada to all new highs, Kenney asserted. If all goes well, the new immigrant stream for foreign entrepreneurs will run for a period of five years and the annual intake will be limited to 2,750 applications.
And it is not yet clear how many foreigners will be admitted successfully under this scheme.
Moreover, the fact whether entrepreneurs selected under this immigration category will come to Canada as permanent residents or on a conditional visa for working here is not known currently.
Once this trial is a success, the CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) will consider introducing it in a formal manner through regulatory changes, Kenney informed. For this a new economic class will be required to be introduced in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations by CIC.
At present, Canadian government is considering various small programs to allure foreign entrepreneurs. And the focus is to invite increased investment in Canada’s companies through innovative entrepreneurs.

Canada considers starting new startup visa program | Canada Updates

Canada considers starting new startup visa program | Canada Updates