Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers present a weekly news review covering Canadian immigration updates. This news review is designed to help our clients and other interested individuals stay current on the latest developments in Canadian immigration law and policy.
Canada’s Immigration Policies Have Resulted In An Expanding Tech Workforce
The Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) and Canada’s Tech Network (CTN) have released a report called “Tech Workforce Trends: The Migration of Tech Workers and Tech Jobs Since the Pandemic,” which investigates the globalization and migration of tech jobs in Canada. The report shows that due to a more immigration-friendly policy and lower labour costs, between April 2022 and March 2023, 32,115 new tech workers moved to Canada, mainly from India and Nigeria.
Mississauga, Montreal, and Waterloo are the most attractive cities for tech talent, while Ontario has the most significant number of tech workers. Smaller provinces, such as Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador, are experiencing the most rapid growth, with year-over-year tech workforce growth at 16.3%. Windsor, Ontario, has seen the highest increase in tech workers over the past year (28%), followed by Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and Timmins, Ontario. This shift is part of a trend of remote tech workers moving away from major cities to more rural locations.
International Students Can Study Online From Abroad And Still Qualify For The PGWP.
On September 1, 2023, the Government of Canada announced that it would extend the measures that allow international students enrolled in distance learning programs to pursue their higher education in Canada and be eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). These measures were first introduced on October 6, 2022, and were set to expire on August 31, 2023. However, due to the challenges it poses for international students, the Canadian government has extended these measures until December 31, 2023.
This is excellent news for students interested in pursuing their education in Canada but cannot do so in person. Under the extended measures, students who start their online study program between September 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, will be able to count the time spent studying online outside of Canada until December 31, 2023, toward the overall length of the PGWP if it does not exceed 50% of the program. This means that students can complete up to 50% of their program online and still be eligible for the PGWP, allowing them to stay and work in Canada after graduation.
Ontario Invited Recent Graduates Under The Master’s Graduate Stream
On August 30, 2023, the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) held its latest draw for the Master’s Graduate Stream, inviting 772 potential candidates. The program uses an Expression of Interest system pool to select candidates, and those who were invited to apply had a minimum score of 44 points, which is 4 points fewer than in the previous draw. This year, the OINP has been quite active, inviting a total of 32,019 candidates through its various streams. Among these candidates, 2,971 were from the Masters Graduate stream.
This shows that the province is committed to attracting top talent from around the world and is actively seeking to fill positions that require highly skilled workers. The OINP is an excellent opportunity for international students who have graduated from Ontario universities to stay and work in the province. With the program’s continued success, we can expect to see more and more candidates apply for the Masters’s Graduate Stream in the future. If you also want to immigrate to Canada through one of the OINP streams, please contact Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers to receive the best immigration service.
Canada Is Struggling With A Growing International Student Population And Housing Issues
Immigration Minister Marc Miller is worried about the increasing number of international students coming to the country. He believes that this could affect Canadians’ trust in the immigration system’s integrity and not just housing. Canada will welcome a historic high of 900,000 international students this year, compared to 300,000 a decade ago. However, this increase raises concerns about housing availability. The government is considering various options, including a cap on international students. Miller acknowledges the issue but believes that a hard cap is not the only solution.
The Immigration Minister emphasized the need for closer collaboration with provinces and private colleges to ensure institutions have enough space and suitable housing for those being admitted. While three Canadian banks disagree with the Federal Government’s approach to the country’s affordable housing crisis, the government is hesitant to place blame on immigrants or international students. However, they recognize that their rapid increase in numbers without a clear housing plan worsens the issue.
DACA Participants To Consider Moving To Canada
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a crucial program that protects and provides work authorization to immigrants who arrived in the United States as children. Currently, more than 570,000 Dreamers are protected by DACA and known for being productive members of the American economy. Unfortunately, the program faces uncertain times as Congress still needs to authorize permanent protection, leaving Dreamers in a difficult position. Furthermore, Republican states are suing to terminate the program, adding more to Dreamers’ uncertainty and anxiety.
In light of these challenges, some may be considering alternative options to the US. Canada, for instance, is actively recruiting immigrants with US work experience or education, and it could also be an attractive destination for DACA recipients, who are often highly educated and qualified workers. In particular, Canada’s Express Entry program could be a viable option for Dreamers, who would be competitive candidates for the program.
Alberta And New Brunswick Invited New Candidates
The Government of Alberta recently conducted a new draw under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, inviting 168 candidates with job offers in the Family Connection pathway. As of August 29, 2023, 2,841 Express Entry candidates have been invited to apply for a provincial nomination in the Alberta Express Entry, with 7,121 nomination certificates issued. In addition, New Brunswick invited 259 candidates through the three Express Entry streams of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, with 58 ITAs issued under the New Brunswick Employment Connection stream, 130 ITAs through the New Brunswick Student Connection stream, and 21 ITAs under the Express Entry Occupations In-Demand Connection stream. In 2023, 889 candidates received ITAs under these three NBPNP streams.
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals for permanent residency based on their skills and work experience. Each province and territory has a specific PNP with unique eligibility criteria and application processes. PNPs are designed to allow provinces and territories to attract immigrants who can contribute to their local economies. They are an important part of Canada’s overall immigration system, which aims to balance its economic needs with its humanitarian obligations. Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers can provide valuable assistance to individuals interested in applying for a Provincial Nominee Program and increase the likelihood of a successful PNP application.
Chinese Immigrants Have Faced Increased Discrimination In Recent Years
Based on the 2019 General Social Survey on Canadians’ Safety, it was found that almost 30% of Chinese individuals aged 15 and above faced discrimination or unfair treatment in their daily lives over the past five years. This rate is nearly twice the amount experienced by the non-racialized population. Furthermore, the proportion of Chinese individuals who experienced discrimination in 2019 was almost twice as high as the rate found in the 2014 survey.
Discrimination was most frequently experienced by Chinese individuals in stores, banks, and restaurants, followed by the workplace, schools, border crossings, and interactions with police or courts. Discrimination was often based on race or skin colour, ethnicity or culture, and language. Although most Chinese individuals had confidence in the police, it was slightly lower than that of the non-racialized population. Chinese individuals were also less likely than other racialized and non-racialized people to have contact with the police or the criminal court system.
Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers specializes in helping individuals immigrate to Canada, offering personalized assistance with applications for permanent residency, work and study permits, etc. Whether you are immigrating for work, study, or family reasons, our experienced lawyers can guide and support you throughout the process. Contact us for more information!
Weekly Canadian Immigration News Review August 28 – September 3
Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers present a weekly news review covering Canadian immigration updates. This news review is designed to help our clients and other interested individuals stay current on the latest developments in Canadian immigration law and policy.
Canada’s Immigration Policies Have Resulted In An Expanding Tech Workforce
The Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) and Canada’s Tech Network (CTN) have released a report called “Tech Workforce Trends: The Migration of Tech Workers and Tech Jobs Since the Pandemic,” which investigates the globalization and migration of tech jobs in Canada. The report shows that due to a more immigration-friendly policy and lower labour costs, between April 2022 and March 2023, 32,115 new tech workers moved to Canada, mainly from India and Nigeria.
Mississauga, Montreal, and Waterloo are the most attractive cities for tech talent, while Ontario has the most significant number of tech workers. Smaller provinces, such as Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador, are experiencing the most rapid growth, with year-over-year tech workforce growth at 16.3%. Windsor, Ontario, has seen the highest increase in tech workers over the past year (28%), followed by Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and Timmins, Ontario. This shift is part of a trend of remote tech workers moving away from major cities to more rural locations.
International Students Can Study Online From Abroad And Still Qualify For The PGWP.
On September 1, 2023, the Government of Canada announced that it would extend the measures that allow international students enrolled in distance learning programs to pursue their higher education in Canada and be eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). These measures were first introduced on October 6, 2022, and were set to expire on August 31, 2023. However, due to the challenges it poses for international students, the Canadian government has extended these measures until December 31, 2023.
This is excellent news for students interested in pursuing their education in Canada but cannot do so in person. Under the extended measures, students who start their online study program between September 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, will be able to count the time spent studying online outside of Canada until December 31, 2023, toward the overall length of the PGWP if it does not exceed 50% of the program. This means that students can complete up to 50% of their program online and still be eligible for the PGWP, allowing them to stay and work in Canada after graduation.
Ontario Invited Recent Graduates Under The Master’s Graduate Stream
On August 30, 2023, the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) held its latest draw for the Master’s Graduate Stream, inviting 772 potential candidates. The program uses an Expression of Interest system pool to select candidates, and those who were invited to apply had a minimum score of 44 points, which is 4 points fewer than in the previous draw. This year, the OINP has been quite active, inviting a total of 32,019 candidates through its various streams. Among these candidates, 2,971 were from the Masters Graduate stream.
This shows that the province is committed to attracting top talent from around the world and is actively seeking to fill positions that require highly skilled workers. The OINP is an excellent opportunity for international students who have graduated from Ontario universities to stay and work in the province. With the program’s continued success, we can expect to see more and more candidates apply for the Masters’s Graduate Stream in the future. If you also want to immigrate to Canada through one of the OINP streams, please contact Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers to receive the best immigration service.
Canada Is Struggling With A Growing International Student Population And Housing Issues
Immigration Minister Marc Miller is worried about the increasing number of international students coming to the country. He believes that this could affect Canadians’ trust in the immigration system’s integrity and not just housing. Canada will welcome a historic high of 900,000 international students this year, compared to 300,000 a decade ago. However, this increase raises concerns about housing availability. The government is considering various options, including a cap on international students. Miller acknowledges the issue but believes that a hard cap is not the only solution.
The Immigration Minister emphasized the need for closer collaboration with provinces and private colleges to ensure institutions have enough space and suitable housing for those being admitted. While three Canadian banks disagree with the Federal Government’s approach to the country’s affordable housing crisis, the government is hesitant to place blame on immigrants or international students. However, they recognize that their rapid increase in numbers without a clear housing plan worsens the issue.
DACA Participants To Consider Moving To Canada
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a crucial program that protects and provides work authorization to immigrants who arrived in the United States as children. Currently, more than 570,000 Dreamers are protected by DACA and known for being productive members of the American economy. Unfortunately, the program faces uncertain times as Congress still needs to authorize permanent protection, leaving Dreamers in a difficult position. Furthermore, Republican states are suing to terminate the program, adding more to Dreamers’ uncertainty and anxiety.
In light of these challenges, some may be considering alternative options to the US. Canada, for instance, is actively recruiting immigrants with US work experience or education, and it could also be an attractive destination for DACA recipients, who are often highly educated and qualified workers. In particular, Canada’s Express Entry program could be a viable option for Dreamers, who would be competitive candidates for the program.
Alberta And New Brunswick Invited New Candidates
The Government of Alberta recently conducted a new draw under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, inviting 168 candidates with job offers in the Family Connection pathway. As of August 29, 2023, 2,841 Express Entry candidates have been invited to apply for a provincial nomination in the Alberta Express Entry, with 7,121 nomination certificates issued. In addition, New Brunswick invited 259 candidates through the three Express Entry streams of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, with 58 ITAs issued under the New Brunswick Employment Connection stream, 130 ITAs through the New Brunswick Student Connection stream, and 21 ITAs under the Express Entry Occupations In-Demand Connection stream. In 2023, 889 candidates received ITAs under these three NBPNP streams.
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals for permanent residency based on their skills and work experience. Each province and territory has a specific PNP with unique eligibility criteria and application processes. PNPs are designed to allow provinces and territories to attract immigrants who can contribute to their local economies. They are an important part of Canada’s overall immigration system, which aims to balance its economic needs with its humanitarian obligations. Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers can provide valuable assistance to individuals interested in applying for a Provincial Nominee Program and increase the likelihood of a successful PNP application.
Chinese Immigrants Have Faced Increased Discrimination In Recent Years
Based on the 2019 General Social Survey on Canadians’ Safety, it was found that almost 30% of Chinese individuals aged 15 and above faced discrimination or unfair treatment in their daily lives over the past five years. This rate is nearly twice the amount experienced by the non-racialized population. Furthermore, the proportion of Chinese individuals who experienced discrimination in 2019 was almost twice as high as the rate found in the 2014 survey.
Discrimination was most frequently experienced by Chinese individuals in stores, banks, and restaurants, followed by the workplace, schools, border crossings, and interactions with police or courts. Discrimination was often based on race or skin colour, ethnicity or culture, and language. Although most Chinese individuals had confidence in the police, it was slightly lower than that of the non-racialized population. Chinese individuals were also less likely than other racialized and non-racialized people to have contact with the police or the criminal court system.
Abramovich & Tchern Immigration Lawyers specializes in helping individuals immigrate to Canada, offering personalized assistance with applications for permanent residency, work and study permits, etc. Whether you are immigrating for work, study, or family reasons, our experienced lawyers can guide and support you throughout the process. Contact us for more information!
