Each week Get In The Know scours the web for news and events related to immigration and newcomer settlement and employment and shares its findings here!
The news and events focus on what’s happening in Surrey and surrounding communities but, when relevant, you will also find news and events at a provincial and national level. To stay current with newcomer issues, visit each week and subscribe to our weekly bulletin.
News
Canada’s immigration increase alone won’t fix the labour market, experts say
Canadian Press | February 1, 2023
Experts say Canada’s plan to increase immigration may ease some pressures in the labour market, but bigger changes are needed to ensure new permanent residents are matched with the jobs that most need filling.
With the unemployment rate at historic lows, many companies are “starved” for workers, and new immigrants will help fill some of the need, said Ravi Jain, principal at Jain Immigration Law and co-founder of the Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association.
The federal government’s new immigration plan calls for the admission of 1.45 million more new permanent residents over the next three years, beginning with 465,000 in 2023 and reaching 500,000 in 2025. That’s compared with 341,000 in 2019.
Government of Canada launches new resource toolkit in support of the 50 – 30 Challenge
September 29, 2022
Canadian organizations are now better equipped to meet their diversity and inclusion goals with the What Works Toolkit
Equity, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to Canada’s economy, both now and in the future. When senior executives are reflective of Canada’s diversity, businesses and organizations of all sizes benefit. The Government of Canada believes that corporate Canada should look like Canada and that bringing broader perspectives and talents to decision-making bodies is essential to building a stronger and more resilient economy.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, launched the What Works Toolkit, an extensive online resource designed for Canadian organizations looking to adopt better equity and diversity practices. The toolkit was created in partnership with KPMG in Canada and is hosted online by the Diversity Institute, one of the five Ecosystem Partners that support the 50 – 30 Challenge.
Canada introduces strengthened protections for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
CIC News | October 13, 2022
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) alongside Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations concerning Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs).
In all there are 13 amendments designed to strengthen protections for TFWs and enhance the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP).
Conversations That Matter: Canada needs immigrants
• Vancouver Sun
Even with uncertain economic conditions ahead, Canada’s labour market is still hot, unemployment is running at 4.9 per cent, which is, in essence, full employment. There are more than one million job vacancies across the country. Some sectors, like health care and social services, are experiencing vacancies and demand for workers climb ever higher.
The Immigrant Employment Council of B.C. develops and promotes solutions for B.C. employers to attract, hire and retain immigrant talent that can meet current and future labour force needs. Its employer-focused resources and programs help businesses of all sizes and sectors across B.C. integrate skilled immigrants into workplaces.
The CEO of the Immigrant Employment Council of B.C., Patrick MacKenzie, recently attended the Transatlantic Council on Migration in Berlin. The Council is a high-level body of elected and public service leaders that examine vital policy issues and then seeks to influence migration policy-making processes across Europe, North America, and Australia.
Express Entry: Canada invites skilled immigrants overseas for first time since 2020
By Kareem El-Assal | CIC News
Canada has invited Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates for the first time since December 2020.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates were also included in today’s Express Entry draw. This marks the first time since September 2021 that CEC candidates have been included in an Express Entry draw.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited a total of 1,500 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score was 557.
How to gain the competitive edge you need to succeed
By Canadian Immigrant magazine
Some sectors in Canada, like marketing, visual design and other creative fields, can be highly competitive. This makes it very important to set yourself — and your skills — apart.
There are abundant opportunities in the Canadian labour market right now. But not all industries are created equal. Some sectors are very competitive with lots of talented candidates vying for desirable job openings. Finding a job in areas like the arts, visual design, media, marketing or advertising can be challenging for skilled newcomers. Some factors like a challenging post-pandemic economic outlook for the arts and media sectors in Canada are outside of a job seeker’s control. But the actions you take as part of your job search journey can make all the difference toward reaching your career goals. We talked to a couple career advisors to get some pointers on how to set yourself apart from the competition — even in the most competitive fields.
New grant program for credentialing in BC
By Kshama Ranawana | Immigrant Muse
When DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society, an agency based in BC, began its newest program, a grant to assist newcomers, it targeted women.
Launched in November 2021, the grant is designed to to assist women in recertifying, completing qualifying examinations or evaluating their credentials so they can continue working in their chosen professions in Canada.
The one-time grant of up to $1000 per qualifying applicant is focused on women, as they are disproportionately represented. Furthermore, there are several other similar programs currently available for males through other agencies.
Canada’s broken system punishes high-skilled immigrants
By Daphne Bramham | Vancouver Sun
Opinion: It’s anathema to Canada’s fast-tracking of high skilled immigrants that their progress quickly stalls when they try to get licensed.
Early last Friday, Mariam Tariq, a couple of friends in Toronto and her mother in Pakistan were ready at their computers waiting for the moment that registration opened to get her seat to write the first of three National Dental Examining Board of Canada exams in August.
Tariq managed to get a place on the waiting list. So, she’ll have to keep studying hard … just in case.