Q. Do you think there is a ‘Canadian Preferred’ type of resume? What kinds of strengths should new immigrants emphasize? Do you think that non-Canadian experience is regarded as valid by Canadian HR people?

Q. Will the fact that a friend’s application was delayed by a background clearance mean that I will incur the same delay, given that we are from the same country?

Arriving in Canada to live, work or study is but the first step of a new and exciting journey. Everyone who embarks on it is courageous and most will admit to having at least some concerns about what lies ahead. For some, getting to Canada proceeds smoothly. For others, the process proves more difficult. Once in Canada, everyone has the same goal - to successfully settle in.

According to a recent article in The Montreal Gazette (a Montreal newspaper), the City of Montreal is urging the Provincial and Federal Immigration Authorities to boost the current immigration levels by at least 40 percent. Citing a critical shortage of high-tech workers in the Montreal region, the City is hoping to attract immigrants with engineering, computer and technical skills.

As was discussed in a previous issue of this Newsletter, on April 6, 2000, Elinor Caplan, Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, introduced a new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in Canada’s Parliament. The new Act is expected to become law by the end of the year 2000. If passed in its current form, the new Act will overhaul current Immigration rules.