Earlier this year, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada Minister Jason Kenney announced that Canada was considering a reduction in immigration numbers in 2009, based on economic uncertainty. Having met with his provincial and territorial counterparts to study the demand for immigration in regional labour markets, Minister Kenney has announced that the need for immigration remains strong in Canada. Immigration levels for 2009 will therefore not be reduced.

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) has announced that the list of qualifying occupations for the popular U.S. Visa Holder category is currently under revision. It is anticipated that a new list of qualifying occupations will likely be more restrictive than the current one. Applicants who qualify under existing requirements are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible, to avoid being subject to new government regulations.

The free flow of skilled workers across provincial and national boundaries has become increasingly relevant in the age of free-trade markets and globalization. To remain economically competitive with an efficient labour market, Canada has been taking steps to improve labour mobility and foreign credential recognition both at home and abroad. Agreements have recently been signed both at the provincial level, and between Canada and the European Union.

The province of Manitoba has implemented new regulations to better protect temporary foreign workers from unscrupulous recruiters and employers that have surfaced in Canada and abroad. The new legislation is designed to prevent any worker from paying to find a job in Manitoba, requiring recruitment agencies be licensed by the province for better regulation. National organizations are calling for similar legislation to be enacted across the country.

Though it is one of the three categories of federal business immigration, the Self-Employed Person category is the only one that does not require a monetary investment or a minimum personal net worth. It is simply a fast-track option for those who have relevant experience in an occupation in art, culture, recreation, or sport, as listed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), and have the ability to become self-employed in Canada. It is also open to people who wish to purchase and run a farm in Canada.

If you were to ask me what I consider to be the greatest benefit of being a Canadian, I’d say it’s that I get to pass citizenship on to my children. While it’s still true for me, its no longer the case for one of my kids who happened to be born in the U.S..