Atlantic Canada: An increasingly important immigration destination

With smaller cities and a lower profile, Atlantic Canada traditionally has not seen large influxes of newcomers to Canada.  Recent initiatives have somewhat altered this trend, as immigrant communities are becoming established and are growing.  However, the rate of immigration is not high enough to satisfy regional governments, who are facing the challenges of aging […]

By CIC News

David’s Blog: After the Election

In two weeks from now, Canadians will go to the polls to select their federal members of Parliament, and unless we experience our own “Dewey Wins” moment, the Conservative Party of Canada will be called upon to form the next national government. >> Read full article on Canadavisa.com

By CIC News

New fast-track immigration category for applicants with Canadian experience

International graduates and temporary foreign workers have established themselves in Canadian society and are well-poised to become Permanent Residents and eventually Canadian citizens.  The Canadian Experience Class (CEC), a new immigration category, has been created specifically to facilitate this transition.  Recognizing their Canadian education and/or work experience, the Canadian Experience Class will fast-track their Canadian […]

By CIC News

Early fall – CIC Minister will reveal new priorities for immigration to Canada

After months of deliberations and consultations, the details of what will govern the selection of skilled worker applicants for immigration to Canada will finally be disclosed early in the fall, according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Minister Diane Finley. The new amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), which were made law […]

By CIC News

More immigrants looking to smaller Canadian cities for a place to call home

Though Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal continue to absorb the majority of newcomers to Canada, each of their respective national shares of immigrants have dropped as Canadian newcomers have begun to appreciate the advantages of living in smaller cities. Recently released Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) statistics show that Canada’s small and mid-sized urban areas are […]

By CIC News

PNP’s opening up to new types of Canadian immigration applicants

Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP) across the country have seen much success in the recruitment and retention of Canadian immigrants based on regional socio-economic priorities.  They are constantly evolving and expanding to make room for more newcomers and to adapt to the provinces/territories’ changing needs.  Saskatchewan and Newfoundland Labrador have both made additions to their PNP’s […]

By CIC News

David Cohen’s Blog: Canadian Immigration and the Coming Election

It seems more probable by the day that Canadians will be going to the polls in the next couple of months to elect a new federal government.  A snap election will likely be called by the minority Conservative government as early as September 5th for later in the Fall on the pretext that Parliament is […]

By CIC News

Cross-Canada consultations underway to determine immigration priorities

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Minister Diane Finley has begun her cross-Canada tour through which CIC will develop the framework for the new amendments to Canadian immigration legislation.  Critics are asking why these consultations were not held months ago, before the Conservative government issued the changes to be applied to all applications received on or […]

By CIC News

Unifying licensing requirements across Canada to improve labour mobility

Presently, licensing requirements for many occupations differ across provinces and territories, making inter-provincial labour mobility challenging for some Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents.  With the goal of creating a stronger and more united national work force, the Premiers of Canada’s provinces and territories have proposed a new labour mobility accord that will make it easier […]

By CIC News