CanadaVisa News Briefs For November 2014

The following is a summary of developments concerning Canadian Citizenship and Immigration that took place since mid-October.

• Express Entry Represents A “Sea Change” In Canadian Immigration, Says Minister

Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander, outlined how and why Canada is moving to a new immigration selection system, known as ‘Express Entry’, at a Canadian HR Conference in Regina, Saskatchewan. Express Entry will come into operation as of January 1, 2015. >>Read More

• Canada Welcomes More than 200,000 New Citizens This Year

Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander, has announced that more than 200,000 people have become citizens of Canada so far in 2014. >>Read More

• 35 New Canadian Citizens To Take Oath At Toronto Maple Leafs NHL Game

To wrap up an active Citizenship Week, the Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander, has announced that a number of new Canadian citizens will be sworn in at hockey games this weekend. 35 people will take the oath at the Toronto Maple Leafs game against the Detroit Red Wings tonight and join in singing the national anthem, O Canada.  >>Read More

• Canada Among Most Popular Destinations For Job Seekers

Canada is one of the most desirable places to live and work and three Canadian cities are listed among the top 25 most popular places to work, according to a study released this week by the Boston Consulting Group, one of the world’s leading management consultancies. >>Read More

• Former Governor General Of Canada Celebrates Multiculturalism In Lecture Series

Former Governor General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson, has remarked that Canada is unique in how it approaches issues of identity, integration, reciprocity, multiculturalism and mediation in her CBC Massey lecture series. >>Read More

• Commissioner Of Official Languages Pushes For Increased Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec

The Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada, Graham Fraser, together with his New Brunswick counterpart Katherine d’Entremont and Ontario’s French Language Services Commissioner François Boileau, have urged the federal and provincial governments to increase their efforts to increase immigration in Francophone communities outside Quebec. >>Read More

• Quebec Outlines Immigration Objectives For 2015

The government of Quebec this week outlined its immigration goals for the upcoming year, with no major changes in overall immigration figures from recent years being announced. >>Read More

• Government Announces Reforms To Caregiver Program

The Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander, today announced anticipated changes to the live-in caregiver program. The main reform see the dropping of ‘live-in’ from the name, with caregivers no longer being required to reside with their employers. >>Read More

• Canada Aims To Attract Up To 285,000 New Immigrants In 2015

The 2015 immigration plan unveiled by the government of Canada on Friday sets a target of between 260,000 and 285,000 new permanent residents next year, an increase of about 20,000 people over last year’s goal. >>Read More

• Alberta Jobs Minister Praises Federal Government’s Immigration Plan

The Albertan Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, Ric McIver, has lauded the government of Canada’s immigration plan for 2015. >>Read More

• Immigration Minister States Desire For Increased Francophone Immigration Across Canada

On the first day of Canada’s annual Francophone Immigration Week, the federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander, has reaffirmed that francophone immigration to all regions of Canada remains a priority of his department. >>Read More

• Canadian Government To Ban Immigrants In Polygamous, Forced Marriages

The Canadian Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander, has announced that the government will ban people who have taken part in practices that are “incompatible with Canadian values” — such as those in polygamous or forced marriages — from immigrating to Canada. >>Read More