CanadaVisa News Briefs for Mid/Late-August, 2016

The following is a summary of developments concerning Canadian immigration and citizenship that have taken place over the past couple of weeks.

Our Canadian immigration news briefs bring you the latest news as it happens. When published, these articles are posted across our social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

• Government Wants to Bring Immigrants, Workers and Students to Locations Throughout Canada

Canada’s Minister of Immigration, John McCallum, has said that the government of Canada hopes to bring even more newcomers to Canada, but as housing prices skyrocket in Vancouver and Toronto his government hopes to lure them to other locations. Minister McCallum also cited labour market shortages and aging populations as further reasons to populate certain regions. >>Read More

• Leading CEO Recommends Canada Ramps up Immigration Levels to One Million per Year

The Chief Executive Officer of one of Canada’s leading pension funds has recommended that Canada more than triples its existing levels of immigration over the coming years. John Ruffolo, CEO of OMERS Ventures, the venture arm of OMERS, one of Canada's leading pension funds, says that innovation and talent acquisition can solve Canada’s growth dilemma. Ruffolo also serves as vice-chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators. >>Read More

• 1,500 US Boaters Accidentally Float to Canada During Windy Port Huron 'Float Down'

Canadian authorities in Sarnia, Ontario had some unexpected guests on Sunday, August 21, after approximately 1,500 US residents accidentally floated to Canada during the Port Huron Float Down, an annual event on the St.Clair river that divides the US state of Michigan from Ontario. The trespassing flotilla of dinghies, inner tubes and rafts was no match for strong winds that whipped up throughout the afternoon. >>Read More

• IRCC Invites 750 Express Entry Candidates to Apply for Immigration to Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence to 750 candidates in the Express Entry pool. The latest draw from the pool, and the 41st in total since the selection system was launched in January, 2015, took place on Wednesday, August 24, 2016. Candidates with 538 or more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points were issued an ITA. >>Read More

• Montreal Board of Trade Calls For Increased Immigration to Quebec

The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has called on the government of Quebec to increase the overall annual intake of immigrants to the province, from around 50,000 to 60,000. The recommendations were presented yesterday to the Committee on Citizen Relations as part of consultations on immigration planning in Quebec for the period 2017-2019. >>Read More

• Manitoba Invites 714 Candidates to Immigrate to Canada Through Provincial Nominee Program

A total of 714 candidates for immigration to Canada through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) have been issued a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) in the latest draw under the Expression of Interest (EOI) immigration system, which took place on August 24, 2016. This is the 20th draw in total since the system was first introduced last year. This province, located in central Canada, issues LAAs through two sub-categories of the Skilled Workers category of the MPNP were issued to candidates through the Skilled Workers in Manitoba sub-category, while 538 LAAs were issued through the Skilled Workers Overseas sub-category. >>Read More

• Latest BC PNP Draw Sees Workers, Graduates and Entrepreneurs Invited to Apply for Immigration to Canada

On August 24, 2016, a total of 598 candidates for immigration to British Columbia, Canada were issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). These ITAs were issued to a range of candidates who had previously expressed an interest in immigrating to the province. The vast majority of ITAs were issued to candidates in categories under the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS), with the remaining ITAs issued to candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration stream pool. >>Read More

• Saskatchewan's International Skilled Worker: Occupations In-Demand Sub-Category Reopens for up to 700 new Applications

The International Skilled Worker: Occupations In-Demand sub-category of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) reopened the morning of Tuesday, August 30, 2016. This SINP sub-category allows skilled workers with experience in an in-demand occupation in Saskatchewan to make an application for a provincial nomination certificate, which is then followed by an application for Canadian permanent residence. Interestingly, applicants do not require a job offer in order to make an application. Up to 700 new applications for immigration to Canada may be accepted in this intake. >>Read More