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HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY THREE KINGS! As we are now in 2019, new year, new beginnings, new challenges and new opportunities. Everyone is entitled to make their new year’s resolution for as long as they keep it in mind and make sure that they do it to the best of their ability. When I was young [...]
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Canada-Alberta pilot project expanded to include more occupations

*Ottawa, July 16, 2012* — Alberta employers looking to hire highly skilled foreign workers in certain in-demand occupations will benefit >> thanks to the expansion of a Temporary Foreign Worker pilot project, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney and Alberta Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education Stephen Khan announced today.

“Alberta is facing some of the most acute labour shortages in the country,” said Minister Kenney. “The expansion of this pilot project will enable more employers in Alberta to hire foreign workers on a temporary basis to fill short-term skills and labour needs when Canadians or permanent residents are unavailable.” Originally launched June 1, 2011, under the Temporary Foreign Worker Annex to the *Agreement for Canada-Alberta Cooperation on Immigration*, this pilot project allows eligible foreign nationals to come to Alberta to work temporarily in a specific occupation. This program enables them to be issued a work permit that allows them to move freely between Alberta employers, without requiring authorization from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada/Service Canada in the form of a Labour Market Opinion, or LMO.

Effective today, the Alberta pilot is expanding beyond the steamfitter/pipefitter occupation to include the following additional occupations:

- Welder

- Heavy duty equipment mechanic

- Ironworker

- Millwright and industrial mechanic

- Carpenter

- Estimator

“Our consultations with Alberta employers and our own labour forecasts show there is a need to expand the pilot to include these high-demand occupations,” said Minister Khan. “We appreciate the cooperation and support of our federal colleagues in working with us to help employers get the workers they need sooner.”

The Government of Canada launches online consultations on immigrant investment

*Ottawa, July 31, 2012* —Delivering on the Economic Action Plan 2012, the Government of Canada today launched online consultations to engage the public on ways to improve the federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP).

“We can no longer be a passive player in the global competition for talent and investment. That is why we need to review our immigration programs to create dynamic opportunities that enable immigrants’ investments to directly benefit the Canadian economy,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.

The Economic Action Plan announced that business immigration programs will be reformed to target more active investment for Canadian growth companies.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is now inviting online submissions from stakeholders and the public on how the department can:

Increase the economic benefit that immigrant *investment capital* brings to Canada; – Attract experienced, international *investors* with the skills and resources needed to ensure they integrate into Canada’s economy; and – Develop efficient and cost-effective ways of *delivering an investment program*.

“I am open to creative ideas and suggestions from the business community on how to maximize the economic benefits of such programs to Canada,” said Minister Kenney.

The goal of these consultations is to determine how best to target high value global investors and to increase the economic benefit that immigrant investment capital brings to Canada. The current IIP offers permanent residency to individuals who meet specific criteria and are able to make an $800,000, five-year, interest-free loan to provincial and territorial governments for economic development activities.

CIC is also consulting Canadians on whether the government should use its new powers under the amended *Immigration and Refugee Protection Act* to create short-term programs that could have a far greater impact on Canada’s economy, for example by possibly favouring active use of investment capital to promote economic growth.

CIC implemented a temporary pause on new IIP applications on July 1, 2012, in order to allow for a thorough review of the program. Nonetheless, in 2012, Canada intends to admit 5,500 to 6,000 newcomers under the Federal Business category, which includes investors.

The online consultations are open for input until September 4, 2012. Interested participants can find more information here<http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/consultations/immigrant-investment-program-2012/index.asp. CIC is also consulting with provinces and territories on changes to federal immigrant investor programming.

A summary of the highlights from the online consultations will be >> available on the CICwebsite once completed. >>

SOURCE: www.cic.gc.ca

Canada-Alberta pilot project expanded to include more occupations

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