Posted on January 08 2015
Ten years ago, if you were a fifty year old bio chemist with a PhD, twenty years’ experience in large corporations in your home country but had below average English or French language skills, you could apply to get into Canada as an immigrant and many such hopefuls did. However a few months after arriving in Canada, you quickly found out that it was hard to get a job because of the language and age barriers. Also the economic realities of immigration meant you would likely have to take a job far below your skill set often turning to unskilled labor initially as a temporary phase but quickly turning into a permanent reality. Subsequent statistics naturally showed a big drop in income levels for new immigrants to Canada.
In 2008 Jason Kenney took on the Immigration portfolio with zeal. Most of his predecessors had used that position to move on to other cabinet posts resulting in virtual musical chairs in this Ministerial role. Not this one! This Minister’s stint was the longest one in Canadian history! Kenney stayed for five years completely overhauling a rusty inefficient system by eliminating backlogs reaching almost a million applicants, dealing with corrupt consultants and closing obvious loopholes in various program with the goal of turning immigration into a new more labour responsive one.
Between Minister Jason Kenney (now Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada (formerly HRSDC) and Minister for Multiculturalism) and our current Minister Chris Alexander Minister for Citizenship and Immigration the rolling out of the new Express Entry program in January 2015 will ensure that many of the problems with the old system will not occur and Canada will get a brand new immigration system that is more responsive to labour market needs and keep us competitive in the global race for human capital. Express Entry will encompass four programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW). Federal Skilled Trades (FST)Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Express Entry will take some time getting used to as it is a different way of selecting immigrants, but it is a smarter way. Here’s how:
For immigrants:
The old system was based entirely on the actions of the prospective applicant choosing to immigrate to Canada without any correlation between their skills and prospects for employment in Canada. The new system will ensure that immigrants who are provided with an invitation to apply for immigration have a better chance of being gainfully employed in their field.
The new system ensures that a quick use of the online tool will show you whether you meet the points needed to qualify in order to be given an invitation to apply. (See http://www.cic.gc.ca/ctc-vac/ee-start.asp) after which you create a secure profile on MYCIC.
For employers:
Until now, employers could only recruit international talent through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or through Provincial Nominee Programs. Now the Federal Skilled Worker program, the Federal skilled trades, the Canadian Experience Class and the Provincial Nominee Program will all be open to employers who can choose this route if no Canadian Candidate is available.
Here’s how it will help employers:
Additionally, an employer who currently employs a temporary foreign worker (TFW) can use Express Entry to support their application for permanent residence.
For Canada:
Studies based on demographic challenges in Canada indicate that Canada will need to rely on immigration for many years to come to sustain economic growth. The new Express Entry program will enhance Canada’s ability to select the most appropriate immigrants for immediate labour market needs and process those applications in a timely manner.
It is expected that as a result of this new system we will be able to compete on a global basis for the finest human capital that wishes to seek to migrate to Canada. Immigrants who will come in through the express entry system will have higher outcomes benefitting Canada economically and we will not be wasting global human capital through underemployment of immigrants.
While there will be an adjustment period in using the new system, it will once fully functional be faster, demand driven and will save tax payers in the long run.
For more news and updates, assistance with your visa needs or for a Free Assessment of your profile for Immigration or Work Visa’s just visit www.y-axis.com
Tags:
Share
Get it on your mobile
Get News alerts
Contact Y-Axis