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INTERNATIONAL SURVEY FINDS POSITIVE PERCEPTION OF CANADA

On September 10, 2024, US News & World Report published the results of an international survey of 17,000 people which found that Canada is considered to be one of the best countries overall for 2024. According to the survey results, the top 10 best countries this year are #1 Switzerland, #2 Japan, #3 United States, #4 Canada, #5 Australia, #6 Sweden, #7 Germany, #8 United Kingdom, #9 New Zealand and #10 Denmark, out of the 89 countries evaluated. Canada was ranked the #5 best country for quality of life, receiving particularly high scores for its job market, economic stability, family friendliness, political stability, education system, safety and healthcare system. Other strengths survey participants noted about Canada included being friendly, modern,  progressive, responsive, low in corruption, having transparent government, possessing strong international alliances, caring about human and animal rights, protecting the environment, racial equity, gender equality, commitment to social justice, religious freedom, being trustworthy, and respecting property rights. To read more, click here!

 

AN EXPLANATION OF CANADA’S IMMIGRATION SYSTEM

The Canadian immigration system is well-managed and open to people from around the world, making Canada a popular destination for skilled foreign workers and an example for other countries to follow. Canada has a good reputation for appreciating multiculturalism and welcoming newcomers who currently account for around 23% of the country’s population. People who live in Canada generally hold a positive view toward immigrants and immigration, valuing the contributions that immigrants make to the Canadian economy and culture. Record numbers of people have been moving to Canada as new permanent residents, with large numbers of immigrants arriving from countries such as India, China, Nigeria, Philippines, France, Pakistan and the United States. Toronto continues to be the top destination for new immigrants moving to Canada, followed by Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg. The majority of individuals who are approved for Canadian immigration (about 58 percent of the total) are referred to as ‘economic immigrants’ and most are processed through the points-based Express Entry system. Applicants with the highest Express Entry point scores are periodically invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada and the majority of those individuals will get a decision in six months of less. To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRATION TO CANADA RISES TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN 50 YEARS

At the end of December 2023, Statistics Canada (the government’s statistics agency) reported that 2023 was a record year for Canadian immigration. Approximately 465,000 immigrants were approved for Canadian permanent residency and over 500,000 were approved for temporary residency in Canada during 2023. Record immigration to Canada was primarily responsible for sending the Canadian population soaring past 40.5 million people. According to data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canada has been leading the other G7 countries since 2014 in population growth. The majority of new permanent residents have been skilled foreign workers and their families. Most of the new non-permanent residents (NPRs) have been international students and temporary foreign workers. The top countries of birth for NPRs moving to Canada have included India, China, France, The Philippines, Mexico, Nigeria, Iran, South Korea, Brazil and the United States. To read more, click here!

 

RANKING OF THE MOST LIVABLE CANADIAN CITIES

If you are trying to decide on where to live in Canada, you may find the 2023 ranking of the most livable Canadian cities a useful source of information. This report, released by The Globe and Mail on November 25, 2023, evaluated 100 cities in Canada based on certain ‘livability’ factors, such as the economy, housing, demographics, healthcare, safety, education, community, amenities, transportation, and climate. According to this report, the top 10 most livable cities in Canada are: #1 Victoria (British Columbia), #2 North Vancouver (British Columbia), #3 Winnipeg (Manitoba), #4 Regina (Saskatchewan), #5 Burlington (Ontario), #6 West Vancouver (British Columbia), #7 Saanich (British Columbia), #8 Calgary (Alberta), #9 Pitt Meadow (British Columbia), and #10 Oak Bay (British Columbia). Top-rated Victoria is the provincial capital of British Columbia and has a population of around 95,384 residents. Five of the top languages usually spoken at homes in Victoria are English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog and French. The average household income in Victoria is $93,598 per year and the average cost of rent is $1,704 per month. Victoria’s five top occupation categories are sales and service; education, government, religion and social science; business finance administration; sciences; and management. To read more, click here!

 

CANADA REVEALS STRATEGY TO ATTRACT FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY WORKERS

The Canadian Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, revealed on June 27, 2023, the government’s new strategy to attract thousands of foreign technology workers to Canada. Speaking at a technology conference in Toronto, the Canadian immigration minister announced a “digital nomad strategy” to permit foreign workers who are employed by a non-Canadian employer to work in Canada for six months; however, if they secure Canadian employment they will be able to live in Canada for a longer time period. Another policy unveiled will be a new Canadian immigration pathway that will launch by the end of 2023 and allow global tech talent to move to Canada whether or not they have received an offer of employment in Canada. Finally, starting around July 16, 2023, up to 10,000 H-1B U.S. Work Visa holders will be able to live and work in Canada with an Open Work Permit and also bring their family members. To read more, click here!

 

RATE OF CANADIAN EMPLOYMENT AT RECORD HIGH FOR RECENT IMMIGRANTS

Recent immigrants are finding abundant opportunities to work in Canada, with the rate of Canadian employment for newcomers climbing to 71.1 percent, according to Statistics Canada. A recent immigrant is a Canadian permanent resident who has been living in Canada for five years or less. Only one decade earlier, the rate of Canadian employment for recent immigrants was lower by around 10 percent. According to a key researcher at Statistics Canada who was involved in this study, new immigrants living in Canada have been “doing really, really well” during the past 10-15 years. One reason that these new immigrants have been so successful finding work in Canada is because of the country’s ongoing labor shortage. Another reason is that more immigrants have been working in Canada prior to becoming Canadian permanent residents. For example, only 8 percent of economic immigrants back in 2000 had been working in Canada previously, compared with close to 50 percent in 2018. To read more, click here!

 

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WANTS MORE IMMIGRANTS WHO SPEAK FRENCH

Canada’s government is creating a plan to increase the number of immigrants living in Canada who speak French. The new Canadian immigration policy has a goal to attract immigrants from French-speaking countries in Africa, the Americas, the Middle East and Europe. In addition to increasing the percentage of new immigrants who possess French language skills, the plan also seeks more foreign teachers who are able to teach students using the French language. This is because there is a strong demand from parents across Canada to ensure that their children know how to speak both English and French, the country’s two official languages. The percentage of people living in Canada outside of Quebec who speak French has dropped to only 3.1% in 2021 compared with 6.1% back in 1971. To read more, click here!

 

ONTARIO PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM CAN APPROVE 16,500 NEW IMMIGRANTS

The province of Ontario has reached an agreement with the Canadian government to double the number of skilled foreign workers who can immigrate to Canada with their families in 2023 via the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). During 2022, the Ontario PNP was authorized to welcome 9,750 immigrants to live in the province as new Canadian permanent residents, but in 2023 that number will climb to 16,500. Furthermore, the agreement will permit 17,000 immigrants to settle in Ontario through its PNP during 2024 and that number then jumps to 18,000 in 2025. Three categories of skilled foreign workers that are particularly needed in Ontario right now are skilled trade workers, healthcare workers and technology professionals. Ontario is Canada’s most populous province and like the other Canadian provinces and territories, has been experiencing a major labor shortage. This is why Ontario’s provincial government has been trying to increase the number of skilled foreign workers it can select through its Provincial Nominee Program. To read more, click here!

 

CANADIAN EMPLOYMENT INCREASED BY 150,000 WORKERS IN JANUARY

The economy produced 150,000 new jobs in Canada during January 2023, of which 120,000 were full-time positions, according to Statistics Canada. This was 10 times higher than what economists had forecast for Canadian job creation. The national statistics agency also reported that the country’s unemployment rate was only 5 percent, which is close to the lowest rate in Canada’s history. Business sectors that added the most jobs in Canada were accommodation and food services; information, culture and recreation; professional, scientific and technical services; construction; and public administration. Commenting on this positive economic news, a major human resources firm stated that the Canadian job market “is still very, very strong”. To read more, click here!

 

EDUCATION LEVEL AND DIVERSITY OF CANADIAN WORKERS ARE INCREASING

According to a Statistics Canada report released in November 2022, Canadian workers increased in education, skills and diversity between 2016 and 2021. Data from the 2021 census shows that 33% of people working in Canada between the ages of 25 and 54 have at least a Bachelor’s Degree compared with 28.7% in 2016. The government statistics agency also revealed that immigrants accounted for 27.7% of the Canadian workforce in the 25-54 age range compared with 25.7% in 2016. In Canada’s largest city, Toronto, 51.9% of core-age workers (25-54) are immigrants. Canada’s workforce is more racially diverse than in the past, with Arab, South Asian or Chinese Canadians making up around 25% general practitioners and family physicians. The 2021 census further indicates that 1.5 million people work in Canada’s professional and technical services sector, which is a 17.3% increase from 2016. This sector includes accountants, software developers, lawyers and other professionals. Trends in Canadian employment suggest that a growing number of jobs in Canada will require specialized training or a university degree. To read more, click here!

 

THREE-YEAR PLAN INCREASES CANADIAN IMMIGRATION TO 500,000 IN 2025

On November 1, 2022, the Government of Canada announced its new three-year plan for Canadian immigration, which seeks 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024 and a record 500,000 in 2025. Foreign workers and their families will make up the majority of these new immigrants. By comparison, 405,000 people were approved for Canadian immigration in 2021 and the goal for 2022 is 431,645 new permanent residents. The main reason for this massive increase to Canadian immigration is that Canada has a major worker shortage with no end in sight. There are around one million Canadian job openings and not enough workers to fill them. The only way to fill this many jobs in Canada is with hundreds of thousands of foreign workers. To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRATION IS MAKING CANADA’S POPULATION LARGER AND YOUNGER

Canadian immigration is mostly responsible for the fastest population growth Canada has experienced since 1957, according to a report released by Statistics Canada on September 28, 2022. Canada’s population increased by 284,982 residents during the second quarter of this year (April-June), climbing to 38.9 million. The government’s statistics agency noted that 95% of this rapid rise in population was a result of Canadian immigration, with 270,000 immigrants moving to Canada between April 1, 2022, and July 1, 2022. Canada’s government set a target of granting permanent residency to 1.3 million immigrants during a three-year period, including a goal of 431,645 new immigrants by the end of 2022. Canadian immigration has given Canada the highest rate of population growth in the Group of Seven (G7).  The influx of young immigrants has also caused the median age for people living in Canada during 2022 to drop to 41 years of age, which is the lowest in over five decades. Canada is seeking more than a million new permanent residents, mostly skilled foreign workers, to help replace Canadian workers who are retiring as well as fill new jobs in Canada that are being created. To read more, click here!

 

NIGERIAN IMMIGRANT SAYS IT’S A ‘BIG THING’ TO BECOME A CANADIAN

July 1, 2022, was a very special Canada Day holiday for the Subair Family, because they were able to become Canadian citizens during a ceremony held in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Originally from the city of Lagos in Nigeria, they decided to immigrate to Canada, because they wanted their children to have better opportunities and they also wanted their careers to grow. In 2018, they were approved for Canadian immigration and settled in the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia.  Ismail Subair, who is working in Canada as an IT professional, said to become a Canadian citizen is a ‘big thing’ and it means a lot to his family. To read more, click here!

 

CANADA’S TECH SECTOR IS RECRUITING THE WORLD’S TOP TALENT

Top technology talent from around the world are choosing Canadian immigration over moving to the USA to live and work abroad.  More talented tech professionals are moving to Canada instead of the United States, partly because there is so much division in the USA (especially in regards to immigration), it takes a long time to get approved for a US visa, and there is a limit of only 85,000 H-1B visas available each year. Canada is actively seeking skilled foreign workers, Canadian immigration is relatively easy and fast, plus there are no limits on the number of tech professionals allowed to immigrate to Canada each year. Canada’s booming technology sector and its attractiveness to global tech talent has helped Toronto to become one of the world’s leading technology hubs. To read more, click here!

 

HUNDREDS OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEES ARE RELOCATING TO SASKATCHEWAN

The Canadian province of Saskatchewan has been giving a warm welcome to several hundred Ukrainian refugees who have fled the war taking place in their country. Approximately 600 Ukrainians have relocated to Saskatchewan since February 2022 and another 230 are expected to arrive in early July. The provincial minister of immigration was quoted as saying, “We’ve made very clear our open door policy as far as resettling an unlimited number of Ukrainians seeking to relocate to Canada.” Saskatchewan’s government and many of its residents have done everything they can to help the Ukrainian refugees feel welcomed. For example, the Ukrainians receive housing and financial support; assistance opening local bank accounts and getting their universal health cards and driving licenses; interpreters can assist them with communication and they can take classes to learn or improve their English language skills; they have access to mental health services; they can start working legally after they arrive if they so desire; and further assistance is provided by immigrant settlement organizations. Many families in Saskatchewan have become sponsors and welcomed Ukrainians into their homes. To read more, click here!

 

RECORD LOW UNEMPLOYMENT IS PUSHING CANADIAN WAGES HIGHER

Another record has been broken as Statistics Canada announced on May 6, 2022, that the Canadian unemployment rate dropped to a historic low of 5.2 percent after the creation of 15,300 new jobs in Canada during April. Canada’s unemployment rate had already fallen to 5.3% in March, which was the lowest rate since 1976. With the Canadian unemployment rate so low and employers struggling to fill jobs in Canada, worker wages have been increasing significantly. In 2018, 17% of the people working in Canada earned $40 per hour or more, but that increased to 25% in 2022. At the other end of the spectrum, 38% of Canadian workers earned below $20 per hour in 2018, but that went down to 26% in 2022. In the middle, workers making $20-$40 per hour grew from 45% in 2018 to 50% in 2022. According to one economist, there is currently a Canadian job seeker’s market in which employers are offering competitive compensation packages in order to attract new workers. To read more, click here!

 

MAJORITY OF EMPLOYERS IN CANADA PLAN TO PAY WORKERS MORE IN 2022

There is good news for people working in Canada, as the majority of Canadian employers plan to give pay raises and bonuses during 2022. According to a survey involving 502 top managers at businesses across Canada with at least 20 employees, 90% indicated that they plan to increase wages for workers within the coming six months and 63% stated their business intends to pay employees bonuses at the end of the year. A separate survey of 829 employers in various business sectors throughout Canada discovered that workers in the wholesale trade, construction, information technology, and accommodations & food services industries are forecast to receive the highest average increases in wages this year. It also said that employers have learned that they need to pay higher salaries and give better benefits in order to attract and retain workers. To read more, click here!

 

2021 WAS A GOOD YEAR FOR CANADIAN JOB CREATION

On January 7, 2022, Statistics Canada reported that a record 886,000 Canadian jobs were created in 2021. As a result, there are now 240,500 more people employed in Canada than before the pandemic began. The 54,700 new jobs in Canada that were produced in December lowered the country’s unemployment rate even further to 5.9 percent, according to Statistics Canada. Economists are predicting that Canadian employment will continue to expand at a healthy pace during 2022, with skilled immigrants filling most of the new jobs in Canada. The government’s goal for Canadian immigration in 2022 is for a record 411,000 immigrants to become new permanent residents of Canada. To read more, click here!

 

MORE IMMIGRANTS ARE CHOOSING IMMIGRATION TO CANADA

According to an international strategy advisor and author, Parag Khanna, Canada’s ability to attract global talent gives it an advantage over other countries and increases its influence in the world. A growing number of skilled immigrants from “Generation Z” and “Generation Alpha” are choosing immigration to Canada instead of the United States, partly because the “Canadian Dream” is more achievable than the “American Dream” and also since immigration to Canada is not as complicated and there is less political division. Global climate change is expected to make Canadian immigration even more attractive, since Canada is a vast country with plenty of room, it has a good geographic location, and it welcomes newcomers. During 2021, there were 401,000 immigrants approved for  permanent residency in Canada and the goal for Canadian immigration in 2022 is 411,000 new permanent residents. To read more, click here!

 

CANADIAN PROVINCE OF ONTARIO SEEKS MORE SKILLED FOREIGN WORKERS

The government of Ontario is asking the federal government to increase Canadian immigration levels to help address a worker shortage in the province. Instead of authorizing 9,000 immigrants per year to move to Canada’s most populous province, Ontario’s government is requesting that 18,000 immigrants be approved for Canadian permanent residency through Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program. Statistics Canada reported that there were 316,000 Ontario job openings in October 2021, but not enough workers available to fill them all. Although the labor shortage is widespread across business sectors in Ontario, workers are especially needed for jobs in construction, food services, healthcare, and manufacturing. To read more, click here!

 

ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT RANKS TORONTO WORLD’S #2 SAFEST CITY 

In September 2021, the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) published its Safe Cities Index (SCI) and named Toronto as the world’s #2 safest city for 2021. Sixty cities around the globe were rated for various safety indicators (e.g., personal security, health security, environmental security, digital security, infrastructure) and scores for each indicator as well as an overall score were given using a scale of 0-100 with 100 being a perfect score. Canada’s largest city received a high overall safety score of 82.2 out of 100, barely missing coming in first place which went to Copenhagen, which scored 82.4 points overall. Singapore was ranked #3 with 80.7 points, followed by #4 Sydney (80.1 points), #5 Tokyo (80.0 points), #6 Amsterdam (79.3 points), #7 Wellington (79.0 points), #8 Melbourne and Hong Kong (tied with 78.6 points), and 10th place going to Stockholm (78.0 points). Toronto has been listed among the world’s top 10 safest cities since the Safe Cities Index was launched back in 2015. To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRATION TO CANADA REACHES RECORD HIGH LEVELS DURING JUNE AND JULY 2021

As of August 2021, there have been 184,000 immigrants approved for permanent residency in Canada and Marco Mendicino, the Canadian immigration minister, believes the country will reach its goal of welcoming 401,000 immigrants to live in Canada by the end of the year. In just the past two months, Canadian immigration levels soared to record levels, with 35,700 individuals granted permanent residency in Canada during June and 39,500 people invited to live in Canada permanently in July. Canadian Immigration Minister Mendicino said that the country is “ahead of where we expected to be at this point in the year” and that the government will continue to accelerate its rate of approving foreign nationals for immigration to Canada. If this year’s Canadian immigration target of 401,000 new permanent residents is achieved, it will be the first time since the early 20th century that over 400,000 new immigrants have been authorized to live in Canada permanently during a 12-month time period. To read more, click here!

 

CANADA IS OPENING ITS BORDERS TO PEOPLE FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19

The Canadian government announced on July 19, 2021, that it will open its borders to travelers from the United States who are fully-vaccinated against Covid-19 starting August 9, 2021. Canada’s government also stated that fully-vaccinated travelers from the rest of the world will be allowed to enter Canada as early as September 7, 2021. This follows the opening of the borders effective June 21, 2021, for new Canadian permanent residents who were approved for immigration to Canada after the borders closed on March 18, 2020, and who have a valid Certificate of Permanent Residence (COPR), but were not able to move to Canada due to pandemic travel restrictions. Canada’s successful vaccination program against Covid-19 has made it possible for the Canadian economy to rebound rapidly and for the country’s borders to gradually re-open. To read more, click here!

 

CANADIAN IMMIGRATION AVAILABLE TO 45,000 REFUGEES IN 2021

On June 18, 2021, Canadian Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced plans to allow 45,000 refugees to immigrate to Canada during 2021. This is a big increase from the previous goal of 23,500 refugees that would be permitted to immigrate to Canada this year. Last year during the pandemic, 9,000 refugees were authorized for relocation to Canada, while over 30,000 protected individuals came to live in Canada during 2019. He also said that the Canadian permanent residency process for more than 40,000 protected individuals living in Canada will be expedited. Thus far during 2021, 17,900 protected individuals living in Canada have become Canadian permanent residents. Furthermore, the Canadian Immigration Minister stated that $3 million will be given by the government to support nine organizations in Canada involved with private sponsorship of refugees. He added that refugees who relocate to Canada contribute to their new country in so many ways. “People from all corners of the globe have sought refuge in Canada, people who have started the next chapter of their lives here in Canada,” he declared. These announcements were made ahead of World Refugee Day. To read more, click here!

 

GLOBAL TALENT WELCOMED TO IMMIGRATE TO CANADA

Canadian Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino recently said that foreign entrepreneurs and international students are welcomed to move to Canada. He also declared that the Canadian Startup Visa sends a clear message that “Canada is open for business.” The Canadian Immigration Minister went on to say that global talent provides the country with a competitive edge through innovation and creating new jobs in Canada. The Canadian Government increased the goal for immigration to Canada by 14% by authorizing 401,000 immigrants to become Canadian permanent residents during 2021. To read more, click here!

 

THOUSANDS OF CANADIAN JOBS AVAILABLE FOR TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS

Employers cannot hire technology professionals fast enough to fill the thousands of Canadian job vacancies in Toronto and across the country. For example, on June 3, 2021, Canada’s Economic Development Minister told reporters that just in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), there are about 70,000 Canadian job openings in the technology field. The ongoing skills shortage in Canada’s booming tech sector has resulted in many employers not requiring a university degree if the tech professional has the needed job skills and work experience. One technology firm CEO remarked that he doesn’t care which school an applicant went to or if they even went to school. Instead, he focuses on past tech projects the applicant has finished and how they obtained the required skills. A former bartender decided to attend a three-month computer course and after he graduated, a software firm hired him as an IT specialist with a starting salary just under $5,000 per month. To read more, click here!

 

FORMER REFUGEE WRITES A BOOK ABOUT HIS CANADIAN IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCE

Kindness shown by Canadians has allowed a former Syrian refugee who was living in an airport for seven months to immigrate to Canada as a permanent resident. Now, this thankful new Canadian immigrant has written a book about his rather unusual experience of moving to Canada. The man had been working in the UAE as a salesman when the Syrian Civil War broke out. He was afraid to return home to Syria when his work visa was about to expire, so he continued living in the UAE with an expired visa.  After being caught in 2017, he was deported to Malaysia where he ended up living in the Kuala Lumpur airport as a stateless refugee for seven months. His “tweets” about his experience caught the attention of Canadian journalists, who interviewed him in April 2018. Some Canadian volunteers in British Columbia learned about his situation and were able to sponsor him for immigration to Canada. He is thankful to be living in Canada as a permanent resident and said that his book is not just a story about the war in Syria, but also a story about the kindness of the Canadians who rescued him.  To read more, click here!

 

ONLINE TOOL RANKS BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN CANDADA BASED ON DIFFERENT FACTORS

Maclean’s magazine has published its list of the 415 best places to live and work in Canada for 2021. Nine factors are used in evaluating each Canadian community: affordability, population growth, taxes, crime, weather, health, amenities, community, and Internet access. Communities across Canada can be rated for different combinations of these factors, depending on what is most important to the individual. For this particular evaluation of the best places to live and work in Canada remotely, the most important factor considered was Internet access. Halifax, Nova Scotia, came in first place; followed by second place Fredericton, New Brunswick; and third place St. Thomas, Ontario. The filters can be adjusted so that you can rank communities throughout Canada or in specific regions (for example, only communities in Ontario). Choose which three of the nine factors is most important for you and your family while living in Canada and the online tool will display a new ranking. To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRANTS FROM THE PHILIPPINES SHOWN KINDNESS BY CANADIANS IN ALBERTA

Being a single mother can be a challenge, especially as an immigrant living in Canada, but for a young single mother from The Philippines, kindness from Canadians in her small Alberta town made it much easier. After relocating to Canada from a small town in The Philippines, a young women found work in Canada at a fast food restaurant in Claresholm, Alberta. Years later, she learned that she was pregnant and was going to become a single mother. As a temporary foreign worker, she was not entitled to the benefits received by permanent residents living in Canada, so she considered moving back to The Philippines after her son was born. A retired couple who frequented the fast food restaurant and knew the young mother decided to help by babysitting her son for free so she could continue her Canadian employment. Thirteen years after moving to Canada, this hard-working Filipina mother has become a permanent resident of Canada and is thankful to the kindness shown to her by the retired Canadian couple who are like family to her and her son. There are thousands of immigrants from The Philippines living in Canada’s small towns (over 25,000 just in the province of Alberta). To read more, click here!

 

CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS GET HIGHER EDUCATION AND SALARIES LIVING IN CANADA

New data released by Statistics Canada on March 22, 2021, shows that the children of immigrants are more likely to receive a post-secondary education than children born in Canada. For example, during 2018, 70% of immigrants who were 20 years of age and had immigrated to Canada before the age of 15 were attending post-secondary educational institutions, compared with 56% of Canadian-born 20-year-olds. Government statistics also indicate that receiving a higher education tends to result in earning higher salaries. Since immigrant children living in Canada tend to receive more education than their Canadian-born peers, it is not surprising that the children of immigrants also enjoy better pay. For example, immigrants working in Canada who are 30 years of age earn an average yearly salary of $47,400 CAD, compared with an average annual salary of $41,810 CAD earned by 30-year-olds who were born in Canada. The data further reveals that the children of “economic immigrants” (i.e., skilled foreign workers) living in Canada are even more likely to receive a post-secondary education, partly because their parents are generally better-educated and have higher incomes, so they are more inclined to send their children to university or other post-secondary educational institution. Even the children of refugees who are living in Canada, despite their families having lower incomes and/or not knowing English very well, ultimately tend to do well in school, go on to get a post-secondary education and find good-paying jobs in Canada. To read more, click here!

 

CANADA’S ECONOMY CREATED 259,000 JOBS IN FEBRUARY 2021, BEATING EXPECTATIONS

On March 12, 2021, Statistics Canada reported that 259,000 new Canadian jobs were added to the country’s resilient economy in February, beating the forecast of 75,000 new jobs in Canada that economists were expecting. The substantial increase in Canadian employment indicates that the country has handled the global pandemic well and suggests a strong economic recovery during 2021. Furthermore, the government’s statistics agency revealed that many business sectors have actually gained thousands of new workers compared with 12 months prior. For example, compared with February 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was starting, in February 2021 the number of professional jobs in Canada had increased by an impressive 85,700 additional positions; the education sector added 50,600 new employees; and there were 38,700 more people working in Canada’s finance and insurance sector than one year earlier. According to one economist, the Canadian jobs report for February was “amazing” and she forecasts that the momentum on hiring should continue as Canada’s vaccination program accelerates. To read more, click here!

 

RESEARCHERS PREDICT WHERE IMMIGRANTS CAN THRIVE THE MOST LIVING IN CANADA

For the past two years, a cooperative research program involving the Canadian government and the Immigration Policy Lab at Stanford University in California has been developing a digital tool using artificial intelligence that seeks to predict the optimal place for immigrants to live in Canada. Many immigrants move to Canada and decide to settle in one of its four largest cities or in communities where they have family or friends. This may not result in newcomers experiencing their best Canadian immigration outcome. For example, a filmmaker might immigrate to Canada and decide to settle in Toronto, because it is the country’s largest city and presumably has the most Canadian job opportunities. Analysis of Canadian immigration data using machine learning might indicate instead that Vancouver is actually the best city for that particular foreign filmmaker to work in Canada. Thus, the GeoMatch Project is using A.I. to analyze “big data” about thousands of skilled foreign workers in different occupations and from various backgrounds who have done well after moving to Canada and try to identify the patterns for their success. The researchers have discovered that many foreign workers who immigrate to Canada settle in the wrong locations for them to thrive compared with other locations in the country. The goal is for a computer program to be able to inform a new immigrant about the ideal spot for them to flourish while living in Canada. Other experts, however, think that such an algorithm might be able to “predict the past” or shed light on the present, but that it is not possible to predict the future with a high level of accuracy.  To read more, click here!

 

RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG RELOCATE TO CANADA FOR FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITIES

There has been an ongoing surge of people from Hong Kong moving to Canada after the Chinese government enacted a new national security law and other measures that greatly restrict personal freedoms in Hong Kong. According to the Canadian immigration agency, there was a 20% increase in applications for visas to Canada by Hong Kong residents during 2020 (10,819 Canadian visa applications filed by Hong Kongers that year). As with the previous wave of immigration to Canada from Hong Kong during the 1990s when China regained control over Hong Kong from the British, thousands of Hong Kong residents are relocating to Canada and settling in cities like Vancouver and Toronto. Like a few decades earlier, these immigrants from Hong Kong are seeking freedom and better opportunities living in Canada. Many of the new Canadian permanent residents have opened businesses in the Vancouver and Toronto metropolitan areas. Relocating to Canada from Hong Kong is made easier because of the large ethnic-Chinese immigrant communities found across the country. For example, in the City of Richmond, located just outside of Vancouver, Cantonese (spoken in Hong Kong) is the first language for 21.9% of the city’s residents, while Mandarin (Chinese) is the first language for another 20% of Richmond’s multicultural population. To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRANT WOMEN LIVING IN CANADA LEARN HOW TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES

The Open Door Society of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has launched a program to teach female immigrant entrepreneurs how to start their own businesses in Canada. One of the many benefits that Canadian permanent residents enjoy is the opportunity to open a business in Canada if they so desire. Four years after moving to Canada, a Ukrainian woman living in the city of Saskatoon had the idea to launch an online school to help immigrants learn or improve their English language skills. She had a vision for a new business, but was not sure what was needed to make her dream become a reality. The Open Door Society’s Women’s Business Hub program instructed her on how to launch a startup business in Canada, provided mentorship, and now she has completed her business plan. Another women immigrated to Canada from Nigeria in 2018 and she wants to establish a company that helps new immigrants to settle successfully and to thrive in their new country. To read more, click here!

 

THERE ARE CANADIAN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT THESE TOP 25 COMPANIES

The New Year is a good time to look for jobs in Canada and to help you with your Canadian job search, here are the top 25 places to work in Canada for 2021. This is the 13th year that Glassdoor has rated employers in Canada based upon the opinions of the employees who work at those companies. According to their criteria, the top places to work in Canada are companies where the employees enjoy working there; there is good work-life balance; the senior leadership is transparent; the health benefits are good; the company culture is mission-driven; employees have career opportunities; and the company makes the well-being, health and safety of their employees a top priority. For each of the top 25 places to work in Canada, there is also a link to view Canadian job openings. According to the report, the best companies for Canadian employment include Google, Microsoft, TC Energy, Apple, BelairDirect, Sage, LuluLemon, SAP, Manpower, and Salesforece, among 15 other top employers. To read more, click here!

 

FOREIGN  STUDENTS HAVE PATHWAY TO CANADIAN PERMANENT RESIDENCY

In January 2021, the Canadian government announced a policy to allow foreign students with work permits that expired or will expire to apply for a new permit to work in Canada for 18 months. Foreign students who graduate from designated universities in Canada have been able to get a Canadian work permit issued for 1-3 years. The combination of studying and working in Canada has given many international students the opportunity to become a Canadian permanent resident. For example, over 58,000 foreign students were able to become a Canadian permanent resident during 2019. The pandemic and related lockdowns of 2020, however, disrupted the Canadian workforce, including foreign students who were legally working in Canada. The Canadian Immigration Minister stated that international students make major contributions to Canada and that skilled immigrants will be crucial to the post-pandemic expansion of the Canadian economy. He also said that Canada’s message to foreign students is that they are welcomed to live, study, work and even stay long-term in the country. To read more, click here!

 

UN COOKBOOK SHARES STORIES AND RECIPES OF IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN CANADA

The Canadian immigration stories and ethnic recipes of 14 former refugees will be highlighted in a free digital cookbook from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to celebrate the 70th anniversary of working with Canada to give refugees a better future. The UNHCR was established back in 1950 to help refugees settle in other countries and from the beginning, refugees have been invited to live in Canada and get a fresh start in life. Since 1980, over one million refugees from around the world have been welcomed to relocate to Canada, which currently accepts more refugees than any other country. One of the recipes and Canadian immigration success stories contained in the UN digital cookbook is from a former refugee who fled Japanese-occupied Hong Kong in 1941 to live in Canada and ultimately became the Governor General of Canada from 1999 to 2005. She contributed her recipe for poached Chinese chicken. Another former refugee with a story and recipe in the cookbook was able to relocate to Canada from Somalia as a boy. He went to university in Canada, earned a law degree, became a lawyer, was elected as a Member of Parliament, and was appointed as the Canadian Immigration Minister. In 2020, he serves as Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. He shared his recipes for grilled swordfish, spaghetti, and scallops. To read more, click here!

 

MONOCLE’S BEST SMALL CITY INDEX RANKS VICTORIA #5 IN THE WORLD

Although Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and other large Canadian cities attract thousands of immigrants and are great places to live in Canada, smaller cities like Victoria also offer a high standard of living in Canada. Victoria is the provincial capital of British Columbia and has been rated by Monocle magazine as the world’s 5th best small city with a population under 250,000. Monocle examined cities around the globe and rated them on such factors as their welcoming nature, business opportunities, access to nature, having a progressive mayor, and how connected they are. Victoria climbed from #16 in 2019 to #5 in 2020. The mayor of Victoria received compliments from the British magazine for welcoming immigrants and young Canadians to relocate to the city. Victoria was also praised for its excellent eateries, literary scene and diversified economy, particularly in the ocean research and financial services sectors. British Columbia’s provincial capital is located on the southern coast of Vancouver Island, about 107 kilometers from the City of Vancouver. The City of Victoria has a population of about 86,000 and the metropolitan area has around 368,000 residents. To read more, click here!

 

HOUSEHOLD SPENDING SENDS CANADIAN ECONOMY SOARING TO HISTORIC HEIGHTS

Statistics Canada reported record growth of the Canadian economy during the third quarter (Q3) of 2020. A surge in household spending helped to send Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) soaring at an annualized rate of 40.5 percent, which was significantly higher than the previous quarterly record GDP growth of 13.2% which occurred back in 1965. Millions of Canadians who were working from home during the pandemic saved a lot of money, so when the temporary spring lockdown ended, they had money to spend which stimulated Canada’s economy. Statistics Canada also reported a major rise in the the housing market, fueled by low interest rates and home renovations. A senior economist stated that people living in Canada have financial resources for post-pandemic spending due to the increased Canadian savings rate. Since the pandemic lockdowns were lifted in April, the Canadian economy has enjoyed real GDP growth for the past five months in a row. To read more, click here!

 

CANADA IS #1 ON THE WORLD’S “DREAM LIST” OF RELOCATION DESTINATIONS

If you could move to any country in the world, where would you relocate to? A map has been created using data from Google searches which reveals that Canadian relocation is the world’s #1 choice in terms of “dream destinations.” In 30 countries, immigration to Canada is the top preference for a relocation wish list, followed by Japan (13 countries), Spain (12 countries), Germany (8 countries), Qatar (6 countries), Australia (5 countries), Switzerland (4 countries), Portugal (3 countries), with the UK and USA tied with 2 countries each. Canadian relocation was the #1 preference for people living in France, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and 18 other countries. In addition to producing a map of the world, regional maps were also generated showing which country is the most desired relocation destination for various countries in each region. Immigration to Canada was the top choice for people living in 14 countries in Africa. To read more and view the maps, click here!

 

SUBURBS AND RURAL AREAS ARE ATTRACTIVE PLACES TO WORK IN CANADA

Toronto is an amazing place to live and work in Canada and the top destination for new immigrants; however, many Canadians, especially millennials, are choosing to move to the suburbs or rural areas because of the attractive lifestyle. One reason to move outside of Toronto is that housing is more affordable in the suburbs and rural regions. Living and working in a smaller community also reduces the amount of time spent commuting to work each day. There has been increased interest among Canadian job-seekers to live and work in smaller Ontario communities such as Belleville, Oshawa, London, Thornhill, Mississauga, Kitchener, Bradford, North York and Scarborough. To read more, click here!

 

THESE 100 COMPANIES ARE THE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN CANADA DURING 2021

Anyone searching for jobs in Canada will want to review The Globe and Mail’s ranking of the 100 best Canadian employers to work for during 2021, which it published in November 2020. Employers across Canada were evaluated based on eight key factors: Social and Work Atmosphere; Physical Workplace; Time Off and Vacations; Family, Financial and Health Benefits; Training and Skills Development; Employee Communications; Performance Management; and Community Involvement. The list of 100 best places to work in Canada was then alphabetized and includes top Canadian employers such as: 3M Canada Company; Accenture Inc.; Adobe Systems Canada Inc.; Bank of Canada; Canadian National Railway; GlaxoSmithKline Inc.; Health Canada; KPMG LLP; L’Oréal Canada Inc.; Medtronic Canada ULC; PepsiCo Canada; Procter & Gamble Inc.;  Rogers Communications Inc.; Royal Bank of Canada; Salesforce; SAP Canada Inc.; Shopify Inc.; TD Bank Group; Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd.; University of Toronto – and more! To see the complete list, click here!

 

CANADIAN IMMIGRATION PLAN FOR 2021 SEEKS 401,000 PERMANENT RESIDENTS

The Canadian government revealed its new three-year plan for immigration to Canada on October 30, 2020, and announced that a record 401,000 individuals will have the opportunity to become a Canadian Permanent Resident in 2021. This is an increase of 50,000 additional Canadian immigration visas for permanent residency beyond the 351,000 previously planned to be issued next year. Canadian immigration levels will soar even higher to a historic 411,000 new permanent residents in 2022 and then skyrocket further to 421,000 new immigrants in 2023. In total, the Canadian government wants 1.2 million people, mostly skilled foreign workers and their families, to immigrate  to Canada over the next three years. The Canadian Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, himself the son of Italian immigrants, explained that there are worker shortages in various business sectors and skilled immigrants can help to fill many of these vacant jobs in Canada. The Canadian government’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth had called for increasing the levels for immigration to Canada beyond the numbers currently planned, because of the country’s low birth rate and aging workforce which is retiring. To read more, click here!

 

EACH DAY IS LIKE THANKSGIVING FOR AN IMMIGRANT LIVING IN CANADA

Canadians of various backgrounds celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday on October 12, 2020, but Nav Bhatia of Mississauga, Ontario, celebrates living in Canada every day! Since relocating to Canada from India in 1984, he has been a successful businessman who owns two car dealerships and has an estimated net worth in the millions. Nav Bhatia is also known as the Toronto Raptors “Superfan” since he has not missed any of their home games since 1995 when the basketball team was established. In 2018, he started the Superfan Foundation, spending $300,000 annually so thousands of Canadian children can go to watch the Toronto Raptors play basketball. That same year, Nav Bhatia was named one of the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants for the good works he has done while living in Canada. During an interview, he said, “You know, I’ve lived in this country for over 40 years, and it has been such a good country to me. So it’s important I give back.” When asked about celebrating Thanksgiving in Canada, he stated that he celebrates every day, not just once a year. “Thanksgiving is a celebration to truly give thanks not just in a meal, but to a country as great as Canada is,” he declared. This Canadian immigration success story added that he has adopted many of the traditions in Canada, such as having a love for basketball and celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday, yet, he and his family maintain their heritage by incorporating traditional dishes from India. To read more, click here! 

 

IMMIGRANT-FRIENDLY CANADA IS EVEN MORE ACCEPTING OF NEWCOMERS

People living in Canada already have a good reputation for the warm welcome they give to newcomers; however, the results of a September 2020 survey conducted by the Environics Institute reveal that Canadians have become even more accepting of immigrants during the past 12 months, despite concerns over the global pandemic. The Environics Institute conducted a phone survey of 2,000 people living in Canada September 8-23, 2020, and asked if they agreed or disagreed that there is too much Canadian immigration. The poll found that 66% of participants disagreed that there was too much immigration to Canada (including 39% who “strongly disagreed”), compared with 63% who held that view in 2019. Furthermore, 84% of the poll participants agreed that Canadian immigration has a positive effect on Canada’s economy, compared with 80% who held that view the previous year. According to a senior associate at the Environics Institute, the responses to all of the questions asked in the survey indicate that people who live in Canada from all demographic groups have a more positive attitude toward immigrants. In fact, the results of the survey show that the level of support for Canadian immigration is at its highest level in over 40 years. To read more, click here!

 

CANADA RANKED #2 FOR NATIONAL UNITY DURING PANDEMIC 

The US-based Pew Research Center published the results of a recent global survey on August 27, 2020, which revealed that 88% of the people living in Canada think their government has done a good job in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pew poll also discovered that the majority of Canadians (66 percent) believe their country has become more united during the novel coronavirus crisis. Researchers surveyed 14,276 adults living in 14 countries between June 10, 2020, and August 3, 2020. The people who participated in the Pew opinion poll were from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Canada was ranked #2 out of the 14 countries surveyed for national unity and #3 for the view that its government was doing a good job in its response to the pandemic. By comparison, only 47% of Americans think their government has done a good job dealing with the pandemic (13th place) and just 18% of Americans believe the USA has become more united during the COVID-19 crisis (14th place). To read the full article, click here!

 

BRITISH COLUMBIA MUSEUM WILL HONOR CHINESE-CANADIANS

Chinese who immigrate to Canada have made many contributions to their new country and now the provincial government of British Columbia is investing $10 million to establish the first Chinese-Canadian museum in Canada. The new museum is being designed to recognize the achievements and positive impact made by Chinese-Canadians living in British Columbia throughout history. Vancouver’s Chinatown district will host the museum’s main hub, but there will also be regional branches of the museum in various locations across British Columbia as well as an online digital portal. According to the Minister of Tourism for British Columbia, “Now more than ever, we need to come together and learn from each other.” She also said, “People told us they want a museum to showcase the diversity of Chinese Canadian history and culture, past and present. This museum will help foster a more inclusive society.” China has been one of the top countries of origin for people who immigrate to Canada and Vancouver, known as the Canadian gateway to the Asia-Pacific region, has been a major destination for Chinese moving to Canada because of its relatively close proximity. To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRATION TO CANADA IS VITAL TO KEEP ECONOMY GROWING

According to a study published in The Lancet journal on July 14, 2020, declining birth rates will require continued openness to Canadian immigration in order for Canada to remain as one of the leading economies in the world. The study examined the effects of declining birth rates around the globe which are predicted to occur during the rest of this century. Canada is forecast to become an even larger immigration hub than it already is during the next eight decades and this influx of new talent will help to sustain strong economic growth in the country. The Lancet study declares, “The optimal strategy for economic growth, fiscal stability, and geopolitical security is liberal immigration with effective assimilation into these societies.” Thus, continued support for Canadian immigration and the attractiveness of Canada as a prime destination for expat workers and their families, is expected to help the country remain among the top 10 economic powers and sustain long-term economic growth and prosperity. To read the full article, click here!

 

CANADA TRUMPS THE USA IN GLOBAL RANKING OF ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS 

For the very first time, Canada has a more competitive economy than the United States, according to the Swiss-based IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2020, released in June. The Canadian economy made an impressive improvement in competitiveness, rising from a ranking of #13 in 2019 to 8th place in 2020, while the United States saw its economic competitiveness plunge from third place in 2019 down to #10 in 2020. One reason offered for Canada’s rise and America’s fall over the past year is the ongoing trade war between the US and China, which hurt the world’s #1 and #2 largest economies. Other reasons why Canada is beating the USA on economic competitiveness is its transparency in how it operates and also because the Canadian government remains globally oriented, whereas the current US government has taken a less open and more protectionist position, particularly with America’s top trading partners such as China, Canada, Mexico, and many European countries. According to the annual ranking, the world’s top 10 most competitive economies in 2020 are: #1 Singapore, #2 Denmark, #3 Switzerland, #4 Netherlands, #5 Hong Kong SAR, #6 Sweden, #7 Norway, #8 Canada, #9 United Arab Emirates, with the United States taking 10th place. To read more, click here!

 

TORONTO LEADS MAJOR CITIES IN CANADA AND THE USA FOR POPULATION GROWTH

On June 10, 2020, the Centre for Urban Research and Land Development at Ryerson University released a report that says the population of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is growing faster than the population of any other major metropolitan area in Canada or the United States. It also states that the City of Toronto is attracting more new residents than any other Canadian or American city. The report was based on an analysis of recent data released by Statistics Canada and the US Census Bureau. According to the data, 127,575 people moved to the Greater Toronto Area between July 2018 and July 2019, which included 45,742 new residents of the City of Toronto. Furthermore, the statistics reveal that the City of Montreal is the #2 fastest growing city in the Canada-USA region and the Montreal metropolitan area had the sixth largest increase in population of any Canadian or American metropolitan area. Five Canadian cities were listed among the top 10 fastest growing cities in Canada and the United States (Toronto #1, Montreal #2, Calgary #4, Ottawa #5 and Edmonton #6). Canadian immigration was the key reason for Toronto’s rapid rise in population, according to the report. The fact that Canadian cities are attracting thousands of new residents each year is not surprising, since Canada is one of the top destinations for immigrants and Canadian cities (including Toronto, Montreal and Calgary) are considered some of the best places to live in the world. To read the full report, click here! 

 

STUDENTS SHARE CANADIAN IMMIGRATION STORIES USING DIGITAL COMICS

Third grade students at an elementary school in Toronto are using online software to make digital comics about immigration to Canada. The students in the social studies class used personal interviews to collect Canadian immigration stories, and then designed the avitars, created the backgrounds, and wrote the scripts for their comics using a new online software program. One of the students said she had fun and learned a lot from the class project, including how much she has in common with the family friend she interviewed, since both of them are immigrants. The third grader also explained that what she and the other immigrant she interviewed like the most about living in Canada is that the people are really kind, polite and try to help others. One of the other students create a digital comic sharing his grandfather’s story about immigration to Canada from Yugoslavia and how he was able to become a Canadian citizen. The social studies teacher also produced a comic strip detailing his mother’s Canadian immigration journey which took her from Macao to Hong Kong and ultimately to Toronto. To read the full article, click here!

 

MULTI-YEAR PLAN INCREASES CANADIAN IMMIGRATION LEVELS

The Government of Canada has once again increased its goals for the number of Canadian immigration visas that are authorized to be issued, according to its new multi-year plan revealed on March 10, 2020. Marco Mendicino, who is the current Canadian Immigration Minister, announced that the overall three-year goal for 2020-2022 is for 1.1 million foreign nationals to become Permanent Residents of Canada. The target for 2020 is to grant Canadian Permanent Residency to 341,000 new immigrants, while 351,000 people will be authorized for immigration to Canada in 2021, and 361,000 newcomers will be able to become a Canadian Permanent Resident in 2022, according to the multi-year plan. Most of the Canadian immigration visas that will be issued over the next three years will given to skilled immigrant workers and their families. The target for immigration to Canada during 2019 was set at 330,000, however, that goal was surpassed as the government actually approved 341,000 new immigrants for permanent residency status. Canadian Immigration Minister Mendicino was quoted as saying, “Our plan will benefit to all Canadians because immigration drives economic growth, contributes to our diversity, spurs innovation and helps employers across the country access the talent they need to succeed and thrive.” To read more, click here! 

 

NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION TO CANADA INCREASES FOR 5 CONSECUTIVE YEARS

The number of Nigerian middle class workers immigrating to Canada for better opportunities has been rising for the past five years in a row. According to recent data released by Canada’s government, the number of Nigerians approved for Canadian immigration has tripled during the last five years. In 2019, there were 12,595 Nigerians who were granted Canadian permanent residency through various immigration programs, making Nigeria the #4 country of origin for people immigrating to Canada that year. By comparison, there were 85,585 individuals from India approved for Canadian immigration in 2019, followed by 30,260 Chinese and 27,815 people from The Philippines. The rest of the top 10 source countries for Canadian immigration in 2019 included the United States (10,800), Pakistan (10,790), Syria (10,201), Eritrea (7,025), South Korea (6,110) and Iran (6,055). There are several reasons for increased Nigerian immigration to Canada, such as the growing demand by Canadian employers for skilled foreign workers, economic insecurity in Nigeria, better education options for their children, and access to healthcare. To read the full article, click here!

 

CANADIANS ENJOY THE BEST QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE WORLD

According to a report released on January 15, 2020, people living in Canada have the best quality of life in the world. US News & World Report, BAV Group, and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, conducted a global survey in 36 countries in order to determine the world’d best places to live in 2020. The 20,548 participants of this massive survey were asked to respond to numerous questions designed to evaluate each nation on 65 country attributes, which were grouped to create nine sub-rankings. The Quality of Life sub-ranking consisted of the following country attributes, each of which received a score on a scale of 1-10: economically stable, good job market, affordable, safe, politically stable,  well-developed public education system, family-friendly,  well-developed public health system, and income equality. Canada received an overall Quality of Life score of 10.0 which placed it ahead of every other country including: #2 Denmark, #3 Sweden, #4 Norway, #5 Australia, #6 Netherlands, #7 Switzerland, #8 New Zealand, #9 Finland, and #10 Germany. To read more, click here!

 

ECONOMIC GROWTH IN CANADA FUELED BY IMMIGRATION

The UK-based Centre for Economics and Business Research reported on December 26, 2019, that Canada has the 10th largest economy in the world, boasting a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019 of USD $1.73 trillion (CAD $2.25 trillion). The report also forecasts that Canada will have the world’s 9th largest economy by 2024 and the 8th biggest economy in the world by 2029. According to the analysis, continued population growth driven mainly by Canadian immigration is fueling strong economic growth in Canada. A press release issued by the Centre for Economic and Business Research declared, “Countries that are successful in attracting skilled migrants tend to grow faster.” Over 300,000 people immigrate to Canada every year (mostly skilled foreign workers and their families), making Canada one of the top immigration destinations. The report further predicted that Canada’s economy will surpass the economies of Italy and Brazil during the next fifteen years. To read the full article, click here! 

 

BETTER LIFE IN CANADA WORTH BRIEF STRUGGLES IMMIGRANTS EXPERIENCED

A family of five from India had the opportunity to immigrate to Canada in 2018 and settle in the Scarborough area of Toronto. In a recent interview, they shared their Canadian immigration story and stated that the brief struggles that they initially experienced were worth the higher standard of living in Canada that they now enjoy. The couple are in their thirties and have three children, ages eight, six and four. The family said that they had to make financial sacrifices, adapt to the colder weather and learn to understand English spoken with the Canadian accent. Nonetheless, the family has adjusted to living in Canada. The husband is now working in Canada as an IT consultant and his wife is completing an educational program to become a paralegal. They have also purchased a new car and will move into their new home in February 2020. During the interview, the couple explained that they decided to move to Canada for a better life and it certainly appears that their Canadian dream has come true. To read more, click here! 

 

PERMANENT RESIDENTS LIVING IN ALBERTA GRANTED CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP

At a special ceremony held in Edmonton on December 10, 2019, 47 immigrants took the oath to become a Canadian citizen. One of the permanent residents who was granted Canadian citizenship at the ceremony had moved to Canada from India with his wife and two children to seek a better quality of life. He expressed happiness to become a Canadian citizen and declared, “I think there are many reasons for people to move from different parts of the world to Canada – the better standard of living, a better education system, a better health-care system, the peace and security this country offers – and to me, it’s a mixture of all.” This proud new Canadian citizen also said that the people living in Canada are very accommodating, helpful and welcoming. Another immigrant originally from Australia decided that it was finally time to become a Canadian citizen after living in Canada as a permanent resident for three decades. To read the full article, click here! 

 

SUCCESSFUL IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURS GIVE BACK TO CANADIAN SOCIETY

After moving to Canada in 1972 with only $48, a successful immigrant family has made a multi-million dollar donation to the Scarborough Health Network in Ontario – the largest single donation in its history. Following their Canadian relocation almost 50 years ago, they worked at various jobs in Canada, saved their money and then opened a successful label making business which operated from their basement. Their business eventually grew to become one of the top label making companies in North America. According to their son, many of the immigrants living in the Scarborough area have done well in life and his parents are hoping to inspire them to also give back to the community. The Scarborough General Hospital held a ceremony to thank these immigrant philanthropists for their generous gift by naming the hospital’s emergency room after them. To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRANTS IN CALGARY SHOWCASE THEIR CULTURES WITH ONLINE VIDEO COOKBOOK

Canadian newcomers living in Calgary are showcasing their various cultures by posting home recipes in an online video cookbook. According to the Immigrant Education Society’s director of research and program development, immigrants have an opportunity to express who they are by posting these online cooking videos showing how to make ethnic dishes from their home countries. He explained, “Everybody eats and everybody cooks across cultures. It’s one unifying thing and it’s non-political, it’s just food.” An immigrant from Russia demonstrated how to make a Russian Salad, while a Canadian newcomer from El Salvador showed how to prepare a berry smoothie. To read the full article click here!

 

COLOMBIAN WANTS TO MOVE TO CANADA FOR WORK AND SAFETY 

A construction worker from Colombia is so committed to moving to Canada that he made a music video listing his job skills in the hope that a Canadian employer will see it and want to hire him. The tradesman said in a recent news interview that he has dreamed of Canadian immigration for years. In addition to his desire to work in Canada’s construction industry, where there is a high demand for skilled tradespeople, he is also motivated to move to Canada with his family because he wants them to live in safety. He explained that there is a lot of violence in his country and he wants his children to live in Canada, which is one of the most peaceful countries in the world. Therefore, he is hoping that his music video, which already has 9,000 views online, will catch the attention of an employer in Canada, that he will receive a job offer and then apply for Canadian immigration through the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). To read more, click here!

 

CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP GRANTED TO 100 IMMIGRANTS FROM 35 COUNTRIES

On November 29, 2019, 100 permanent residents of Canada took the oath to become a Canadian citizen at a ceremony held in Sudbury, British Columbia. The immigrants were from 35 different countries and had been living in Canada for various lengths of time. One of the immigrants to receive Canadian citizenship at the ceremony moved to Canada from Romania in 2005 to study abroad. She described Canada as a beautiful country of opportunities “full of blessing and prosperity and love.” Another immigrant originally from Germany had been living in Canada for 30 years as a permanent resident and decided it was time for her to complete the procedure to become a Canadian citizen. She said Canada’s beauty is her favorite aspect of her new country and declared, “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” To read the full article, click here!

 

CANADIAN IMMIGRATION AND HOME OWNERSHIP ARE INVESTMENTS FOR BETTER FUTURE

A new survey of 1,500 immigrants living in Canada for the past 10 years or less has found that the majority (54 percent) applied for Canadian immigration because they considered Canada to be a good country in which to work and live. The poll also revealed that 31% of these Canadian newcomers decided to relocate to Canada because of the warm welcome given to immigrants, while 26% said safety was their main motivation. The top three provinces where recent immigrants settled after moving to Canada were Ontario (46 percent), Quebec (19 percent) and British Columbia (13 percent). The influx of people relocating to Canada has helped to stimulate the real estate markets in these three provinces as the newcomers seek housing for their families. According to the data, immigrants account for 21% of all home purchases in Canada. If the current Canadian immigration trend continues, it is predicted that immigrants will buy around 680,000 homes in Canada over the next five years. Immigrants who move to Canada and become homeowners are making an investment that can provide many benefits to their families. They are also strengthening the Canadian real estate market and economy. To read more, click here!       

 

COUPLE FROM THE USA THANKFUL TO BE LIVING IN CANADA

An American citizen and his Mexican spouse, both in their 30s, are thankful after moving to Canada as new permanent residents. When Eddie was 14 years old, he traveled to the United States with his mother, who was receiving cancer treatment, and he had subsequently been living in the USA with undocumented status. In 2015, he married Tyler, who is an American citizen, and was allowed to remain in the United States under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. When Eddie learned that he could not become a US permanent resident because of his particular circumstances, he and Tyler decided to relocate to Canada to have a more stable living situation and better opportunities. They applied for Canadian immigration in July 2017, were approved for permanent residency in October of the same year, and were able to move to Canada to start their new lives in the summer of 2018. Their story captured the attention of Netflix, which documented their Canadian relocation efforts, traveling with them across the US-Canada border. Since moving to Canada and settling in Toronto, Eddie and Tyler have both found Canadian employment, they live in a nice home, and have made new friends. Tyler says he feels like he is living his “best life” there in Canada, while Eddie remarked, “I don’t feel stress. I just feel free.” To read more, click here! 

 

REFUGEES FROM SYRIA CAN VOTE AFTER RECEIVING CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP

A significant number of refugees from Syria who have been living in Canada as permanent residents will have the opportunity to vote after being granted Canadian citizenship. Approximately 60,000 Syrian refugees have been allowed to relocate to Canada as permanent residents under the Canadian immigration policies enacted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government. Many of these newcomers have been living in Canada as permanent residents for at least three years, meeting a key requirement to become a Canadian citizen. Mohammad, his wife Reem and their six children were among the first Syrian refugees to relocate to Canada, arriving in Toronto on December 27, 2015. After meeting all of the criteria, Mohammad was able to become a Canadian citizen at a special ceremony held on September 13, 2019 – just in time to vote in the national election taking place on October 21st. The Canadian citizenship applications for six of his children are still being processed (his seventh child was born in Canada and is, therefore, already a citizen). His wife will apply to become a Canadian citizen after she improves her English language skills. In regards to being granted Canadian citizenship, Muhammad declared, “I really feel that Canada is my country now.” He also said he is “excited” to have the opportunity to “really vote” in a free and open election. To read more, click here!   

 

MOST FOREIGN STUDENTS WANT TO BECOME A CANADIAN AFTER GRADUATION

A growing number of international students are choosing to study abroad in Canada. During the past decade, foreign students living in Canada has tripled to more than 570,000 in 2018. At a small Canadian university in Nova Scotia, enrollment of international students tripled in just the past two years. In fact,  Cape Breton University has become the first university in Canada where foreign students are the majority. When asked why they decided to study abroad in Canada, most international students said they hope to remain in the country after graduation and ultimately become a Canadian citizen. Canada’s government has also stated its desire to retain international students who have good English or French language abilities, along with the education and skills needed to fill Canadian job openings. The largest source countries for international students living in Canada are India, China, South Korea, France, Vietnam, USA, Brazil, Nigeria and Iran. Canadian provinces with the most international students include Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. To read the full article, click here! 

 

CANADIAN PASSPORT AMONG THE BEST FOR TRAVEL FREEDOM

An international ranking of passports with the most travel freedom has rated the Canadian passport among the best in the world. According to the 2019 Henley Passport Index, the Canadian passport is tied with the USA, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Belgium, Ireland and Greece as the #6 best passport to have, allowing citizens of Canada to travel to 184 countries without needing to get a visa or by receiving a visa or some other permit after they arrive at their destination. Besides indicating the extensive travel freedom that Canadian passport holders enjoy, this excellent ranking also reflects the high standard of living in Canada. For example, having greater travel freedom is frequently associated with possessing other freedoms or benefits (e.g., business freedom, investment freedom, property rights, economic health, judiciary that is independent, etc.). To read more, click here!  

 

VANCOUVER RANKED AS THE WORLD’S 5th MOST BEAUTIFUL CITY

Vancouver, a scenic seaside city located in British Columbia, has been ranked as the world’s 5th most beautiful city for 2019. A global survey of more than 1,000 travel agencies, travel writers and travel bloggers was conducted by the Flight Network and after they examined the results, Vancouver was considered to be the fifth most beautiful city on Earth, after #1 Paris, #2 New York, #3 London, and #4 Venice, and ahead of #6 Barcelona, #7 Cape Town, #8 San Francisco, #9 Sydney, #10 Rome and 40 other international cities. Canada’s largest city, Toronto, was also included among the top 50 most beautiful cities worldwide, placing 21st, while Quebec City was rated 23rd in the rankings. According to the Flight Network review, “Vancouver is an amazing place to visit. From a bustling metropolitan area to lush forests and pristine beaches – Vancouver has it all!” Toronto received praise for its arts and culture, diversity, and flourishing food scene, while Quebec City was noted for its historical architecture and culture. To read more, click here! 

 

EMPLOYEES FEEL WELCOMED WORKING IN CANADA

A report released by the Kantar research firm on September 17, 2019, declares Canada to be the best country in regards to having workplaces that make employees feel welcomed. This determination was made after 18,000 workers were surveyed in 14 countries in April-June 2019. Survey participants were asked questions such as if they had experienced discrimination or negative behavior on the job, as well as whether they felt a sense of belonging in the workplace. Canada received the highest overall rating on the Kantar Inclusion Index, followed by #2 United States, #3 Germany, #4 Italy, and 10 other countries. People who work in Canada gave especially high ratings to Canadian employers for having ethnic and gender diversity in top management positions. To read more, click here! 

 

SEVERAL CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES ARE LISTED AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD

The 2019-2020 Times Higher Education global ranking of universities has listed several Canadian universities among the best in the world. The University of Toronto was ranked as the 18th best university in the world and the #3 public university in North America. Coming in 34th place internationally was the University of British Columbia, followed by McGill University which was rated #42 in the world. The prestigious Times Higher Education ranking included two other Canadian universities in the Top 100, with McMaster University placing #72 and the University of Montreal rated #85. Additionally, the University of Alberta was listed #136 and the University of Ottawa was ranked #141 globally. The president of the University of Toronto commented that international students (and their parents), as well as foreign faculty, consider these global rankings when they decide which university they would like to be at. To read more, click here! 

 

CANADIAN JOBS SURGED BY MORE THAN 81,000 NEW POSITIONS IN AUGUST 2019

Canada’s economy enjoyed a surge of more than 81,000 new Canadian jobs in August 2019, according to data released by Statistics Canada on September 6, 2019. This was the largest increase of new jobs in Canada since a record 106,500 Canadian job openings were filled in April of this year. Since August 2018, the Canadian economy has added 471,300 new jobs and worker wages have risen an average of 3.7 percent. Despite this spike in Canadian jobs, the country’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at a 40-year low of just 5.7 percent. Quebec boasted the lowest unemployment rate in Canada for August 2019 at only 4.7 percent, followed by British Columbia at 5.0 percent, Saskatchewan at 5.1 percent, with Ontario and Manitoba both at 5.6 percent. Many cities across Canada have extremely low unemployment rates and employers are facing a challenge finding qualified workers. For example, Quebec City had an unemployment rate of just 2.6 percent, while in Victoria it was 3.3 percent, Gatineau had 4.2 percent, Vancouver saw 4.4 percent and the rate in Ottawa was only 4.9 percent. To read the full article, click here! 

 

CALGARY RANKED MOST LIVABLE CITY IN NORTH AMERICA AND #5 IN THE WORLD

In September 2019, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) named Calgary as the #1 most livable city in North America and ranked it 5th in the world after Vienna, Melbourne, Sydney and Osaka. Two other Canadian cities were also included among the world’s top 10 most livable cities for 2019, with Vancouver rated #6 and Toronto tied with Tokyo for 7th place. The EIU 2019 Global Liveability Index evaluated 140 cities around the world based on their culture and environment, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and stability. Each city received a score for each of these factors, ranging from a low of zero to a perfect score of 100, as well as an overall score also on a scale of 0-100. Calgary received an overall rating of 97.5 out of 100; Vancouver had 97.3 and Toronto earned 97.2 for its combined score. For each of the livability factors, Calgary received a perfect score of 100 for education, healthcare, infrastructure, and stability, while it was given a very high score of 97.5 for culture and environment. To read more, click here!   

 

CANADA WANTS TO ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN STUDENTS AND SKILLED WORKERS

The Canadian government has simplified the process for international students from Morocco and Senegal to study in Canada as it tries to attract more foreign students and skilled workers from French-speaking countries. Starting on September 9, 2019, foreign students from Morocco and Senegal will have access to the Student Direct Stream (SDS) for faster processing of their Canadian study permit applications for post-secondary study abroad programs in Canada. In a statement about this addition to the SDS program, Canadian Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said, “Canada’s diverse, welcoming society, high-quality educational institutions and opportunities to work or immigrate after graduation have made Canada a leading destination of choice for students from around the world.” He also declared, “In expanding the Student Direct Stream to a more diverse range of prospective students, we’re enhancing the tremendous cultural, social and economic benefits that international students provide.” International students from Morocco and Senegal will join students from China, India, Pakistan, The Philippines and Vietnam in receiving access to the SDS program. To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRANT LIVING IN CANADA WINS $60 MILLION LOTTERY PRIZE IN ALBERTA

On August 28, 2019, an immigrant from Vietnam living in the province of Alberta claimed his $60 million prize that he won playing the Canadian lottery. The man, who lives in Edmonton, had been quietly holding on to his winning Lotto Max ticket for 305 days since learning that he correctly picked all of the “lucky” numbers in the Canadian lottery that took place on October 26, 2018. He had been playing the same lottery numbers every week for almost 30 years while working in Canada as a landscaper and raising his family. At the ceremony, he stated that he was still shocked, but really happy. His niece commented that it was wonderful that an immigrant from Vietnam could move to Canada with nothing and then have this happen. To read more, click here!   

 

NEW BRUNSWICK SEEKS SKILLED FOREIGN WORKERS AND ENTREPRENEURS 

New Brunswick wants to attract thousands of skilled foreign workers, entrepreneurs and French-speaking immigrants over the next five years, according to its provincial immigration plan released on August 27, 2019. By 2024, New Brunswick hopes to triple the number of immigrants moving to this Atlantic province to 7,500 per year, which is a significant increase from the 2,100 immigrants it plans to attract during 2019. It is forecast that there will be 120,000 Canadian job openings in New Brunswick between 2018 and 2027, but around 13,000 of those job vacancies will need to be filled by workers from outside the province. According to New Brunswick’s Minister of Labor, “The attraction and retention of new Canadians is critical to helping us increase our province’s population and meet the needs of our employers.”  To read more, click here!  

 

FAMILIAR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES LIKE SOCCER HELP IMMIGRANTS TO INTEGRATE   

According to a sociologist from the Dalhousie University in Halifax, familiar social activities are important for immigrants, especially young people, when they relocate to Canada. Playing sports, like soccer, can help young immigrants to better integrate into living in Canada by doing something they enjoy from their country of origin, making new friends, attending social events, etc. A prime example is an 18-year-old immigrant from Syria who has been playing soccer in Ottawa with 60 other immigrants since moving to Canada four years ago. To read the full article, click here!

 

NEW IMMIGRANTS ENJOY QUALITY LIVING IN CANADA’S SMALLER COMMUNITIES   

When new immigrants relocate to Canada, they tend to settle in big cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Although the largest cities are more multicultural and have the most Canadian job openings, a new study has found that smaller cities and towns are also great places for new immigrants to live in Canada. A report published by Macleans on August 8, 2019, looked at hundreds of cities and towns throughout Canada and named Grimsby, Ontario, as the top-rated community for new Canadian residents. Grimsby is a small town that is situated next to Lake Ontario and has a population of around 28,631 people. The area where Grimsby is located has a low unemployment rate of about 4.7 percent, so there are plenty of Canadian jobs available nearby. Furthermore, the median annual household income of the town’s residents is $98,669, yet, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is just $901 per month, making Grimsby a very affordable place for new immigrants to live in Canada. Some of the other top 10 Canadian communities where immigrants enjoy a high quality of life include Niagara-on-the-Lake, Oakville, Ottawa, Burlington, Hamilton, and Toronto (all located in Ontario), as well as West Vancouver, Oak Bay, and Saanich (all found in British Columbia). To read more, click here!   

 

CANADA RANKED #3 BEST COUNTRY OVERALL FOR EXPATS TO LIVE AND WORK ABROAD    

The 2019 HSBC Expat Explorer Survey of 18,059 foreign workers from around the globe has ranked Canada as the #3 best country overall for expats to live and work abroad. Countries were rated on several factors considered important to expat workers and their families. Canada received its highest ratings for living, fulfillment, open and welcoming communities, political stability, quality of life, ease of settling in, economic stability, disposable income, work-life balance, learning and schooling. The survey’s report begins by saying families that relocate to Canada can expect a warm welcome. It also declares, “Canada is one of the top destinations for those seeking a better quality of life. Expats quickly warm to the spectacular scenery and diverse culture, making it hard for many to leave at all.” Furthermore, the survey states, “Canada is the perfect home for those looking to settle down with their family in a new country…Parents say their children quickly settle into their new surroundings, easily making new friendships and growing in confidence as a result.” Canada improved it standing among the very best countries for expat workers and their families to live, moving up in the rankings from #4 in 2018 to third overall in 2019 after #1 Switzerland and #2 Singapore. To read more, click here!

 

SKILLED TRADESPEOPLE RECEIVE GOOD SALARIES WORKING IN CANADA 

A spokesperson for Employment and Social Development Canada recently commented that “There is still limited awareness about the wide range of opportunities in the skilled trades.” She also noted that many young people living in Canada don’t realize that an apprenticeship can lead to high-paying Canadian employment. In the past, many people considered working in Canada’s skilled trades as simply an option for those who were not able or did not want to attend university. Increasing demand for skilled tradespeople in Canada, along with their rising salaries, is changing that perception. Some of the best-paying jobs in Canada are in the skilled trades, due in large part to growing demand and reduced supply. The hourly wages earned by certified tradespeople working in Canada during 2018 include the following examples: boilermakers ($38 per hour); ironworkers ($33.50 per hour); and pipefitters and steamfitters ($35.10 per hour). The average salary for a heavy duty equipment technician working in Canada four years after being Red Seal certified is $107,220 annually. It usually takes less time to train for Canadian employment as a skilled tradesperson compared with occupations that require a university degree. For many skilled trades, an apprenticeship must be completed and Red Seal certification is required in the province where the tradesperson will work in Canada. Over the next five years, Canada will need 167,739 new apprentices in order to satisfy the expected demand for skilled tradespeople across the country. To read more, click here! 

 

IMMIGRANTS TAKE OATH TO BECOME A CANADIAN CITIZEN IN MONTREAL   

Thousands of people living in Montreal celebrated Canada Day festivities held on July 1, 2019, including immigrants who took the oath to become a Canadian citizen. Several events were held across Montreal to celebrate Canada’s 152nd anniversary of the nation’s Confederation. Festivities included the annual Canada Day parade and a concert, fly-by from Canadian Air Force jets, a 21-gun salute, concerts, fireworks, and a special ceremony at the Old Port where permanent residents became new citizens of Canada. Speaking at the Canadian citizenship ceremony was Mutsumi Takahashi, an anchor for CTV who was able to relocate to Canada with her family as a child. She told the new Canadian citizens, “Canada gave me great opportunities as it will to you and your children.” An immigrant from France said he felt “privileged and honored” to become a Canadian citizen on Canada Day. This was just one of 42 Canadian citizenship ceremonies held across the country during the Canada Day national holiday. To read more, click here!    

 

MAKING FRIENDS QUICKLY AFTER MOVING TO CANADA BENEFITS IMMIGRANTS  

In June 2019, the Canadian government’s statistics agency reported two easy ways for immigrants to boost their salaries after they immigrate to Canada. First, immigrants can increase their incomes by making new friends as soon as possible after they relocate to Canada (for example, within the first six months). Second, it is important for immigrants living in Canada to make friends with individuals from different ethnic groups, rather than only having friendships with people from the same ethnicity. This is because immigrants with diverse Canadian friendships and social networks can further expand their possibilities for finding jobs in Canada versus newcomers with a limited circle of friends. Data analyzed by Statistics Canada revealed that immigrants with diverse friendships and/or who quickly made friends when they arrived in Canada earned thousands of dollars more per year compared with immigrants who did not find friends fast and/or limited their Canadian friendships to people of their own ethnicity. To read more, click here!   

 

MORE REFUGEES RELOCATE TO CANADA THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN 2018  

According to the United Nations Global Trends Report released in June 2019, Canada was the #1 country to formally resettle refugees during 2018. The UNHCR reported that 25 countries formally resettled 92,400 refugees in 2018, including the 28,100 refugees who were approved to relocate to Canada permanently. By comparison, the United States authorized 22,900 refugees to resettle there that same year. Not only did Canada surpass the USA in absolute terms for resettling the most refugees in 2018, but also in relative terms, since only 37 million people live in Canada, while the United States has 329 million residents. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed a desire for more skilled foreign workers and refugees to move to Canada. In 2016, Prime Minister Trudeau was quoted as saying, “The fact is Canadians understand that immigration, that people fleeing for their lives, that people wanting to build a better life for themselves and their kids is what created Canada, it’s what created North America.” To read the full article, click here!  

 

RESIDENTS OF QUEBEC COMMUNITY WELCOME IMMIGRANTS WITH DANCE  

A small town in the Canadian province of Quebec wants to make sure that new immigrants feel at home living in their community. Saint-Jean-Port-Joli is located 119 km northeast of Quebec City along the Saint Lawrence River and has a population of only 3,300 residents. The locals want immigrants to feel welcomed living in their community, so the newcomers are invited to a dance where they can meet and get to know each other better. Immigrants from Algeria, France, Germany, Philippines, Tunisia and other countries have participated in the festivities, which include music, traditional dancing, food and a lot of fun. Many immigrants have settled in the area and found jobs as carpenters, engineers, machinists, welders and other occupations that are in high demand due to a shortage of workers there. One of the local residents said, “There is space for new arrivals, and we have to help them in finding ways to integrate into Quebec society, in our villages, in our regions.” To read more, click here! 

 

NEW BRUNSWICK’S CAPITAL CITY REVEALS CANADIAN IMMIGRATION PLAN 

 On June 7, 2019, the five-year Canadian immigration strategy was announced for New Brunswick’s capital city. The plan seeks to attract 1,000 immigrants annually for the next 25 years who will settle in Fredericton, the provincial capital. In order to reach this goal, Fredericton’s mayor says the city will “streamline the programs and procedures for the recruitment, retention, and settlement and integration of newcomers.” An immigrant from Vietnam, who started a business in Fredericton after moving to Canada three years earlier, commented that the strategy will be a “big improvement” and send the message that “the city is willing to help us newcomers to be successful in our new home.” There were 1,470 immigrants who relocated to Fredericton in 2018. To read the full article, click here! 

 

SYRIAN CUISINE THRIVES IN MULTICULTURAL TORONTO 

Syrian restaurant owners are thriving in Toronto, a multicultural metropolis that has developed a taste for their Middle Eastern cuisine. Over 60,000 people from Syria have been approved for immigration to Canada since the end of 2015, most of them refugees from the conflict in their country of origin. Many of these Canadian newcomers settled in the Toronto metropolitan area, which is home to a diverse population and is famous for its endless ethnic eateries. Immigrants from Syria have started several successful restaurants or other businesses in Toronto, which is a very welcoming city with a large Syrian expat community and a growing appetite for Middle Eastern foods. To read more, click here!  

 

MONTREAL IMMIGRANT BECOMES SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR

An immigrant from Portugal has become a Canadian entrepreneur with a successful photography business in Montreal, six years after moving to Canada with only 40 Euros in his pocket. This Canadian immigration success story started back in 2013, when a 36-year-old man from Portugal moved to Montreal, which is the largest city in Quebec and the second most populace city in Canada. He initially started working in Canada as a janitor, but his talent for photography was soon discovered. Today, this  immigrant entrepreneur owns a professional photography business and has gained  a good reputation locally and internationally for his amazing wedding photos. To read the full article, click here!   

 

CANADIAN CAREERS TO CONSIDER DURING 2019

Canadian job seekers will want to review a new ranking of the best Canadian careers for this year that was released in May 2019. There are 100 occupations listed according to their past performance in the five previous years, their predicted outlook for 2024, and the median salary per year for each of these top jobs in Canada. Leading the list of the best Canadian jobs for 2019 is nurse practitioner, a career that usually requires a Master’s Degree in Nursing and has a high median salary of $104,000 per year. Over the past five years, Canadian employment surged by 75% for nurse practitioners, who saw their wages soar by an incredible 35% during the same period of time. By 2024, it is predicted that there will not be enough nurse practitioners working in Canada to meet the skyrocketing demand. To see the full Canadian job ranking and related career information, click here!   

 

IMMIGRANTS HAPPY TO BECOME CANADIAN CITIZENS AT CEREMONY

At a special ceremony held on March 4, 2019, 65 immigrants from 16 countries took the oath to become a Canadian citizen in Surrey, British Columbia. Several of the Canadian permanent residents who became new citizens of Canada at the ceremony held near Vancouver were originally from The Philippines. Among them were a daughter and her mother, both from The Philippines, who received their Canadian citizenship together. The 26-year-old daughter, who had been living in Canada for six years, said that she was “very, very happy” to become a Canadian citizen. She also stated that the ceremony was extra special since her mother was standing there beside her to also receive her Canadian citizenship. Her 52-year-old mother, who had been living in Canada for 10 years, expressed pride in receiving her Canadian citizenship. To read more, click here!

 

CANADIAN EMPLOYMENT AT 40-YEAR HIGH WITH 94,100 NEW JOBS ADDED

Statistics Canada reported on December 7, 2018, that the economy gained a net 94,100 new Canadian jobs during November 2018, which included 89,900 new full-time positions that were filled. The good economic news does stop here, however, as the national unemployment rate fell even further to its lowest level in 40 years (only 5.6 percent). Furthermore, the government’s statistics agency reported that 78,600 of the new jobs in Canada created in November were in the private sector. For the 12-month period ending in November 2018, there were an additional  218,800 people working in Canada compared to the same time in 2017. To read more and view the video, click here!

 

REFUGEES RECEIVE SPONSORSHIP FOR RELOCATION TO CANADA

Canadian and American philanthropists have donated $3.5 million to assist community groups with sponsoring hundreds of refugees for relocation in Canada. The donations given by these philanthropists are making it possible for 685 additional refugees to receive private sponsorship for immigration to Canada through the Blended Visa Office Referred (BVOR) program during 2018. The BVOR program allows qualifying refugees that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has identified to receive private sponsorship, with part of the cost of relocation in Canada paid by the private sponsors and part of the expenses covered by the Canadian government. Thousands of refugees are permitted to relocate to Canada each year through various programs (such as BVOR), which allows them leave difficult situations and live in one of the world’s most peaceful and prosperous countries. To read the full article, click here!

 

SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CANADIAN IMMIGRATION VISAS ANNOUNCED

On October 31, 2018, the Canadian immigration minister, Ahmed Hussen, announced plans to substantially increase the number of people who could be authorized to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents. Under the new multi-year Canadian immigration plan, up to 330,800 people could be granted a permanent resident visa to Canada during 2019; as many as 341,000 in 2020; and 350,000 individuals could be approved for Canadian permanent residency during 2021. By comparison, the target for immigration to Canada in 2018 is 310,000 new permanent residents. The majority of these Canadian immigration visas will be issued to skilled foreign workers (also known as “economic immigrants”). According to the Canadian immigration minister, “the hunger for workers is huge” because there are not enough qualified people to fill thousands of vacant jobs in Canada, due in large part to an increase in older workers retiring. To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRANTS ARE INCREASINGLY DRIVING THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY IN CANADA

Many immigrants are finding good-paying job opportunities working in Canada’s trucking industry, which is experiencing an ongoing shortage of qualified drivers. In fact, a report released by the Trucking Alliance of Canada in 2016 predicts a shortage of 34,000 truck drivers across the country by 2024. Over the past several years, an increasing percentage of truck driving jobs in Canada have been filled by immigrants, with a significant proportion originally from countries in South Asia. In 1996, fewer than 2% of all truck drivers working in Canada were immigrants from South Asia, but 20 years later they accounted for 18% of the 181,000 Canadian truck drivers employed in 2016. The percentage of immigrants from South Asia working in Canada as truck drivers is much higher (over 50 percent) in large cities like Toronto and Vancouver. According to Statistics Canada, around one-third of all Canadian truck drivers are originally from South Asia. To read the full article, click here!   

 

CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY HELD AT TORONTO’S CN TOWER 

An extra special and rather unique ceremony took place in Toronto on October 9, 2018, when the Canadian citizenship minister Ahmed Hussen administered the oath to six permanent residents so they could become brand new citizens of Canada. Most immigrants consider the Canadian citizenship ceremony to be a very meaningful experience, but these newcomers took this special event to a much higher level. There are several reasons why their Canadian citizenship ceremony was extra special. For starters, each of the six immigrants took the oath to become a Canadian citizen on the outside of the CN Tower, which soars 553.3 meters above downtown Toronto. Secondly, the government official who administered the oath to them from the exterior of the CN Tower was none other than the Canadian immigration minister himself, Ahmed Hussen (who is an immigrant from Somalia). Third, these immigrants – who moved to Canada from Armenia, India, Iraq, Jamaica, The Philippines and Ukraine – had their ceremony during Canadian Citizenship Week. To read more, see photos or watch the video,  click here! 

 

SURGE IN CANADIAN POPULATION DRIVEN BY IMMIGRATION

In September 2018, Statistics Canada reported that the Canadian population increased by 518,588 residents during the 12 months between July 1, 2017 and July 1, 2018, reaching a record 37.1 million people. The Canadian government’s statistics agency also revealed that this was the country’s largest surge in population since 1957 and that it was primarily driven by immigration to Canada. For example, an additional 303,257 immigrants were living in Canada as new permanent residents on July 1, 2018, compared with 12 months earlier, plus there was a net increase of 165,729 non-permanent residents added to the Canadian population during this same time frame. These newcomers to Canada accounted for 80% of the overall Canadian population growth, according to the agency. The historic influx of people moving to Canada has helped to stimulate the country’s growing economy by providing a steady flow of workers to fill Canadian job openings resulting from an aging labor force.  To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRANT FROM AFRICA WINS MILLIONS IN TWO CANADIAN LOTTERIES

A 28-year-old immigrant living in Canada may be one of the luckiest people alive, since he won a total of $3.5 million CAD in two Canadian lotteries during a five-month period. The man, who is originally from a country in Africa and living in Manitoba, won $1.5 million CAD in a lottery held in April 2018. Then, “lightning struck twice” and the Winnipeg resident won an additional $2 million CAD jackpot in a lottery held in August 2018. Now that he has become a Canadian multi-millionaire, this happy immigrant says that he would like to start his own business and also get further education in Canada. After winning the first Canadian lottery in April 2018, he moved his wife and children out of their apartment into a house with a nice yard and near good schools in Winnipeg. To read the full article, click here!     

 

GREAT CANADIAN CAREERS FOR 2018  

Would you like to enjoy an incredible career living and working in Canada? A new study looks at 100 leading careers in Canada and provides information about median salaries, wage growth for the past five years, Canadian jobs added in the last five years, and the future career outlook for each occupation. According to the study, the top 10 Canadian careers for 2018 are: #1 utilities manager, #2 engineering manager, #3 pipefitting supervisor, #4 pharmacist, #5 public administration director, #6 healthcare manager, #7 senior business manager, #8 banking and credit manager, #9 veterinarian, and #10 marketing and public relations manager. Many other occupations are listed among the 100 top Canadian careers for 2018 from a variety of business sectors (e.g., construction, education, finance, healthcare, natural resources, technology, etc.). To read more, click here!   

 

PEOPLE ENJOY A HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING IN CANADA’S CITIES 

Canadian cities are among the best places in the world to experience a high standard of living, according to The Economist’s 2018 ranking of major cities around the globe. In August 2018, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) named Calgary as the 4th most livable city in the world, with Vancouver coming in 6th place and Toronto rated #7 (tied with Tokyo, Japan). Each year, the EIU evaluates 140 international cities on a scale of 0-100 with scores calculated based on 30  “livability” factors that are grouped into five categories: stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and culture & environment. This year, Calgary received an overall score of 97.5 percent, while Vancouver followed close behind with 97.3 percent and Toronto was rated at 97.2 percent out of a perfect score of 100. To read more, click here!      

 

MOST CANADIANS HAVE A POSITIVE VIEW OF IMMIGRANTS

A survey of 2,000 people who live in Canada which was published in March 2018 has found that the majority of Canadians have a positive view of immigrants. The survey was conducted by the Environics Institute for Survey Research during February 2018 and revealed that 80% of people living in Canada think that immigrants have a positive impact on the Canadian economy. Furthermore, 60% of people who live in Canada indicated that they did not think Canadian immigration levels are too high. Approximately 300,000 people immigrate to Canada each year. The  Environics Institute for Survey Research has been gathering data on the attitudes of Canadians toward immigrants and immigration to Canada for over 30 years and discovered that Canadians have been consistent over time in maintaining a favorable perception of immigrants. To read more, click here!   

 

CANADA IS RANKED #7 IN THE 2018 WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT

In March 2018, the annual World Happiness Report named Canada as the 7th happiest country for 2018. The 156 countries listed in the 2018 World Happiness Report were evaluated for the happiness of their residents based on such factors as healthy life expectancy, per person Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and self-perceptions of happiness of those surveyed for this study. Respondents were asked to rank on a scale of 1-10 their perceptions about having freedom of choice, social support, and the level of corruption in the country where they lived. The #1 happiest country for 2018 was Finland, followed by #2 Norway, #3 Denmark, #4 Iceland, #5 Switzerland, #6 Netherlands, #7 Canada, #8 New Zealand, #9 Sweden, and #10 Australia. Canada was also ranked #4 in the world for its acceptance of immigrants. To read the full article, click here!

 

OVER 400,000 NEW CANADIAN JOBS CREATED IN 2017

Statistics Canada reported in January 2018 that the Canadian economy had a very good year in 2017, producing 422,500 new jobs in Canada, including 394,200 full-time jobs. As of December 2017, Canada’s unemployment rate stood at a 41-year low of only 5.7 percent. Not since 1976 have this many people been working in Canada. The services sector created the largest number of new jobs in Canada in 2017, with 290,300 positions filled. Canadian employment increased by 132,100 in the goods-producing sector during 2017, while 85,700 jobs in Canada were produced in manufacturing. In addition to substantially more people working in Canada last year, salaries also soared by an average increase of 2.9 percent, putting extra money in the pockets of Canadian consumers. To read more, click here! 

 

CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS SKYROCKET

One week after Canada’s government relaxed the requirements to apply for Canadian citizenship, the number of applications skyrocketed to 17,500 from an average of 3,653 per week. In the second week after the new rules went into effect, there was still a significant increase, with 12,530 Canadian citizenship applications filed. Approximately 200,000 permanent residents of Canada apply to become a Canadian citizen each year, but this number may soar now that the procedure has been streamlined. Starting October 11, 2017, Canadian permanent residents only need to live in Canada for three years and meet other criteria before applying for Canadian citizenship. To read read the full article, click here! 

 

MORE CANADIAN VISAS PLANNED FOR NEW IMMIGRANTS DURING 2018-2020

The Canadian government wants almost one-million people to immigrate to Canada during the next three years, according to the new Canadian immigration plan released on November 1, 2017. Goals for immigration to Canada during 2018 include 177,500 Canadian visas for economic class immigrants; 86,000 for family reunification; and 46,500 visas for refugees, protected persons and for humanitarian reasons (a total of 310,000 new immigrants).  In 2019, the plan is to grant 330,000 Canadian visas to new permanent residents through the economic class (191,600); family reunification (88,500); and refugee, protected person and humanitarian (49,900) programs. The Canadian immigration target is even higher for 2020, when it is hoped that 340,000 immigrants will move to Canada, including 195,800 through the economic class visa programs; 91,000 via family reunification; and 53,200 refugees, protected persons or others granted Canadian residency status for humanitarian reasons. A major reason for increasing the number of people who immigrate to Canada is that more Canadians are retiring and skilled foreign workers are needed to fill job vacancies across the country. To read more, click here! 

 

PERMANENT RESIDENTS CAN NOW APPLY FOR CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP AFTER 3 YEARS 

Starting October 11, 2017, individuals who immigrate to Canada can apply for Canadian citizenship after they live in Canada as permanent residents for only three years and meet other criteria. Canada’s government wants to make it faster and easier for more immigrants to “join the Canadian family.” Therefore, it lowered the number of years that permanent residents must live in Canada before they can apply to become a Canadian citizen from four years within a six-year timeframe to just three years within a five year period. To read more, click here!    

 

IMMIGRANT HAPPY TO BECOME A CANADIAN CITIZEN AT SPECIAL CEREMONY

A special ceremony was held during September 2017 in Canada’s national capital of Ottawa to grant Canadian citizenship to 47 permanent residents of Canada. Speaking at the event was Ahmed Hussen, Canada’s immigration minister, who himself is an immigrant from Somalia who took the oath to become a Canadian citizen 15 years earlier. He told the immigrants, “You have chosen to be part of a country that embraces equality, and diversity and respect for all, regardless of ethnicity or gender — a country where diversity is not seen as a weakness but is celebrated as a strength.” The 47 permanent residents who received Canadian citizenship at the ceremony came from 25 countries, including a man from Nicaragua who found the ceremony to be a very emotional experience. To read more, click here! 

 

CANADA’S ECONOMY LEADS G-7 COUNTRIES WITH 4.5% GDP GROWTH

According to a report released by Statistics Canada on August 31, 2017, the Canadian economy grew at an annual rate of 4.5% during the second quarter of 2017, fueled by the strongest consumer spending since 2008. Not only is this the best economic growth in Canada since 2011, but the Canadian economy also boasts the #1 highest growth rate of any of the G-7 countries! With the economy surging close to full capacity, people who live in Canada feel more confident about spending, which in turn stimulates further economic growth and boosts Canadian job creation. To read the full article, click here! 

 

TECH FIRMS IN OTTAWA CREATING THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN CANADA

The technology sector is booming in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa and creating thousands of high-paying Canadian jobs. In fact, the Kanata North Business Association reported in August 2017 that tech firms in the Ottawa area want to hire around 3,000 high-tech professionals over the next several months. Furthermore, Invest Ottawa forecasts that approximately 10,000 Canadian jobs in the technology sector will need to be filled in Ottawa between 2017 and 2019. With qualified tech workers in high demand and low supply in Ottawa, the “Law of Supply & Demand” has sent salaries soaring in the city. For example, many technology companies in Ottawa are paying university graduates with particular high-demand skills (such as expertise in Artificial Intelligence) starting salaries of between $60,000 and $70,000 per year fresh out of the university. Many technology professionals who have already moved to Ottawa report that they like earning higher salaries there and also enjoy the lifestyle in Canada’s national capital. To read more, click here!  

 

VANCOUVER, TORONTO AND CALGARY AMONG WORLD’S MOST LIVABLE CITIES

In August 2017, researchers at the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) published their annual evaluation of cities around the globe and ranked Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary among the top five “Most Livable Cities in the World” for 2017. Each of the 140 international cities was assessed based upon five major factors (stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure) and given an overall score and comparative ranking. Vancouver was named as the 3rd most livable city in the world for 2017, Toronto was rated #4, and Calgary tied with Adelaide (Australia) for 5th place. These three Canadian cities received the same rankings by The Economist in 2016 and in earlier years, indicating a consistency over time in the high quality of life generally available to their residents. To read more, click here! 

 

CANADIAN EMPLOYMENT IS AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN NINE YEARS

Strong economic growth created 387,600 new Canadian jobs between July 2016 and July 2017, according to data released by Statistics Canada. This was the highest gain in Canadian employment since 2007. Canada’s governmental statistics agency also reported that 353,500 of the new jobs in Canada that were created during the past 12 months were full-time positions, with 35,100 full-time Canadian jobs filled just in July 2017 alone. The good economic news doesn’t stop there, however, as Statistics Canada further reported that Canadian employment is now at its highest level since October 2008. To read the full article, click here!  

 

OVERVIEW OF THE CANADIAN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM

The Canadian immigration system is being examined as a possible model for US immigration and this has contributed to increased interest in immigration to Canada. There are several Canadian immigration programs for different classes of immigrants, such as skilled foreign workers (often referred to as “economic immigrants”), family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents, refugees, etc. The Canadian government has established a goal to authorize 300,000 immigrants to move to Canada as new permanent residents during 2017, which is a similar target that was successfully reached in 2016. Most of the foreign nationals who will be approved for Canadian immigration this year are skilled foreign workers who are needed to fill high-demand jobs in Canada. The Canadian government plans to permit 172,500 “economic immigrants” to move to Canada as permanent residents in 2017, primarily through the points-based Express Entry system. To read more, click here! 

 

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CANADA ARE AMONG THE MOST EDUCATED IN THE WORLD

Canada has one of the world’s best performing education systems, which has helped to produce some of the most educated people on the planet. In fact, many are referring to Canada as a global educational superpower, because of the high quality of education that is received by people who live in Canada. According to the most recent results from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which is conducted around the globe by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), teenagers who live in Canada are among the world’s top scoring students in assessments of math, reading and science skills. Furthermore, 55% of working-age adults who live in Canada have received a higher education, compared to the overall OECD average of 35 percent (a significant difference). Canada’s excellent education system produces impressive outcomes for both Canadian-born students and the children of people who immigrate to Canada, as well as students from advantaged and disadvantaged families. An explanation given by the OECD’s Education Director for the high educational achievement attained across the socioeconomic spectrum by children who live in Canada is that the educational system in each Canadian province and territory provides all students with equal opportunities to succeed. To read the full article, click here! 

 

CANADA RANKED #2 BEST COUNTRY FOR IMMIGRANTS TO LIVE IN 2017

A survey of 21,000 people in 80 countries has found that Canada is considered to be the #2 best country in the world for immigrants to live in 2017. The “Best Countries for Immigrants” study, which was published by US News & World Report on July 10, 2017, listed Canada as the #2 best place on the planet for immigrants to live, after #1 Sweden and ahead of #3 Switzerland, #4 Australia, #5 Germany, #6 Norway, #7 United States, #8 Netherlands, #9 Finland, #10 Denmark and 70 other countries. In assessing the 80 countries in the study, researchers looked at several factors such as each country’s job market, economic stability, inequality, immigration policy, and whether survey participants indicated that they would like to live in that country. Results from this same large survey released earlier in 2017 also rated Canada as the #1 best country in the world for quality of life and the #2 best country overall. To read more, click here!     

 

CANADA CELEBRATES ITS 150TH BIRTHDAY WITH STRONG ECONOMIC GROWTH

People who live in Canada have much to celebrate, not only because their country is marking its 150th birthday, but also since the Canadian economy is booming. The business outlook in Canada has not been this good since 2011, with Canadian GDP growth (up 3.3% over last year) at its strongest level since 2014, according to data from Statistics Canada. Furthermore, the Bank of Canada reports that the hiring intentions of Canadian employers is currently at a record high, as strong economic growth is creating many new jobs in Canada. Thus, as Canada celebrates 150 years since Confederation, it is not surprising that there has been a spike in tourists visiting Canada to join in on the festivities in this beautiful, multicultural country. With thousands of jobs in Canada needing to be filled, and 300,000 foreign nationals being approved for Canadian immigration each year, this is also an excellent time to for those who want to live and work in Canada. To read the full article, click here! 

 

THE TOP PLACES TO LIVE IN CANADA FOR 2017

For people who are considering Canadian immigration, finding a good place to live in Canada is one of the first priorities. Thus, a survey of 417 locations across Canada that was published by Macleans.ca on July 4, 2017, may be a useful tool for seeking the right place to call home. In ranking the top places to live in Canada for 2017, researchers evaluated each location based upon the following criteria: robust economy; high wealth and income; home affordability; low taxes; transit friendly; health accessibility; low crime; arts and community; and nice weather. According to the study, the Canadian national capital, Ottawa, which is located in the province of Ontario, is the #1 city to live in Canada. Other top places to live in Canada include #2  Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures in Quebec; #3 Oak Bay and #4  North Saanich (both in British Columbia); #5 Weyburn in Saskatchewan; #6 Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville in Quebec; #7 St. Albert in the province of Alberta; #8 Mont-Royal, Quebec; #9 Burlington, Ontario; and #10 Lévis, Quebec. To read more, click here! 

 

SIX IMMIGRANTS IN ALBERTA SHARE HOW IT FEELS TO BECOME A CANADIAN

On July 1, 2017, a Canadian citizenship ceremony took place at Heritage Park in Calgary, Alberta, in which 105 immigrants from 31 countries recited the oath to become a Canadian citizen. Six of these new citizens of Canada took time to share how it feels to become a Canadian and to live in Canada. A 20-year-old immigrant from Iran spoke about how he felt welcomed from the first moment he arrived in Canada. A 35-year-old immigrant from Syria, who was able to move to Canada in 2011, said that she and her family felt safe living in Canada and expressed appreciation for the many opportunities that are available. According to a father and son who were able to immigrate to Canada from Germany 11 years ago, to become a Canadian means to be friendly, hospitable, open and tolerant. The son also stated that he is happy for the chance to start a business in Canada. One woman from Nigeria said it was a “blessing” to become a Canadian citizen on Canada Day and that she felt welcomed living in Canada. An immigrant from The Philippines said that people who live in Canada are nice and polite and that she feels like she gets more respect when others find out that she is Canadian. To read the full article, click here! 

 

IMMIGRANTS BECOME CANADIAN CITIZENS AT TORONTO CEREMONY

A ceremony was held at Queen’s Park in Toronto on July 1, 2017, to welcome 150 immigrants as brand new Canadian citizens. This was a special event, not only because each of these permanent residents of Canada was taking the oath to become a Canadian citizen, but also since the ceremony was taking place near the Ontario Legislature on the Canada Day national holiday, which celebrated the country’s 150th birthday this year. The 150 new Canadian citizens had the opportunity to have a group photo taken with the Premier of Ontario in front of the province’s Legislature building, where a crowd of family members and friends from the community gathered to congratulate them. To read more, click here!

 

NEW CANADIAN CITIZENS HAPPY TO LIVE IN CANADA

Canadian citizenship ceremonies were recently held across the country, with many of the immigrants expressing gratitude for the warm welcome they received and the multiculturalism embraced throughout Canada. Thousands of people want to immigrate to Canada each year because of its opportunities, safety, diversity and the chance to become a Canadian citizen. One immigrant from El Salvador, who was recently granted Canadian citizenship at a ceremony in Calgary, spoke about attending high school in Canada with students from Asia, Central America and the Middle East, remarking that everyone got along well together. Another immigrant who was able to move to Canada from Iran and received Canadian citizenship at a ceremony near Toronto said she was happy for the freedom she enjoys as a woman living in Canada. The Canadian government has established a goal to have 300,000 people from different countries and backgrounds immigrate to Canada during 2017. To read more, click here!

 

THOUSANDS OF CANADIANS ARE BECOMING MILLIONAIRES!

According to a new study released by the Boston Consulting Group in June 2017, 100,000 people who live in Canada became millionaires between 2015 and 2016. The report revealed that there were 385,000 millionaires living in Canada in 2015, but that number had soared to 485,000 in 2016. This significant 12-month rise in the number of new Canadian millionaires moved Canada from 8th place in 2015 to being ranked as the #5 country in the world with the most millionaires in 2016, after #1 USA, #2 China, #3 Japan and #4 UK. This study also reported that the number of millionaires living in Canada is forecast to increase even further to around 785,000 by 2021, representing approximately 5.5% of all Canadian households. Furthermore, the overall household wealth for people living in Canada is predicted to grow from approximately $5 trillion in 2016 to about $5.9 trillion over the next five years. While most people who live in Canada are not millionaires, Canadians are generally among the most prosperous people on the planet and they tend to enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. To read the full article, click here!

 

ECONOMY CREATED NET 55,000 NEW CANADIAN JOBS IN MAY 2017

The monthly Canadian jobs report beat expectations with a net 55,000 new jobs in Canada created during May 2017. Analysts had forecast a net creation of 15,000 Canadian jobs for May. Furthermore, the creation of 317,000 new jobs in Canada between May 2016 and May 2017 was at the highest 12-month level since February 2013. The manufacturing industry enjoyed its best month since 2002, adding an impressive 25,000 new Canadian jobs in May 2017, while employment in the healthcare sector increased by 15,000 new jobs that same month. New Canadian jobs were created in all of the provinces during May 2017, but Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec accounted for most of the increased employment, collectively contributing 47,000 jobs to the Canadian economy. To read more, click here!  

 

REPORT RANKS THE TOP 100 BEST JOBS IN CANADA FOR 2017

On May 29, 2017, a report was published on the CanadianBusiness.com website which ranked the top 100 best jobs in Canada for 2017. People who want to live and work in Canada may find this information useful, as it lists the median salary (i.e., half-way between the highest and lowest salary), five-year wage growth, five-year increase in employees, and outlook for the 100 best Canadian jobs. According to this report, the top 10 best jobs in Canada for 2017 are: (1) Director of Public Administration; (2) Nurse Practitioner;         (3) Mining & Forestry Manager; (4) Pipefitting Supervisor; (5) Utilities Manager; (6) Telecommunication Manager; (7) Real Estate & Financial Manager; (8) Director of Economic Development; (9) Lawyer; and (10) Elevator Mechanic. This example and the full list of the top 100 jobs in Canada reveals that there are excellent Canadian employment opportunities available in a range of occupations, including professions that usually require a university degree and skilled trades that normally require a certificate or diploma from a trade/vocational school or apprenticeship. Various business sectors were also represented in this ranking of Canadian jobs, including the business/financial sector, construction, healthcare, high-tech/ICT field, education, energy/natural resources, and more. Many of these top jobs in Canada also qualify for various Canadian immigration programs, since there is a high demand for these skills across the country. To read more about the 100 best jobs in Canada, click here!

 

MORE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WANT TO STUDY IN CANADA

There is a significant increase of international students, particularly Americans, who want to move to Canada to attend Canadian universities. The Canadian Bureau for International Education reports that between 2008 and 2015, the number of foreign students studying in Canada rose to approximately 350,000, which was an increase of about 92 percent. Furthermore, it is quite possible that the 2017-2018 school year will see a record number of international students living in Canada. According to officials at the University of Toronto, the number of students from the United States who will be attending this top Canadian university is expected to double over last year to a record high, plus there will be a 75% rise in students enrolled from India and a 60% surge in students from Turkey and elsewhere in the Middle East. Among the reasons given for the sharp increase of international students who want to study in Canada include affordability, safety, the relaxed atmosphere and the ease of Canadian immigration. To read the full article, click here!    

CANADIAN COMPANIES SEEK FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS

Canadian technology companies are increasingly trying to attract top talent from around the globe to fill high-tech jobs in Canada. Over the past five years, the thriving technology sector in Canada has been enjoying substantial growth, but many Canadian companies have experienced challenges finding enough qualified IT workers from inside Canada. Therefore, Canadian high-tech firms have been trying to recruit foreign technology professionals from the US, UK and other countries to work in Canada. While immigration has been a heated topic of debate in the United States, Europe and elsewhere throughout the world, Canadian immigration policies have sought to bring more qualified individuals from abroad to work in Canada and contribute to the economy. The MaRS innovation hub in Toronto has been created with the hope that IT professionals from California’s “Silicon Valley” and other places will want to move to Canada where immigrants are welcomed and considered an asset for the country. To read the full article, click here!  

 

RECORD NUMBER OF REFUGEES IMMIGRATE TO CANADA IN 2016

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported in April 2017 that a record 46,700 refugees were able to move to Canada during 2016. This was the largest number of refugees to immigrate to Canada during a single year in approximately four decades. According to the UNHCR, this number included  33,266 Syrians, 3,934 Eritreans, 1,650 Iraqis, 1,644 Congolese, and 1,354 Afghanis who were authorized for Canadian immigration last year. A UNHCR representative praised Canada for this “tremendous achievement” and noted that Canadians had welcomed the second highest number of refugees to settle in their country in 2016, with the U.S. being the top destination for refugees last year with 84,995 moving to America. The Canadian Immigration Minister, Ahmed Hussen, declared that Canada took pride in working with the UNHCR and stated that the country would like to increase the number of refugees approved to immigrate to Canada. The UNHCR representative also revealed that most refugees who move to Canada find jobs, establish strong attachments to the country and their children do well in school and successfully integrate into Canadian society. To read more, click here!

 

CANADIAN IMMIGRATION MINISTER IS HIMSELF AN IMMIGRANT

In a news interview published in April 2017, Canadian Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen discussed the success of Canadian immigration programs and the importance of immigrants to Canada’s economy and the country as a whole. Ahmed Hussen speaks not only as the head of the Canadian immigration ministry, but also as a refugee who was able to immigrate to Canada from Somalia as a teenager in 1993, graduate from a Canadian university, become a successful lawyer, was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2015 and was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to become the country’s new Immigration Minister in 2017. The Canadian immigration minister said that “Canada is a nation of immigrants” and that the country has welcomed people from all over the world to move to Canada and contribute to its economy and society. He also described Canadian immigration programs as being successful and gave the example of how people who already live in Canada have warmly welcomed Syrian refugees like family to live in their homes while they get settled in their new country. The Express Entry Canadian immigration system for skilled foreign workers was also discussed, plus some comparisons were made between US and Canadian immigration programs and policies. To read the full article, click here!

 

FOREIGN WORKERS MOVE TO CANADA FOR HIGH-TECH CANADIAN JOBS

There has been a significant increase in the number of foreign high-tech workers applying for jobs in Canada, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), which has been nicknamed the “Silicon Valley of the North.” Although Canada’s booming technology sector has been attracting Information Technology (IT) workers from around the world for many years, there has recently been a spike in Americans who want to work in Canada. Many of the approximately 2,500 high-tech start-up companies concentrated in the Toronto area, as well as more established technology companies in the GTA, have seen a rise in applications from Americans who want to live and work in Canada. Recognizing the growing need to fill high-tech jobs in Canada and viewing skilled foreign workers as an asset for the country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced a new expedited procedure to approve foreign IT workers who want to move to Canada and contribute to its economy. To read the full article, click here! 

 

MOST COMPANIES IN CANADA PLAN TO HIRE NEW WORKERS IN 2017

The Bank of Canada released its Quarterly Business Survey in April 2017 which reports that the majority of Canadian companies plan to create new jobs in Canada during 2017. Information contained in the Canadian central bank’s survey also reveals that the percentage of employers in Canada who have expressed an intention to hire new workers is at its highest level since 2014. Increased hiring by businesses in Canada is being fueled by soaring sales across the country and by stronger growth of the Canadian economy. In addition to needing more people to work in Canada, the Canadian central bank survey also discovered that most businesses in Canada plan to invest this year as the economy and sales continue to expand. To read more, click here!

 

STRONG ECONOMIC GROWTH CREATING NEW JOBS IN CANADA

On March 31, 2017, Statistics Canada reported that the Canadian economy is continuing its upward trend in economic growth which has been ongoing since June 2016. Data released by the Canadian governmental statistics agency indicates that Canada’s economy started off 2017 with a healthy 2.3% annualized increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during January 2017. This follows a robust rate of 2.6% growth in the Canadian economy during the last three months of 2016. Strong economic growth has been creating many new jobs in Canada across multiple sectors of the Canadian economy. Canada’s manufacturing industry enjoyed the best performance during January 2017, but there was also strong growth in both goods and services, including construction, retail and wholesale trade, mining, timber, and the oil and gas sector. In lieu of the sustained economic growth taking place in Canada, many economists are making even more optimistic forecasts regarding expansion of the Canadian economy during the rest of 2017. This is good news for skilled foreign workers seeking jobs in Canada. To read the full article, click here! 

 

FOUR CANADIAN CITIES AMONG THE WORLD’S BEST FOR QUALITY OF LIFE

The 2017 Mercer Quality of Life Survey released in March 2017 named four Canadian cities among the top 25 best places on the planet for quality of life. Vancouver was ranked #5, Toronto #16, Ottawa #18 and Montreal #23 for quality of life out of the 450 cities evaluated around the globe. Mercer is a respected international human resource (HR) firm that conducts an annual survey of cities throughout the world and rates them based upon 39 indicators which are grouped into 10 major categories designed to measure a city’s quality of life on a variety of levels as well as overall. These “quality of life” categories include: economic environment; political and social environment; housing; health and medical issues; education and schools; availability of consumer goods; natural environment; socio-cultural environment; transportation and public services; and recreational opportunities. As the Mercer survey reveals, and as people who live in Canada know, Canadian residents generally enjoy a high standard of living which is the envy of much of the world. Canada is one of the most beautiful, peaceful and prosperous countries on Earth, which boasts one of the world’s strongest economies and provides its citizens and permanent residents with free basic healthcare and access to excellent educational options. Canada is also one of the most multicultural, immigrant-friendly countries and is rated highly for its freedom and equality. For these and other reasons, over 250,000 people immigrate to Canada each year in search of a better future and high standard of living. To read more, click here!

 

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CANADA ARE AMONG THE HAPPIEST IN THE WORLD

According to the 2017 United Nations World Happiness Report, which was published in March 2017, Canadians are the 7th happiest people on Earth. Why are people who live in Canada so happy? There are, of course, several ways to evaluate happiness, but the United Nations focused on six major factors in its annual assessment of 155 countries around the globe. These six happiness factors include: Income; Social Support; Healthy Life Expectancy; Freedom to Make Life Choices; Generosity; and Perception of Corruption. When all of these indicators of happiness were taken into account, only individuals living in Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Finland and The Netherlands received a higher overall happiness rating than people who live in Canada. To read the full article, click here! 

 

CANADA RANKED WORLD’S #1 COUNTRY FOR QUALITY OF LIFE IN 2017

In March 2017, Canada received the honor of being ranked as the #1 country in the world for quality of life and the #2 top country overall in the Best Countries Report 2017 published jointly by US News & World Report, BAV Consulting and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Approximately 21,000 average citizens, business leaders and “informed elites” were surveyed in 80 countries around the globe and Canada was rated as the top place on the planet for standard of living and the #2 country in the world overall. Nine major categories were evaluated by the 21,000 people who assessed these countries, with each major category consisting of several factors. The nine evaluation categories were Adventure, Citizenship, Cultural Influence, Entrepreneurship, Heritage, Movers, Open for Business, Power, and Quality of Life. Overall, Canada was rated as the #2 best country in the world after #1 Switzerland and ahead of #3 UK, #4 Germany, #5 Japan, #6 Sweden, #7 USA, #8 Australia, #9 France and #10 Norway. The Quality of Life category was made up of several factors: Economically Stable, A Good Job Market, Affordable, Safe, Politically Stable, Family Friendly, Well-Developed Public Education System, Well-Developed Public Health System, and Income Inequality. When all of these factors were considered, Canada came in 1st place overall for Quality of Life out of the 80 countries surveyed, ahead of #2 Sweden, #3 Denmark, #4 Australia, #5 Norway, #6 Switzerland, #7 Finland, #8 Netherlands, #9 New Zealand, and #10 Germany. To read more, click here!

 

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CANADA MORE LIKELY TO ENJOY THE “AMERICAN DREAM”

If you are seeking “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” you may want to move to Canada. The United States has long been known as a land of opportunities, particularly for immigrants, where anyone, regardless of their background, can work hard and experience the “American Dream.” In recent years, however, living the “American Dream” (e.g., receiving an excellent education, finding a good-paying job, buying a home, starting a business, sending children to university, etc.) has become increasingly difficult. Meanwhile, it seems as though the “American Dream” may have moved north to Canada. For example, the United States has long been referred to (at least by Americans) as the “land of the free and home of brave,” however, Canada has received much higher ratings regarding the freedom of its residents compared to the USA. Furthermore, 59% of people who live in Canada have earned a college degree versus 46% of the US population. Home ownership is 68% in Canada, while it is 63% in the USA. People who live in Canada are more likely to live longer than the residents of the United States, with Canadians having an average life expectancy of 81.2 years compared to 78.7 years in the USA. In so many ways, Canadians enjoy a higher standard of living than their American counterparts to the south. To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRATION TO CANADA ACCOUNTS FOR 2/3 OF CANADIAN POPULATION GROWTH

Data released in February 2017 by Statistics Canada shows that Canadian immigration was responsible for two-thirds of Canada’s population increase between 2011 and 2016. As of May 2016, Canada’s population stood at 35,151,728, which was an increase of 1.7 million people (5% increase) over the Canadian population in 2011. According to an official at Statistics Canada, it is forecast that an even larger share of the country’s population growth in the future will come from Canadian immigration. The data also reveals that Canada led the G-7 countries in population growth, ahead of #2 USA, #3 UK, #4 Italy, #5 France, #6 Germany and #7 Japan. Furthermore, the Canadian census indicates that more people who immigrate to Canada are moving to the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, which have maintained some of the lowest unemployment rates in the country for the past several years. To read the full article, click here!

 

MORE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN CANADA HAVE IMMIGRANT ROOTS

A new report released in January 2017 by Statistics Canada (StatCan) reveals that Canadian immigration is making Canada an even more multicultural country than it already is. Based upon two recent population forecasts, the Canadian governmental agency projects that almost half of the people who live in Canada will be immigrants or the children of immigrants by 2036. The StatCan report also predicts that within the next 20 years, 60% of the people who immigrate to Canada will originate from Asia. Furthermore, the analysis states that 90% of all the immigrants who live in Canada in 2036 will reside in the country’s largest metropolitan areas, such as Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Thus, while many countries around the world have experienced a negative reaction to increased immigration, Canadians have welcomed immigrants with open arms and want more people to immigrate to Canada to contribute to its economy and diverse society. To read more, click here!

 

SOMALI IMMIGRANT BECOMES CANADIAN IMMIGRATION MINISTER

Here is a Canadian immigration success story that you may find inspiring. When Ahmed Hussen was 16 years-old, he was able to immigrate to Canada as a refugee fleeing the conflict in Somalia. After graduating from high school in the Greater Toronto Area, Ahmed worked his way through university, became a lawyer and was elected as a Member of Canada’s Parliament in 2015. These impressive accomplishments alone would have made this an amazing Canadian immigration success story, but on January 10, 2017, Ahmed Hussen, a former Somali refugee, was sworn in as Canada’s new Minister of Immigration. To read the full article, click here!

 

CANADA NAMED THE WORLD’S #1 COUNTRY TO VISIT DURING 2017

On January 4, 2017, the New York Times published its annual ranking of the top 52 places to travel to and named Canada the #1 country to visit during 2017. Among the reasons given to visit Canada this year include various celebrations taking place across the country. For example, Canada is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the country’s confederation with different events being held in Ottawa and other locations. The Canadian National Park system is also marking this milestone by offering free admission to Canada’s numerous national parks and historical sites during 2017, so this is a great opportunity to enjoy the country’s spectacular scenery. Furthermore, Montreal is celebrating its 375th birthday this year, therefore, this is a fantastic time to experience the French-Canadian culture of Canada’s second largest city. To read more, click here!

 

STUDENTS IN CANADA AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD FOR MATH & SCIENCE 

According to a report released in December 2016 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), students who live in Canada are ranked #4 in the world (tied with Finland) for their knowledge of math and science. The OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) evaluated 540,000 15-year-old senior high school students in countries around the globe and only students living in Singapore, Japan and Estonia had a better knowledge of math and science than students who live in Canada. Teenagers living in the Canadian provinces of Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia scored higher in math and science than students residing in the rest of Canada. The Canadian education system is considered one of the best in the world. To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRANTS FROM THE PHILIPPINES HAPPY TO BECOME CANADIAN CITIZENS

A family from The Philippines was among 20 immigrants who took the oath to become Canadian citizens at a ceremony held in Regina, Saskatchewan, on November 24, 2016. The family had been living in Canada five years as permanent residents and after they met the criteria, which includes passing the Canadian citizenship test, the last step was to attend a special ceremony, take the oath to become new citizens of Canada and receive their certificates of Canadian citizenship. One member of the family declared, “It’s really a pleasure to be a Canadian citizen and to be getting all these rights and privileges from the country.” To read more, click here!  

 

CANADA’S GOVERNMENT SETS GOAL OF 300,000 CANADIAN VISAS FOR 2017

On October 31, 2016, the Canadian government released its 2017 goals for immigration to Canada. A new annual baseline target of 300,000 Canadian visas for permanent residency was established, which is a substantial increase over the previous baseline of 260,000 Canadian visas per year. Canada’s 2017 immigration plan calls for 172,500 Canadian visas to be issued for skilled foreign workers; 84,000 visas for family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents; 40,000 Canadian visas for refugees; and 3,500 visas for humanitarian or other reasons. To read the full article, click here!   

 

REPORT URGES SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CANADIAN IMMIGRATION 

A report released by the Conference Board of Canada on October 6, 2016,  calls for a significant increase in Canadian immigration in order to address an aging population and keep Canada’s economy growing strong. Approximately 16% of Canada’s population of 36 million is age 65 or older, but that demographic group is forecast to soar to 24% over the next couple decades. Consequently, the Canadian government will need to boost the number of people approved for immigration to Canada to 407,000 per year by 2030 to meet the needs of Canadian employment and maintain an expanding economy, according to the report. To read more, click here!  

 

320,932 PEOPLE IMMIGRATE TO CANADA DURING THE PAST FISCAL YEAR

According to data released in September 2016 by Statistics Canada, 320,932 people were able to immigrate to Canada during the past fiscal year (between June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2016). This was a 33.3% increase over Canadian immigration levels during the previous fiscal year (June 30, 2014 to June 30, 2015) when 240,844 people were able to immigrate to Canada. This is the largest number of people to move to Canada in almost three decades and may be the highest number to immigrate to Canada since the early 20th century. The significant increase in Canadian immigration that occurred during the past fiscal year helped Canada’s population climb to 36.3 million people. Overall, the Canadian population grew by 437,815 during the past fiscal year as a result of immigration to Canada and new births, which was the largest absolute increase in the Canadian population since the 1988-1989 fiscal year. Canada’s government is expected to announce its goals for Canadian immigration in November 2016. To read the full article, click here! 

 

HSBC EXPAT EXPLORER SURVEY RANKS CANADA #3 COUNTRY FOR EXPATS IN 2016

In September 2016, the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey named Canada the #3 best country in the world for expats to live and work abroad in 2016. This large survey of over 27,000 people in 190 countries and territories also discovered that expats consider Canada to be the world’s #1 country for tolerance, #2 for integration and #2 for health. Several factors were grouped into three major categories for the survey (i.e., experience, family and economics) and revealed that Canada is ranked #3 for overall experience, #5 for family and #10 for economics. To read more, click here!   

 

HIGH DEMAND FOR TECH WORKERS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA CAUSES SALARIES TO SOAR

Business is booming in British Columbia’s technology sector and a shortage of high-tech workers is causing salaries to soar. The Canadian province of British Columbia has traditionally been known for employing many people in jobs related to natural resources which are abundant there. Today, there are more high-tech sector workers employed in British Columbia than in the forestry, oil and gas, and mining industries combined. British Columbia’s tech sector has been enjoying strong 3.3% annual growth, but employers in the province have been facing a challenge finding enough qualified skilled workers to meet rising demand. This is good news for high-tech workers in British Columbia, who have seen their salaries increase to an average of $6,320 per month ($75,849 per year). For example, the average salary in British Columbia for a software developer with 2-4 years of work experience is $75,400 per year, but with over four years of experience the average annual salary for this occupation skyrockets to $93,900. To read the full article, click here!

 

SKILLED FOREIGN WORKERS NEEDED TO FILL JOBS IN CANADA’S ATLANTIC PROVINCES

A Member of the Canadian Parliament from the eastern province of New Brunswick says that more skilled foreign workers are needed to fill many jobs in Canada’s Atlantic provinces. According to MP Alaina Lockhart, the population of the Atlantic provinces is getting older and retiring, but there are not enough people available locally to fill all of the job openings. As an example, the New Brunswick MP declared, “In New Brunswick alone we have over 1,000 jobs that have gone unfilled for over a year.” In order to address the shortage of people available to work in Canada’s Atlantic coastal provinces,  MP Lockhart has called on the Canadian Parliament’s Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to boost immigration to Canada’s Atlantic provinces and also seek ways to retain the immigrants already living and working there. To read the full article, click here! 

 

BILL GATES HAS PRAISE FOR ‘ENLIGHTENED’ CANADIAN IMMIGRATION POLICY 

On September 20, 2016, American businessman Bill Gates praised the ‘enlightened’ Canadian immigration policy that welcomes thousands of people from all over the world. Speaking in Vancouver at the Emerging Cascadia Innovation Corridor Conference, the co-founder of Microsoft spoke highly of the Canadian government’s open approach to giving tens of thousands of Syrian refugees the opportunity to live in Canada. The world’s richest man also praised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for efforts to help refugees of the Syrian Civil War to immigrate to Canada “in an appropriate way.” To read more, click here! 

 

STORE ON SCENIC NOVA SCOTIA ISLAND OFFERS CANADIAN EMPLOYMENT AND FREE LAND

A family-owned general store on beautiful Cape Breton Island in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia wanted to hire more employees, but could not find anyone to hire locally. Their solution was to place an advertisement on Facebook with an offer of Canadian employment plus two free acres of land for new employees. Hundreds of people from across Canada responded to this unique offer of Canadian employment and free land in this picturesque small town of around 854 residents. To read the full article, click here!   

 

MANY PEOPLE WHO IMMIGRATE TO CANADA SETTLE IN SMALL CITIES AND TOWNS

Although the majority of people who immigrate to Canada move to the big cities (such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary), an increasing number of immigrants are choosing to settle in smaller Canadian cities and towns or in rural areas. For example, the neighboring small towns of Morden and Winkler in Canada’s province of Manitoba have experienced an influx of immigrants from around the globe. Why would someone move to Canada and then settle in a small town with a population of around 11,000 people? One reason is that many smaller Canadian cities and towns want people who immigrate to Canada to move to their area, primarily due to a shortage of workers. In addition to being welcomed by smaller Canadian communities,  many immigrants are also attracted to the quality of life and many job opportunities found in towns and small cities in Canada. The prairie province of Manitoba, where the towns of Morden and Winkler are located, has maintained one of the lowest unemployment rates of any Canadian province or territory for the past several years. The cost of living there is also much lower than in more popular places in Canada, such as Toronto or Vancouver. To read the full article, click here!  

 

CANADA BOASTS THREE OF THE TOP FIVE MOST LIVABLE CITIES IN THE WORLD

In August 2016, Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary were named as three of the top five most livable cities in the world for 2016. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) evaluation of the quality of life in 140 cities around the globe, Vancouver is the #3 best city to live in the world, while Toronto is ranked #4 and Calgary tied with Adelaide (Australia) for 5th place. This was not the first time that the London-based EIU had rated these three Canadian cities among the best places to live on the planet. Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary received the same honors in 2015 due to their high standard of living. To read more, click here! 

 

IMMIGRANT FROM HUNGARY BECOMES THE OLDEST MAN IN CANADA

A Toronto man received birthday greetings from Canada’s Prime Minister, Ontario’s Premier and the Mayor of Toronto as he celebrated his 110th birthday and became the oldest man in Canada. Zoltan Sarosy was born in Hungary on August 23, 1906, attended university in Austria, became a chess master and was approved to immigrate to Canada in 1950. This incredible Canadian with an excellent memory has lived through both world wars, seen many inventions and new technologies and has even learned to use a computer to play chess online. To read the full article and watch the news video, click here! 

 

CANADA’S IMMIGRATION MINISTER WANTS TO ISSUE MORE CANADIAN VISAS

John McCallum, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, announced in August 2016 that he would like to “substantially increase the number of immigrants coming to Canada.” Speaking in The Philippines at a meeting of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce held in Manila on August 12, 2016, Mr. McCallum said that more skilled foreign workers need to immigrate to Canada to meet a growing labor shortage, especially as more Canadians retire from the workforce. He stated that he would like to make it easier for more skilled foreign workers and international students to be issued a Canadian visa. The new Canadian government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has already declared an ambitious goal to approve 280,000-305,000 people for immigration to Canada during 2016, which is a significant increase in the number of people granted a Canadian visa in 2015. To read more, click here!  

 

MORE CANADIAN VISA OFFICES WANTED IN CHINA TO PROMOTE IMMIGRATION TO CANADA

Canada’s government wants to increase the number of visa offices in China so more skilled Chinese workers can be approved for Canadian immigration. John McCallum, the Canadian Minister of Immigration, met with Chinese governmental officials during a visit to China in August 2016 and made a request to double the number of Canadian visa offices in the country. New Canadian visa offices would be opened in Chengdu, Jinan, Nanjin, Shenyang and Wuhan if the proposal is approved. In addition to authorizing more skilled Chinese workers for immigration to Canada, another reason for increasing Canadian visa offices in China is to boost the number of students from China who can study in Canada. Tourism from China is important for the Canadian economy, so increasing the number of Canadian visas for Chinese tourists is also a goal of this plan. To read the full article, click here!

 

CANADIANS OF UKRAINIAN HERITAGE CELEBRATE IMMIGRATION TO CANADA

On August 7, 2016, Canada’s province of Alberta launched “The Year of the Ukrainian-Canadian” to celebrate 125 years of Ukrainian immigration to Canada. Special events were held in the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, located 50 kilometers east of Edmonton, where crowds were able to watch Ukrainian traditional folk dancers, eat ethnic Ukrainian foods and learn more about contributions Canadians of Ukrainian ancestry have made to Alberta and Canada for more than a century. Approximately 345,000 people who live in Alberta are of Ukrainian heritage and while they are proud to be Canadians, they also appreciate their Ukrainian roots and maintain their culture. To read more, click here!

 

MORE JOBS IN CANADA CREATED BY THE HIGH-TECH SECTOR

According to a new report, The State of Canadian Tech Sector, which was released July 25, 2016, the high-technology industry has a much larger impact on Canada’s economy than previously realized. The study was published by Ryerson University’s Brookfield Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and it discovered that 864,000 people work in Canada in the high-tech field. The report also revealed that individuals who have high-tech jobs in Canada tend to be young, university-educated and earn higher salaries than people who work in Canada in most other business sectors. Canadian employment in the high-tech industry accounts for 5.6% of all jobs in Canada, but some places have much higher concentrations of companies and employees associated with the high-technology sector. For example, high-tech workers make up 6.4% of the labor force in Quebec, 6.2% in Ontario and 4.8% in both Alberta and British Columbia. To read the full article, click here!

 

NEW CANADIAN IMMIGRATION PROGRAM PLANNED FOR CANADA’S ATLANTIC PROVINCES

On July 4, 2016, an announcement was made regarding a new Canadian immigration program being planned to bring more immigrants to four of Canada’s Atlantic provinces: Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland & Labrador. Plans for the three-year pilot program for immigration to Canada were discussed at a press conference after a meeting held on P.E.I. by several Canadian national and provincial leaders regarding an overall strategy being formulated to boost economic development in the region. According to John McCallum, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, there is a particularly strong need for immigrants to live and work in these Atlantic provinces. Canadian Immigration Minister McCallum further declared that approximately 2,000-4,000 foreign nationals may be permitted to immigrate to Canada and settle in these four Canadian provinces each year through this new program that is being created. To read more, click here!    

 

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA ANNOUNCES 2016 “TOP 25 CANADIAN IMMIGRANT AWARDS”

The winners of the 2016 “Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards” were announced by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Canadian Immigrant Magazine in ceremonies held in Toronto and Vancouver at the end of June 2016. For the past eight years, Canadians have had the opportunity to nominate people who immigrate to Canada and then go on to make a positive impact on this multicultural country. Among these 25 Canadian immigration success stories are immigrants from Bulgaria, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Ireland, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, The Philippines and Ukraine. One of the 25 Top Canadian Immigrants of 2016 is Harjit Sajjan who was born in India, approved to immigrate to Canada with his family when he was five-years-old, joined the Canadian military and was appointed as Canada’s Minister of Defence at the end of 2015. To read more about these inspiring Canadian immigration success stories, click here!

 

REPORT BY CANADA’S GOVERNMENT SAYS CANADIAN IMMIGRATION STRONG

According to a new report released by the Canadian government at the end of June 2016, immigration to Canada remains strong. The study, which was published by Statistics Canada, examines the history and trends in Canadian immigration for over 100 years. Among the report’s findings, researchers revealed that an average of 250,000 people immigrate to Canada each year; Canadian immigration levels fluctuate and are heavily influenced by events taking place in the world (such as economic developments); and immigration to Canada is making the country’s population more multicultural – particularly in the large cities, such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. In the past, most immigrants came from Europe, but now the majority of people who immigrate to Canada are arriving from Asia and Africa – a trend predicted to continue for the foreseeable future. Statistics Canada further reports that approximately 22-23% of Canada’s 36 million people are foreign-born (2016) and forecasts that immigrants will make up 26-27% of the Canadian population by 2031. To read the full article, click here!

 

CANADA CELEBRATES ITS DIVERSITY ON MULTICULTURAL DAY

On June 27, 2016, Canada’s diverse population celebrated Multicultural Day. Canadian politicians and others praised the country’s long history of multiculturalism and welcoming people who immigrate to Canada. For example, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared, “As Canadians, we appreciate the immense freedom we have to show pride in our individual identities and ancestries. No matter our religion, where we were born, what color our skin, or what language we speak, we are equal members of this great country.” Forty-five years ago, Canada was the world’s first country to embrace an official policy of multiculturalism. Today, approximately 21% of the 36 million people who live in Canada are foreign born, making the Canadian population the most multicultural of any country in the G-7. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau also said, “Our national fabric is vibrant and varied, woven together by many cultures and heritages, and underlined by a core value of respect.” To read more, click here!

 

CANADIAN IMMIGRATION PUSHES NOVA SCOTIA’S POPULATION TO RECORD HIGH

A report released in June 2016 by Statistics Canada revealed that Canadian immigration has helped Nova Scotia’s population to soar to a record high. Between April 1, 2015, and April 1, 2016, the population of Nova Scotia increased by 4,918 people, reaching 947,284. This is the largest number of people to ever live in Canada’s province of Nova Scotia. Canadian immigration has become an important contributor to Nova Scotia’s population growth and the province’s economic well-being, especially as more older Canadian workers retire and leave the labor force. In fact, an earlier economic report released in early 2014 called for tripling the number of people approved for Canadian immigration who will settle in Nova Scotia so as to keep the province’s economy growing at a healthy pace. To read the full article, click here!

 

GREAT PLACES TO LIVE IN CANADA FOR 2016

For people considering Canadian immigration, finding the right place to live in Canada is one of their top priorities. Locating the perfect spot to settle down will depend on a variety of factors, such as whether a Canadian newcomer is single or married with children; how much money they have; or other personal preferences. A new report published in June 2016 ranks the best places to live in Canada for 2016 for families with children, new immigrants and other categories. Approximately 219 Canadian cities were evaluated based on such indicators as low unemployment, high income, low taxes, affordable housing, low crime and good weather. Ottawa, the Canadian national capital, was considered the top place to live in Canada in the overall rankings. To read more, click here! 

 

TOP 10 COUNTRIES FOR IMMIGRATION TO CANADA

The Canadian population is one of the most multicultural in the world, with around 22% of the 36 million people who live in Canada foreign-born. According to data from the United Nations and the Pew Research Center, a growing number of people who immigrate to Canada were born in Asia. As of 2015, the largest number of immigrants who live in Canada were born in China (710,000), followed by India (620,000), the United Kingdom (610,000), The Philippines (550,000), United States (340,000), Italy (280,000), Hong Kong (230,000), Germany (190,000), Vietnam (180,000), and Pakistan (180,000). There are, of course, millions of immigrants who live in Canada originating from a variety of other countries around the globe. To read the full article, click here! 

 

THE BEST JOBS IN CANADA FOR 2016

There are excellent Canadian employment opportunities available for skilled foreign workers in many high-demand jobs in Canada. Among the best jobs in Canada for 2016 are mining & forestry managers, urban planners, pharmacists, construction managers, aerospace engineers, occupational therapists, health and occupation inspectors, telecommunications managers, registered nurses, psychologists, secondary school teachers, and university professors. Many of the high-demand jobs in Canada pay very well and are also eligible for Express Entry immigration to Canada. To read more about the best jobs in Canada for 2016, click here! 

 

CANADA CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST COUNTRIES FOR BUSINESS

An analysis published by KPMG on March 30, 2016, says that Canada is one of the top countries in the world for business. According to KPMG’s Competitive Alternatives report (March 2016), Canada has the 2nd lowest business costs on Earth, after #1 Mexico and ahead of #3 Netherlands, #4 Italy, #5 Australia, #6 France, #7 United Kingdom, #8 Germany, #9 Japan and #10 United States. Among the specific reasons that Canada is a great place to do business, the KMPG report revealed that Canada has the 2nd lowest labor and transportation costs, the 3rd lowest facility costs, and some of the lowest corporate income tax rates of any country. The Canadian cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver were also ranked among the best cities in the world for businesses to be located. To read the full report, click here!

 

NEW REPORT SAYS 218,000 HIGH-TECH JOBS IN CANADA TO BE CREATED BY 2020

In March 2016, a new report declared that approximately 218,000 high-tech jobs in Canada will be created between 2016 and 2020. The rapid growth of Canada’s high-tech industry, however, has produced a Canadian technology talent shortage. A recent survey found that 53% of Canadian employers are experiencing a challenge finding enough qualified workers to fill high-tech jobs in Canada. This is creating Canadian employment opportunities for workers who have the the high-tech skills needed in Canada’s soaring technology sector. To read more, click here!     

 

UNHCR CHIEF PRAISES CANADIAN EFFORTS TO HELP SYRIAN REFUGEES MOVE TO CANADA

On March 21, 2016, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, praised Canadian efforts to help thousands of Syrian refugees move to Canada. The UNHCR chief said that the Canadian resettlement plan, which has already brought more than 25,000 Syrian refugees to live in Canada, is a “model” that the rest of the world should learn from and try to duplicate. Canada is among a small number of countries that allows refugees to be sponsored for immigration by the government and/or by individuals. The head of the UN agency that helps refugees said that the Canadian immigration system is an effective way to quickly resettle more refugees. The Canadian government has announced its goal to approve 44,800 refugees from various countries for immigration to Canada during 2016. To read the full article, click here! 

 

MORE IMMIGRANTS STARTING OWN BUSINESSES AND CREATING JOBS IN CANADA

A report released in March 2016 by Statistics Canada revealed that people who immigrate to Canada have a higher rate of starting their own businesses than Canadian-born individuals. According to this study, 5.3% of all people who immigrate to Canada have started their own business within nine years of becoming Canadian residents, compared to 4.8% of people born in Canada. An additional 19.6% of people who immigrate to Canada become unincorporated self-employed individuals versus 16.1 of Canadian-born people. To read more, click here!  

 

UN RANKS CANADA #6 HAPPIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD FOR 2016

In March 2016, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network released its list of the happiest countries in the world for 2016 and ranked Canada as the 6th happiest place on the planet.  The UN researchers surveyed 3,000 people in each of the 157 countries evaluated and asked them to rank their lives on a scale of 0-10, with 10 being the highest happiness score and 0 the lowest rating of happiness. To read the full article, click here!  

 

CANADA’S GOVERNMENT WANTS TO ISSUE 300,000 CANADIAN VISAS THIS YEAR

According to the new Canadian immigration plan for 2016, up to 300,000 people from around the globe will be issued a permanent resident visa to Canada this year. The 2016 goals for immigration to Canada were revealed on March 8, 2016, and authorize 160,600 Canadian visas to be granted to skilled foreign workers through economic immigrant programs; 80,000 permanent resident visas to be issued through the Family Class program; and over 60,000 refugees and others in need will receive Canadian permanent residency through Refugee and Humanitarian immigration programs. To read more, click here!

 

QUEBEC SEEKS MORE HIGHLY-SKILLED FOREIGN WORKERS

Leaders of Quebec want more highly-skilled foreign workers to immigrate to Canada and settle in their predominantly French-speaking Canadian province. Therefore, Quebec’s provincial officials have established a five-year Canadian immigration plan designed to attract “strategic talent” to Quebec. The “Together, We Are Quebec” program, announced on March 7, 2016, will also seek to retain international students and temporary skilled foreign workers who already live in Quebec, rather than lose them to other top immigration destinations, such as the United States. To read the full article and watch the embedded news video, click here! 

 

CITIES IN CANADA WITH THE STRONGEST ECONOMIC GROWTH IN 2016

Vancouver’s economy is predicted to grow by a healthy 3.3 percent in 2016, according to a report published by the Conference Board of Canada on March 3, 2016. Other major Canadian cities forecast to experience strong growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 2016 include Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg, Montreal and Quebec City. Thousands of new jobs in Canada are also expected to be created this year, with over 26,000 new Canadian jobs anticipated to be generated just in Vancouver.  For more details, click here!

 

25,000 SYRIAN REFUGEES IMMIGRATE TO CANADA 

On February 29, 2016, the Canadian government announced that it had reached its ambitious goal to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of February 2016. A plane carrying the 25,000th Syrian refugee to immigrate to Canada as a new Canadian permanent resident landed at the airport in Montreal on February 27, 2016. At a press conference, Canada’s Immigration Minister, John McCallum, declared, “This is a terrific day for us,” as he also encouraged Canadians to continue to welcome these new permanent residents with open arms, help them find jobs in Canada and get settled in their new country. To read more, click here!  

 

VANCOUVER TOP CITY IN NORTH AMERICA FOR QUALITY OF LIFE

Several Canadian cities have received high marks in the 2016 Mercer Quality of Living Survey published in February 2016, with Vancouver ranked #1 in North America and #5 in the world for quality of life. Mercer researchers examined the quality of life in 230 cities around the globe and also listed Toronto 15th, Ottawa 17th, Montreal 23rd and Calgary 32nd on Earth for quality of life. To read more, click here! 

 

THE BEST EMPLOYERS IN CANADA FOR 2016

In February 2016, Forbes released its assessment of the best employers in Canada for 2016. Over 8,000 people who work in Canada were surveyed by Forbes and Statista and asked to rate their employer on a scale of 0-10 (with 10 being the highest score) in terms of whether they would recommend that others work for their employer. Survey participants were also asked for their views concerning other companies that are in their particular business sector. Based upon the results of this research, Forbes published its 2016 list of the 250 best places to work in Canada. According to the report, there is great competition among Canadian employers to attract and retain qualified employees for various high-demand jobs in Canada. To read more, click here!

 

PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU CONFIDENT AND OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CANADA

On January 20, 2016, recently-elected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,

and expressed confidence and optimism about Canada and its future. He also discussed how diversity and the resourcefulness of

the Canadian people are a major strength for Canada. In short, Prime Minister Trudeau declared, “There has never been a better time to look

to Canada.” To read the transcript or watch the video of his Davos speech, click here!

 

CANADA RANKED #1 FOR QUALITY OF LIFE AND #2 BEST OVERALL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD

In a recent poll, Canada has been ranked as the #1 country in the world for quality of life. This survey of 16,000 people across the planet also

discovered that Canada is considered to be the #2 best country on Earth overall, after top-ranked Germany. To read more, click here!

 

IMMIGRANT IN QUEBEC HAS SPECIAL REQUEST FOR HER 120TH BIRTHDAY

If you could live to be 120 years old and could make any wish, what would you request for such a special birthday? A 119-year-old women who immigrated to Canada from Haiti and lives in Quebec would like to celebrate her 120th birthday on January 31, 2016, by visiting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. To read this full story, click here! 

 

CHILDREN OF PEOPLE WHO IMMIGRATE TO CANADA MORE LIKELY TO GET HIGHER EDUCATION

According to research conducted by Professor Ross Finnie at the University of Ottawa, the children of people who immigrate to Canada are more likely to obtain a post-secondary education than children born of non-immigrant Canadian citizens. The main reason given is that the children of immigrants see Canada as a land of opportunity and are more motivated to acquire a higher education after high school than children born and raised in Canada from non-immigrant parents. To read more, click here! 

 

BEST PLACES FOR THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION TO WORK IN CANADA DURING 2016

A recent study has revealed the best places to work in Canada during 2016 for young adults from the “Millennial Generation.” This information may be helpful for skilled foreign workers born between around 1980 to about 2000 (i.e., the “Millennial Generation”) who are looking for jobs in Canada. This generation of young adult workers have many opportunities for jobs in Canada, especially is they have the education, work experience and other skills needed by Canadian employers. For the full article, click here!

 

HARRIS POLL FINDS THAT 91% OF PEOPLE WHO IMMIGRATE TO CANADA THINK “CANADIAN DREAM” IS REALITY

A Harris poll conducted October 5-21, 2015, found that 91% of the people who immigrate to Canada believe that the “Canadian Dream” is a reality. The results of this survey of 735 foreign-born adult residents of Canada was released December 16, 2015, and it also discovered that an overwhelming majority of immigrants believe that Canada has a bright future. To read the entire article, click here!    

 

SYRIAN REFUGEES IMMIGRATE TO CANADA AS CANADIAN PERMANENT RESIDENTS AND RECEIVE WARM WELCOME

On December 10, 2015, a plane carrying 163 Syrian refugees landed at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport to begin their lives as brand new permanent residents of Canada. They were among the first of 25,000 people who will immigrate to Canada between December 2015 and February 2016 as part of the Canadian government’s ambitious humanitarian program to resettle refugees fleeing the Syrian Civil War. These happy Canadian newcomers were greeting by a large crowd of well-wishers that included Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. To read more, click here!

 

VANCOUVER, TORONTO AND CALGARY AMONG TOP FIVE MOST LIVABLE CITIES IN THE WORLD!

In its annual evaluation of 140 major cities around the globe, researchers with the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) considered Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary to be among the world’s top five most livable cities for 2015. The Economist ranked Vancouver #3, Toronto #4 and Calgary tied with the Australian city of Adelaide for 5th place for quality of life. To read more, click here!