News

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s population growth decreased twice due to the increasing numbers of Covid-19-related deaths. According to Statistics Canada’s Population Estimates report released on September 29, 2021, immigration drove almost three-quarters of Canada’s population growth during the past year despite all pandemic-related border restrictions and travel bans. The statistical analysis shows that during the last year the Canadian population grew by only about 208,900, twice less compared to the previous year. Immigration also fell by 56.8 percent (around 156,500) but was enough to keep Canada’s population growth. …

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Starting from July 22, 2021, the City of Greater Sudbury started to consider all eligible applicants who meet the minimum cut-off under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). For candidates applying with a spouse or common-law partner, the minimum cut-off is 95 points. Those applying without a spouse or common-law partner must have at least 75 points to be considered eligible. In 2020, Sudbury invited 42 candidates, and in total, 54 individuals were recommended by the city since the launch of the program. …

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Within two years, the Federal government will implement a facial recognition system for all 25 million Canadian passport holders. This was reported by Blacklock’s Reporter. The government would build a huge database with the faces of millions of Canadians. In a notice titled Facial Recognition Solution, the IRCC said that “the department must have facial recognition system support capabilities in place no later than October 2023.” The cost of the program was not detailed. Canadian citizens who apply for passports will automatically consent to have their personal photos stored in a federal database: “Applicants consent to their photos being used to confirm identity through the passport program’s facial recognition system.” The program is rationalized on the basis of preventing identity fraud, …

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Employers have been facing labour shortages for the previous 18 months since the COVID-19 epidemic began. Wednesday’s study adds to the evidence, with over 60% of Canadian businesses reporting that widespread labour shortages are restricting their development. The study, released by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), is based on two polls: one that polled 1,251 Canadian businesses in May 2021 and another of 3,000 Canadian workers conducted in June 2021. According to the BDC’s chief economist, …

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Canada received the first direct Air Canada flight from India after the Government lifted the travel ban on direct flights from India that were in place from April 22, 2021. According to Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s senior vice president of network planning and revenue management, ‘people are eager to reunite with family and friends since the air company is the leading carrier between the two countries offering flights from Toronto and Vancouver to Delhi and Mumbai since 2015. …

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The Royal Bank report shows that 700,000 skilled workers are expected to retire in Canada by 2028. Inability to replace them may trigger a crisis of shortage of skilled workers. For a long time, skilled workers have been regarded as “blue-collar” jobs, requiring a lot of manual labour and heavy work. However, with appropriate health and safety standards, the median income of these types of jobs may reach between $80,000 and $100,000, or even more. According to the report, …

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According to a tweet of Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, the Government of Canada decided to accept twice as many Afghan refugees in Canada. “Canada announced we will double our humanitarian resettlement commitment from 20,000 to 40,000 Afghan refugees,” tweeted Mendicino. Through the Government policies, Canada “will offer a new home for Afghan refugees while upholding democracy and human rights around the world.” Canada was one of the first countries in the world to launch pathways focusing on women, …

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On September 29, 2021, the Government of Canada introduced a program delivery update for family class applications. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched a permanent residence (PR) online intake portal that enabled applicants who apply for certain PR programs to submit their applications online, including some family class applications. The new instructions are applicable for online applications. Now, FC1 or FCC cases processed within Canada or overseas under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class, …

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On September 28, 2021, British Columbia conducted two draws in the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) categories of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). In the general draw, the province issued 386 invitations.

• Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker 90
• Skills Immigration – International Graduate 77
• Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 69
• Express Entry British Columbia – Skilled Worker 86
• Express Entry British Columbia –

…

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On September 29, 2021, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 761 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in the new PNP-targeted draw. In round #206, the cut-off score was 742 points, 10 points more compared to the previous PNP draw. The tie-breaking rule for this round was July 29, 2021 at 09:45:29 UTC. As of September 27, 2021, there are 180,255 profiles registered in the Express Entry pool, 1,200 more compared to the previous update. …

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