Canada is a dream destination for many prospective expats. Whether you're a worker or a student, the country is full of opportunities for those seeking to live and build a career there. In the face of acute labor shortages, the Canadian government is relentlessly pursuing its ambitious immigration program and plans to welcome some 500,000 new immigrants by 2025.
Leaving the country is not required to apply for a work permit
Here's the good news for expatriates. Canada is extending its temporary public policy up to February 28, 2025. The scheme, which was implemented on August 24, 2020, at the beginning of the COVID crisis, allows foreign nationals with a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) to apply for a work permit without having to leave the country. By doing so, the federal government intends to meet the ever-increasing demand of businesses that are facing critical labor shortages.
Foreigners applying for a work permit in Canada have to meet several conditions must be met; for instance, they require a visitor status. They also need to have a valid job offer resulting either from a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or from an exemption from that same assessment. On a side note, it's worth noting that an employer may need an LMIA before hiring a foreign national. Immigration authorities also make it clear that foreign applicants are also subject to the standard rules associated with work permit applications.
Provincial and territorial programs in Manitoba
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), or Canadian Provincial Nominee Programs, allow Canadian provinces and territories to recruit qualified foreign nationals whose skills are in demand locally. In addition, PNPs can be a pathway to permanent residency, which can be a win-win situation. On the one hand, local authorities can better attract foreign talent who are choosing Toronto or Vancouver instead. On the other hand, foreign talents benefit from privileged access to permanent residency and the assurance of finding a job.
Manitoba, a key driver of the Canadian economy, particularly in agriculture and natural resources, has understood the urgency of gaining attractivity. Through its new PNP, the province has just sent out 583 invitations to foreign talents, along with, and for the first time, some invitations directly linked to a job offer. The province has set up 4 types of entry channels, namely for Manitoba skilled foreign nationals, skilled foreign workers from abroad, national education workers and international investors. Manitoba skilled foreign nationals receive priority processing, and this concerns all expats who have been continuously working in Manitoba for at least 6 months with a valid permit and a permanent job offer.
The Manitoba program covers several positions, including nurses and paramedics, hairdressers and estheticians, transportation and transit drivers, educational assistants, kindergarten, elementary and secondary school teachers, retail and wholesale managers, automotive service technicians, paraprofessionals in legal, social, community and education services, office support and judicial services, salespeople, and sales representatives. It's also worth noting that special invitations were reserved for Ukrainian immigrants.
2022: A record year for international students in Canada
The slump caused by COVID now seems to be receding. In 2022, Canada welcomed 551,405 international students from 184 different countries. In the end, a total of 807,750 international students were holders of valid student visas, which is yet another record. The year 2021 already showed excellent results after the year 2020, which was heavily affected by COVID. Four hundred forty-four thousand two hundred sixty study permits were issued in 2021, up from 107,145. Such a turnaround is obviously impressive, but it is quite in line with the uptrend that has been observed for several years now. In 2019, 400,600 study permits were issued, and the year 2020 proved to be just a blip.
So, who are these new immigrants who flocked to Canada? In 2022, the top 10 international students came from India, with just under 230,000 students. China ranked second but far behind, with just over 50,000 students. The Philippines was at the foot of the podium with 23,380 students. Next were France and Nigeria, neck to neck with 16,725 and 16,195 students, respectively. Iran followed with 13,525 students, South Korea with 11,535 students, and Japan with 10,955 students. Mexico and Brazil had the same number of students: 10,405 in all. Most reside in Ontario (411,000), British Columbia (164,000) and Quebec (93,000). Manitoba is home to 22,000 international students.
Canada's salient popularity among students is due to several key factors. The country is mostly praised for its good cost/quality ratio, which is better than that of English or American institutions. The cost is amortized thanks to the grants and subsidies available to international students. However, while it may seem easy to get a student job in Canada, some voices point out the difficulty of getting a stable job commensurate with their qualifications. Fortunately, this kind of issue is more easily overcome in Canada.
The success of the Super Visa for parents and grandparents
The latest figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) speak for themselves. Twenty-seven thousand one hundred ninety-five new immigrants entered Canada through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2022, against only 11,740 in the previous year. These figures show an unprecedented 131.6% increase. This was twice as many PGP immigrants as in 2015, when only 15,490 sponsored parents and grandparents entered the Canadian territories.
The federal government expects these numbers to increase. Since it relies on economic immigration, it also promotes family reunification, allowing foreign workers to bring in their relatives. So it is another incentive to encourage families to stay in Canada.
The sponsorship program is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. They simply have to prove they have sufficient income to accommodate and support their parents and grandparents.
A compellingly ambitious immigration plan
Canada's immigration plan is commensurate with its challenges. In fact, the country expects 465,000 new immigrants this year and 485,000 in 2024 and is keen on reaching the 500,000 mark by 2025. There are currently 50% more job vacancies than before the health crisis, and unemployment is 11% lower than before COVID. Among the most sought-after professions are nurses and healthcare workers, construction managers, developers, welders, HR managers, data analysts, customer advisors, administrative assistants, and accounting technicians. All sectors are concerned, with increased needs, especially in the services, construction, and health professions.
In Quebec, people are talking about the costly "chaos". Due to staff shortages, many businesses and restaurants are having to cut back on operating hours, which can lead to business losses. In addition, professionals pinpoint the rise in absenteeism as another contributing factor to the labor shortage. In Quebec, absenteeism increased by 19% in 2022 compared to the pre-pandemic period. For the “Institut du Québec”, which published these figures in its “Bilan de l'Emploi 2022”, these absences are compelling recruiters to hire more. Employees, for their part, say they are sometimes stressed by daily life and inflation (5.9% in January). Hence the need and urgency to recruit more foreign workers and avoid burnout.
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