Canada immigration revamp by the Harper government is a big deal
By Sheetal Jhuti
MISSISSAUGA: Immigration to Canada has never received such a revamp as that effected by the Harper government. What does this Canada immigration revamp mean:
1. Just in time inventory :
By easing work permits for skilled trades people and those occupations that have scarce people resources, the Harper govt is creating a just in time inventory. This has also stemmed from a backlash of people’s voices that skilled personnel are driving taxis. The rejoinder to that is ok, if so, come if you have a genuine job, are able to support yourself in a job that you accepted and proved that you had the necessary skills and experience for.
2. Bring in the funds to support Canadian institutions and business, pay your dues:
To address the shortage of workers and youngsters, the student visas with its accompaniment programs of spousal dependant visa – if one spouse is on a study or work permit, the other spouse will be granted ( most of the times) an open work permit , or a study permit, then addresses concerns of having short term , non-bonded youngsters to fill up entry level and junior positions or those that have stressed demands historically such as the hospitality industry ( projected to have a consistent shortfall of about 15% labour force for the next ten years).
Should these youngsters after sinking in a chunk of investment in the form of their tuition fees and taxes, have a job offer and demonstrated skills to adapt to Canada, can then apply as immigrants and become the younger generation so desperately required.
Many of these youngsters establish themselves on the early rungs of the corporate ladder. Many turn entrepreneurs after a few years and in turn generate employment for the next crop and other Canadians.
3. No significant additional cultural baggage:
These are the least likely to complain as they have come here still green behind their ears and in this global era take to the western society with ease – no significant cultural burdens that they impose of the Canadian society, no extra baggage.
4. Why the sea change in the point system or the federal skilled worker (FSW) category:
Historically, this category has been created to bring educated experienced families into Canada. He category based on it’s criteria of age ( 21 to 49) , work experience ( minimum 4 years in a post secondary occupation), Education ( graded scale based on degrees and vocational diplomas with a chunk of weightage given to Bachelor degree holders and three year diploma holders), knowledge of English or French, Adaptability factors (such as post secondary education of spouse, presence of a blood relative and a job offer)- were tailor made to applicants from countries such as India, China, Pakistan and the Philippines where the emphasis is so much on educating the children. These were the aspiring middle class – both upper and lower and their children, who then became the pool of applicants.
However, applicants from the USA, UK, rest of Europe and Latin America found it tough to meet the criteria so easily as did those from the big 4 – the CIPP as to meet the threshold of points with a combination of all these factors were a tough challenge for their applicants.
Hence with the shift in Minister Kenney’s pronouncements and shift in skill set requirements that work permits that make economic migrants from Europe take up jobs easily.
