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Category Archives: The Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP)

Tips for newcomers immigrating to Canada

Canadian immigrants have a plethora of life and career choices. To counterbalance the ageing population, the federal government has implemented a number of immigration programs, including Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, and others. These programs have resulted in an increase in the number of well-educated, experienced, and skilled people in Canada.

New immigrants experience difficulties settling in and adjusting to life in Canada. Adapting to a new culture, time zone and climate may take a couple of weeks. Here are some tips you can follow to ease up this transition in Canada:

Apply for a SIN number

To work in Canada, you will need your Social Insurance Number, which is a nine-digit number. Your SIN will start with a ‘9’ if you are in Canada on a temporary work permit.

You may get a SIN at any Service Canada office and assuming that there is no rush, you will be able to get your SIN in about half an hour. You should not forget to bring your employment or study permit to your Service Canada appointment.

Purchase a local cell phone plan

The sooner you buy a local phone plan, the more you would be able to avoid your home provider’s expensive roaming charges. There are several options for Postpaid and Prepaid plans. The most popular phone carriers in Canada are Fido, Rogers, Bell, Telus, Virgin Mobile and Freedom.

Build your Network

Use networking tools like LinkedIn to meet people who were born and raised in Canada or have lived there for a long time to gain a better grasp of local culture and market trends. Consult with experts in your field to determine whether any certifications or licenses are required for your job.

To expand your understanding of local best practices, attend conferences, networking events, and workshops near your workplace or residence.

Open a Canadian bank account

It is very important to open up a bank account in Canada so you can manage your bills, debit card payments, and avoid possibly costly withdrawals from your existing account of your home country. Keep in mind that each bank checking accounts also known as ‘current accounts’ frequently come with monthly fees. This will also help you build a good credit history in Canada and facilitate your daily activities. Some of the most popular Banks in Canada include RBC, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust, CIBC and BMO.

Apply for Canadian healthcare

Citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents of Canada may be eligible for public medical care, which varies by province and covers medical expenses. Each family member will receive a provincial or territory government-issued health card only if qualified.

Newcomers to several provinces and territories may be required to wait for a certain period before becoming eligible for public health insurance. You must apply for temporary private health insurance until you are eligible.

Be aware about your rights and duties

One of the most important things for you to learn is about your rights, obligations, advantages, and privileges, even before you arrive in Canada. Permanent Residents (PRs) of Canada have many of the same rights and advantages as citizens of Canada, while temporary residents have different rights.

These rights are defined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which provides legal protection for the people of Canada’s fundamental rights and freedoms.

Get help from organizations for newcomers

Local Newcomers organizations can help you to find a place to live or help you get settled in Canada. You can also reach out to them if you have questions about things like administrative procedures, transportation, the school system or finding a job. 

Moving to a new country is hard. There’s a lot to think about both before and after your arrival in Canada. To ensure your new adventure sail smoothly in Canada, take advantage of all the support available to you.

If you need any immigration help, feel free to contact us.

Canadian Workforce Plan 2022

In response to robust demand for workers, employers across Canada are looking to bump up salaries as a part of their 2022 workforce plan. Many employers are losing business and productivity due to labor shortage. To attract talent and to address labor constraints, employers are incentivizing local population and raising salaries of existing workforce.

LifeWorks survey report revealed that average salary in Canada would climb 2.7 percent in 2022, excluding firms that plan to freeze wages.

Base salaries are anticipated to rise in 2022, with an average yearly pay increase of 2.5 percent. Due to the tight labor market, employers are being compelled to make the most significant compensation adjustments in the last five years.

Employers preparing to scale up wages to attract and retain workers

In this competitive labor market, Canadian firms are using bonuses to attract and retain workers. As per the survey carried out by Mercer Talent, about 50% of respondents are ready to pay higher salaries than market rates. In response to the challenges in attracting and/or retaining talent, 41.67% of companies are revisiting their strategic workforce planning while 50.93% are reevaluating compensation and benefits offerings.

The Canadian economy is slowly recovering, and companies are being compelled to loosen their purse strings because of labor shortage. Employees are seeking both more income and persuasive jobs because of the flourishing labour market and rising inflation.

Increase in salary based on specific sectors

According to the LifeWorks survey report, the highest projected average salary increase for 2022 will be on wholesale trade with a planned hike of 3.1 per cent followed by construction (2.9 per cent) and professional, scientific and technical services (2.9 per cent). The lowest salary increase is projected in healthcare and social assistance (1.8 per cent) and information and cultural industries (1.5 per cent).

Salaries are expected to increase while wage freezes decline, which is good news for most Canadian workers, even though they must keep in mind the looming inflation rate.

Opportunities for immigration as a measure to resolve labor shortage

There are immense opportunities for skilled workers in Canada, due to labor shortage in various industries. Atlantic Immigration Pilot, Canadian Experience Class, Caregiver Pilot and Federal Skilled Trade Class are just a handful of skilled worker immigration program for skilled and talented workers willing to immigrate to Canada.

In addition, workers interested in immigrating to Canada can opt the Global Talent Stream pathway of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which expedites the processing of Canadian work permits and visa applications in order to meet or resolve labor shortages.

Organizations and business leaders across Canada are hopeful that immigration will resolve the prevalent labor crunch and enable businesses to access talent they need to recover and grow.

Canadian business leaders want government to speed up the overall process of immigration with an emphasis on streamlining and accelerating pathways for temporary foreign workers.

We at Can X offer the following solutions to address labor constraints in Canadian business:

Give us an opportunity to discuss your requirements and let our experts find a solution tailored to your needs.

Skilled Immigration: A necessity for Canada to fill vacant jobs

As the world strives to put Covid-19 in its rearview mirror, however difficult it might be. The post-COVID era for Canada looks bleak, especially in the labor market. There are already 550,000 unfulfilled skilled jobs, and reports are suggesting that this number will only rise as 125,000 more workers are expected to quit or retire by the end of this year.

It doesn’t sound as promising especially for a developed country like Canada, but it presents itself as a silver lining for skilled people around the globe who are planning to migrate from their home country. Canada is in a dire need for skilled people and is planning to fill those positions by inviting immigrants. Just in the month of July 2021 Canada welcomes 40,000 immigrants, 4000 more than the previous month and the number will only go up as the Canadian Economy tries to recover from the hit it took during the past year.

There are multiple ways for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada.

Express Entry

Express Entry is a points-based system that manages immigration applications for the three Federal High Skilled programs, which include the: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program. IRCC regularly invites skilled workers from both inside and outside Canada through this program.

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents. Having obtained work experience in Canada, these individuals have already settled into Canadian society and established important networks in their communities and their careers.

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications are assessed based on an applicant’s ability to become economically established upon immigration to Canada. This is Canada’s flagship immigration program for workers, allowing the country to welcome tens of thousands of newcomers every year. This is a key category of the Express Entry (EE) program.

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade. This economic immigration program was developed at the request of Canadian businesses and employers who were struggling to find enough skilled trade workers to help them complete their work on time.

Provincial Nominee Programs

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) regularly invites a number of skilled workers to apply for provincial nomination for permanent residence. This is through the Skilled Worker and International Graduate category.

The BC PNP also offers a priority pathway to certain tech workers called the BC Tech stream. This Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) targets candidates who have job offers in one of 29 eligible tech occupations.

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program targets prospective immigrants with the desired skills and experience for immigration nomination. The In-Demand Skills Stream in Ontario provides some workers in high-need occupations a pathway to permanent residence.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is yet another option for skilled workers who wish to make their new home in any one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces – New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Work Permits

Skilled workers can temporarily come to Canada under one of two paths, Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program. This stream allows foreign workers to work in Canada for Canadian companies.

8687 LMIA’s were approved in the first quarter of 2021, despite the adverse effects of COVID-19. This demonstrates shortage of skilled workers in Canada, which has now become a perennial problem with plummeting interest from new generations to enter trades and more veteran tradespeople retiring.

It can be predicted that job vacancy rates will continue to rise in the short term, particularly in service-oriented jobs. This gap in the labor market has created a golden opportunity for foreign skilled workers to apply for jobs in Canadian companies facing labor shortage.

To attract immigrants, Canada is introducing new policies that help protect foreign domestic workers from a drop in wages. Canada is also investing in settlement services for temporary foreign workers who are eligible to transition to permanent residence.

Canada has over 100 economic class streams, which assess candidates on their human capital factors including age, education, language skills and work experience. While having a valid job offer can help you in the immigration process, most economic class immigrants arrive in Canada without pre-arranged employment.

Canada with its abundant natural resources, scenic beauty, jobs, and countless opportunities sounds like a perfect country to come to. If you decide to come to Canada contact Can X for a free consultation and let us help, to make your Canadian dream a reality. 

Why global investors should invest in Atlantic Canada?

Atlantic Canada or “the Maritimes” includes the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island that boast Canada’s most spectacular and pristine coastline. They are well known for their lush vistas and uncrowded beaches, breathtaking scenery and a vibrant and welcoming culture.

Besides tourism, The Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy has been initiated to grow export and boost foreign investment in the region. Through an unprecedented level of collaboration, the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic provincial governments have committed to working hand-in-hand to create jobs and strengthen the economy by increasing the number of exporters, the value of export sales, export markets and foreign investment in the region. Now, many multinational companies like IBM, Samsung, Tech Mahindra, Michelin have found strategic market development and have been investing in Atlantic Canada. Each of the Atlantic provinces have their own distinguished universities and industries which is appealing to investors.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island (PEI) is Canada’s smallest province located on the east coast of North America. PEI’s population is growing which can be attributed to Atlantic Immigration Pilot. The program allows employers to attract highly skilled individuals as well as recent graduates from Atlantic Canada post-secondary institutions. New people are coming to the province, bringing new ideas and possibilities, and contributing to its social and economic fabric. The economy of Prince Edward Island is driven by a vibrant business environment, a stable labour force and a great place to operate a business which can benefit multinational companies.

PEI’s Bioscience Cluster is another industry which has gained international attraction which has more than 60 multinational companies, seven research institutions and Emergence- Canada’s Bioscience Business Incubator which assists growing companies in the bioscience and food sectors.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador is the largest producer of crude oil in eastern Canada, and is the 3rd largest oil producing province in Canada. Since 1997, 1.7 billion barrels of oil have been produced and the industry accounts for 25 per cent of provincial GDP and 41 per cent of exports over the past 20 years. St. John’s is the commercial hub of Canada’s offshore oil industry and is home to international oil companies, supply and service firms, as well as a specialized and diverse range of marine expertise. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has released a plan for growth of Oil and Gas Industry in early 2018 which will rank Newfoundland and Labrador as the most attractive Canadian jurisdiction for oil and gas investment.

The federal government’s new approach to fostering innovation and economic growth in the ocean sector – the Ocean Supercluster – positions Canada to become a global leader in the knowledge-based ocean economy.  This initiative will see hundreds of millions of new dollars invested in ocean-related research and development and commercialization.

This industry is supported by research & development at Memorial University and The Fisheries and Marine Institute. Besides industry-based research they offer certificate, diploma, undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate programs. They have been providing talented graduates who can be assets to local industry and multinationals like Kongsberg Maritime, Kvaerner, TechnipFMC and Vale who have invested in the province.

New Brunswick

Located on Canada’s east coast along the Atlantic Ocean, New Brunswick offers a distinct way of life and exciting career opportunities. NB has been growing its cybersecurity ecosystem where business, academic institutes, and government work together to facilitate growth and increase in talented workforce, promote innovation for secure critical infrastructure and secure business growth and customer trust.  IBM’s major innovation hub and Siemens Canada have their centers for cybersecurity in NB. And, with the opening of National Innovation Centre for Cybersecurity at Knowledge Park in Fredericton, NB, there will be a major addition to Canada’s national cyber security capabilities.

Nova Scotia

Located on Canada’s east coast, Nova Scotia has strong and stable economy, well-educated workforce, adequate environmental policies that offer competitive advantages for exporters and investors in Growing industry sectors including ocean technology, life sciences, aerospace & defense, finance & insurance and advanced manufacturing.

Michelin North America, manufacturer of tires, employs 3,300 people across the province while DSM Nutritional Products manufacturers concentrated fish oils in NS.

NS ocean technologies are its strength with high levels of R&D and innovation. Centre for Ocean Ventures & Entrepreneurship (COVE) is a collaborative facility for applied innovation in the ocean sector. This collaborative space will be home to local and global ocean technology businesses, start-ups, researchers, marine-based and service businesses.

Nova Scotia has a total of 10 universities and 13 community colleges and has one of the most educated workforces in the country, with over 62% of the population having some post-secondary education. Thus, there is a sustainable supply of top talent for the investors.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project is a fast-track employer driven immigration program that allows employers in four Canadian Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island) to hire foreign nationals for jobs they haven’t been able to fill locally. The program also has the goals of supporting population growth, developing a skilled workforce, and increasing employment rates in the region.

Canada extends Atlantic Immigration Pilot

Canadian Government announced extension of its Atlantic Immigration Pilot to December 2021 in a bid to maintain the program’s momentum. Initially launched as a three-year pilot, the AIP will be extended by two years to December 2021. This will give IRCC and the Atlantic provinces more time to assess the innovative aspects of this pilot: its employer-driven focus, mandatory settlement plan, and new model of partnership with the Atlantic provinces and ACOA.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) is an innovative partnership aimed at attracting and retaining skilled immigrants and international graduates to meet the unique workforce needs of the Atlantic region (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island). The goal is to ensure the long-term retention and integration of newcomers in Atlantic Canada to help drive economic growth. The Government of Canada and the Atlantic provinces have made great strides in implementing the AIP since its launch in March 2017. As of February 25, 2019, there were 1,896 AIP designated employers in the Atlantic region. AIP designated employers made over 3,729 job offers to skilled foreign nationals or international graduates. As a result, there are already over 2,535 approved permanent residents destined for or already in the Atlantic Canada.

  • International graduates will now have 24 months post-graduation to apply for the AIP. This change will increase the number of eligible international graduates that can participate in AIP and give them the time they need to complete the PR application process.
  • Employers in the healthcare sector will be able to hire internationally trained nurses to work as continuing care and home care support workers in order to fill job vacancies.
  • The Atlantic provinces will have new authorities to focus their AIP spaces on in-demand labour market needs. This change will lead to better oversight of the pilot and give provinces greater ability to manage designated employers.
  • Beginning May 1, 2019, IRCC will require that applicants meet the language, education and work experience requirements of the AIP prior to being approved for a work permit.

Designated employers do not have to go through the process of obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment for jobs endorsed under the pilot program.

In order to be eligible, foreign workers must have a full-time job offer from a designated employer and possess at least 1 year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) paid work experience in an occupation designated Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or Skill Level B under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC).