Author - Farook .

Ottawa is drafting a bill to restore citizenship rights for "lost Canadians," following an Ontario court ruling against denying citizenship to children born overseas and Canadians born abroad. The proposed bill would mandate a Canadian parent born abroad to show significant ties to Canada and pass citizenship to a child born outside the country. This reverses a 2009 law that removed automatic citizenship for children of a Canadian parent born overseas. The change led to some Canadians working abroad being denied the right to pass on their citizenship, and some border babies and indigenous children born in communities on the border not qualifying for Canadian passports. The government has until June 19 to act after Ontario's Superior Court of Justice ruled it unconstitutional to deny Canadians born abroad the right to pass on citizenship to their foreign-born children

Contact : Farook@whitefieldimmigration.ca

Jahabar Farook RCIC

According to Policy Options, Canada competes to attract global talent as mobility increases post-pandemic. The World Economic Forum predicts 4% of the world's population will relocate by 2030. Skilled workers target countries offering a better quality of life, and economies need this talent due to population stagnation. The Global Consulting Group states that 23% of the global active labour force, around 800 million professionals, seek work abroad. Job quality, life quality, and health are top reasons for relocation. Countries desire top scientists, engineers, artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators. A BCG analysis showed Australia as the top choice in 2023, up from seventh in 2014. Canada remains among the top three from 2014 to 2023 due to its strong economy, high living standards, excellent healthcare, and welcoming immigration policies.

contact : farook@whitefieldimmigration.ca

Ontario's PAL allocation heavily favours colleges over universities, securing 84% of the share, leaving universities with only 16%. Seneca College leads with 20,388 allocations, while larger institutions like the University of Toronto and York University receive significantly fewer (around 6,356 and 5,032, respectively). Concerns arise over this approach's impact on international education trends, with experts like Earl Blaney questioning its effectiveness. In contrast, Nova Scotia's allocation is more evenly distributed among universities, colleges, and language schools. The University of Prince Edward Island receives the majority of allocations on Prince Edward Island.

Contact : farook@whitefieldimmigration.ca

On May 13, 2024, Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller marked the start of Citizenship Week. This week invites reflection on Canadian identity, diversity, rights, and responsibilities, including the significance of Indigenous Peoples' history and role. The minister will attend citizenship ceremonies nationwide, welcoming new citizens and visiting organizations that assist newcomers. Between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, Canada welcomed 393,500 new citizens, with citizenship applications now processed faster. The immigration minister invited everyone to celebrate citizenship by reflecting on what it means and getting involved in their communities.

On May 14, 2024, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) updated the processing times for the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications under various streams. Based on statistics from all processing centres, this update provides a view of the current average LMIA processing times. It's important to note that the processing times have increased for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and Permanent residence Stream and decreased for the High-wage and Low-wage Streams.

• Global Talent Stream - 7 business days
• Agricultural stream - 13 business days
• Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program - 10 business days (+3 days)
• Permanent residence Stream - 80 business days (+1 day)
• High-wage Stream - 43 business days (-8 days)
• Low-wage Stream - 46 business days (-9 days)

Contact : Farook@whitefieldimmigration.ca

On May 14, 2024, British Columbia held new draws for business candidates under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). BCPNP invited five candidates in the Base Category of the Entrepreneur Stream, which is designed for experienced business people who want to start a new business or buy an existing business in British Columbia. The lowest score of this round was 116 points, one more than in the previous draw. In addition, the province invited up to five candidates in the Entrepreneur Immigration - Regional Pilot category with a minimum score of 113. The maximum points in the Entrepreneur Stream grid are 200. To be eligible under the EI Regional Pilot, qualified entrepreneurs must be referred by a participating community. Last year, British Columbia invited up to 89 entrepreneurs under the BCPNP. In 2024, the province has invited up to 30 business candidates through the Entrepreneur draws.

Contact : farook@whitefieldimmigration.ca

Canada's international student intake does not align with labour market needs, with most focusing on business-related programs. Only a small percentage pursue health sciences, medicine, or trade and vocational programs. This mismatch is blamed on a lack of oversight and contributes to negative economic outcomes. Experts argue that immigration policies focus more on immigrant outcomes and long-term market needs. The Federal Government aims to reduce the number of new study permits, considering only a specific number of study permit applications in 2024 due to concerns about the integrity of the international student system