International students in Canada hope for an extension of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) policy in 2024, given the limited options for permanent residency.
By mid-2023, Canada had approximately 2.2 million temporary residents, with over 1 million holding work permits - which has almost doubled in a year.
The PGWP, typically a one-time issuance, was temporarily extended during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a recent extension granting an additional 18 months for permits expiring by December 2023.
Previously, students relied on the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category of the Express Entry system for permanent residency, but the absence of CEC-specific rounds has led to heightened competition.
Now, students remain optimistic about a PGWP extension.
#PGWP, #International_students, #work_permits, #Open_work_permits, #CEC, #EE
November 23, 2023
Canada's Department of Finance is investing $1.2 billion in building new rental homes in Toronto to address the housing crisis.
The funds, provided as low-interest loans through the Rental Construction Financing Initiative, will be distributed across seven new projects.
This joint announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Attorney General Arif Virani aims to build 2,644 new rental homes.
Toronto, the largest city in Ontario, is the country’s main destination for immigrants, making this move significant for newcomers.
The government aims to create over 71,000 new rental housing units across Canada by 2027-28 to enhance community vibrancy.
This is part of Canada's ongoing efforts to tackle housing availability and affordability issues nationwide.
#Housing_crisis, #Rent, #Toronto
November 23, 2023
From 2010-2019, the number of international students at Canadian public post-secondary institutions increased from 142,200 to 388,800.
Now, over 800,000 international students study at all levels in Canada. This surge raised concerns about the impact on domestic enrolment.
However, a Statistics Canada study showed a positive relationship between domestic and international enrolment. The study focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Business, Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (BHASE) programs.
It found that increased international enrolment did not affect domestic enrolment at the institution level. However, a positive correlation was seen in STEM and BHASE courses: as international enrollment rose, so did domestic enrollment.
This was stronger for BHASE programs in post-secondary non-tertiary and short-cycle tertiary programs.
No correlation was found at the graduate level within STEM programs, but a positive correlation was seen in BHASE graduate programs.
#International_students, #STEM, #BHASE, #Study_in_Canada, #Statistics_Canada
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/international-students-advocates-canada-permanently-110000635.html
November 20, 2023
Immigration contributes significantly to Canada's population, accounting for 23% of the total. It is the primary source of population growth, the highest since Confederation, and the highest among the G7 nations.
The working-age population in Canada is on a slow decline, which could be a cause for concern. The ratio of workers to seniors is projected to drop to a worrying two-to-one ratio soon.
As the workforce ages, this may result in persistent labour shortages, impacting different sectors of the economy. Canada's reliance on immigrants is pivotal in maintaining its population numbers.
A considerable portion, approximately two-thirds of these recent immigrants, fall within the core working age group (25-54 years old).
This introduction of younger individuals revitalizes the population, potentially counteracting the implications of an aging workforce.
#Immigration_to_Canada, #population_decline, #Canadian_population
November 17, 2023
