The Canadian labour market remains tighter than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic

The Canadian job market experienced a slight decline in the second quarter of 2023, but it is still relatively tighter than pre-COVID levels, as reported by Statistics Canada. Job vacancies decreased, while the number of unemployed persons increased by 44,300.

The unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio increased to 1.4, from 1.3 in the previous quarter to 1.1 in the second quarter of 2022.

Despite this softening, the proportion remains below pre-pandemic levels, typically above 2.0.

Wage growth also decelerated, with average hourly wages increasing by 4.4% year-over-year in the second quarter, compared to 5% in the previous quarter.

#Statistics_Canada, #statistics, #labour_market_Canada

 

September 25, 2023

Canada faces lawsuit over closed work permit terms

The Government of Canada faces a class-action lawsuit for violating the Charter Rights of migrant domestic and farm workers. The case aims to challenge the immigration regulations restricting workers' rights to change employers. The Association for the Rights of Household and Farm Workers (DTMF) filed the case on behalf of closed work permit holders to end the system that treats workers as the property of their employers. The lawsuit alleges that the employer-tying measures are discriminatory based on race, national origin, and colour. Migrant workers with closed work permits face restrictions on their professional flexibility. If they lose their employment, they also lose their legal status to work in Canada until they find another employer with authorization to hire foreign workers. #work_permits, #work_in_Canada, #foreign_workers, #DTMF https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-based-workers-rights-group-files-class-action-against-closed-work-permits-1.6969241#:~:text=A%20Montreal-based%20workers%27%20rights%20group%20has%20filed%20an,the%20Rights%20of%20Household%20and%20Farm%20Workers%20%28DTMF%29. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/montreal-based-workers-rights-group-171342081.html

September 25, 2023

Canadians are dissatisfied with PGP 2023 not being available for new sponsors

Most Canadians expected IRCC to open the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for new sponsors in 2023, but they were disappointed when the program remained closed to new participants.

The new round of the PGP will open on October 10, 2023, inviting 24,200 prospective sponsors to apply.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to accept 15,000 complete applications, but PGP 2023 is not open to new sponsors.

This is the third year that IRCC only considers sponsors who applied in 2020. Canada's Immigration Levels Plan for 2023 aims to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents, including 28,500 parents and grandparents.

By 2025, Canada plans to increase its target to 500,000 newcomers, with 36,000 spots reserved for parents and grandparents.

#IRCC, #PGP, #sponsorship, #parents_and_grandparents

https://www.reddit.com/r/ImmigrationNewsCanada/comments/16ijhdy/canadians_unhappy_with_pgp_2023_not_opening_for/?rdt=64847

September 23, 2023

53% of Canadians think the immigration level in Canada is too high

According to a recent Nanos poll, most Canadians (53%) believe the government's plan to accept 465,000 new permanent residents is too high.

This is a significant shift from a few months ago when only 34% of Canadians thought immigration was too high. Canada has traditionally been pro-immigration, but there seems to be a changing sentiment due to the recent increase in immigration levels.

In 2014, Canada welcomed 260,404 new permanent residents, which was considered high.

However, last year, immigration reached 437,180, and when accounting for non-permanent immigration, the Canadian population increased by over one million.

This represents a 2.7% annual rise in population, offsetting any per-capita benefits from Canada's GDP growth.

#Statistics, #immigration_levels, #Immigration_to_Canada

https://www.environicsinstitute.org/docs/default-source/project-documents/focus-canada---fall-2022---immigration-refugees/focus-canada-fall-2022---canadian-public-opinion-about-immigration-refugees---final-report.pdf?sfvrsn=b31e22c9_2

September 23, 2023