Canada saw a 27.2% increase in new arrivals under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in October, bouncing back from an eight-month low in August, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
There were 2,525 new permanent residents in October, up from 1,975 in September and the August low of 1,515.
Despite a drop from 3,760 in May to 1,515 in August, current trends suggest the PGP could welcome 29,910 new residents by year's end, a 9.7% increase from last year. So far this year, the PGP has admitted 24,925 new residents, a three percent increase from the same period the previous year.
Ontario saw the highest number of PGP arrivals, with 11,805 parents and grandparents settling there.
#PGP, #parents_and_grandparents, #sponsorship, #family_unification
January 6, 2024
The mandatory income for international students in Canada is set to increase, a move that could potentially reduce the number of students but also provide more transparency.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller has declared that students must show they have access to $20,635, a significant increase from the previous $10,000. Jawad Chowdhury from the Memorial University's student union has voiced concerns that the total cost exceeding $80,000 for a four-year program may be too steep for many.
He points out that rental and tuition costs have seen a marked rise in recent years. From next year, international students will be limited to working 20 hours per week during their studies.
Chowdhury calls for more full-time work opportunities for these students to ensure Canada retains them.
#International_students, #Study_in_Canada, #Study_permits
January 6, 2024
A poll by Abacus Data reveals most Canadians believe immigration targets are 'too high.'
The 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, released on November 1, 2023, aims to admit 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024, rising to 500,000 in 2025 and 2026.
The plan focuses on economic growth, family reunification, and responding to humanitarian crises. Despite this, 67% of Canadians oppose the targets, with 40% considering them 'way too high.'
Only 2% think the targets are too low. The report, Thresholds and Tensions: Unmasking Public Unease with Canada’s Immigration Goals, reveals age and political affiliation influence perceptions, with older Canadians and Conservative party voters more likely to view targets as too high.
#Immigration_levels, #immigration_targets, #statistics, #survey
January 6, 2024
Western Canadian employers seeking overseas skilled workers have seen a significant rise this year, with a 39% increase in LMIA applications nationwide and 83% in Western Canada.
Yukon is the sole exception, with a slight decrease. Nunavut had the highest growth in applications, followed by Northwest Territories, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
LMIA processing times are slow, with Alberta having the longest. This is because fewer applications are in priority processing streams.
Efforts have been made to modernize the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including distributing files across the national network, moving away from paper applications, and simplifying applications for compliant employers through the Recognized Employer Pilot.
#LMIA, #TFWP, #foreign_workers, #statistics
January 6, 2024
