Canada Pushes India, China & the Philippines for Action on Immigration Fraud

Canada’s immigration minister Jason Kenney is travelling to China, India and the Philippines this week to discuss, among other issued, the problem of so-called ‘fraudulent marriages’.

The visit comes on the heels of a series of public consultations the minister has started on the issue. Fraudulent marriages are those where a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident sponsors someone abroad as a spouse, but the spouse enters into marriage just to get to Canada and leaves the person who sponsored once he or she lands in the country.

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PC MasterCard Offers Free Grocery Coupons

I had not been using my President’s Choice PC MasterCard for a while, but a few days ago received a letter from the company.

They have taken notice of this fact, and have offered me two, 10 dollar coupons, provided I buy at least 40 dollars of groceries each time before taxes using my PC MasterCard.

The purchases have to be made at stores where PC products are sold (read: Loblaws, Real Canadian Super Store, No Frills etc).

The offer is not valid for products such as prescription medication, tobacco etc.

Ontario To Crackdown on Bogus Colleges & Approves Fast Tracking for PhD Grads

The provincial government in Ontario has introduced new legislation it says will help it protect foreign students from falling for bogus universities or colleges.

What the Ontario government wants is more powers to tackle businesses that might establish colleges or universities without permission to grant degrees or diplomas.

The new rules will help the government shut down such businesses much easily, than having to go through extended legal processes.

PhD Grads To Be Fast-Tracked To Canadian Citizenship

This move comes as Ontario announced yet another step to make the province even more attractive for foreign students.

The provincial government, just like its federal counterpart in Ottawa as well as governments in Australia and New Zealand, sees the foreign student sector as an excellent source for foreign exchange earnings.

Accordingly, Ontario wants to increase the intake of foreign students by fifty percent over the next five years.

Under new rules, those who have completed PhD from an Ontario university can apply to be fast tracked for the permanent residence, which allows them to work without a work permit. Generally, the permanent residence is the first step towards Canadian citizenship.

Canada’s French speaking province of Quebec has also brought in changes to fast track foreign students towards Canadian citizenship. (Article here.)

YouTube Videos On Immigration Canada’s Programmes

Are you a skilled professional considering moving to Canada? Well, Canada’s federal ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (Citizenship & Immigration Canada) has some new, multimedia tools available.

And they are available in English and French on YouTube.

The first video explains about the so-called Provincial Nominee Programme. Under the PNP, Canada’s provinces and territories can nominate foreigners, including international students. Usually, those willing to move to Canada permanently under this programme have to apply to the respective province/territory. If they are approved, they have to make a separate application to the Citizenship & Immigration Canada.

The second video explains about the Canadian Experience Class for foreign temporary workers.

The last video is about the Permanent Resident Card, its features and how to renew it.

Canada to Hold Public Consultation on Types of Immigration

The Canadian government is asking its citizens to have a say in its immigration policies. The Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration wants Canadians to give their views on changing labour market trends and how the immigration system should respond to them.

This is part of the immigration system reform initiated in 2008 to cut down the massive immigration applications backlog and also to bring in professional people who are needed in Canada.

There had been a longstanding debate about the fairness and justification of bringing, for example, doctors and engineers who find it difficult to practise while the country is beginning the feel the shortage in fields such as construction workers, plumbers etc.

But what is interesting is that, according to the press release of the ministry, Canadians could also voice their opinion about ‘factors that affect an immigrant’s ability to succeed in Canada’s work force’.

In other words, Canadians could express their sentiments about language and other issues that they think, not necessarily objectively, would affect an immigrant’s successful integration in the workforce.

The ministry has not said how it will evaluate the suggestions.

But what is known is that the ministry says that the consultations will help the government develop instructions to immigration offices to decide which economic immigration applications are eligible for processing.

This consultation is applicable only to those wishing to migrate under the economy class, and not family or other special classes of immigration.

Public can participate in the consultation process by accessing the Citizenship and Immigration Canada special website.

Ontario’s Handling of Foreign Trained Professionals Rapped

It is official, once again. Professionals who migrate to Canada have a tough time getting jobs appropriate to their qualifications and experience

Ontario Fairness Commissioner’s Report On Foreign Trained Professionals

This is the conclusion of a new report issued by Ontario’s Fairness Commissioner. The Commissioner’s office is an independent agency, and studied extensively the challenges faced by immigrants from 37 professions, ranging from doctors, engineers, accountants and lawyers to chiropractors and even foresters.

The study was conducted between April and August of last year, and close to 2,800 professionals in Canada since 2000 participated.

The report says that there is a fundamental contradiction between the positions taken by the various levels of Canadian government (federal and provincial) and the licensing bodies that regulate the professions. For example, a medical professional can get extra points based on the profession, and can be approved to migrate to Canada based on the need for such professionals in Canada, but once he or she is here, the challenges in settling down in the profession are huge.

The report also points to a host of issues – from the cost and time needed to get licensed to appeal processes – that pose serious challenges to immigrants.

The time taken for foreign-trained professionals to get licensed, if they do get licensed at all, is evident – for example, the time taken to complete the licensing process is 2.5 years for a locally trained professional while it is four months longer for an internationally trained professional (ITP). But the difference is glaring when all the requirements have been met and only the licensing process needs to be completed – one year for a locally trained professional and 2.5 years for a foreign trained professional.

The different layers of governments as well as companies have been blamed for the sorry plight of the ITPs. But of late, many settlement agencies, and even government officials, have pointed the finger at professional bodies that regulate the respective professions as being too cumbersome. Often, there have also been complaints of these bodies acting intentionally to create hurdles for foreign trained professionals to practise.

But to be fair, these bodies have been cooperating ever more closely with government and other agencies to help immigrants.

In 2009, Canada received just under 247,000 immigrants, as compared to 190,000 ten years ago, and of them almost two-thirds came through business class, self-sponsorship, caregiver and other professional categories.

A Cost Analysis Of Ontario’s Harmonised Sales Tax HST

The new Harmonised Sales Tax, also known as the HST, will be coming to effect in Ontario July 1^st 2010. This means for certain products and services we will be paying 8% more from that day.

The biggest question is how it will affect families and businesses. According to Government of Ontario 83% of the consumer purchases will not see new tax either because we are currently paying tax equivalent to HST or exempt from HST.

This list is a brief description of to what items the HST applies. It assumes the family has children, and has a disposal income of 60,000 dollars.

This is not a scientific study.

Home related costs		Current	Future
Mortgage	No change	1,231.00	1,231.00
Heating	Change	160.00	172.19
Hydro	Change	65.00	69.95
Home Insurance	No change	45.00	45.00
Property tax	No change	275.00	275.00
Water	No change	60.00	60.00
Internet	Change	45.00	48.43
Cable	No change	50.00	50.00
Home Phone	No change	35.00	35.00
Travel related costs
Auto Insurance	No change	117.00	117.00
Car repairs (parts and labour)	No change	100.00	100.00
Gasoline	Change	150.00	161.43
Go pass	No change	150.00	150.00
Taxi	Change	60.00	64.57
Child related costs
Diapers	No change	100.00	100.00
Kids clothing & shoes	No change	60.00	60.00
Music lessons and tutoring	No change	60.00	60.00
Child care	No change	550.00	550.00
Toys	No change	50.00	50.00
Other
Cell phone package	No change	45.00	45.00
Medication (prescription and non prescription)	No change	50.00	50.00
Haircut, spa service	Change	100.00	107.62
News paper/ movie/books/ admission sporting events	No change	50.00	50.00
magazenes	Change	20.00	20.00
Recreation (gym membership. Golf club, curling rinks etc)	Change	150.00	161.43
Prof fees (accounting, legal etc)	Change	60.00	64.57
Basic groceries	No change	600.00	600.00
Tobacco	Change	100.00	107.62
Total		4,538.00	4,605.81
Change in dollars for a month			67.81
Annual additional expense			813.72

That is, the cost of the HST is 1.4 percent. The calculation does not include HST increase related to vacation.

For the 12 months the Ontario government will pay $1,000.00 to families (provided family income is less than $ 160 K for 2009). The payment will be made in 3 installments but going forward families and individuals are going to pay these additional amount

Obviously, there is no consensus on the real cost of the HST for Ontarians. The Centre for Policy Alternatives, which is a left-of-centre think tank, for example, says when tax-credits and income tax cuts provided in the provincial budget are included, the real cost is about $ 37.00. But the group does say that low income families might be hit harder as they might not benefit from certain tax credits.

On the other hand, another recent report claims costs would be much higher, going into hundreds of dollars a year just in utilies costs alone.

You can get more information from the Government of Ontario’s website on the HST.

Drivers Licensing in Canada Part 1 Alberta

One issue many immigrants face when moving to Canada is whether or not their current drivers licence will be accepted in Canada.

Generally, issuing drivers licence is a provincial/territorial issue in Canada, and the system varies from province to province.

Drivers Licensing in Alberta

• If you visit Alberta as a visitor, you can use your International Driving Permit (IDP) for up to 12 months, in conjunction with the licence from your country of residence.

• If you have moved to Alberta as a permanent resident (immigrant), then you must obtain an Alberta driver’s licence within 90 days of moving to the province, regardless of whether you travel outside Alberta during those 90 days (see below for more information on the difference between reciprocal and non-reciprocal licences)

• If you are working in Alberta but have your residence outside the province, you may continue to use the valid licence from your home jurisdiction.

• If you are only visiting the province, then you may use your valid licence from your home jurisdiction as long as you have a legitimate residence there and do not take up residency in Alberta.

• If you are staying in Alberta as a full time student or you are working here as part of a co-op program of study, you may use your valid driver’s licence from your home jurisdiction.

Reciprocal/non-reciprocal Licensing Agreements

• If you have moved to Alberta from the countries with which Canada has a reciprocal agreement – Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, UK (excluding Northern Ireland) and the USA – then you can exchange your home jurisdiction licence to an Albertan one, provided you meet certain conditions.

• If you come from one of the non-reciprocal countries, but have had the licence from your current jurisdiction for at least two years, then you can apply for the Alberta licence Class 5 (cars, light trucks, motorcycles and mopeds) or Class 7 (learner’s licence for cars, motorcycles and mopeds), after you pass the knowledge, vision and advanced road testing.

• But if you do not possess the minimum two years of experience, then you will be placed under the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) which will require few years of progressively increased privileges as a driver.

More information can be obtained from Transportation Alberta

Canada To Require Tests In English Or French For Skilled Immigration Class

The Canadian government will be requiring that all applicants applying to immigrate to Canada under the skilled immigrant category should prove their fluency in either English or French, Canada’s two official languages, through a test.

Canada’s federal Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration today announced that as of April 10, 2010, applicants whose first language is neither English nor French will have to submit the results from an ‘independent, third-party’ language test.

Until now, applicants could take a test, or submit a written submission in either of the language to the appropriate visa office.

However, the ministry now feels that the written submission is not sufficient to test the fluency of English or French of an applicant.

Hence the new regulation.

This rule applies only to those wanting to apply for immigration under the Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience classes, and will not apply to those applying under Family Class (see article for Family Class).

An applicant can get up to 24 out of a 100 points for language fluency.

Some critics question the rationale of asking for fluency in English or French from skilled workers such as construction workers or chefs, whom Canada so desperately needs but who will not necessarily be fluent in either of the Canada’s two official languages.

Language Testing Bodies

English:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

This is a test jointly managed the British University of Cambridge-ESOL, the British Council and IDP Pty Ltd. of Australia.

IELTS has two options for reading and writing tests: General Training and Academic, and applicants need to take the General Training option.

• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Programme

University of British Columbia, Canada, administers this test.

French:

• Test d’evaluation de francais (TEF)

The Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry administers these tests.

The applicant must submit results from the following TEF tests:

• compréhension écrite
• compréhension orale
• expression écrite
• expression orale

Buying A New Printer – 1

My quest for a new printer began a few months ago. I currently have a Brother HL1240 b/w laser printer, which I bought more than eight years ago. It cost me a fortune, but it has been a solid workhorse.

There was no particular reason to buy a new one; I was contemplating a colour printer. As well, it would be nice to have networking facility so that I could connect a second computer.

After going through the reviews of some computers, I decided to put off buying one for now.

Then, as if it sensed my desire to ditch it, the Brother stopped working.

Now, I have to buy one.

Again, I have spent hours pouring through various online reviews.

My requisites are:

All-in-one (scan, copying, faxing and printing)

Good quality printing

Network facility (Ethernet is sufficient)

Colour not essential.

I finally closed-in on three models:

Brother 9320CW (the most expensive)

HP CM1312NFI

Brother 7840W (the only b/w in the lot and the least expensive)

The reviews are as confusing as it can get. If one review says that the print quality of one is particular model is good, the other would make it doubtful. And for one printer, one reviewer complained bitterly about software issues. But another review claimed that while it had software issues, they can be tackled easily.

Then another review threw in a new aspect: the newness of the models. It seems that except the first one, the rest two are kind of reaching their peak time, but obviously, I would like to buy a new one.

So, I will do some more research, and keep posted.

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