Canada’s Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced that, since 2008, the backlog of permanent resident applications has been reduced by about forty per cent The backlog of permanent resident applications has been reduced by about forty per cent, paving the way for a faster and more effective immigration system in 2013 and beyond, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced. “Backlogs and delays prevent Canada from attracting the best and brightest from around the world and ensuring that our immigration system is contributing to economic growth and long-term prosperity,” he said. “For too long, we...
Canada is facing a serious labour shortage. The population is ageing, the birth rate is slowing and there are fewer people with the requisite skills to fill vacant jobs. Skilled immigrants are a key source for new talent with Statistics Canada predicting that by 2031, one in three workers will be born outside the country. Toronto is currently one of the world’s most culturally-diverse cities, and leading GTA businesses already recognize the critical opportunity this provides for their growth and innovation. “With our rich diversity, Toronto area business and organizations have a wonderful opportunity to become even more innovative. Our annual Immigrant Success...
The Come to Canada Wizard, which helps people determine if they are eligible to live, work or study in Canada, has now been visited by well over two million users since its launch in August 2011.“We want the world’s best and brightest to come to Canada and to help grow our economy,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.“The award-winning Wizard is one way that we are creating a more responsive, user-friendly and efficient immigration process that benefits applicants, immigrants and Canadians alike. The Wizard saves prospective immigrants to Canada time and money by helping them determine if they are able to immigrate to Canada, and the most...
Jason Kenney announced new Start-Up Visa, first of its kind in the world.Canada will launch a new program on April 1 to recruit innovative immigrant entrepreneurs who will create new jobs and spur economic growth.“Our new Start-Up Visa will help make Canada the destination of choice for the world’s best and brightest to launch their companies,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “Recruiting dynamic entrepreneurs from around the world will help Canada remain competitive in the global economy.”The Start-Up Visa program will link immigrant entrepreneurs with private sector organizations in Canada that have experience working with start-ups...
In an ongoing effort to deter people from using marriages of convenience to cheat their way into Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) introduced a new regulation that requires certain sponsored spouses live in a legitimate relationship with their sponsor for two years or risk losing their permanent resident status.“I have consulted widely with Canadians, and especially with victims of marriage fraud, who have told me clearly that we must take action to stop this abuse of our immigration system,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.“Sometimes the sponsor in Canada is being duped and sometimes it’s a commercial transaction. Implementing...
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Canadian Experience
FRESH OFF THE PLANE: Newcomer parks his confusion
We moved to Canada in the mid-90s from Hyderabad, India. Friends who had moved here a year before us, picked us up at the airport and we spent our first week in Canada with... Most educated Indians believe they know English. We study in English-medium schools, some of us in what are called convents (and there’s a story there, too, but I’ll come that in a bit!), and are... Minister Kenney congratulates the 20,000th graduate from the Canadian Immigration Integration ProgramMore than 20,000 people are arriving in Canada better prepared for the labour market, thanks to... We were invited to a cultural show organized by our community’s cultural association soon after we moved to Canada. We had joined the association as a way to get to know members of the community... You know the side-to-side movement of the head that South Indians do that is a cross between a nod and a shake of the head? I’m from the south and have heard jokes about the South Indian head... |
Help for Newcomers
 Education information fair focuses on newcomers’ need for upgrading and learning new skills
Mississauga Mandarin Business Association (MMBA), a subsidiary of the Mississauga Mandarin Association (MMA), the largest non-profit Chinese community organization in Mississauga, is...
Names: Rashpal and Rachna Suri
Country of origin: India
Year of arrival in Canada: 2008
Why we are Scotiabank customers: “Under the Scotiabank StartRight® Program1 for...
Name: Mahinder Chawla
Title: Financial Solutions Specialist, Hwy 10 and Kirwin Branch, Mississauga, Ontario. 905-276-2162 x 4504.
Country of origin: India
Year of arrival in Canada:... Imagine your first day of high school in a new country, with a new language and a new locker system.It’s always scary being the new kid. But at Greenwood Secondary school 40 students from 27... “The Scotiabank StartRight Program helped us settle in quickly”Names Amit and Mrinali ChauhanCountry of origin IndiaYear of arrival in Canada 2011Why we are Scotiabank customers The Chauhan... |
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Success Strategies
Plug into the network!
I was walking home from school when Gary, a kid from my third grade class, fell in beside me and started chatting.I’d never spoken with him before, and I had no idea why he was talking to me, but... A few years ago I was surfing the internet when I discovered a contest asking amateurs to make TV commercials for a... I saw six people huddled on the sidewalk in front of me; through their legs I saw what looked like a body on the ground.I rushed over and saw a man with a bloody gash on his head; he appeared to be... “Who wants to give their oral report first?” asked Mrs. Davi, my sixth grade teacher.The dreaded day had finally arrived when each of us would have to stand in front of the room and speak to the... “I did not marry you to be married to a bartender!” I should have paid more attention to the truth of her words, they clearly stated that she did not love me for who I am.In retrospect, it was... |
Success Snapshots
 Gary Taxali: Illustrator draws his own success story
The Canadian bookstore chain Chapters/Indigo signed an exclusive contract with Gary Taxali for a line of toys based on characters he created.
The illustrator, artist, author and... How many Canadians does it take to change a light bulb? Just one woman, actually! Nina Gupta, President of Greenlite Lighting Corporation, to be precise.Her company credo is ‘change a bulb, change... Member of the Federal immigration and Refugee Board, the Ontario Advisory Council on Multiculturalism and Citizenship, and on the City of Toronto’s Committee on Race and Ethnic Relations,... Venkatesh Mannar, President of the Ottawa-based Micronutrient Initiative, says his organization is actively involved in 20 countries and their micronutrient products reach 70 countries around the... Dr Piyush Patel, MD, FRCP (C) is the founder of Allied Research International, a world leader in allergy science. He was selected as the national winner from the finalists for the prestigious Ernst... |
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Focus
 Brampton newcomers bus tours a success
The Newcomer Tours began in 2009 as a joint project between the City of Brampton Clerk’s Office, Recreation Division, Brampton Transit, Brampton Library and community partners such as...
The ninth largest city in Canada, Brampton celebrates its diverse population that represents people from more than 175 distinct ethnic backgrounds who speak more than 70 different... Now the fourth largest city in North AmericaThe City of Toronto’s latest Economic Dashboard report – presented at a recent meeting of the Economic Development Committee – says that Toronto has... A graduation ceremony held recently by the Chinese Professionals Association of Canada (CPAC), celebrated the successful completion of the second cycle of the training courses by the participants of ... With $2.9 billion worth of capital projects already underway and another $6.2 billion forecast over the next five years, the province of British Columbia could be entering a period of prosperity it... |
Diversity
The deep roots of Canada’s multi-ethnic society
Members of the Chinese, Italian, South Asian, Jewish, Ukrainian and other communities joined Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney to celebrate the success of the... At a special reception recently, with their family and friends in attendance, Ajax-Pickering MP Chris Alexander presented 23 distinguished local community volunteers and leaders with the Queen... An outstanding member of Mississauga’s South Asian community was recognized with a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by Bob Delaney, Member of Provincial Parliament, Mississauga-Streetsville.Naveed... Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney completed a six-day visit to India, recently.“This official visit to India was a great opportunity to promote Canada... Among those new Canadians who reported providing daily care for their parents in Desjardins Financial Security’s (dfs) survey, 71 per cent admitted to feeling a related financial impact, compared... |
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Education
 St. Thomas University: The small university that fulfills big dreams
Mary-Dan Johnston is going to Oxford University on a Rhodes scholarship, with a value in excess of $100,000. She is the third St. Thomas University student in the past eight years to be... Many international students overlook Canadian colleges because it is perceived that they lack the prestige and value of a university education, or that a college education leads to careers that are... Silver Dhuka (on the March cover of CanadaBound Immigrant) and Nish Verma made a successful transition to working and living in Canada through educationIt is about providing very specific,... Introduced in January, it’s called Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) Overview of Proposed Changes to Canada’s International Student Program.Although it is a proposal and not yet... Parampreet Kaur is taking part in a co-op program in Lethbridge, AlbertaOne compelling reason to choose Canada for higher studies is the co-operative work/study program commonly known as... |
