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Immigration News

Canada rolls out the welcome mat for international students - No job offer needed for three year work permit

Through recent changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, Canada has made it easier for graduating international students to obtain work permits and acquire Canadian work experience. Not only will the changes help Canada's international student retention rate and ease current skills shortages, but they will also help these students on their way to becoming successful Permanent Residents - new immigrants who have already integrated into Canadian society thanks to the education and work experience they have obtained in Canada.

Latest Update on Amendments to Canada's Immigration Act

The minority Conservative government tabled a bill on March 14, 2008 that proposed amendments to Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Since that time, there has been much debate over these controversial reforms. Over a month later, the Conservative's budget implementation bill (which includes the immigration reforms) has passed second reading in the House of Commons but still has not become law. Grumblings from opposition parties and Canadian immigrant communities have called into question whether this bill will make it through, or whether it will be the ultimate trigger for a Canadian federal election.

New Category in Newfoundland and Labrador PNP brings families together

The Family Connections category is the newest addition to the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nomination Program (NLPNP). Newfoundland and Labrador residents can now sponsor family members from abroad to relocate and work in the province.

As visible minority population swells, Canadian employers are stepping up

The number of visible minorities in Canada has topped the five million mark for the first time in Canada's history, now representing 16.2 per cent of the country's population. Canadian employers are learning how to manage employees from different cultural backgrounds and are creating programs and training sessions to ensure that newcomers become comfortable in their new workplace culture so that they can perform to their full potential.

David Cohen's Blog: Discretion can lead to discrimination

The Conservative led minority government has recently introduced a bill in Parliament that contains significant changes to Canada's immigration law. If passed, the proposed amendments will empower the immigration minister to instruct visa officers to take certain candidates quickly, hold some applications for consideration at a later date, and return others without any consideration at all. No clue is given in advance as to which type of applicants will be favoured and which will be spurned.

Proposed Changes to Canadian Immigration Laws: Implications for Applicants

On March 14, 2008 Canada's Conservative government tabled a bill that proposed amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Under the current law, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is required to assess every Permanent Resident application received at a visa office, in a particular immigration category, on a “first come, first served” basis. The proposed legislative change provides the Immigration Minister with the authority to regulate the backlog of applicants. It allows CIC to select among the new applications received and choose those that it determines are best suited for Canada's labour market needs.

Canadian Labour Shortage Solution: International Students in Canada

Young, educated, and attuned to life in Canada, foreign students are Canadian immigrants of choice, with no settlement-integration cost and strong potential to contribute to the Canadian labour force. In December 2006 there were 157,000 foreign students in Canada - many from China, Korea, and the United States. The Canadian Bureau for International Education reports that the pool of international students in Canada could add as many as 30,000 skilled immigrants annually. They have called on the Canadian government to create a national strategy for international students.

Visa-Free Travel to Canada for New European Union Member States

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has been working with new EU countries in an effort to establish visa-exempt status for all EU member states. Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Lithuania, are the most recent countries for which citizens traveling to Canada are no longer required to obtain Temporary Resident (Visitor) Visas.

Language of Choice at Work - Investments in English and French Language Training

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has been pumping funds into the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program, supporting English and French language training providers across Canada as they help newcomers transition into life in Canada. Additionally, the Quebec government has recently introduced new measures to improve and extend French language classes to immigrants. But is it enough? The latest Statistics Canada census figures show that a large number of Canada's new immigrants are working in a native tongue that is neither of the country's official languages.

David Cohen's Blog: Government Gets It Wrong

Since it's inception in 2002, Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) has stood for the principle that anyone is entitled to apply for permission to live in Canada and to have his or her admissibility considered fairly, according to purely objective criteria. This core value is now threatened.

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Our Mandate

To enhance the capacity of newcomers to participate more effectively in our communities.
To partner with other service providers and organizations to strengthen the response capacity of settlement sector.
To work collectively with other community actors to facilitate better use of newcomers knowledge and talents in Canadian workplaces.

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Commitment to inclusiveness, fairness and equity.
Respect and value for diversity.
Commitment to collaboration and teamwork.
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Accountability to our clients, stakeholders and partners.

About BMC

Brampton Multicultural Community Centre is a group of diverse professionals dedicated to enhance newcomer community engagement. Our agency was established in 1987 as a nonprofit organization to serve and work with newcomers to facilitate their settlement and integration in Canada. We offer a wide range of services and learning opportunities to connect newcomers to a better future in the ever changing Canadian society.

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