Canada:

Ontario:

Ontario Is Preparing To Switch To New NOC 2021:

The province is preparing to align OINP with the new NOC 2021 system.

For the OINP Employer job offer In-demand skills stream, which previously required a job offer in select NOC skill level C or D occupations, the stream will now require job offers in select TEER 4 or 5 occupations under NOC 2021.

Ontario Language Requirement:

The province is also proposing to require Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker stream applicants to have a Canadian language benchmark (CLB) level 5 or above. 

The province also wants to require Employer Job Offer International Student Stream, applicants with a certificate of at least 1 year to meet the criteria of the Ontario College Graduate Certificate as defined under the Ontario Qualifications framework.

Federal:

Canada Aims To Attract More French Speakers:

Canada wants to attract more bilingual French speakers in order to redress the imbalance in favour of English speaking applicants under the federal skilled workers program.

French speaking applicants will now receive 25 points, as against 15 points and if bilingual, will receive 50 points as against 30 points, under the language skills section.

The government aims to admit 4.4% of French speaking immigrants outside of Quebec by 2030. In 2019, the percentage of French speaking immigrants admitted outside Quebec province was 2.82%.

Visible Minority Women To Be Empowered:

Canada is making it easier for newcomer women to find a job by providing the support and services they need to succeed. This will help these women highlight their experiences as they settle in Canada. Some newcomer women face multiple barriers trying to find work and get ahead in Canada.

This includes gender and race-based discrimination, precarious or low income employment, lack of affordable childcare, and weak social and employment support. Recognizing these challenges, the government has selected 22 organizations from across the country that understand visible minority newcomer women, the barriers they face, and their circumstances.

These organizations will develop and test innovative approaches to enable more visible minority newcomer women to find a job and succeed at work. Also, to increase the digital literacy of visible minority newcomer women to access and advance within the Canadian labour market.

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Takes Off:

Eleven rural and Northern communities have been selected as part of the new rural and Northern immigration pilot to invite newcomers to make these communities their permanent homes.

As the Canadian population ages and the birth rate declines, rural Canada's workforce has seen a significant decrease in available workers. This pilot will help attract people that are needed to drive economic growth and help support middle-class jobs in these communities.

Canada's New Agri-Food Immigration Pilot Program:

In order to address the needs of employers in the Agri-Food sector, the federal government has commenced a pilot program that will make it easier for temporary foreign workers in this sector apply for permanent residency.

This program targets labourers in the meat processing, mushroom planting, greenhouse production and livestock raising sectors of the Agri-Food industry.

IRCC will issue permanent resident visas to as many as 2,750 applicants within the next 3 years, under this pilot program. Applications will continue to be accepted until May 14, 2023. The province of Quebec is not part of this pilot program.

Canada's Immigration Target 2021 - 2023:

Canada has set immigration targets for the next 3 years with the aim of welcoming:

2021: 401,100 immigrants

2022: 411,000 immigrants

2023: 421,000 immigrants.

The vast majority of the new immigrants (60%), will be under the economic class (for both federal and provinces), while the other programs (family class and refugees) will make up the balance.

In order to address the problems associated with it's aging population, Canada needs to attract more younger immigrants to fill vacancies expected in it's labour market. With low birth rate (1.47 births per woman), the country will face acute labour shortages in the near future.

It is important to note, that Canada's focus is on highly skilled professionals who will bring their wealth of experience to grow the Canadian economy.

Quebec:

Quebec Has 3 New Pilot Programs:

The province of Quebec has announced 3 new pilot programs that is aimed at boosting it's economy. The programs are:

1. Program for Orderlies;

2. Program for workers in Information Technologies (IT), program in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Visual Effects.

3. Program for workers in Food Processing (FP).

The province is experiencing skills shortages in these critical sectors and is hoping to fill the skills gap.

The pilot programs will run for 5 years and aims to accept 550 eligible workers and their families in each of the programs.

Each of the pilot programs has a pathway to permanent residence under the Quebec Immigrant Nominee program.

Newfoundland and Labrador:

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador has introduced a new immigration program, Priority Skills program that targets professionals in the:

1. Health care;

2. Communications Technology (ICT) and;

3. Information.