Bill C-38 is now a law (June 29, 2012) | Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act

Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act (Bill C-38) is now a law.  The bill contains amendment to Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to include Section 87.4 abolishing all Federal Skilled Worker applications filed before February 27, 2008  which has not received a positive selection decision before March 29, 2012.

But there is still hope.


The amendments contained in section 87.4 of the IRPA terminating FSW applications are subject to litigation. The result of that litigation could affect how the terminated FSW applications are handled in the future. Further information will be provided as the litigation progresses.

Read more about the Operational Bulletin 442 to understand how this may affect you, click here.

Start-Up Visa for Immigrant Entrepreneurs

Citizenship and Immigration Canada recently launched a consulation on whether to create a new and specialized program to attract immigrant entrepreneurs - the Start-Up Visa for Immigrant Entrepreneurs.

“Our Government’s top priority remains jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. Canada cannot afford to lose out in the competition for foreign entrepreneurs among immigrant-receiving countries,” said Minister Jason Kenney. “We need to proactively target a new type of immigrant entrepreneur who has the potential to build innovative companies that can compete on a global scale and create jobs for Canadians.”

Source: CIC News Release



Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney, announces the Government’s intention to introduce a program to attract innovative entrepreneurs, with Kevin O’Leary, founder of O’Leary Ventures – Toronto, ON

Refund up to $130 million FSW Processng Fees, Proposed.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of this bad news for FSW applicants filed before February 27, 2008. It looks like Citizenship and Immigration Canada is serious is wiping out the FSW backlog.

The Government of Canada is proposing to return applications and refund up to $130 million in fees paid by certain federal skilled worker applicants who applied under previous criteria established prior to February 27, 2008.



Source: Department of Finance Canada

Can they really do this? I'm smelling a lawsuit left and right.

Discrimination?: Canada Miss Universe Disqualifies Transgender Contestant

Canada may be liberal in recognizing same sex marriagaes and same sex common-law partnerships, but it looks like a transgender is not welcome in Canada's Miss Universe.

Transgender model cut from Canada Miss Universe

With blond locks, long legs and delicate features, Jenna Talackova would have been a strong competitor in Canada's Miss Universe pageant but was disqualified, she says, because she used to be male.

The 23-year-old transgender model from the western Canadian city of Vancouver has accused the pageant of discrimination, and more than 28,000 supporters have signed an online petition demanding her reinstatement. [Source: Yahoo! News]

Read full story here. Image credit- http://news.yahoo.com

For purposes of permanent residence visa applications, common-law partnership, including that of same-sex partners is recognzed by Citizenship ang Immigration Canada.

Expect More Ministerial Instructions

According to this news release from Citizenship and Immigration Canada website, Evaluation Shows Ministerial Instructions are Relevant and Necessary. Thus, expect more Ministerial Instructions.

"“The evaluation confirms that it was right and necessary to take measures to manage the sheer volume of applications we receive,”" said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.

In 2008, the Government of Canada introduced changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act through Bill C-50 (the Budget Implementation Act) to tackle the backlog of federal skilled worker (FSW) applications. At the time, more than 640,000 people were waiting to be processed in the FSW category. In order to increase labour market responsiveness and overall efficiency, the Minister was authorized under Bill C-50 to issue special instructions to immigration officers to limit the number of applications processed, accelerate some applications or groups of applications, and return some applications without processing them to a final decision.

When Ministerial Instruction 1 (MI-1) was issued back in November 2008, it was implemented retroactively to February 2008. As a result, many applications were returned unprocessed. They may be doing the same thing for FSW applications filed before February 27, 2008. This is Citizenship and Immigration Canada's solution to FSW backlog.

Solution to FSW Backlog?

In his speech at the Economic Club of Canada Event last week, The Honourable Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P. Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism mentioned three ways they are exploring to reduce the immigrationn (FSW) backlog.

There's good news and there's a not so good news.

The good news

We are exploring ways to reduce the backlog further. For example, we are launching a pilot project that will allow provinces and territories to “mine the backlog” – in other words, to review the applications in the backlog and nominate those applicants they think their economies need now. We are also informing some applicants stuck in the federal skilled workers backlog about possible opportunities under the Provincial Nominee Program.

This is already in place. Read FSW Pilot Program (FSW Backlog Reduction)

We are also considering ways to obtain consent from applicants in the backlog to be considered directly by Canadian employers for employment. With job offers in hand, applicants would see their applications processed on a priority basis.

This is another good news.

And now the not so good news.

New Zealand and Australia – countries with immigration systems similar to ours – have already gone even further and introduced changes to their systems that make them nimbler, more flexible and more reflective of modern labour-market realities than what came before.

New Zealand legislated an end to its backlog in 2003 and put in place a system where prospective applicants can be selected from a pool made up of all persons who have applied. Rather than wasting time and energy processing old applications, their resources can now be put towards actively matching the best qualified applicants to current economic needs.

This could mean, if implemented, those whose applications were filed before February 27, 2008 will all be returned unprocessed.

UNFAIR! You may shout out in protest. Imagine if you have been waiting since 2004 only be told 8 years after that they will not process your application. To say it is unfair is an understatement. Then again, this is just a proposal and may or may not be implemented.

Here are some news articles about this controversial issue:

Legislating away immigration backlog an option, Kenney declares - The Globe and Mail

Kenney considers legislating backlog away - The Vancouver Sun

Immigration backlog could be erased, Kenney suggests - CBCNews

Read the Speaking notes for The Honourable Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P. Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism at the Economic Club of Canada Event HERE

Marriage For Convenience No More?

If you were granted a permanent residence status in Canada through Family Class Sponsorship (Spouse), you will now have to wait for five years from the day you were granted a permanent residence status before you can sponsor a new partner. Prior to this new policy, a sponsored spouse or partner arriving in Canada as a permanent resident could leave their sponsor and sponsor another spouse or partner themselves, while their original sponsor was still financially responsible for them for up to three years.

Spousal sponsorship is open to abuse when a person enters into a relationship – such as a marriage or a common law partnership – in order to circumvent Canada’s immigration law. Concerned with the problem, the Minister held online consultations in the fall of 2010 to gather public opinion and ideas on how to best address marriage fraud.

“Many of the people who took part in the consultations made it abundantly clear that marriage fraud poses a significant threat to our immigration system,” added Minister Kenney. “Our government has listened to the victims of marriage fraud and all Canadians, and acted to crack down on those who engage in fraud and abuse Canadians’ generosity and our immigration system.”

Read the while article from Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

This policy against marriage for convenience is similar restrictions imposed by Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

More Changes: Canada Immigration overhaul would let employers choose prospects

Last month, I wrote something about the proposed changes to Canada's FSW Points system. In that blog post, I enumerated the possible changes based on the information released through Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. It looks like this will be implemented really soon.

Here's an interesting story from Globe and Mail:

Immigration overhaul would let employers choose prospects

Read full article from Globe and Mail here.

So aside from adjustment in points for the age and language proficiency criteria, there's this plan to give employers to sort through and assess a pool of applicants and selected applicant will be processed quickly either under Federal Skilled Worker program or Provincial Nominee Program.

Furthermore, there's also this plan to copy Australia's immigration program by requiring applicants in regulated/licensed occupations to have their professional credentials approved first before they may apply.

If you are serious about immigrating to Canada, you should start preparing now. Check out Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) for information about credentials assessment.

Damascus Visa Office Temporarily Closed

Because of the continuing violence in Syria, the government of Canada decided to close the Visa and Immigration Section at the Canadian Embassy in Damascus is losed and services have been transferred to neighbouring visa offices.

Until the Canadian Visa Office in Damascus is operational again, those in Syria applying for Temporary Resident Visa will have to send their application to Canadian Visa Office in Lebanon (Beirut) or Jordan (Amman).

For permanent resident visa applications, application must be sent to Jordan (Amman).

Syrian nationals outside of Syria can submit their application to any other Canadian visa office.

Source: cic.gc.ca

Immigrating to Canada? | Good News Might Be On The Way, Are You Ready?

Anybody who wants to have a bright future has to make plans. They plan how they are going to get ahead in life. They take charge of their life. They use the resources available to them to their advantage to get ahead in life.

In immigrating to an advanced country like Canada, skilled, educated and experienced individuals and families get ahead in life faster. But to make it happen they have to plan ahead.



This coming July 2012, there might be good news for those planning to live and work in Canada. But are you ready?

Harper's Grand Plan to reshape Canada
In Prime Minister Stephen Harper's speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland recently, he unveiled his grand plan to reshape Canada. He said he will overhaul the immigration system. With a majority government now under his leadership, he wouldn't have problem implementing his plan.

Mr. Harper said he intends to tackle immigration reform, a thorny issue in a country where one in five is an immigrant. Canada’s humanitarian obligations and its family reunification objectives will be “respected,” he said, but the needs of the labour force and the economy will now be central.

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has been working on significant reforms to the immigration system for several months. Mr. Kenney has said he wants to speed immigrant integration in the labour market by changing the emphasis of selection criteria. He intends to reward applicants who speak English or French, have job offers, Canadian work experience or postgraduate degrees, all of whom tend to fare better economically. The increased emphasis on economic immigrants could lead to reductions in the family class. [Source: The Globe and Mail]

Canada needs immigrants to keep their economy growing. Canada needs immigrants to offset their aging population and to replace workers retiring. This is good news for those planning to immigrate to Canada.

Changes in Canada's Immigration Program
On or before July 1, 2012, a new Ministerial Instruction will be issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada Minister. This Ministerial Instruction will contain the new regulations, policy and priorities under Canada's immigration program.

For the Federal Skilled Workers (FSW) program, a new list of priority occupations will be identified. The sentiment is, more openings will be coming soon for independent immigrants. There is also a great chance that the proposed changes to FSW points system will be implemented this coming July.

What is to be done?
If you are interested in immigrating to Canada or any advanced country, you must have all of your documents in order At All Times. More occupations will open in the future but they will also close quickly. You will be competing against millions of applicants around the world for immigrant visas to Canada. You must be in a position to file your application a minute after the door is opened. Always remember that Canada can turn the faucet on or turn the faucet off when it comes to immigration.

Now, do you really want to give your family a better quality of life by immigrating to Canada? Let us help you get ready.

Here's my contact information:

Mr. Apol E. Apuntar
SMART Mob. No. 0928-5008826
SUN Mob No. 0932-8882058
Direct Line: 208-5219
Tel No. 240-6500 loc 8527
Email: aapuntar@go2canada.com

You may also Click Here for free online assessment.

Remember, people never plan to fail. They just fail to plan.

Ottawa Protocol on Combating Antisemitism

Ottawa Protocol is an action plan developed during the second annual conference of the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism (ICCA) which took place in Ottawa in November, 2010.



Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today signed the Ottawa Protocol on Combating Antisemitism.

“The Government of Canada is a leader in the fight against anti-Semitism,” said Minister Kenney. “The Ottawa Protocol complements what Canada is already doing to combat hatred and discrimination, including anti-Semitism. We are a member of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research. Here at home, we have launched programs to promote integration and social cohesion of Canadians from all backgrounds.”

Read full story here.

Global Summit of Filipinos in Diaspora | Diaspora to Development

"Diaspora to Development: A Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora"

In partnership with National Federation of Filipino Associations in America (NaFFAA) and the US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG) and other networks of overseas Filipinos in Europe, Middle East and Asia, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) is organizing a global summit next month.

This will be the first Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora. It's scheduled on September 27 to 29, 2011 at Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

More information here.

I wonder if there would be representatives from Filipino-Canadian Community?

Pinoys in Manitoba, Canada Want Philippine Consulate in Winnipeg

There used to be a Philippine Consulate in Winnipeg, Manitoba. But due to Philippine Government's cost-cutting measure, and that there wasn't enough number of Filipino immigrants in the province to justify its existence, the consulate office was closed.

But there is an increasing demand for a Philippine Consulate in Manitoba.

Frustration levels were high as more than a thousand Filipinos waited in line to avail of the recent outreach services provided by the Toronto Philippine Consulate at the Canad Inns Garden City in Winnipeg.

Despite lining up as early as dawn on Saturday, July 9, some people wait many hours to renew Philippine passports or to process Special Power of Attorney (SPA) documents. Some were processed within five hours while some who arrived around 9:00 a.m. were still waiting at 10:30 that night. [Source: Filipino Express News Magazine]

Pilipino Express News Magazine is published by The Pilipino Express Inc., a Manitoba-based company that was incorporated in 2005. It is catering to the communication needs of the growing Filipino-Canadian community, not only in Manitoba, but also in other Canadian provinces.

Ten-year multiple-entry visa | Visiting Canada

Citizneship and Immigration Canada will now be issuing a ten-year multiple-entry visa. This is good news for parents and grandparents with sponsorship applications in process. Businessmen visting canada will benefit from this too.

“More applications and higher expectations mean that Citizenship and Immigration Canada needs a more responsive and flexible processing system,” said Minister Kenney. “To achieve that, the Department is providing applicants and staff with the right tools to deliver on those expectations.”

Citizens of certain countries require a visa to come to Canada temporarily. Currently, the maximum validity period of a multiple-entry visa is five years. However, increasingly, countries are issuing passports which are valid for ten years. In light of this, CIC is changing its policy for visa issuance. Where applicants apply for multiple-entry visas, they may now be issued to the maximum validity according to the length of the passport validity (up to ten years, minus one month). [Source]

Will Filipino applicants be given 10-year multiple-entry visa too? Unlikely. The Visa Office in Manila normally gives only 2-year multiple entry visa during the time that the maximum allowed is 5 years. Another reason why it is impossible is because our passports are valid only for 5 years.

Canada is the Land of Milk and Honey, including Asbestos

Canada is considered by many Filipinos as the land of milk and honey. Because of Canada's health care system, great income opportunities and other social benefits, more and more Filipinos are immigrating to Canada.

Canada and the Philippines have a good relationship. The Philippines is one of the major sources of immigrants needed by Canada to address its labor shortage problem. On the other hand, the Philippines is one of the major importers of Canadian asbestos. Yup, asbestos. Great deal, eh?

Exposure to asbestos can cause lung inflammation and cancer according to studies. Thus, there's a call for Canadian government to ban mining and exporting asbestos but it isn't listening.

OTTAWA - Canada's opposition on Tuesday blasted the government for ignoring its own scientists' advice to stop the mining and exporting of asbestos to countries like the Philippines, one week before a major UN conference on dangerous products.

New Democratic Party MPs also accused the Conservative government of blocking the UN listing of chrysotile asbestos as toxic so that it would be strictly regulated. [Source: Agence France-Presse/www.interaksyon.com]

Read full story here: Canada hit for exporting deadly asbestos to Philippines, other nations

Proposed changes to Canada's FSW points system

There is a proposal to make some changes in Canada's Federal Skilled Worker program points system. If approved, the selection criteria would pretty much be the same, but the points to be awarded fOr each criterion will be changed.

Consultation for the said prosal is now ongoing. There is a great chance that these changes would be implemented in time for the 3rd Mintisterial Instruction.

69, 200 new Canadian jobs created - Report

In January 2011 alone, 69,200 new Canadian jobs was created according to a report. A very clear sign that Canada is moving to recover from the global financial crisis. It's good news for those looking for jobs in Canada.

Read the full report: 69,200 New Canadian Jobs Generated, A Big Reason for Job Seekers to be Optimistic.

LMO waived for Haitians in Canada | Work Permit Application

When Haiti was hit by a killer quake last year, Canadian Government launch several programs to support Haitians. Here are some of the programs to support earthquake victims.

Special immigration measures in response to the earthquake in Haiti

Quebec to take in 3,000 more Haitian immigrants

Transit visa waived for aid workers to and from Haiti transiting through Canadian airports

And now, Citizenship and Immigration Canada even makes it easier for Haitiians in Canada to get a work permit. Labor Market Opinion (LMO) will no longer be required.

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations generally require work permit applications to be accompanied by a determination by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada that there is no adverse impact on the labour market. This is known as a labour market opinion, or an LMO. By removing this requirement, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is making it easier for Haitians who are here to work and maintain their immigration status.

Haitian nationals applying to extend their work permit will also receive continued coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). New applicants who are eligible for these measures will now also benefit from the IFHP.

More information about this program: Minister Kenney makes it easier for Haitians in Canada to work.

Legislation to crack down on crooked consultants may soon become a law

Cracking Down on Crooked Consultants Act received final approval in the House of Commons on December 7, 2010. It will now be forwarded to Senate for consideration.

Here's a recent news release from Citizenship and Immigration Canada regarding this development, statement Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.

“In their quest for personal gain, crooked consultants have displayed a wanton disregard for our immigration rules and bilked too many people out of their hard-earned dollars,” said Minister Kenney. “They are a menace, posing a costly threat not only to their victims, but also to the integrity and fairness of our immigration system. When crooked consultants encourage prospective immigrants to cheat the system, it slows down the immigration system for those following the rules.”

The legislation would make it a crime for unauthorized individuals to provide immigration advice or representation for a fee. This includes services offered or performed before an application is submitted or a proceeding begins, thus closing a loophole in the current framework. It would also give the Minister the authority to designate a body to govern immigration consultants and authorize the Governor in Council to make regulations to enhance the government’s oversight of this body. [Source]

Legislation to crack down on crooked consultants a step closer to becoming law. The days of crooked immigration consultants are numbered!

Image Credit:http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/herblock/crook.html

Prostitution in Canada | Decriminalizing Prostitution in Canada

Prostitution in Canada is generally not illegal. However, there are laws criminalizing activities related to prostiution. Three Toronto women challenged anti-prostitution laws in October 2009, arguing that those prohibitions prevented them from conducting their business in the safety of their homes or brothels and forced them into hasty street conversations with potential customers, with no time to weed out those who might be dangerous. 

A Toronto judge made a decision favoring the appeal of the three prostitutes. But Canada's Court of Appeal Thursday blocked the said ruling that effectively decriminalized prostitution in Canada until April to allow for an appeal. Story from inquirer.net. 

Are you in favor of decriminalizing prostitution in Canada?