Canadian Immigration News

This year, 22,000 workers from around the world arrived in Canada under the Canadian government's seasonal work agriculture program. Created in 1974, this program, along with local agencies, assists farmers in bringing in foreign workers to do the planting, pruning, weeding, and picking of fruit and vegetable crops across the country. The government monitors working and living conditions and sets wages.

With a growing Muslim population in Canada, retailers are learning that there is a very significant consumer market in search of halal products. Many local stores are reporting recent increases in halal sales by as much as 80 per cent and many large retailers, such as Loblaws and Wal-Mart are now carrying a selection of halal products. The prevalence of halal products in Canada allows Muslims an easier way to maintain religious rituals.

A recent bill introduced in the United States Senate, if passed, would prohibit American firms that receive federal bailout money from hiring H1B workers. H1B holders are temporary foreign workers in the United States. The bill seeks to protect the jobs of Americans by minimizing the number of foreign workers in the country during the current economic troubles.

Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean has honoured a New Brunswick woman for helping newcomers with their settlement in Canada.

Human Resources and Social Development Canada (ESDC) recently announced an investment of $800,000, in collaboration with the Maytree Foundation, which willhelp immigrant skilled workers integrate into the Canadian workforce.

Both the provincial government of Quebec and the federal government of Canada have been investing in French language training in order to reinforceFrench-speaking cultural communities across Canada.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has recently signed a Youth Mobility Agreement with Poland which allows young people from Canada and Poland to travel and work in each other’s country for a one-year period.

Under the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP), Canadian Government recently announced four new projects to reach out to Canada's Chinese community and to raise awareness about its history in Canada and its contributions. It is intended to raise awareness among Canadians about the Chinese Head Tax and other measures that restricted Chinese immigration to Canada between 1885 and 1947.

In the May edition of the Canadian Immigration Newsletter, Attorney David Cohen wrote a blog about a Canadian citizen who had been stranded in Sudan for six years as an al-Qaeda suspect.

Earlier this month, the Canadian government announced funding for a project that will help francophone immigrant families in Manitoba with their settlement and integration in their new communities in Canada.