Canadian Immigration News

A recent Statistics Canada report focuses on the changing Canadian workforce, highlighting the dwindling ratio of replacement workers to retirees. Given Canada’s demographic makeup and its declining fertility rates, regional labour shortages will likely become more severe and spread. In 2006, there were 1.9 Canadians aged 20-34 entering the workforce for each person aged 55-64 leaving it.

Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, recently announced that citizens of the Czech Republic and Latvia will no longer need visas to visit Canada. The policy is effective immediately and is applicable to visits of 90 days or less.

A recent poll by Nanos Research for Policy Options says that 72.6 per cent of Canadians realize the importance of immigration to the future of the country. When asked what Canadian immigration policy for the selection of immigrants should focus on, 84.9 per cent of Canadians responded that it is important to select immigrants whose skills match the needs of Canada’s labour-tight work force. 81.1 per cent responded that family reunification was equally important.

In contrast with a similar survey done in 1993, the Ipsos-Reid poll suggests that present-day Canadians are more comfortable with granting equal rights and opportunities to recent Canadian immigrants. Nearly two thirds of respondents believe that immigrants should have just as much say in Canada’s future as Canadian-born citizens.

The purpose of Canada's Citation for Citizenship awards is to "recognize volunteer work in support of the citizenship values of freedom, justice, equalityand respect for diversity." It honours Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to helping immigrants and refugees settle into Canadian society.

Over the past decade, the number of adults seeking college education in Canada has swelled tremendously. In Ontario this fall, only 34 per cent of first-year college students will be coming directly from high school.

According to Statistics Canada, 51 per cent of people who immigrated to Canada between 2001 and 2006 have university degrees. This is largely due to the Canadian immigration selection system, which puts a lot of emphasis on post-secondary education.

A recent Statistics Canada report (based on the 2001 census) pegs Canada's population at 33,091,200 as of October 1, 2007. Immigration continues to be animportant contributor to population growth, with 71,600 newcomers arriving in the third quarter of this year, a quarterly increase not seen in over 30years. Total population growth since July 1, 2007 was 115,200.

As of July 1st, a Statistics Canada report pegs the Canadian population at 33,311,389. The second quarter of 2008 saw the largest population increase since the late 1980’s. This was mainly due to new immigrant arrivals.

As part of a year-end review with The Canadian Press, Prime Minister Stephen Harper praised the country's record for helping immigrants settle in Canada. He addressed the issues of how Canadians accommodate new cultures and to what extent immigrants assume Canadian values.