Canadian Immigration News

The government of Canada will give permanent resident status to around 50 high-net-worth immigrant investors and their families under a new investor pilot program. The government says that the program aims to attract experienced millionaire investors who will contribute to economic growth and prosperity.

The province of Alberta has formally requested that the federal government lift the lid on the number of economic immigrants it may nominate for Canadian immigration each year.

Following the news that its Prairie counterpart of Saskatchewan will receive an additional 775 provincial nomination spaces under Express Entry, the province of Manitoba is also expected to receive in increase in its allocation.

The temporary suspension of removals for Haitian and Zimbabwean nationals currently in Canada has been lifted. The lifting of the suspension, which had been in place due to dangerous situations in those countries, was announced by Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Steven Blaney, and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander.

The temporary suspension of removals for Haitian and Zimbabwean nationals currently in Canada has been lifted. The lifting of the suspension, which had been in place due to dangerous situations in those countries, was announced by Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Steven Blaney, and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander.

The province of Saskatchewan will have 5,500 immigration nominations accepted in 2015, an increase of 775 (or 16 per cent) on the 2014 total. The government of Saskatchewan, which had been seeking an increase in its Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) for Canadian immigration, has stated that the increased quota will help to alleviate labour market shortages. Saskatchewan currently has the lowest unemployment rate of all the Canadian provinces.

The province of Ontario, the most populate province in Canada, is set to introduce an Immigration Act that would, if passed, assist the province in working with the federal government to capitalize on the economic benefits of immigration.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has announced that the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) for Canadian immigration is scheduled to reopen on January 2, 2015. The PGP allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their foreign parents and grandparents to Canada as Canadian permanent residents.

The Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heraldo Muñoz, has announced that Chilean citizens wishing to visit Canada as tourists or in transit to a third country will no longer require visas. Citizens of Chile will only require a passport in order to enter Canada.

A two-day conference hosted by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) began in Ottawa this morning, with federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander, giving the opening address.