Canada has Highest Rate of Job Satisfaction Levels

Canadians are the most happy with their jobs, according to a recent study. The study reported that approximately two thirds, of 64 percent, of Canadians said that they loved their job or ‘like it a lot’. A full 24 per cent of Canadians love their jobs so much that they said they would even work for free.

A mere two per cent of Canadians stated that they hated their job. Young people are more likely to be dissatisfied with their work, though dissatisfaction rates rose to only 13 per cent.

Canadians were surveyed in addition to residents of the US, India, and a number of European countries. Other countries reported job satisfaction rates significantly lower than in Canada, such as only 26 per cent in the United Kingdom and 34 per cent in Germany.

This report reinforces similar studies, most notably one conducted by the Bank of Montreal (BMO) in September revealing that over half of Canadians believe to be working their ‘dream job’.

Changes to Labour Market Opinion Process - Effective Dec. 31

Four changes to the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) application process will come into effect on Tuesday, December 31. They are as follows:

1. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) may no longer issue an LMO to an employer or group of employers who offer stripteases, erotic dances, escort services or erotic massage.

• This change has been made in order to protect temporary foreign workers from possible exploitation.

2. Employers must comply with new conditions. Under these new conditions, employers must:

• Retain any document that relates to employer compliance with working conditions for a period of six years. This period begins with the first day of employment of a foreign worker on a temporary work permit. For this same period, the employer must be able to demonstrate that information they provided on their LMO application is accurate.
• Make a reasonable effort to ensure that their workplace is free from employee abuse.
• Hire or train Canadian workers, or make reasonable efforts to this extent, if this was a factor that led to work permit issuance.

As of December 31, 2013, employers will be required to complete an update LMO application form.

3. ESDC and Service Canada will have the authority to conduct inspections to ensure that employers are complying to work permit regulations. This authority will last for a period of 6 years, starting from the first day of a worker’s employment by their employer.

• During an inspection, employers may be asked to demonstrate that they have complied with Federal and Provincial labour conditions and/or conditions set out in their LMO. Inspectors may:
  • Request documents to prove compliance;
  • Conduct on-site inspections without a warrant; and
  • Interview foreign workers or Canadian employees, by their consent.

If an employer is determined to be non-compliant, they will:

• Be deemed ineligible to hire foreign workers for two years;
• Have their name, address, and ineligibility published on a public list;
• Be issued negative LMOs on any pending applications; and
• May have previously issued LMOs revoked

4. ESDC may now suspend or revoke LMOs, or refuse to process LMO applications, under public policy considerations. Employers whose LMOs may be suspended or revoked will be contacted and given an opportunity to address concerns.

New Temporary Foreign Worker Rules may Reduce Processing Times

According to the Globe and Mail newspaper, the Canadian government is preparing to enact new changes to the country’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

A number of program reforms were enacted last year. These included an increase in the number of weeks most employers must recruit for a position in Canada as well as the introduction of processing fees for Labour Market Opinions (LMOs). Since that time, processing times for LMOs have increased, which has angered some business leaders.

Speaking to the newspaper, Canadian Employment Minister Jason Kenney explained that overhauls were made to the TFWP to protect Canadian workers.

“We are trying to strike the right balance in the [TFWP] to ensure that it is a last resort, not a first resort, for employers,” he said. He added that the next round of reforms will occur in the upcoming two or three months, and that he asks “those who are frustrated with the slow processing now just to be a bit more patient.”

Every year, tens of thousands of temporary workers enter Canada to work in a wide range of occupations. While some leave after their work permits expire, still others remain in the country and pursue Canadian Permanent Residency.

Visitors to Canada will be Automatically Considered for Multiple-Entry Visas

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced yesterday that visitors to Canada will now be automatically considered for a multiple-entry visa. This new policy will come into force this Thursday, February 6, 2013. In addition, the fee for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) will be decreased from $150 to $100, regardless of whether the visa issued is a single- or multiple-entry visa.

By automatically considering applicants for multiple-entry visas, CIC will simplify the overall application process while promoting tourism. These changes will affect the roughly 35 million people who visit Canada every year.

In addition to TRV application fees, a number of other fees for temporary residency have been changed. Most of these fees reflect an increase. These increases are as follows:

• Study permits and renewals - $25
• Work permits and renewals - $5
• Extensions to remain in Canada as a visitor - $25
• Maximum work permit fee for performing artists/staff - $15
• Maximum family fee for TRVs - $100

The Story of Filipino Immigration to Canada

n just a few short decades, Canada’s Filipino community has grown from less than a thousand residents to become one of the country’s largest immigrant demographics. At present, over 500,000 Filipinos call Canada home, and this number is increasing rapidly. In fact, in recent years the Philippines has been the greatest source of immigrants to Canada.

The story of Filipino immigration to Canada is one of dreams, hard work, sacrifice, and success. In 2012 alone, over 32,000 new Canadian Permanent Residents came to Canada from the Philippines – a whopping 146% increase from 2004. Still more traveled to Canada that year to work (44,000) and study (918), all record highs for the country. As new arrivals settle in Canada, both countries benefit economically as well as culturally.

The History of Filipino Immigration to Canada

Filipino immigration to Canada began somewhat late compared to many other nationalities. Immigrants from the Philippines were first recorded in small numbers in the year 1930. By the 50s and 60s, only 800 or so had settled in Canada. Almost all resided in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Since the 1990s, immigration from the Philippines had increased steadily. Many new arrivals came to work as live-in caregivers across Canada. More and more began to settle in major Canadian metropolises, especially Toronto. Today, over 200,000 Filipino immigrants reside in the greater Toronto area, more than in any other city.

Winnipeg, however, has remained a major destination for newcomers from the Philippines, with 1 in 10 Filipino immigrants living in this city. Filipinos are now recognized as Winnipeg’s largest ethnic minority, making up almost 9% of the city’s total population.

Many Filipinos have worked hard to bring their immediate families to Canada. Oftentimes, an individual will first come to Canada as a temporary worker, leaving spouses and children behind. Once permanent residency is achieved, they are then able to reunite with their families in Canada.

Canada’s generous family sponsorship rules allow permanent residents to sponsor not only children and spouses, but parents and grandparents as well. These include the popular Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program as well as the new Super Visa Program, which offers long-term visitor visas to qualified applicants. The introduction of these family reunification programs has contributed to a secondary upsurge in new arrivals from across the Philippines.

Where do Filipino Canadians Work?

Whether from the Philippines or any other country, there is no ‘typical’ immigrant to Canada. Filipinos in Canada can and do work in a wide range of disciplines in every province in the country. Because many Filipinos have a good command of the English language, they are able to find jobs and quickly settle into their new homes upon arrival.

Many Filipino immigrants find work in one of two popular fields: nursing and care giving. Prospective immigrants with experience in these fields are in luck, as Canada has many immigration programs geared towards workers with these skill sets. In fact, Canada has a dedicated Live-In Caregiver Program that facilitates the entry of these workers to the country. In addition, popular immigration programs such as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program award high points to nurses, while many Provincial Nominee Programs have created special programs targeting healthcare workers, skilled tradespersons and even food service managers.

Filipino workers in Canada are important to both the Canadian and Philippine economies. While workers in Canada help to fill important labour shortages, the Philippines benefits from approximately $2 billion in remittances sent from Canada every year.

The Filipino-Canadian Community Today

The Filipino community has become well integrated into the fabric of Canadian society. In 2012, Tobias Enverga Jr became Canada’s first senator of Filipino descent. Another Filipino-Canadian, Rey Pagtakhan, was elected to Parliament in 1998 and served as the Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific from 2001 to 2004.

Many members of Canada’s Filipino community maintain strong ties with their home country, which in turn has led to a strengthening of bilateral relations between Canada and the Philippines. These relations were underscored in the wake of the recent tragedy of Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated many parts of the Philippines. Canada has to date donated over $20 million to relief efforts, and deployed dedicated emergency response teams. In addition to relief efforts, Canada is allowing priority processing of immigration applications for individuals who have been affected by the typhoon.

Such gestures demonstrate the strong connection that has developed between Canada and the Philippines. As thousands of new temporary and permanent residents settle in Canada every year, this connection will continue to strengthen and deepen. The future will see Filipinos in Canada continue to shape the country’s character and heritage in more ways than ever before.