Fast-track streamlined immigration for skilled tradespeople

Canada will provide a separate and a streamlined process for skilled tradespeople wanting to come to Canada, informed Kenney. This step will help in filling the gap due to increasing shortage of skilled workforce in construction, oil and mining sectors in Canada.

Currently, Western Canada and Alberta are experiencing acute labor shortages and the blame for this must go to ineffective immigration programs.

Canadian immigration programs have not been successful in addressing the shortage of skilled labor. They are not only passive but quite slow and rigid, he clarified.

The government will be changing Federal Skilled Worker Program to attract tradespeople including other   skilled professionals in high demand in the nation.

Increased role of employers in new Canada immigration process—Another vital change coming to Federal Skilled Worker Program is that employers will play an active role in recruiting prospective workers to fill vacant job positions in Canada.

New Canada immigration program for skilled tradespeople will be based directly on offers of jobs from Canadian employers, affirmed Kenney.

It will make sure that prospective immigrants possess requisite credentials as well as experience equivalent to Canada’s certification standards.

Increased focus on training, not credentials--As against the earlier requirement of possessing English or French fluency, the new immigration program will have changed rules.

Meanwhile, it will have some language requisites for applicants desirous of coming to work in Canada, Kenney maintained. And skilled tradespeople will not have to posses post-secondary degrees for immigration to Canada, he asserted.

New program aims to lure thousands of skilled workers—Aim of new Canada immigration program is to attract thousands of skilled tradespeople to come and work here. This will help in fulfilling the growing demand of skilled workers in Canada.

The demand is likely to grow considerably in the coming times, he maintained. Currently, the number of skilled workers immigrating to Canada is only 3 percent of the total foreign skilled workers coming to Canada.

So, the new process will help increase this percentage to ‘several thousand’ workers, he stated. The new Canada immigration program allowing fast-track immigration to skilled trades persons will be in place by year-end.