Invitation to New Canadians Forum - Jan 9, 2007 - Toronto City Hall

The City of Toronto cordially invites you to attend

THE NEW CANADIANS FORUM
Hosted and Conducted By Vamos a Canada, in Partnership with the
Access and Diversity Unit in Parks, Forestry and Recreation of the City of Toronto

“A networking event where employers can liaise with the most qualified NEWCOMER PROFESSIONALS”

Tuesday, January 9, 2007 from 5:00 to 10:00 pm

Nathan Phillips Square (City Hall) Rotunda - Main Floor
100 Queen Street West, Toronto M5H 2N1

Registration is Free and starts at 4:30 pm (Sharp)

Special Guest Speakers Include:

The Honourable Mario G. Racco MPP & Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Labour
“Employment Standards Act and the Occupational Health & Safety Act”

The Honourable Dr. Khalil Ramal MPP & Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Immigration
“Bill 124: Fair Access to Regulated Professions”

The Distinguished Keith Pelley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Argonauts
“Stop the Violence”


For any question or to pre-register call (905)370-0119 or email us at: jobs@vamosacanada.com

Hamilton Spectator - Help foreign MDs park their taxis

Source: Hamilton Spectator - News: Help foreign MDs park their taxis
Province urged to force professions to speed accreditation
By Carmela Fragomeni
The Hamilton Spectator (Dec 7, 2006)
Two Hamilton immigration experts are urging the Ontario government to fast-track legislation to help newcomers get professional jobs in their field.

CIC Canada | News Release 2006-21- Canada’s New Government to help employers address labour shortages in Western Canada

CIC Canada | News Release 2006-21- Canada’s New Government to help employers address labour shortages in Western Canada: "Canada’s New Government to help employers address labour shortages in Western Canada
VANCOUVER, November 15, 2006 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, today announced improvements to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to make it easier for employers in Alberta and British Columbia to hire foreign workers when there are no Canadian citizens or permanent residents available to fill the position.
“Canada’s new government has been listening to employers in Alberta and British Columbia, and they are truly having a hard time finding enough workers,” said Minister Solberg. “The improvements we are announcing today are making it easier, faster, and less costly for employers to hire temporary foreign workers.”
“These new initiatives will assist employers by reducing overall costs and make it two to four weeks faster for employers to hire temporary foreign workers,” said Minister Finley. “They will effectively help employers having difficulty finding Canadian workers to fill their human resource needs, while continuing to protect the access of Canadian workers to the labour market.”

globeandmail.com: Ottawa rules out amnesty for illegal workers

globeandmail.com: Ottawa rules out amnesty for illegal workers: "Ottawa has ruled out amnesty for the estimated 200,000 undocumented workers toiling in Canada's underground economy, saying it would not be fair to those who have applied legally and are waiting in line, according to a letter obtained by The Globe and Mail.
Allowing illegal workers to stay would likely “encourage more illegal immigration,” noted Linda Arseneau of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's ministerial enquiries division in an Oct. 18 letter to the Universal Workers Union.
“Even a small increase in the number who decide to come here and stay here illegally based on the hope of regularization would simply recreate the very problem the proposal is supposed to fix,” the letter says.
The decision is a bitter disappointment to Portuguese and Hispanic groups, home-builder associations and unions in Ontario that have lobbied CIC to allow undocumented workers in the construction industry to regularize their status."
Source: The Globe and Mail

Canada attracts skilled immigrants

Canada attracting skilled immigrants: Canadian immigration policy is doing a good job of attracting skilled immigrants to this country, a Queen's University expert said.

CIC Canada | News Release 2006-13 - Citizenship and Immigration Canada Changes Visa Requirement for Estonian Citizens

CIC Canada | News Release 2006-13 - Citizenship and Immigration Canada Changes Visa Requirement for Estonian Citizens: "Citizenship and Immigration Canada Changes Visa Requirement for Estonian Citizens
OTTAWA, September 27, 2006 – The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (CIC), announced today that Estonian citizens no longer require a temporary resident visa to visit Canada.
“Canada’s analysis of Estonia indicates that they are ready for a visa exemption,” said Minister Solberg. “Canada has the largest community of Estonians outside of Estonia and we enjoy strong trade and tourism ties. This decision will help build on that relationship.”
Citizenship and Immigration Canada regularly reviews the visa requirements we place on citizens from other countries who want to visit Canada. These reviews are done on a country by country basis to see if they warrant potential visa exemptions or the removal of an exemption. Country reviews weigh the risks and benefits of visa-free travel to Canada. Possible risks to Canada include abuse of Canada’s tradition of refugee protection, passport fraud or organized crime in the country under review. Some of the benefits to Canada may include increased trade and tourism.
By law, all visitors to Canada require a temporary resident visa, except citizens of countries where an exemption has been granted.
Visa requirements are Canada’s first line of defence in maintaining the safety and health of Canadians where travellers to Canada are concerned. The visa is also an effective way to protect the integrity of Canada’s immigration and refugee programs while facilitating the entry of legitimate visitors.
For a complete list of countries whose citizens require a visa, please visit CIC’s Web site at www.cic.gc.ca/engl"

Federal government seeks to boost French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec

Federal government seeks to boost French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec: "WINNIPEG (CP) - The federal government is hoping to increase the number of French-speaking immigrants who settle outside Quebec.
Immigration Minister Monte Solberg has announced a five-year plan that includes recruiting more francophone foreign students to schools such as the College Universitaire de St. Boniface in Winnipeg.
The plan also calls for new aid for francophone immigrant business owners in Winnipeg and other communities with a strong French-speaking population.
It's not clear how much new money will be spent, because the government says many initiatives can be covered by existing programs.
Federal figures from 2001 show 3.1 per cent of immigrants outside of Quebec were French-speaking.
Ottawa is hoping to boost that number to 4.4 per cent to match the current French-speaking population outside Quebec. "