TheNewsGuru

Tag: canada

  • Canada to accept fewer temporary residents

    Canada to accept fewer temporary residents

    Canadian government will decrease the number of temporary residents allowed into the country.

    Immigration Minister Marc Miller made the announcement at a news conference in Ottawa.

    Miller said the government would for the first time, set targets for the percentage the temporary residents represent in the total Canadian population as is done for permanent resident arrivals.

    “Canada has had a sharp increase in the volume of temporary residents in recent years.

    “From the arrival of international students, to foreign workers filling job vacancies, to those fleeing wars and natural disasters,” he said.

    Miller said that for instance, “we will have close to 300,000 arrivals of Ukrainians in Canada by the end of the month.”

    “These are important global commitments,” said the immigration minister, who added that there needs to be “an honest conversation about what the rise in international migration means for Canada as we plan ahead.”

    Miller said in 2023, temporary residents comprised 6.2 per cent of Canada’s population, or 2.5 million people.

    He added three years from now, the Canadian government wants that share to decrease to five per cent.

    The minister said that he would convene a meeting with his counterparts in Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories to discuss the reduced targets for temporary residents.

    In November 2024, the Canadian government set a target for 500,000 permanent residents in 2025.

    In January, Miller announced that Canada would put a cap on the number of international students, who represent 42 per cent of temporary residents in the country.

    However, employers in the construction and healthcare sectors will be allowed to hire temporary foreign workers until at least Aug. 31.

    “These are areas that have critical labor shortages and with the ambition that our government has for building 2.5 million homes over the next 10 years, we need to have every single worker we can in the construction sector.

    “We want to also make sure that our healthcare sector has the workers it needs,” said Miller.

  • CARTOON OF THE DAY: About to move to Canada

    CARTOON OF THE DAY: About to move to Canada

    CARTOON OF THE DAY: About to move to Canada

  • Canada announces critical measures to limit inflow of International Students

    Canada announces critical measures to limit inflow of International Students

    Canada’s Minister of Immigration Marc Miller has announced critical measures to limit the number of international students coming into Canada.

    He stated that three major measures would be put in place to help better the quality of education and increase the rate of success for the international student, as well help stabilise the growth of the Canadian economy, this statement was made on the 22nd of January.

    From Sept 1st there will be no more spousal open work permits for spouses of students who are not in graduate schools/programs such as Law/Medicine, meaning open work permits will only be available for spouses of students enrolled in masters and doctoral programs, professional programs.

    Canada will implement a two-year cap on international study permits, it will reduce the number of study permits by 35% from 2023’s level to 364,000.

    Each Canadian province would be assigned the number of international students they could bring in and students would need to obtain a license from their province before applying for visa.

    From Sept 1st, there will no longer be post graduate work permits for students who graduate from Private Career Colleges operating under Public College-Private Partnerships.

  • ‘Japa’: France joins UK, Canada to tighten immigration rules on Nigerians

    ‘Japa’: France joins UK, Canada to tighten immigration rules on Nigerians

    France has joined other countries that have imposed immigration restrictions on international students (including Nigerians) with new legislation that will stop them from bringing their families to the country.

    The law passed by the parliament on Friday provides a new toughening immigration policy that makes it more difficult for migrants to bring family members to France and delays their access to welfare benefits.

    It also banned detaining minors in detention centres while leaders of a third of French regions said they would not comply with certain measures in the law.

    A controversial provision discriminates between citizens and migrants, even those living in the country legally, in determining eligibility for benefits.
    This new immigration policy means that just like the United Kingdom which imposed a no-dependant restriction on international students in May, Nigerian students are expected to look elsewhere for their Japa plans.

    The UK government’s decision came in response to the alarming surge in net migration, which has reached a staggering one million individuals. A situation that meant Conservative MPs had to call on the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, to address urgently and regain control over immigration figures.

    Already, Nigerian students, who have been among the largest contributors to the UK’s international student community, have started to look at other alternatives in the Europe zone with France considered. But with this new development, their options are shrinking.

    The other route – skilled worker visa, seen as a better option to the UK, has experienced some reshuffling as well.

    Earlier in December, new Home Secretary, James Cleverly, unveiled a set of new rules that raised the minimum salary requirement for obtaining a skilled worker visa from £26,000 to £38,700.

    The figure itself is more than the existing median average salary of a full-time worker in Britain.

    He exempted health and social care workers but said they would be prevented from bringing family dependents.

    Also, overseas care workers will no longer be allowed to bring dependents (partners and children), while migrants have to pay a 66 percent NHS surcharge increase.

    According to Cleverly, all of these were done to ensure immigrants “bring dependents whom they can support financially”

    Apart from France and the UK, the government of Canada in December announced that starting from January 2024, international students must show a new proof of funds, ₦16,050,000.0000 ($20,000).

    The new cost is more than double the current requirement of $10,000, an amount brought in during the early 2000s that has not been adjusted since.

    For 2024, a single applicant will need to show they have $20,635, representing 75% of LICO, in addition to their first year of tuition and travel costs.

    The government however announced the extension of the waiver on the 20-hour per week work cap for international students until April 30, 2024.

    This extension applies only to students already present in Canada and those who submitted a study permit application as of December 7th, 2023.

  • Canadian visa application centres in Abuja, Lagos remain open – Official

    Canadian visa application centres in Abuja, Lagos remain open – Official

    The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria on Thursday said visa application centres in Abuja and Lagos remained open to the public.

    The mission said this in a statement, following the fire outbreak that affected a section of the building of the high commission in Abuja, on Monday.

    “As we continue to mourn the passing of our dear colleague from the High Commission of Canada in Abuja, please note the following information below:

    “Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC clients: processing of applications continues).

    “Regardless of the suspension of operations at the High Commission of Canada in Abuja, the Visa application centres in Abuja and Lagos remain open.

    “For status updates send a webform. (https:// www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-status.html).

    “Consular assistance for Canadians in Nigeria who require emergency assistance: sos@international.gc.ca or +1 613 996 8885 or via our whatsapp on +1-613-909-8881.”

    The explosion at a section of the building of the Canadian High Commission in Abuja on Monday killed two people including a local employee and left two others injured.

    Global Affairs Canada, in a statement issued on Monday, said it would work with local authorities to determine the cause of the explosion.

  • Fire Incident: Canada issues travel alert, suspends visa operations in Nigeria

    Fire Incident: Canada issues travel alert, suspends visa operations in Nigeria

    Canada has suspended all visa applications from Nigeria following the fire outbreak that erupted at the Canada High Commission in Abuja on Monday.

    Report emanating from the embassy states that plans are on ground to probe the root cause of the fire incident that engulfed the embassy.

    Canada also joined the United States and the United Kingdom in issuing a warning against nonessential travel to Nigeria.

    Recall that the Canada embassy fire incident killed two persons while two others got severely injured.

    Reacting to the incident, the Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, issued a terse statement on X, mourned the victims of the explosion.

    “We can confirm there was an explosion at our High Commission in Nigeria. The fire is out and we are working to shed light on what caused this situation. I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the 2 people killed in this tragedy,” she said.

    Also, Canada’s High Commission in Nigeria, said on social media that it had “temporarily suspended operations until further notice”.

    However, the Commission was silent on Monday’s explosion, issuing a travel advisory and warning against non-essential travel to Nigeria, including the capital Abuja.

    It blamed the decision on “the unpredictable security situation throughout the country and the significant risk of terrorism, crime, inter-communal clashes, arme

  • Canada woos over 1.4 million new permanent residents

    Canada woos over 1.4 million new permanent residents

    Canada has released details on a plan to welcome over 1.4 million new permanent residents between 2024 and 2026.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released the details in a notice published on its website on Wednesday.

    According to the notice, Canada aims to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024, 500,000 in 2025 and plateau at 500,000 in 2026.

    The Government of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026 follows the trajectory of the 2023-2025 Plan.

    TNG gathers that the Plan for 2024-2026 prioritizes economic growth, and supports family reunification, while responding to humanitarian crises and recognizing the rapid growth in immigration in recent years.

    According to IRCC, immigrants have an important role to play in the labour market of Canada, growing the nation’s economy now and into the future and helping to ensure Canada has the skills needed to meet key goals.

    Some of the key goals highlighted are supporting sustainability initiatives to transition to a green (net-zero) and digital economy, and so that labour force gaps in critical sectors are not a barrier to the success and expansion of Canadian businesses.

    TNG reports some of the critical sectors highlighted are health, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), trades, transportation and agriculture.

    “For the Family Class, having family support is important for newcomers’ well-being and social adaptation, and it also provides an economic benefit.

    “Spouses and partners often join the workforce and help supplement household income, and parents and grandparents often provide childcare, enabling their sponsors to enter or remain in the workforce.

    “Canada has a strong and proud tradition of offering protection to those in need and the Government’s dedication to fulfilling humanitarian commitments continues.

    “Welcoming newcomers is not just about the admissions targets set, but must also take into account supports and services required by newcomers and Canadians alike, including housing and healthcare.

    “Coordination, collaboration, communication and partnerships are instrumental to welcoming newcomers, and ensuring that appropriate supports are in place to help them achieve positive outcomes.

    “In line with this, to inform this plan, IRCC has undertaken early efforts to establish a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to admissions planning in order to promote integrated planning and coordination across levels of government and with partners and stakeholders,” the notice reads.

  • Peter Obi hails emergence of Nigerian, Asagwara as Health Minister in Manitoba, Canada

    Peter Obi hails emergence of Nigerian, Asagwara as Health Minister in Manitoba, Canada

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has commended the appointment of Chioma Asagwara as the new Health Minister and Deputy Premier of the Province of Manitoba in Canada.

    Chioma was recently appointed as the new Health Minister and Deputy Premier of the Province of Manitoba, Canada.

    In a statement via his official X handle on Sunday, the LP candidate described Chioma’s achievement as uplifting, adding that the report buttresses the resourceful spirit of Nigerians.

    Obi added that, like Asagwara, many resourceful Nigerian youths will attain greater heights in their chosen fields in the new Nigeria.

    He said, “The Swearing-in of a young Nigerian, Uzoma Chioma Asagwara, as the new Health Minister and Deputy Premier of the Province of Manitoba in Canada, was heartwarming. The uplifting report, again, buttresses the resourceful spirit of Nigerians.

    “I believe in the greatness and infinite resourcefulness of the Nigerian people, and I believe in the New Nigeria, where we will give millions of youths in Nigeria the progressive leadership that will inspire them to success.

    Just like Asagwara, many resourceful Nigerian youths will attain greater heights in their chosen fields of endeavour, in the New Nigeria. I believe It is POssible.”

  • India stops issuing Canadians visas after row over killing of Sikh

    India stops issuing Canadians visas after row over killing of Sikh

    India has stopped issuing visas to Canadians following tensions over the killing in the western Canadian province of British Columbia of a Canadian citizen who was a Sikh separatist.

    Visas are not being issued due to security concerns, India’s Foreign Ministry said in New Delhi at a news conference on Thursday.

    “Security threats faced by our embassy and consulates in Canada have affected normal functioning.

    “Accordingly, our embassy and consulates are temporarily unable to issue visas,’’ the ministry said.

    Canada also plans to temporarily reduce its embassy staff in India, but said its embassy and consulates will remain open.

    The Canadian high commission in India said it will continue to monitor “the safety and security of its missions and personnel as it maintains a strict security protocol to respond to any events.’’

    A high commission is the main representative office of a Commonwealth country in another Commonwealth country and is the equivalent of an embassy.

    The authority said some diplomats had received threats “on various social media platforms’’ and it is therefore reviewing its staffing in India.

    A spokesman for the Canadian embassy could not be reached immediately by dpa.

    Relations between the two countries are currently at a low point after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of the targeted killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

    He is a well-known advocate of an independent state for people of the Sikh religious community on India’s territory.

    Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot dead in June.

     

  • Canadian PM, Justin Trudeau divorces wife after 18years

    Canadian PM, Justin Trudeau divorces wife after 18years

    Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has announced the plan to part ways with his wife, Sophie, after 18-year marriage.

    Trudeau made the announcement on Wednesday via social media citing “many meaningful and difficult conversations”.

    The 51-year-old confirmed in a post on Instagram that they are calling it quits after 18 years together.

    According to Mirror, the couple, who have been married since 2005, share three children together and have vowed to co-parent going forward.

    “Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate,” he wrote on social media.

    “As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and we will continue to build. For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy.”

    The Prime Minister’s office also released a statement to confirm they had reached a legal agreement and his 48-year-old wife will leave.

    “They have worked to ensure that all legal and ethical steps with regards to their decision to separate have been taken, and will continue to do so moving forward,” it read.

    “They remain a close family and Sophie and the Prime Minister are focused on raising their kids in a safe, loving and collaborative environment. The family will be together on vacation, beginning next week.”

    Mirror reported that Trudeau was first elected in 2015 and he becomes the second prime minister to announce a separation while in office. His father, Pierre Trudeau, split from his wife Margaret back in 1979, before they divorced in 1984.