Category Archives: skilled trades

Canadian Government Celebrates First Skilled Trades Immigrant

New Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander this month welcomed Eric Byrne, a Canadian immigrant from Ireland, and one of the first individuals to become a permanent resident of the country through the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), in a press conference to promote the new immigration program. Describing the program’s connection to the Canadian government’s broader economic goals, […]

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Canada to Encourage Irish Immigration at Jobs Expo Dublin and Jobs Expo Cork

At least seven Canadian companies will have a presence at this year’s Jobs Expo Dublin and Jobs Expo Cork, where they will promote the country as an ideal destination for Ireland’s skilled workers to find work and to settle. The job expo, which is scheduled for Friday September 6th and Saturday 7th in Dublin, and Tuesday September 10th in Cork, […]

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Alberta Temporary Foreign Worker Pilot Extended

The provincial government of Alberta has announced that the Alberta Occupation-Specific Pilot for temporary foreign workers will be extended for another year, to July 31 2014. The pilot started in June 2011 and allows qualifying foreign nationals to receive special one or two-year work permits that allow them to work for an employer without the employer being required to have […]

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Increase in US Oil Production Threatens Canada’s Oil Sands

Canadian energy producers exported over $120 billion worth of energy products in 2011, which constituted over 25 percent of the $462 billion worth of goods/services exported from Canada that year. The sizeable contribution made by the oil and gas sector to Canada’s export revenue helped shore up the value of the Canadian dollar, which enhanced Canadians’ purchasing power internationally and […]

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Report Projects Oil Sands to Contribute Trillions to the Canadian Economy

A comprehensive report on the challenges and opportunities of Canada’s oil sands by auditing giant Deloitte projects that the hydrocarbon deposits will contribute an estimated $2.1 trillion to Canada’s GDP over the next 25 years. The economic benefits of the added wealth include up to $783 billion in extra tax revenues over the period, which will provide a significant boost […]

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New Canadian Immigration Program for Skilled Trades Opens

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) officially launched the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) on Wednesday, and plans to admit up to 3,000 permanent residents through the program in 2013. Applicants of the FSTP must meet three general requirements to be eligible for the program: meet the minimum language requirements of the program, have at least two years of full-time work […]

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Canadian Immigration Department Finalizes Occupation List for Federal Skilled Trades Program

CICS News has learned that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has made a final decision on which occupations will be eligible for the new Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) that is scheduled to open on January 2nd. CIC is expected to announce that the FSTP will give occupations one of two treatments; Group A occupations will be sub-capped at 100 […]

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Massive Shale Oil Prospect Discovered in Northwest Territories, Could Increase Demand for Foreign Labour

A new shale oil prospect in the Northwest Territories potentially rivals the Bakken formation under Saskatchewan, Montana and North Dakota in its recoverable oil resources. The Canol shale formation could contain two to three billion barrels of recoverable oil according to David Ramsey, Minister of Industry and Transportation for the Northwest Territories. If the estimates are proven accurate, it would […]

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Alberta Temporary Worker Program to Expand List of Eligible Occupations

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the provincial government of Alberta jointly announced this week that the Alberta temporary worker pilot program will be expanded to include more occupations. The pilot project began in June 2011 and issues special work permits to foreign nationals who meet the program’s requirements, including being qualified in an eligible occupation, which allows them to […]

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New Canadian EI Rules Could Affect Number of Work Permits Issued to Foreign Workers

The Harper government is planning to change the federal Employment Insurance program to encourage the long-time unemployed to take available Canadian jobs, which could reduce the demand for foreign workers in Canada’s resource and service industries. Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney had earlier noted the anomaly of regions of Canada with high unemployment rates being forced to bring in foreigners […]

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