Government of Canada Announces Expansion and Opening of the International Experience Canada (IEC) Program

Lejia Feng Citizenship & Immigration, Employment, Newcomer Information

On January 9, 2023, the Government of Canada announced the International Experience Canada (IEC) program is now accepting applications from international youth interested in coming to Canada to gain work and travel experiences. International youth bring valuable and diverse skills to Canada’s economy through the IEC program, while Canadian youth also benefit from gaining international experience through working and traveling …

Canada Welcomes Record Number of Newcomers in 2022

Lejia Feng Citizenship & Immigration, Newcomer Information

On January 3, 2023, the Government of Canada announced it welcomed 431,645 new permanent residents in 2022, representing the largest number of people ever welcomed in a year, in Canadian history. Canada has experienced one of the fastest recoveries from the pandemic, thanks in large part to its approach to immigration. Newcomers enrich our communities, and contribute to our economy …

Canada Expands Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) Program to Help More Skilled Refugees

Lejia Feng Citizenship & Immigration, Newcomer Information, Settlement & Community News, Settlement News

On December 13, 2022, the Government of Canada announced new funding for partner organizations to help expand Canada’s Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) to more skilled refugees. Over the next few years, Canada is aiming to work with employers and communities across the country to expand the pilot and welcome 2,000 skilled refugees to fill specific labour shortages in high-demand …

More International Youth will be Allowed to Work and Travel in Canada

Nicole H. Citizenship & Immigration, Settlement & Community News, Settlement News

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has launched the 2023 International Experience Canada (IEC) Program with a 20% increase in the number of applicants who can apply. Applicants will be able to apply to the program starting on January 9, 2023. IEC is a reciprocal program that allows Canadian and international youth to work and travel in each other’s countries, …

Family Work Permits to be Extended to Temporary Workers’ Spouses and Working-Age Children

Nicole H. Citizenship & Immigration, Employment, Settlement & Community News, Settlement News

Canada will begin extending work permits to family members of temporary foreign workers starting in January 2023 to help address labour shortages. This temporary 2-year measure will expand eligibility to work in Canada to spouses and working-age children through a phased approach for workers at all skill levels. It is estimated that family members of more than 200,000 foreign workers …

Canada’s New Interim Dental Benefit Now Open for applications

Lejia Feng Community, Daily Life, Health and wellness, Settlement News

On December 1, 2022, the Government of Canada announced a new dental benefit program to help those who need it most access dental care. The interim Canada Dental Benefit is intended to help lower dental costs for eligible families earning less than $90,000 per year. Parents and guardians can apply if the child receiving dental care is under 12 years …

Alberta’s government is taking action to support food security

Nicole H. Community, Updates

To support the work Alberta food banks and other civil service agencies do to help Alberta families, the Alberta government is providing $10 million over two years, with the first $5 million to be distributed in the coming weeks and the second $5 million allocated for use in the 2023-24 fiscal year. In addition to the aforementioned, Alberta’s government is …

New Alberta Government Funding for Low-Income Learners

Nicole H. Community, Finance, Updates

Earlier this year, Alberta’s government invested $15 million to create the New Beginnings Bursary to support 1,000 low-income Albertans attending high-demand, qualified post-secondary programs, providing them with a $5,000 non-repayable support each year. The program quickly capped out for the 2022-23 academic year, which left about 700 eligible applicants without a bursary. To support these applicants with their education goals, …

Canada announces 16 new occupations now eligible for permanent residence

Lejia Feng Citizenship & Immigration, Employment, Newcomer Information, Settlement & Community News, Settlement News

On November 16, 2022, the Government of Canada announced the implementation of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 for immigration programs managed under the Express Entry system. Using the new NOC categories will allow Canada to bring in global talent in high-demand sectors like health care, construction, and transportation. Foreign nationals with work experience in the following 16 occupations are now eligible …

Canada Unveils Plan to Welcome 1.4 million Immigrants between 2023 and 2025

Lejia Feng Citizenship & Immigration, Newcomer Information, Updates

On November 1, 2022, the Government of Canada announced its 2023–2025 Immigration Levels Plan, setting the target to welcome around 500,000 immigrants per year by 2025. The announcement signals a significant increase from the 405,000 immigrants that came to Canada last year to the 465,000 expected to arrive next year and 485,000 in 2024. It will further rise to 500,000 …