One thing about the Internet is - it's always changing. In many cases, where you once could find information, it's missing - 404 - file not found. This happens for a lot of reasons: web designers change the organization of a site, content is past its shelf life, resources get moved and no one bothers to update the links, technology changes.
This is the case recently with the CBC and its online news video content. A while back, I posted links to all the daily news feeds of "News at Six" for the different Provinces. Well, that info is now outdated, because CBC has redesigned its video player. The good news is, all the media is in one place now. So update your links to the following - http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Canada and you can once again learn about the latest going on in the part of Canada that is of interest to you.
My eBook, How To Immigrate To Canada For Skilled Workers: The Authoritative Guide To Federal And Provincial Opportunities is available now on Amazon and other online retailers. Get your copy of the essential guide to Skilled Worker class applications today!
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Much ado about fraudulent marriages
The Star online featured a report today built to play into the hands of anti-immigration extremists, reporting the...alarming fact that the CIC receives about 1,000 complaints a year of spouses/partners who come to Canada and immediately abandon their sponsors.
Of course, this is devastating to the sponsor emotionally, and can be a big problem financially, as the sponsor is on the hook for any government service fees the runaway partner racks up (like unemployment) for a three year period.
The story features takes from a number of jilted Canadians and it really is sad to read how their hearts were broken by those they loved and trusted.
However...let's add a little context here if I may. There are around 45,000 family class permanent resident visas issued each year to spouses/partners. The 1,000 alleged cases of abandonment only represent 2% of that number. Of the entire annual number of immigrants, it only represents around 4/10 of 1%.
It's hard to categorize those numbers as some epidemic of immigration abuse.
But it plays well with Conservatives.
Read the entire article here
Of course, this is devastating to the sponsor emotionally, and can be a big problem financially, as the sponsor is on the hook for any government service fees the runaway partner racks up (like unemployment) for a three year period.
The story features takes from a number of jilted Canadians and it really is sad to read how their hearts were broken by those they loved and trusted.
However...let's add a little context here if I may. There are around 45,000 family class permanent resident visas issued each year to spouses/partners. The 1,000 alleged cases of abandonment only represent 2% of that number. Of the entire annual number of immigrants, it only represents around 4/10 of 1%.
It's hard to categorize those numbers as some epidemic of immigration abuse.
But it plays well with Conservatives.
Read the entire article here
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Kenney sneaks in changes to Federal Skilled Worker program
While Canada was distracted with the recent G8 and G20 meetings in Toronto, Jason Kenney, Harper's Immigration Minister, held a barely noticed press conference where he announced Tory changes to the Federal Skilled Worker program. What has changed? Here's a summary
- Instead of 38 approved professions, now there are only 29
- In any category, only 1000 applicants will be accepted per year
- There is an overall cap of 20,000 applications per year (do the math and see that that means 9000 additional positions will not be created)
- Applicants must now submit the results of a language test, either English or French - even if they come from an English or French-speaking country
So, what's really going on here? Well, let's call it trimming the Federal budget for one thing. Kenney has consistently advocated ways to reduce the immigration rolls at a cost to potential immigrants. Fewer opportunities and added fees are always great ways to negatively influence behaviour. What else is happening? Just another example of Canada's pro-immigration policies being overseen by anti-immigration bureaucrats.
Something else to really note here: The hidden story in this release is the news on Investor Class applicants. The Harper government is proposing that these applicants now need to have a net worth of $1.6M and be willing to drop $800K into the Canadian economy (double the old requirements in both cases).
I don't get it: if someone is willing (under the current program) to come and drop $400K into Canada to start new businesses or invest...the plan is to tell them "no?" That this class has any limitations in the number of applicants at all is crazy. Economies are built on investors willing to take a chance.
You have to wonder what it will take to get the opposition's attention in Canada. Harper seems to pretty much do as he wants.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Get your E-read on
The Kindle and e-reader devices open up a world of Canadian literature
A few months ago I picked up a Kindle and have gradually been making the transition to e-books. One of the great things about having it is that I now have access to a number of free book collections, including Amazon Popular Classics, Archive.org Openlibrary and Project Gutenberg.
All of these sites have loads of Canadian content. Especially if you are a history buff. A quick search with the keyword "Canadian" in Openlibrary returned over 1,500 titles.
If you have an e-reader, do yourself a favour and take advantage of a great opportunity to learn a lot about Canada.
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