On the other hand, rural communities have fewer aggregate jobs available, but there is less competition, due to factors such as a lack of awareness and unfamiliarity with the community. This has resulted in many lucrative positions remaining vacant. As a result, the Government of Canada announced the creation of the Rural and Northern Immigrant Pilot on 24 January 2019. It will be a five-year pilot program aimed at increasing the number of immigrants settling in rural communities. It will provide immigrants with employment opportunities and communities with a labour force to grow the local economy. This initiative was implemented based off the success of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, which boosted immigration in the Atlantic Canada region.

Interested communities must coordinate with their local economic development organization (EDO), which will complete and submit the application on behalf of the community. The application consists of a Community Interest Form, an economic development plan written in the last 3 years, and letters of support from a municipal leader as well as a local or regional immigrant-serving organization. If the community is selected, the EDO will manage the program for the community.

In order to be eligible, communities must:

• Have a population of 50,000 people or less and be located at least 75km from the core of a Census Metropolitan Area, as defined by Statistics Canada OR up to 200,000 people and be considered remote from other larger cities, as per Statistics Canada’s remoteness index;
• Be located in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Saskatchewan, or Yukon;
• Have job opportunities;
• Have an economic development plan;
• Have a local economic development organization that can manage the pilot for the community;
• Be able to settle new immigrants in the community by having or developing:
  1. Relationships with local or regional immigrant-serving organizations;
  2. Opportunities to connect newcomers with established members of the community, such as through mentoring or networking;
  3. Access to key services like education, housing, transportation and health care;
• The community must also have the support of its municipality and a local/regional immigrant-serving organizations, shown through letters of support.

For the initial launch of the program, IRCC will select a small number of communities from the applications received. There seems to be a preference for francophone communities, as suggested by an explicit invitation for such communities to apply and identify themselves as francophone on their applications. Furthermore, one of the selection criteria states that decision makers will consider if communities are able to attract and integrate French-speaking newcomers. This is in line with the Action Plan announced by the Government of Canada in March 2018 to increase francophone immigration to Canada.

If selected, the community will play a lead role in the successful implementation and management of the program (via the EDO), with the Government of Canada playing a supporting role. The community would first need to recruit and identify individuals who would be valuable for the local economy. These individuals would then be recommended for permanent residence. If permanent residence is granted, the community would need to provide services for these individuals to adjust to their new lives in Canada. Finally, monitoring the results of the program will be key, to provide feedback to the Government of Canada on its long-term feasibility. To accomplish all this, a community’s EDO will need to work with employers, immigrant-serving organizations, and other key stakeholders.

The deadline to apply for this application is 1 March 2019 by 11:59 pm PST. Applications can be submitted via e-mail or physical mail.

For more information please contact us.

(Sources)

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Alberta: Have you ever been to the Royal Ontario Museum? Well why not travel to Alberta, in the heart of Edmonton, to visit the Royal Alberta Museum? This museum is double the size of the original which makes it the largest in Western Canada. Check out some of their famous national parks while you are there, such as Banff National Park and Jasper National Park!

Ontario: Head to the capital city and visit the Canada Science and Technology Museum. This Ottawa building reopened in November 2017 after its $80.5 million-dollar renovation. There are now 11 completely redesigned exhibits that focus on Canadian scientific and technological advances.

Northwest Territories: Travel to the Northwest Territories by taking the new highway that opened in November 2017. This is the first all-season road in Canada that will allow people to drive all the way to the Arctic Ocean. Before this highway existed, the only way to reach Tuktoyaktuk in the Northwest Territories was to take a plane or an ice road that would only operate in the Winter.

New Brunswick: Head Eastbound to New Brunswick and visit the Bay of Fundy, where you will witness some of the most beautiful sights in all of Canada. The trail to access this view is under construction for a good reason. Opening sometime in 2018, this privately operated 19-km road will give visitors an easier and safer path to travel on towards the spectacular views.

Newfoundland: Take the new ferry that brings you to Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, France! Begin your journey in Newfoundland and end up in France, in just 80 minutes. In 2018, there will be two new ferries added to this voyage, which will be much larger and able to carry vehicles along with 192 passengers.

To read more, click here.

The post Canadian travel destinations for 2018! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

British Columbia

B.C. has placed a moratorium on new applications to the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) Skills Immigration stream and Express Entry stream until 2016. They are however continuing to accept applications under the Health Care Professional (Skilled Worker and Express Entry BC) and Northeast Pilot Project categories. The recently-opened Entrepreneur Immigration stream will also continue to accept registrations for prospective applicants, up to a maximum of 200 per month.

BCPNP is set to re-open the Skilled Immigration and Express Entry BC categories in early 2016 with a new points-based intake system to prioritize high-impact applicants and ensure occupations and skills are aligned with B.C.’s labour market needs.

Alberta

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) has also stopped accepting new applications until 27 January 2016. AINP has a backlog of approximately 10,000 applications awaiting assessment, which is likely the reason for their high processing times. ANIP hopes this pause will allow them time to clear their backlog as well as provide them an opportunity to make improvements to their system.

Without these two PNP routes, candidates wishing to obtain permanent residence in B.C. and Alberta will need to turn to the Federal Express Entry system.

For more information on Provincial Nominee Programs, please click here.

The post Temporary Pause on B.C. and Alberta PNP first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

Let’s hit the road!

Newfoundland and Labrador – St. John’s, which is Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital, is the oldest city in North America!

Nova Scotia – Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, was founded in 1749!

Prince Edward Island – P.E.I. is the smallest province in all of Canada!

New Brunswick – Florenceville-Bristol, located in western New Brunswick, is the French Fry Capital of the world!

Quebec – The Montreal Canadiens, Quebec’s National Hockey League team, has been playing hockey since 1909!

Ontario – There are approximately 250,000 lakes located throughout the province of Ontario!

Manitoba – Churchill, located in northern Manitoba, is the Polar Bear Capital of the world!

Saskatchewan – Currently holds the title of the province with the most roads in Canada!

Alberta – Banff National Park, established in 1885, is the oldest national park in Canada!

British Columbia – The world’s tallest totem pole stands in Alert Bay, located in western BC!

Northwest Territories – Yellowknife, the capital of Northwest Territories, is approximately 3,000 kilometres away from the North Pole!

Nunavut – Frobisher Bay, which is found in eastern Nunavut, has the second highest tides in Canada, right after the Bay of Fundy located in New Brunswick!

Yukon – Carcross Desert, located just outside of Carcross in Yukon, is the world’s smallest desert!

The post Fun Facts from Coast to Coast first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

Niagara Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario – One of Canada’s most famous natural attractions! A variety of events take place year-round that are suitable for the entire family. For more information, please click here.

Hopewell Rocks in Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick – Relax and enjoy the beautiful view that this park has to offer, which is typically open between the middle of May through to the middle of October. For more information, please click here.

Rocky Mountains in Alberta – Explore the Canadian Rockies by visiting the Jasper National Park, Banff National Park, or Kananaskis Country. For more information, please click here.

CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario – Enjoy Toronto’s breath-taking view from one of the tallest structures in the world. For more information, please click here.

Old Montreal in Montreal, Quebec – Appreciate and enjoy old historic buildings, fine dining and great shopping. For more information, please click here.

We have only mentioned a few must-see landmarks, be sure to check out the other great sites, landmarks, and activities Canada has to offer and make the most out of your Canadian experience! Happy exploring!

The post Exploring Canada! first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

Let’s get started!

British Columbia – The 95^th Annual Vancouver International AutoShow, taking place from March 24^th to March 29^th at the Vancouver Convention Center. For more information, please click here.

Alberta – Western Canada Fashion Week will be celebrating their 10^th Anniversary at the ATB Financial Arts Barn, located in Edmonton, during March 27^th through to April 4^th. For more information, please click here.

Manitoba – At Winnipeg’s Forks Market, during March 28^th to April 5^th, Festival of Fools will be hosted. For more information, please click here.

Saskatchewan – Participate in an Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt at Government House, located in Regina, from April 3^rd to April 5^th between 9AM and 4PM. For more information, please click here.

Ontario – Similar to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) that is hosted annually in September, comes the TIFF Kids International Film Festival from April 7^th to April 19^th. For more information, please click here.

Quebec – Enjoy Spring Madness between March 28^th to April 26^th at Mount-Sainte-Anne. For more information, please click here.

Prince Edward Island – In Charolettetown on March 29^th at 3:00PM, The Confederation Centre Youth Chorus will be performing the Choral Music Programme: Voices of Spring. For more information, please click here.

Nova Scotia – The 2015 Ford Worlds Men’s Curling Championship will be hosted at the Scotiabank Centre between March 28^th and April 5^th. For more information, please click here.

New Brunswick – Participate in Explorer Saturdays at the New Brunswick Museum, located in Saint John, on March 28^th between 10AM and 4PM. For more information, please click here.

Newfoundland and Labrador – On March 28^th, skiers and snowboarders can participate in the event Great Labrador Loppet. For more information, please click here.

Yukon – Enjoy the 58^th Annual Muskrat Jamboree from March 27^th to March 30^th. For information, please click here.

Northwest Territories – Attend Long John Jamboree in Yellowknife being hosted on March 27^th through to March 29^th. For more information, please click here.

Nunavut – In Iqaluit, the Toonik Tyme Festival will be taking place during April 2^nd to April 10^th. For more information, please click here.

On behalf of BLG Airlines, we’d like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again soon!

The post From Coast to Coast first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

The AINP offers options for both skilled and semi-skilled works. The following are different streams and various categories which applicants can apply under:

1. Strategic Recruitment Stream

–          Alberta Work Experience Category

–          Trade Occupations Category

–          Engineering Occupations Category

–          Post- Graduate Worker Category

2. Employer-Driven Stream

–          Skilled Worker Category

–          International Graduate Category

–          Semi-Skilled Worker Category

3. Self-Employed Farmer Stream

The province of Alberta recently announced changes to the different streams and categories.

1. Until November 28, 2013, for the Food Services Industry Pilot Project, all employers can apply to nominate up to 20% of their total workforce – per restaurant location.
 
2. New Category: Strategic Recruitment Stream now includes the Post- Graduate Worker Category. International graduates who are currently working in Alberta may now apply through this new program without an employer supported application.

3. The Alberta Work Experience Category has added new Skilled and Semi-Skilled Occupations. Click here for more information.

4. Employer Driven Stream – This program is now open to the following semi-skilled workers:

– Plasterers;
– Drywallers;
– Upholsterers;
– Manager/Supervisors in the Services, Retail and Foodservice industries.

Contact us today to see if you are eligible for the Alberta Immigration Nominee Program.

The post Recent Changes to the Alberta Immigration Nominee Program first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.