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)

The post Immigration in Rural Communities the Focus of IRCC’s New Pilot Program first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

The Occupations in-Demand sub-category enables SINP to nominate individuals with post-secondary education and/or high-skilled work experience that have the education, experience, language ability and other factors to help them successfully establish and integrate into Saskatchewan’s labour market and communities.

In order to qualify to apply under this category, applicants need to meet the following criteria:

1. Score a minimum of 60 points out of a possible 100 on SINP’s point assessment grid. Similar to the Federal Skilled Worker Program, points are awarded based on the applicant’s education and training, skilled work experience, language ability, age and connection to the Saskatchewan labour market and adaptability.

2. Have a minimum language score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4.

3. Completed at least a minimum of one year of post-secondary education or training which is comparable to the Canadian education system and has resulted in a degree, diploma, certificate, or a certificate equivalent to a trade certificate (that is verifiable).

4. Have a minimum of one-year paid work experience in a high skilled occupation (NOC “0”, “A” or “B”) in the past ten years related to your field of education or training. The work experience must be considered in-demand in Saskatchewan (there are 57 eligible occupations).

5. Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.

This program is a popular provincial immigration stream as it does not require a job offer or connection to the province in order to be eligible.  The Occupations in-Demand sub-category previously opened in January, 2015, however the intake threshold filled within days. Only 1000 applications will be accepted in this new round.

For more information on Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Programs, click here.

The post The SNIP Program Explained – No Job or Ties to the Province Required 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.

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.