Category Archives: Latest News
Start-up visa continues to grow
As of May 2, 2016, 51 entrepreneurs had become permanent residents of Canada through the program, representing 26 start-ups that have launched or will be launching in communities across Canada, including Sydney, Halifax, Fredericton, Toronto, Mississauga, Waterloo, Thunder Bay, Calgary, Whistler, Vancouver and Victoria.
“The start-up visa started slowly but has steadily picked up steam,” Arif Virani, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said today. “Every start-up that is established here has the potential to provide jobs and economic opportunity for Canadians, contributing to our country’s growth and diversity.”
The Start-up Visa Program is drawing successful applicants from a diverse range of countries, including Australia, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Iran, South Africa and Uruguay, and across a number of industries, including technology, food product manufacturing, education, medical research, banking, human resources, and advertising.
This five-year pilot program allows entrepreneurs who have the support of a designated Canadian entity to apply for permanent residence as they establish their company in Canada. Demand for this program is growing, with more than 50 additional permanent resident applications still in process from entrepreneurs from around the world who have the support of a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group or business incubator to launch their start-ups in Canada.
Push for visa-free migration bloc in Australia, UK, Canada and New Zealand
AUSTRALIA is being called on to join a push for a new visa-free migration bloc with a new poll finding overwhelming public support to be able to live and work freely in “like-minded” nations.
The push to have a “free mobility labour zone” between Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Britain was started by London Mayor Boris Johnson but has now been picked up by several MPs and Lords in Westminster.
A poll in the four nations commissioned by the Royal Commonwealth Society in London and released today found 70 per cent of Australians, 82 per cent of New Zealanders and 75 per cent of Canadians supported the move.
Britain also backed the initiative although to a lesser degree — 58 per cent. The UK is currently in a migration crisis with EU membership ensuring all Europeans have free access to live and work in the UK and receive substantial benefits, all of which is to come to a head in June with a referendum on whether the UK remains in the EU.
Young adults (18-35 years) notably in Australia and New Zealand were the most supportive, 90 and 80 per cent respectively.
(link: http://www.news.com.au/world/europe/push-for-visafree-migration-bloc-in-australia-uk-canada-and-new-zealand/news-story/c854fd6012d1245512f76cf39955b0cf )
Federal, provincial and territorial immigration ministers meet to discuss future immigration planning
Tue, 2016-03-15 08:00
March 14, 2016—Ottawa, ON—Federal, provincial and territorial ministers of immigration met today in Ottawa to talk about the future of immigration in Canada, review the recently tabled immigration levels plan and share experiences resettling and integrating Syrian refugees into their communities.
“The work to resettle and integrate Syrian refugees into our communities has just begun, and the provinces and territories are key partners in ensuring we do it successfully,” said Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister John McCallum. “The opportunity to come together, hear about what is working and where the challenges are, will help us further improve services for refugees and all newcomers.”
Minister McCallum spoke to the higher levels of immigration in the 2016 levels plan. All ministers present committed to working together on multi-year levels planning going forward to ensure that future immigration levels reflect the importance of immigration to meet labour market and other needs. Ministers discussed a new Vision Action Plan, that will guide the improvement of immigration and settlement outcomes over the next three years.
Regulatory Body Warns the Public to Be Vigilant of Immigration Scams
Fri, 2016-03-11 08:00
BURLINGTON, March 9, 2016 – March is Fraud Prevention Month in Canada and the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) is encouraging the public to be aware of unscrupulous immigration practices from individuals posing as authorized immigration service providers. The regulatory body reminds consumers that federal law requires anyone providing Canadian immigration or citizenship advice for a fee or other consideration must be a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial law society (a lawyer or an authorized paralegal in Ontario), the Chambre des notaires du Québec, or ICCRC. Anyone providing any immigration or citizenship services, who is not a member of one of these organizations, is acting in contravention of the law and should be reported. “It is important that as consumers we be vigilant and protect ourselves,” said Christopher Barry, interim President and CEO of ICCRC. “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is, so we ask for the public’s help to ensure that immigrants find safe passage to Canada and that illegal operators be stopped and brought to justice.”
Government of Canada releases its ambitious plan for 2016 immigration levels
Wed, 2016-03-09 08:00
March 8, 2016 – Ottawa, ON – The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, John McCallum, today announced that Canada will welcome a greater number of immigrants in 2016—with a special emphasis on family reunification.
The Government of Canada has an ambitious plan to bring in between 280,000 and 305,000 new permanent residents in 2016. As we continue to show our global leadership, Canada will reunite families, offer a place of refuge to those fleeing persecution, and support Canada’s long-term economic prosperity.
Through the Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration—which includes the 2016 immigration levels plan—the government outlined how it will increase levels of family class immigration, which will address the application backlog and reunite families more quickly.
The government will meet its commitments to welcome more refugees to Canada, and in the process, it will help diversify the Canadian economy and create sustainable growth.
持中國護照乘機經中國飛港 因無香港入境簽證被拒登機
一位中國公民何女士(化名)告訴本報，去年11月初在多市士嘉堡的一家華人旅行社，要求購買一張盡可能便宜的12月多倫多至香港的往返機票。旅行社於是給了她中國東方航空公司經上海飛香港的非直航航班票價。
身為加拿大永久居民的何女士覺得這個價格還不錯於是決定購買。但到啟程當日何女士在多倫多皮爾遜國際機場要登機時，卻被告知因為她沒有進入香港的入境簽證，因此她不能登機。
何女士只好再花費1175元人民幣在機場現買了一張上海飛深圳的機票，才最終得以登機。 (明報加拿大版)
http://www.mingpaocanada.com/Van/htm/News/20160225/vab1h_r.htm
Antigua abolishes personal income tax
ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Prime Minister Gaston Browne yesterday announced that, effective April, personal income tax will be abolished in its entirety.
The prime minster, who made the announcement in his presentation of the 2016 Budget yesterday, said this was a promise made to the people of Antigua and Barbuda during the election campaign.
“That was a major campaign promise and my Government honours its word to the people. Promise made, promise kept. Abolishing personal income tax is an important reform. Not only will it put more money in the pockets of the people, so that they can save or spend more for the benefit of the economy as whole, it will help to re-establish our country as one of the most competitive in the Caribbean and beyond.”(by Jamaica Observer)
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Antigua-abolishes-personal-income-tax_49425