News of the week: course for end of pandemic and acceptance of new immigrants

The news from June 14 to 20 continues to delight.

Immigration news

In the past week, three immigration selections have been made:

70 people received invitations through the BC Technical Program;
255 candidates were selected by the province of Saskatchewan;
940 professionals and graduates from Canadian universities were selected through the Ontario program.

As of December 2020, there are no Express Entry selections for the Overseas Skilled Trades category. But if you're a regular reader of our news and digests, you know that there are 5-6 draws in Canada every week. What kind of programs? My wife, who is an immigration consultant, agreed to record a video with me and tell me which programs can immigrate right now.

Because the number of new immigrants to Canada declined during the pandemic, the country has set a goal of welcoming more than 400,000 people this year. Experts say it may not reach that figure, but it is likely to get closer to it.

But for some professions, it will be harder to move. Many trades require a licence to work in Canada. There was only one province that abolished this rule in 2003, but now the authorities have again introduced mandatory certification — so far only for 10 professions.

There is good news for French-speaking teachers and nurses. Both are sorely lacking in the province of Ontario. Hospitals are willing to offer nurses impressive bonuses to get them hired. And for teachers, a new strategy has been created that will help people get teacher education, professional development, and schools will be rewarded for hiring French-speaking teachers.

Pandemic

Every week there is more and more positive news that suggests Canada's pandemic is nearing an end. In a new video, I explain when the country may open borders and what to expect from it.

The vaccination program in Canada is going very well. According to a recent survey, 90% of Canadians are ready to get vaccinated or have already done so. Not surprisingly, with these rates, the country has come out on top in the world for the number of vaccinated residents.

Now federal and provincial authorities are trying to get the population to make one last push to finally achieve collective immunity. The Public Health Agency has launched an online flashmob and is encouraging all vaccinated people to participate. Alberta officials have found another way: they will raffle off large cash prizes and another 40 prizes that include travel and vacations to resorts for getting vaccinated.

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Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec have finally opened the provincial borders and it is now free to travel between regions. And New Brunswick has already gone to the second of three phases of lifting restrictions, two weeks earlier than planned. It's not just the provinces that are opening the borders. France has announced that it will let in tourists from Canada, even if they are not vaccinated.

Canada's entry rules changed not too long ago, too, and as of July, vaccinated residents will be allowed not to stay in a quarantine hotel when they return from abroad. Except this does not apply to those vaccinated with a vaccine not approved in Canada. Sputnik V, Sinopharm, and other preparations will unfortunately not work.

Delta variant, which was first detected in India, is still spreading in Canada. Scientists have found out which vaccine against it is more effective. Following this, the immunization committee updated the guidelines to include that an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) is preferable as a second dose to AstraZeneca. But it was not without a fly in the ointment: it is with mRNA vaccines that reports of myocarditis — inflammation of the heart muscle. This side effect develops in some young people who have been vaccinated.