Controversy about the King's coronation and other Canadian news
The most important events of the week from May 1 to 7.
On Saturday, May 6, the coronation of Charles III, the new king of not only the U.K. but also Canada, took place. We talked about how the coronation of monarchs goes — there hasn't been such an event in 70 years.
Canadians are divided in their opinions about the monarchy. According to surveys, about half of Canadians are strongly opposed to dependence on the British Crown, while the other half say it is an essential part of Canadian identity. While there was a generally positive view of the late Queen Elizabeth, Canadians did not like Charles III.
The country's Governor General, who is the King's representative in Canada, declares that they must give Charles a chance to prove himself as a leader. Giving up the monarchy is not as easy as it sounds, because then Canada would have to develop a plan of action for independence and think of an alternative form of government.
In honour of Charles III, Canada will have CAD 20 bills and coins depicting him. The Royal Canadian Mint plans to share the new coin design this fall, and the Bank of Canada won't put the bills into circulation until several years later. Money depicting Elizabeth II will also remain in circulation.
Economy, jobs, and wages
Many provinces in Canada raise the minimum wage every year. This year it is between CAD 13 and CAD 16.77 per hour, depending on the region. However, human rights activists say that this wage is not enough, and the rate should be at least CAD 18 per hour. Living at minimum wage is especially difficult in expensive cities. The top unaffordable ones include Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Victoria.
The province of Alberta simplifies licensure for foreign nurses. The process now takes just a couple of months. In the last month, 672 licenses were issued in Alberta — more than in the previous four years combined.
The Atlantic provinces are making life easier for medics, too. On May 1, a single registry went into effect that allows doctors and nurses licensed in one Atlantic province to work in all others. The Atlantic provinces are New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
More than 40 analyst organizations claim that the Canadian dollar may rise this year. Right now, the currency is very undervalued because the real value of the Canadian dollar is higher than the U.S. dollar. The Bank of Canada benefits from having a cheaper national currency because most of the country's exports go to the United States. Ordinary citizens, on the contrary, will benefit from a stronger Canadian dollar, as they will be able to afford to buy more imported and foreign goods.
Usually, goods in Canada cost more than in the U.S., and that's just one of the things that annoy Maple Leaf Country residents. Canada also has other disadvantages that literally piss off the locals.
Changes in immigration
Canada has raised the financial requirements for programs that work through Express Entry. These are federal programs and some provincial ones. One applicant must now show CAD 13,757 in their account, and a family of four must show CAD 25,564.
The province of Alberta is developing a new immigration stream for tourism and hospitality workers. It is intended to complement the targeted draw under Alberta's existing Express Entry stream, but details won't be available until the coming months.
From June 17 to 20, Canada will hold conferences Journées Mobilité Canada for those wishing to immigrate. The events will be held in three cities in France and will also be broadcast online. Participants will learn about immigration opportunities to Canada, study programs, the job market, and how to write a Canadian-style CV.
Immigration draws
On May 2, British Columbia sent out 176 invitations. They went to skilled workers, entry-level and semi-skilled workers, and international graduates. Also, the province selected in-demand professionals with a lower passing score: educators, healthcare workers, and veterinarians.
On May 3 and 4, there were two selections in Saskatchewan. The first one was for professionals with an Express Entry profile and professionals with in-demand occupations. The region sent out 1,032 invitations. All applicants needed to have one of the appropriate occupations in IT, healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, and more. In the second drawing, Saskatchewan selected 34 entrepreneurs.
On May 4, Manitoba held a round of invitations for skilled workers in the province, skilled workers overseas, and international graduates. A total of 539 people were selected. Some of the invitations went to candidates with occupations in administration, finance, science, and management.
On the same day, the Prince Edward Island drawing took place. The province selected 122 people among candidates with an Express Entry profile, skilled workers, critical workers, and international graduates.
On May 5, the Ontario selections took place. The region issued 1,863 invitations to candidates with occupations that are a priority in the job market. This time, the list included several occupations in technology.
Alex Pavlenko, founder of the Immigrant.Today emigration portal
