Immigration changes, new benefits and other news of the week

The week of July 5-11 was remembered for numerous selections and amendments to immigration programs, as well as the government's desire to improve the quality of life for Canadians.

Immigration news

In the past week, a large number of immigration selections have taken place in Canada:

Alberta shared the results of a drawing in which she selected 148 people;
British Columbia invited 387 candidates in a sweeping selection process;
627 applicants with provincial nominations and 4,500 professionals with Canadian experience were the lucky winners in two Express Entry drawings;
Saskatchewan has sent 295 invitations to in-demand professionals in the province;
The province of Ontario has selected 21 entrepreneurs in a stream for businessmen;
Manitoba invited 277 candidates.

Canada has been holding major selections lately. June was marked by record draws in Express Entry: invitations were plentiful and the passing score dropped. As a result, the country managed to select almost 20,000 candidates for permanent residency in just one month.

Canada has also updated the minimum funds required for immigration through federal programs that are selected in Express Entry, the Atlantic Immigration Program and the pilot immigration program rural and Northern. The amounts have increased slightly, and those who have already applied need to update their information.

The province of Ontario has changed the requirements for applicants who participate in the entrepreneurial immigration program. The amendments are designed to make it easier and faster for business people to get Canadian permanent residency.

Pandemic

COVID-19 infection rates in Canada continue to decline. Alberta has already moved to the final stage of lifting restrictions, the province of Ontario is also a step closer to full opening.

However, some experts are of the opinion that such measures, wearing masks, should remain in place. Canada's population is not yet fully vaccinated, and a new variant of COVID-19, which is considered more contagious, is spreading worldwide. But with the right level of immunization, Canada could avoid a fourth pandemic wave.

Against the backdrop of vaccination promotion, a important topic is surfacing in Canadian society: what happens if one refuses vaccination, will vaccination passports be mandatory, and will they not violate the privacy of residents? The questions remain open and worry not only the population, but also health and legal experts.

The situation with border measures continues to be unclear. While only recently it was predicted that the border between Canada and the US would open soon, now it is said that we should not expect it any time soon, because the risk is too high.

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The crisis caused by the pandemic has affected many workers, including immigrants and those who face the risk of infection every day. The government has expanded the availability of benefits for workers, so an estimated one million more workers who have faced hardship will be able to receive financial support. There are also concerns about the mass layoffs that are sweeping Canada. People are leaving of their own volition because they are experiencing severe stress at work.

The housing market also faced difficulties during the pandemic. Prices skyrocketed even in small communities. Nova Scotia decided to combat this and create affordable housing for the province's residents.

And the loudest topic of recent weeks is the graves discovered in former boarding schools. In protest, disgruntled residents stage marches, set churches on fire, overthrow monuments and engage in vandalism. There is hope that a truce can be established by Canada's new governor general. This year, for the first time, an Indigenous woman was appointed to his position.

Language learning

The importance of English for immigration to Canada cannot be overstated. ILAC, Canada's top-ranked language school in Toronto, has once again delighted its students with a generous promotion. The much-loved gift of free weeks of tuition has been extended until the end of September.

If French is more your thing, the province of Quebec is worth a closer look. The government has launched free language courses for newcomers. Those who are about to immigrate and are learning the language in their home country can expect to be reimbursed for the cost of the courses after moving to Quebec.