Canada wants to welcome up to 250,000 expats as part of a plan to replace an aging workforce with younger workers with new skills.
The government is inviting tens of thousands of expats to take up visas and live permanently in the country in a drive to boost the economy.
And Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Alexander has pledged the new influx of workers will not stop Canadians getting jobs.
The first step is to open the country’s borders to 15,000 new skilled expat residents by the end of 2014.
“The government has set economic growth as our top priority and we need the help of expats coming into Canada to meet our targets,” said the minister.
Skills, ideas and energy
“Despite the number of expats, we will make sure Canadians will still get the first chance at any available jobs, but we have to make sure the right people are in the right jobs to resolve our regional need for labour and to achieve the nation’s long-term, prosperity.
“Expats will inject new blood into the economy with their skills, ideas and energy.”
The Canadian government plans to increase places for economic immigration to almost two-thirds of available places during 2014. The remaining places are reserved for families, refugees and incomers seeking asylum.
“Not only are we making more places available for expats, but we are streamlining immigration and visa administration to cut waiting times and backlogs,” said Alexander.
“We do not want to see families separated or vulnerable people at a disadvantage.”
The government plans to extend the expat recruitment drive beyond 2014 by inviting expats to express interest in moving to the country.
Fast track visas
Their language and job skills will be compared to the employment needs of provinces, territories and business across the country. Expats with skills and experience matching internal demand will be fast-tracked through immigration.
Under the proposals, any expats who meet language requirements and 12 months of successful skilled work experience in Canada can apply for permanent residence. Candidates will include overseas students and expats temporarily working in Canada legally.
So far, according to the latest government figures, 25,000 expats have moved to Canada under this scheme.
One aim of the government is to steer expats away from the major cities of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
In 2000, only a fifth of expats settled outside these urban areas. In 2012, the number had more than doubled to 42%.
