Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Law Firm Blog

Arranged Employment Application/Opinion Steps...

APPLICATION FOR ARRANGED EMPLOYMENT OPINION Important: This application is only for positions under levels A, B, or 0 of the National Occupational Classification. The skilled worker must have at least one-year of work experience in a professional, managerial, or technical occupation under Canada’s NOC system. Also, the approval of AEO does not automatically allow the person to work in Canada. It will only support the skilled worker’s application for permanent residency in Canada. STEPS: 1. Employer makes a permanent offer in a skilled occupation. The letter of permanent employment must - Be on company letterhead - Be signed by the person responsible for hiring employees - State the title and salary of the position offered and the length of employment is open. The offer must consider the following factors: o It must be permanent o It must be genuine o Wage & working conditions are comparable to Canadians working in similar occupation o Employment is full-time and not seasonal. Note: Placement agencies, temporary help agencies, and firms of similar nature, unless they have established employer-employee relationship, are not included in the definition of employer. 2. Complete the HRSDC EMP 5275 3. Submit the completed form For applicants in Alberta, send... Read more →

PM's Best Friend's New Job

PM Harper's best friend John Weissenberger has been hired as the new chief of staff to CIC Minister Diane Finley. Link here. Read more →

Algerian deportee schedules suicide

Kouider Haddou is an Algerian facing deportation on February 16, 2007. It would appear that his legal options are few (although details are scant). He plans on ending his own life prior to that date. Link here. ****************************** Update - February 26, 2007. Despite my attempts to confirm Mr. Haddou's present living status, I was uanble to do so. (My attempt was confined to a Google search). I will see if Mr. Haddou has carried out his threat, or has won his ill-advised game of 'chicken' with Citizenship & Immigration Canada. Read more →

Israel - top 10 source country for refugees

Somewhat surprisingly, Israel is among the top 10 refugee source countries for Canada. Israel is in the (unenviable) company of Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka. Israel's ambassador has labeled the claims as bogus and urged the IRB not to accept Israeli asylum seekers. Acceptance rates were 31% in 2005 and 18% in 2006. Link here. Read more →

Death Penalty dropped for Wallace

A US fugitive currently detained in Canada, (who's admitted to a double murder in the US), has benefited from his flight to this country. Justice Canada had indicated that they would not deport Wallce to the US if the death penalty was a sentencing option. Prosecutors in the US have now caved and will no longer pursue that option. It would appear somewhat arrogant that Canada would impose it's sensibilities upon the judicial system of another country - especially when that country has the same institutions of rule of law and independence of judiciary as Canada. Calgary Sun link here. Read more →

Herouxville, QC issues Immigrant Declaration

A little town in QC, Herouxville, has made the unusual move of adopting a declaration setting out societal norms for the benefit of immigrants. Only one immigrant family currently resides in Herouxville, nonetheless, the town elders have indicated (inter alia) that: Weapons are forbidden in school (including kirpans, notwithstanding the Supreme Court of Canada's ruling in favour) Children can swim together irrespective of gender Female police officers can arrest male suspects Women are allowed to drive, dance and make decisions on their own It would appear that there is some backlash among elements in Canadian society against the (almost ingrained) concept of 'reasonable accommodation' of minorities ... another wrinkle in our developing multicultural tapestry. Globe and Mail article here. Read more →

AB Skilled workers and PNP link

Here's a new publication from the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (Nov. 2006) entitled "Useful websites for skilled workers and employers." I think it is a very practical tool because it has links to the various Federal and Provincial immigration and employment programs as well as information particular to Alberta (trades, settlement and employment standards). http://www.alberta-canada.com/immigration/albertaImmigrationPromotion/files/pdf/UsefulWebsitesSkilledWorkersEmployers_Nov2006.pdf Read more →

Alberta PNP

I am attending a CBA section meeting on the PNP program right now. Looks like AB is moving toward the MB model but will avoid the 'population building' aspects and concentrate on skilled workers and employment. One good development is that they are planning to increase numbers to 5000+ by 2009/2010. Past quotas or targets were around the 400 mark. There are no waiting times for 'complete' applications and such applications can be processed within 2 months. The vast majority (90%+) of applications are for foreign nationals already in Canada on a work permits. The program is looking for true skilled workers (as defined by the NOC) but there is a pilot program for low skill workers in 1. Food/meat processing 2. Hospitality industry and 3. Long haul truck drivers. All in all, sounds like good developments for AB labour shortage. Read more →

CIC How To Manual: How To Hire a Foreign Worker

CIC has put out a manual/'to do' guide to assist employers in hiring foreign workers: CIC link here. Read more →

Immigrant Influence in Tech

MSNBC reports that 25% of tech startups are by immigrants: Link here. Read more →

CIC Fact Sheet on Refugee Issues

CIC link to refugee determination issue criticism here and deals with the following (contentious) matters: Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement Family Reunification — Families of Protected Persons in Canada Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program Refugee Appeal Division Temporary Suspension of Removals Essentially CIC is defending its policy and practices relating to the Safe Third Country Agreement and non-implementation of RAD. Also of note is the present list of countries subject to a temporary suspension of removals: The following countries are currently the subject of a TSR: Afghanistan, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Iraq, Liberia, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Read more →