Feb.1st , 2013 by JWC
Advance notice: JWC Newsletter No.102 will e-mail to you from April 1st , 2013.
Canadian Immigration Minister Kenney Announces New Start-Up Visa, First of its Kind in the World
Toronto, January 24, 2013 — Canada will launch a brand new program on April 1 to recruit innovative immigrant entrepreneurs who will create new jobs and spur economic growth, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.
“Our new Start-Up Visa will help make Canada the destination of choice for the world’s best and brightest to launch their companies,” said Minister Kenney. “Recruiting dynamic entrepreneurs from around the world will help Canada remain competitive in the global economy.”
The Start-Up Visa Program will link immigrant entrepreneurs with private sector organizations in Canada that have experience working with start-ups and who can provide essential resources. The Program is part of a series of transformational changes to Canada’s immigration system that will make it faster, more flexible and focused on Canada’s economic needs.
As a way to help these in-demand entrepreneurs fulfil their potential and maximize their impact on the Canadian labour market, they will require the support of a Canadian angel investor group or venture capital fund before they can apply to the Start-Up Visa Program. Initially, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will collaborate with two umbrella groups: Canada’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA) and the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO). These groups will identify which members of their associations will be eligible to participate in the Program. CIC is also working with the Canadian Association of Business Incubation to include business incubators in the list of eligible organizations as soon as feasible.
“CVCA is honoured to partner with the Government of Canada in the launch of the Start-Up Visa Program,” said Peter van der Velden, President of the CVCA and Managing General Partner of Lumira Capital. “Through this Program, we want to attract high-quality entrepreneurs from around the globe and help build best-in-class companies in Canada.”
“We’re excited to be a part of the Start-Up Visa Program,” said Michelle Scarborough, Board Chair of NACO. “Working with CIC and angel groups across the country, this initiative will create Canadian jobs and position Canada as a leader in innovation.”
The Start-Up Visa is the first of its kind and will be a powerful incentive to attract individuals with great potential who will have a real impact on the Canadian economy. By providing sought-after immigrant entrepreneurs with permanent residency and immediate access to a wide range of business partners, Canada will position itself as a destination of choice for start-ups. Linking forward-thinking immigrant entrepreneurs with established private sector organizations is essential to the success of both investors and entrepreneurs in building companies that will compete globally and create Canadian jobs.
“Jobs, growth and long-term prosperity remain priorities for the Government of Canada, and this new Start-Up Visa Program underscores our commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in the Canadian labour market,” Minister Kenney concluded.
Canada to Welcome 5,000 Refugees Now in Turkey
Ankara, Turkey, January 15, 2013 — Canada will resettle up to 5,000 refugees now in Turkey by 2018, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today during his visit to Turkey.
“With escalating violence in the region, more people are seeking protection in Turkey, and our commitment to resettle 5,000 mostly Iraqi and Iranian refugees in Canada will help Turkey deal with this growing pressure,” said Minister Kenney. “We recognize that sheltering such an immense refugee population creates pressures on domestic resources and we commend the Government of Turkey for keeping her borders open to those fleeing the ongoing conflict in the region.”
Canada’s acceptance of Iranian and Iraqi refugees will help ease the overall burden on Turkey, freeing up resources for the current influx of Syrian persons seeking protection in the country. Canada will continue to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to help the UNHCR address the needs of refugees and other vulnerable persons in Turkey.
Canada is one of only a few countries to operate a resettlement program out of Turkey, and only the United States takes more refugees. The majority of these refugees will be referred by the UNHCR for resettlement to Canada.
“Canada has long been a place of refuge for those fleeing persecution, and we are proud to continue this tradition today,” said Minister Kenney. “To date, some 12,000 Iraqi refugees have been resettled in Canada, mostly out of Syria. Canada remains committed to its 2009 and 2010 pledges to resettle up to 20,000 Iraqi refugees in need of protection. Today’s commitment will help bring us closer to that goal and will also mark the first time we make a specific multi-year commitment to resettling refugees out of Turkey.”
Canada already has one of the most generous resettlement programs in the world and welcomes one in 10 refugees resettled worldwide through its programs. In addition, the government is working to increase the total number of refugees and other individuals in vulnerable circumstances that this country resettles each year by 20 percent, as part of its commitment to Canada’s humanitarian tradition.
After three years of increases, as of this year Canada aims to resettle up to 14,500 refugees and other individuals in vulnerable circumstances.
Canada Venture Capital Action Plan
Canada's long-term economic competitiveness in the knowledge-based economy will be driven by globally competitive, high-growth businesses that innovate and create high-quality jobs. Venture capital plays an important role in providing the investment and resources needed for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises to grow and create high-value jobs.
Canada's venture capital industry has been challenged on a number of fronts. Stakeholders have commented on the persistent low returns for venture capital investors leading to a lack of investor confidence; the reluctance of institutional investors such as banks and pension funds to invest in innovative early-stage firms; the relatively small size of venture funds in Canada; and a shortage of experienced fund managers that could lead successful venture capital funds. The Expert Panel on Federal Support to Research and Development in its 2011 report concluded that the weakness of the venture capital sector in Canada makes it difficult for young firms to grow.
Recognizing the importance of the venture capital industry to Canada's future economic prosperity, Economic Action Plan 2012 announced resources to support Canada's venture capital industry, including $400 million to help increase private sector investments in early-stage risk capital, and to support the creation of large-scale venture capital funds led by the private sector.
The Government of Canada recently concluded extensive consultations with key stakeholders on how to structure this support and on how to ensure that it contributes to the creation of a sustainable, private sector-led venture capital sector in Canada. Over 250 stakeholders were consulted in Canada and the U.S. and some 80 submissions were received through an online portal. These consultations revealed that a long-term, market-oriented approach is required to address the issues facing Canada's venture capital sector.
To this end, the Government of Canada is announcing the Venture Capital Action Plan, which will guide the deployment of the $400 million in new capital to demonstrate that Canada's innovative firms represent superior return opportunities. The Plan recognizes that private sector investment and decision-making is central to long-term success. With this in mind, the Venture Capital Action Plan will make available:
- $250 million to establish new, large private sector-led national funds of funds (a funds of funds portfolio consists of investments in several venture capital funds) in partnership with institutional and corporate strategic investors, as well as interested provinces;
- Up to $100 million to recapitalize existing large private sector-led funds of funds, in partnership with willing provinces; and
- An aggregate investment of up to $50 million in three to five existing high-performing venture capital funds in Canada.
The Venture Capital Action Plan represents an opportunity to put Canada's venture capital industry on the path to sustainability, and ensure Canada's high-potential firms have the resources they need to grow and create jobs.
Private sector expertise will be sought in the coming weeks to assist in the selection of the private sector funds managers for the funds of funds, and the high-performing venture capital funds to receive direct investment.
Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper highlights government's 2012 achievements
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement highlighting some of the government's significant accomplishments in 2012:
"Throughout 2012, our Government continued to generate results for Canadians both at home and abroad.
"First and foremost, we continued to successfully navigate the turbulent global economy in 2012, emerging with some of the strongest job growth numbers among G-7 countries. This was accomplished while reducing the country's deficit and creating a leaner, more efficient public service.
"The international community has taken note of our success this year: Forbes magazine has ranked Canada as number one in its annual review of the best countries for business; for the fifth year in a row, the World Economic Forum has rated Canada's banking system as the world's soundest; and both the IMF and OECD expect Canada to be among the strongest growing economies in the G-7 next year.
"In 2012 we continued to aggressively pursue trade and investment agreements that will benefit Canadian businesses and families. Canada significantly increased its engagement in Asia, joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations; becoming an observer to the Pacific Alliance; finalizing foreign investment promotion and protection agreements (FIPA) with China, Senegal and Tanzania; concluding negotiations for the Administrative Arrangement between Canada and India that will allow the implementation of the Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA); launching free trade negotiations with Japan; announcing exploratory free trade talks with Thailand; and expanding the Canada-China Air Transport Agreement.
"We also made solid progress on modernizing Canada's immigration system to make it more proactive, targeted, fast and efficient in a way that will sustain Canada's economic growth and deliver prosperity for the future.
"Our Government also began implementing a plan for Responsible Resource Development that will streamline the review process for major economic projects. This is expected to facilitate more than 600 projects worth as much as $650 billion over the next 10 years.
"Additionally, we made significant progress on putting in place infrastructure and other measures across the country, laying the foundation for future growth and prosperity. This includes: supporting projects at Lower Churchill Falls that will generate enormous benefits for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia; signing an agreement for the construction of the new Detroit River International Crossing; rolling out the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund, which will help improve existing community infrastructure across the country; and making real and substantive progress on the Beyond the Border Action Plan and on Regulatory Cooperation with the United States.
"We also continued to strengthen our relationship with First Nations, including through commitments made at the historic Crown-First Nations Gathering; announcing support for First Nation Education to improve school infrastructure and address literacy; and introducing legislation to protect drinking water in First Nation communities.
"On the security front, we have taken numerous steps at home to target crime and terrorism and to provide greater support and protection for victims of crime, including new income support for parents of murdered or missing children. Internationally, we continued to work with the United States to enhance border security, and we established a new initiative to support police training and border security in the Americas. With respect to counter-terrorism, we witnessed the adoption of Canada's first Counter-Terrorism Strategy and committed to renewing Canada's Global Partnership Program to reduce the threat from weapons of mass destruction and to combat nuclear terrorism.
"The Government of Canada also promoted Canadian unity, heritage and sovereignty by: supporting our Olympic and Paralympic athletes, who won a total of 49 medals at the London Games; commemorating The Queen's Diamond Jubilee by welcoming The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, and awarding deserving Canadians with Diamond Jubilee medals; and honouring the many battalions and First Nations groups who fought in the War of 1812, a pivotal event in Canada's history. We also made progress on ensuring that the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard have the equipment they need to be a capable and flexible force for good with the awarding of shipbuilding contracts to both Vancouver Shipyards Co. and Irving Shipbuilding Inc., which will also generate economic benefits on both coasts.
"In the coming year, we will work hard to achieve progress on priority issues for Canadians. We are deeply honoured to have been given a majority mandate, and we will continue to meet the needs and expectations of all Canadians, with a focus on promoting jobs, growth and long-term prosperity and the well-being of our citizens."
New Canada Federal Skilled Trades Program Accepts Applications Starting Today
Ottawa, January 2, 2013 — The brand-new Federal Skilled Trades Program begins accepting applications today, announced Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.
“The new Skilled Trades Program will address serious labour shortages that some regions of the country are facing, and will help grow Canada’s economy,” said Minister Kenney. “These long-overdue changes are part of the government’s plan to build a fast and flexible immigration system that is responsive to the needs of Canada’s economy. Canadian employers have long been asking for ways to get the skilled tradespeople they need to meet demands in many industries across the country. We’ve listened to their concerns and created this program in response.”
In the program’s first year, CIC will accept applications from up to 3,000 people in specific trades. The occupation list was designed to reflect current labour market needs and ensure the program delivers a diverse range of skilled tradespeople to fuel Canada’s economy. Within the 3,000, there will be no limit on 26 in-demand occupations, while 17 occupations will be subject to sub-limits of 100 applications each. In total, there are 43 occupations eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Applications are expected to be processed within 12 months.
In addition to being qualified for an eligible occupation, Federal Skilled Trades Program applicants must demonstrate basic language proficiency in either English or French at the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 for speaking and listening, and CLB 4 for reading and writing. This is due to the overall importance of language as a determinant of immigrant success and general health and safety reasons. CLB 4 is considered basic proficiency while those with CLB 5 can more effectively participate in and understand routine conversations.
Other criteria include: a valid offer of employment in Canada or a certificate of qualification from a province or territory in a qualifying skilled trade; at least two years of work experience in the occupation within the last five years; and meeting the employment requirements set out in the National Occupational Classification system, with the exception of licensing requirements, which are addressed separately.
“The Federal Skilled Trades Program is yet another tool in the Canadian employer’s toolkit to find the workers they need to build Canada’s future economy,” said Minister Kenney. “This new program, along with all other changes we are introducing, will help us move towards an immigration system that better supports Canada’s economic growth and long-term prosperity.”
New Federal Skilled Worker Program to accept applications beginning May 4, 2013
Ottawa, December 19, 2012 — The new selection system for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) will take effect on May 4, 2013 at which time the program will re-open for applications, Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.
“The government’s number one priority remains jobs, economic growth, and long-term prosperity,” said Minister Kenney. “The new Federal Skilled Worker Program criteria will ensure Canada is selecting the skilled immigrants our economy needs, who are the most likely to succeed and fully realize their potential in Canada.”