The government of Canada has announced that it is expanding its internship program for newcomers aiming to assist newcomers in gaining valuable Canadian work experience under which immigrants to Canada may acquire some temporary work experience at the government level in fields they are qualified to work in.

In addition to CIC and HRSDC already participating in the program, several other federal departments and agencies are taking part in the expanded initiative including: Health Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Natural Resources Canada, and the Canada Border Services Agency. A number of other departments and agencies have already confirmed their interest in participating in the program. Internships are available in administration, policy, finance, science, translation, and communication.

For more information, please go to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2010/2010-10-05.asp

Ottawa will replace the current governing body of immigration consultants with a new regulator that has the “respect and support” of its members, says Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.

It is expected that the new Cracking Down on Crooked Consultants Act will make it a criminal offence to provide immigration services without proper licensing, with up to $50,000 fine and up to 2 years in jail for those who dare. 

Bill C-11, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act is finally approved by the House of Commons. It means that soon we can have new, more effective procedures of processing refugee cases. In particular, certain failed claimants would be removed from the country in just 4 months - compared to years it takes now it demonstrates the desired effectiveness of new procedures.

Today's media release can be read at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2010/2010-06-15a.asp

Under the latest joint CIC and HRSDC policy facilitating the stay for holders of Post-Graduation Work permits whose employment authorizations are about to expire while their permanent residence applications are being processed, the foreign workers’ current or prospective employers are allowed to apply for an LMO without proof of recruitment efforts provided that they intend to recruit them permanently. All other LMO criteria will apply as usual.

CIC has long been taking a stand of processing arranged employment case (either already in Canada or waiting to come to Canada) on a priority basis. Recently CIC announced that some temporary residence applications are to be given expedite processing and they are the following: