Canada

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program announces temporary pause on high volume streams

May 18, 2016 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring

On May 9, 2016, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (“OINP”) announced that the Province of Ontario had received a sufficient number of OINP applications to meet its 2016 federal allocation. As a result, it has placed a temporary pause on the intake of applications under what it refers to as “select, high-volume” OINP streams.

2016 federal allocation, Canada, Capital Priorities Stream, employer pre-screen, Express Entry, foreign worker, Immigration Law, international student, international student with a job offer, masters degree stream, OINP, Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, phd stream, temporary pause

Canada implements leniency period for Electronic Travel Authorization until Fall 2016

March 14, 2016 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Privacy and Security, Recruiting and Hiring

On April 1, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada published regulations implementing its Electronic Travel Authorization (“eTA”) program. The regulations initially required eTAs to be mandatory as of March 15, 2016. Fortunately, the new Liberal Government has decided to delay the enforcement of the eTA requirement until Fall 2016 (no exact end date has been announced) by implementing a “leniency period.” During the leniency period, visa-exempt foreign nationals who do not have an eTA will still be permitted to enter Canada as long as they have appropriate travel documents, such as a valid passport. Nevertheless, visa-exempt foreign nationals are encouraged to obtain an eTA as soon as possible.

Canada, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Electronic Travel Authorization, eTA, leniency period, Temporary Resident Visa, TRV, Visa, visa-exempt

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program announces temporary pause on OINP “base” stream applications

December 9, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Employee Relations, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring

On November 16, 2015, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (“OINP”), formerly known as the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program, announced that it has exhausted its base stream allocation for 2015. Between November 16th, 2015 and January 3, 2016, the program will not accept any new employer pre-screen applications or applications under the Master’s Stream or PhD Stream. Any applications received during this time period will be returned to the applicant. The OINP will begin accepting new applications under all these streams on January 4, 2016.

base stream applications, Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Immigration Law, OINP, ontario, Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, permanent residence, PNP, temporary pause

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program announces closure of its Investor Stream

December 9, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Employee Relations, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring

On October 29, 2015, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (“OINP”), formerly the Ontario Provincial Nominee Program, announced that the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade is redesigning its OINP business streams. As a result, it has terminated its existing Investor Stream. However, applications for its redesigned Corporate Stream and Entrepreneur Stream will be accepted in the Fall of 2015.

Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, corporate stream, entrepreneur stream, Immigration Law, investor stream, OINP, ontario, Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, permanent residence, PNP

TFW program administrative monetary penalties for employer non-compliance

November 9, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, International HR Law, Penalties and Fines

Background As was previously mentioned, Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and Chris Alexander, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced changes to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (“TFW”) program on June 20, 2014. Among these changes was a proposal to impose fines of up to $100,000 on employers who violated the TFW program. The […]

administrative monetary penalty, AMP, AMPs, Canada, Canadian, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, employer compliance, Employment and Social Development Canada, employment law, ESDC, foreign national, foreign worker, Immigration Law, Labour Market Impact Assessment, LMIA, Temporary Foreign Worker Program, TFW

CIC begins sending invitations to apply under Express Entry

February 11, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Employee Relations, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) implemented its Express Entry system on January 1, 2015. Since that date, CIC has issued two rounds of Invitations to Apply (“ITAs”), which invite selected Express Entry applicants to submit applications for permanent residence. However, it only issued 779 ITAs during each round. In addition, it established a minimum Comprehensive Ranking Score of 886 for the first round and 818 for the second round. This ensured that only Express Entry applicants who had either arranged employment or a nomination under the Express Entry Stream of a Provincial Nomination Program could be considered.

Canada, Canadian, Canadian Experience Class, CEC, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration, Comprehensive Ranking Score, CRS, employment law, Express Entry, Express Entry Stream, Federal Skilled Trades, federal skilled worker, Foreign workers, FST, FSW, Invitation to Apply, ITA, MI, Ministerial Instructions, MIs, permanent residence, PNP, provincial nominee program

Government of Canada announces immigrant investor venture capital pilot program

January 14, 2015 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring

On December 16, 2014, the Government of Canada announced that it will unveil its Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program (the “IIVC”) at the end of January 2015. The IIVC is designed to attract experienced business immigrants who will actively invest in the Canadian economy and will be available to approximately 50 investors and their families (presumably each year).

Canada, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, EB-5, employment law, IIVC, Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program, Immigration Law, invest in the Canadian economy, Investors, permanent residence

Government of Canada to eliminate immigrant investor and entrepreneur programs

March 12, 2014 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring

On February 11, 2014, the Government of Canada announced its intention to terminate the Federal Immigrant Investor Program and Federal Entrepreneur Program and eliminate the large backlog of applications. These immigration-related announcements were contained in the Canadian Government’s 2014 Budget.

2014, budget, Budget Implementation Act, Canada, Canadian, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, economic action plan, Entrepreneur Program, federal government, IIP, Immigrant Investor Program, Immigration Law, Operational Bulletin 566

Canada lifts visa requirement for the Czech Republic

December 12, 2013 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources

On November 14, 2013, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced that, effective immediately, Czech nationals will no longer require a temporary resident visa to visit Canada. Czech nationals can now stay in Canada for up to six months visa-free, which is consistent with all other visa exempt nationals. This reverses Canada’s previous decision to impose visa requirements on Czech nationals, which came into effect on July 14, 2009.

Canada, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Czech citizens, Czech nationals, Czech Republic, Foreign workers, Immigration Law, Temporary Resident Visa, TRV, visa requirement, visa-exempt

Thanksgiving Day, public holiday

October 11, 2013 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Wages and Compensation

Thanksgiving Day in Canada occurs on the second Monday in October every year. This year, Thanksgiving Day falls on Monday, October 14.

Canada, canadian employment law, day off with regular pay, employment law, general holiday, Public Holiday, Public Holiday Pay, public holidays, Statutory Holiday, statutory holidays, Thanksgiving Day, Time off with pay

First Nations Day and Multiculturalism Day in Canada

June 21, 2013 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits

June 21, 2013, is First Nations Day in Canada, and June 27, 2013, is Multiculturalism Day, and is worth mentioning.

Aboriginal people, Canada, Canadian First Nations, culture, Day off with pay, diversity, duty to accommodate, First Nations Day, longest day of the year, Multiculturalism Day, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Public Holiday, public holidays, Statutory Holiday, statutory holidays, workplace accommodation

Victoria Day, a public (statutory) holiday in some jurisdictions

May 17, 2013 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

On Monday May 20, 2013, most Canadians get a day off work with pay on what is called Victoria Day.

Canada, Day off with pay, employment law, general holiday, Patriots' Day, Public Holiday, Statutory Holiday, Time off with pay, Victoria day

CIC announces outstanding details of the Federal Skilled Worker Program

May 15, 2013 Henry J. Chang, Dentons LLP Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring

On December 19, 2012, Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced that the Federal Skilled Worker Program (“FSWP”) would once again begin accepting new applications on May 4, 2013. However, several key details of the FSWP were not announced at that time. Citizenship and Immigration Canada has now provided these last remaining details.

Canada, CIC, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, ECA, Educational Credential Assessment, eligible occupations, Federal Skilled Worker Program, Foreign workers, FSWP, Hiring foreign workers, Immigration Law, permanent residence

Violence and threats against lawyers is a growing concern in Canada

February 21, 2013 David Hyde Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, International HR Law, Privacy and Security

The shocking death of an Arizona law firm partner last month at the hands of a mediation opponent has shaken up legal communities across North American and has brought the issue of workplace violence in the legal profession to the fore. In Canada, the issue of violence against lawyers has received little attention yet available research and anecdotal evidence suggest that many law professionals face a higher-than-average risk of work-related violence and threats.

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