The Canadian government has announced a new Global Skills Strategy that will target bringing in highly qualified skilled immigrants in an attempt to create more jobs for Canadians.
Immigration Minister John McCallum, along with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, yesterday announced that companies will soon be able to bring in the highly skilled experts they need to grow, flourish and provide good jobs for Canadians faster than ever before.
The new Global Skills Strategy will aim to attract highly qualified talent from around the world to support the growth of companies in Canada, spurring innovation and driving the country’s economy – ultimately creating more jobs for Canadians.
“We know that when talented researchers, innovators and leaders are able to provide their expertise, even temporarily, their work can have a multiplier effect on job creation,” explained Minister McCallum. “In the global competition for highly skilled people, it is crucial that these types of workers can get here quickly.”
To be implemented later in 2017, the Global Skills Strategy will:
– Establish an ambitious two-week standard for processing visas and work permits for low-risk, high-skill talent for companies in Canada;
– Create a dedicated service channel for companies looking to make large, job-creating investments in Canada; and
– Drop the work permit requirement for very short-term work (for instance, 30 days or less) in low-risk fields. Brief academic stays would also be eligible.
The global demand for highly skilled talent in the knowledge economy is currently outpacing the supply, leaving companies in Canada without the talent needed to fill vacancies and grow their businesses.
“Business leaders have told me that attracting top global talent actually increases economic activity,” said Minister Bains. “One key hire can attract many others. This critical mass of talent enables the start-up of new companies. I’m proud that the Government has listened to the concerns of business leaders. Tapping into a large pool of highly trained people – both in Canada, and abroad – will set this country up for success as a global innovation leader. And it will enable high-growth Canadian companies to develop more quickly into globally competitive successes. That’s how we will create well-paying jobs for all Canadians,” he added.
In the coming months, the Government will seek feedback from stakeholders on the design of the Global Skills Strategy, to ensure that companies in Canada will benefit from day one.
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Article published 1st December 2016