New Pathway to Permanent Residency for International Graduates in Canada

Encouraging news was just announced for recent overseas students in Canada hoping to apply for permanent residency. Starting on May 6, 2021, those who possess the skills necessary to strengthen the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to apply for permanent status under a new stream.

Over Half of Canada’s International Students Want to Stay After Graduation

Source: Study International

The results of a recent survey suggest that more than 60% of students who come to Canada to complete their post-secondary education hope to become permanent residents of ‘The Great White North’ after they graduate.

While pathways to citizenship currently exist for international students, both the government and various institutions feel more can be done. In the coming years, an increased number of employment opportunities, international programs and scholarships will be made available to help make these students feel more at home while they study abroad in Canada.

For further details on the study, visit Study International.

More Students Are Looking To Head North

Source: Washington Post

The number of international students coming to Canada doubled in the past decade. But in the last year, a number of events globally have added to its appeal for some students. The Brexit vote for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, and the U.S. election, seem to have been factors.

For the full article, visit the Washington Post.

Canada Seeks Input for New Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy

Source: Government of Canada News Release, Courtesy of Academica | January 8, 2014

The Canadian government is seeking public input on a new federal Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy, with the launch of a discussion paper to guide the dialogue. The paper asks how Canada can “continue to develop, attract and retain the world’s top research talent at our businesses, research institutions, colleges and polytechnics, and universities” as well as “Is the Government of Canada’s suite of programs appropriately designed to best support research excellence?” Submissions will be accepted until February 7, and then the government will release an updated strategy “in the months following the consultation phase.”

TCS Insights: The Government of Canada indicated in 2013 that it would update their Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy while continuing to invest in research. This revision will be finalized after reviewing public input and is expected to continue the trend of recent achievements that have lead to greater funding of research.

Canada Announces $43 Million in NSERC Grants

Source: Canada News Release, Courtesy of Academica | January 9, 2014

Canadian Minister of State (Science and Technology) Greg Rickford today announced that the most recent round of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) funding will provide $43 million to 77 research teams at universities across the country. The funding will go towards 2 grants: the Strategic Network Grants and the Strategic Project Grants. The funds will help researchers work with companies and other organizations on long-term projects to address industrial and societal challenges.

TCS InsightsThe Canadian government aims to use these grants to increase research and training in areas that influence the Canadian economy and environment over the next decade. Additionally, this funding will go towards research that involves interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers and institutions such as solar power and cloud-based computing projects.

Acsenda School of Management

acsendaSituated in Vancouver, Canada, Acsenda School of Management specializes in leadership and business with a distinct international focus. The school is a small, private institution with undergraduate programs, a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree program with different specialities since 2004 and, beginning in January 2015, a Bachelor of Hospitality Management Degree. Acsenda operates with its own academic governance model modelled to support a strong academic culture.

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Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs attends Armenian Presidential Inauguration

Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs attends Armenian Presidential Inauguration

Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will be attending the inauguration of Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia, on April 9, 2013 where he will convey congratulations on behalf of Prime Minister Harper and Canada.

The Parliamentary Secretary will also meet with the Armenian Foreign Minister to congratulate Armenia on the successful membership bid to La Francophonie and express hope for working closely with Armenia on Canada’s priority themes within this body. These themes include children and youth, equality between women and men, and sustainable economic growth among members.

Mr. Obhrai will also take the opportunity to reiterate Canada’s strong support for the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize relations and address historical differences.

Harper Government Drops India From List Of ‘Preferential Regime’, Increases 3% Import Tax

Source: International Business Times

Amid negotiations for Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries, Canadian federal government this month decided to increase the tax on goods coming from India recently.

While announcing its budget, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty last week said that from January 1, 2015 onwards, its government will impose an extra three percent tax on goods coming from India.

India was one of the 72 countries that the Canadian government decided to drop out from the list of “general preferential regime” which offers lower tariff for export.

Canada introduced the special tariff system in 1974 to offer preferential market access to the list of developing countries.

Other than India, Canada removed Indonesia, South Korea, Israel, Mexico and Argentina and other BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa from the special tariff deduction list.

However, the government decided to retain some of the India’s neighboring countries- Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka under the list of lower tariff imposition.

According to Stephen Harper’s government, the decision was based on the economy status criteria set by the World Bank.

Though India was excluded from the favorable list, it is believed that the removal from the list won’t  impact India’s export if the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries is signed in time.

“Both governments have targeted to complete the agreement by the end of 2013. If that’s the case, clearly any potential impact of the removal from GPT (General Preferential Tariff) becomes irrelevant,” Business Standard quoted  the Former Canadian High Commissioner to India and Incoming President of the Canada-India Business Council Peter Sutherland, as saying.

The two countries have vowed to conclude the CEPA by end of this year. In an email sent to the International Business Times last February, Canadian government’s spokesperson Jennifer Chiu said that Canada could produce almost 40,000 new jobs once the CEPA was tabled.

The latest and the seventh round of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement talks between the two countries was held in New Delhi February.

Fix education so we don’t have people without jobs, conference told

Source: MetroNews

Canada must fix its educational system to ensure that a looming demographics shift doesn’t leave result in a “people without jobs and jobs without people” scenario, experts warn.

“The demographic time bomb that’s ticking is getting louder and louder,” said John Manley, president and CEO of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, which hosted a conference on the issue in Toronto on Monday.

“There’s a mismatch between the training and education that’s being offered, and the jobs that are being created.”

The influence of the postwar baby boom generation has long been known, but the potential impact is staggering. According to Rick Miner, former Seneca College president, by 2036 those under the age of 15 and over the age of 65 will represent 65 per cent of the Canadian population, compared with 44 per cent in 2010.

“That means nearly two-thirds of the population will be over 65 or under 15, compared to the population working full-time. That’s frightening,” Miner said.

These demographic changes can be mitigated by getting more people into the workforce who have been traditionally under-represented including immigrants, aboriginals, women, those with disabilities, those in their early 20s and older workers.

Miner also believes there also needs to be a revamp of post-secondary education, where institutions must work together.

He noted high school students sometimes do an extra year to get into a particular university program. And even after university, some graduates can’t find work so they return to do a community college program — meaning it can be as many as six or seven years of schooling, post-high school.

Others at the conference also cautioned that preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow is difficult, especially given that 25 per cent of today’s jobs didn’t exist 30 years ago.

Linda Hasenfratz, chief executive officer of auto parts company Linamar Corp., added that young people are often encouraged to study something they love, with promises they’ll find a job in the end.

“It doesn’t always work out that way,” Hasenfratz said, adding sometimes they discover they studied what they love, but they can’t get a job that gives them the level of income they want.

She believes more training needs to be done in secondary school, where students can be exposed to skills used by carpenters and machinists as a building block for learning.

They might then choose a skilled-trades apprenticeship or community college to become an engineering technologist, or university to become an architect, based on initial exposure to carpentry, she said.

Others also warned that job demands can fluctuate dramatically so governments and educational institutions must react carefully to deal with shortages. For example, teachers were desperately needed, so more teacher training spots were added. But now universities continue to graduate new teachers even though there are few job openings.

CAW economist Jim Stanford added that the top three jobs of the future are truck driver, retail clerk and health care assistant.

“We should be realistic about where the jobs are,” he said, adding if society needs truck drivers, those jobs need to be valued with appropriate wages and working conditions.

“There is a cultural bias against blue-collar occupations against the idealized white-collar occupations,” he added.

Adnan Sami to get Canadian honour

Source: Times of India

Singer-composer Adnan Sami will be honoured with an Award of Recognition in Canada for his contribution in the field of arts, culture and music. He feels “blessed”. He will receive the award March 21 by the speaker at the Legislature at Queen’s Park, the Ontario Parliament, Canada.

A special reception for him will also be organised by Shafiq Qaadri, member of Provincial Parliament, Etobicoke North, and he will be given a guided tour on the floors of the Parliament.

“I bow my head in humility for receiving this honour from such an esteemed house,” Adnan said in a statement.

The ability to make people smile through his music, is what makes Adnan happiest.

“God has blessed me with the in-born talent for which I pour my heart out in the form of music. I can never stop thanking god because my music influences people in their respective lives. If my life and music brings a smile or makes a difference in any individual’s life, then there is nothing beyond for me as a god’s gift,” he added.

Adnan, who recently launched his new album ‘Press Play’, will also take to the stage at the Roy Thomson Hall at Toronto, Canada, for a performance March 22.

As a classical pianist, he has rendered solo performances before heads of state. He also carved a niche for himself as a successful Indi-pop artist with songs like Tera chehra and Lift kara de.

Richard Bale named as new Consul General for Canada in Mumbai

Source: Connect – Canada in India

Taking over as the new Consul General for Canada in Mumbai on March 5, Richard Bale said, “Canada has great potential for collaboration in the Indian market in the areas of education, energy, agriculture and infrastructure. I look forward to working with Canadian and Indian organizations and people to increase the linkages between our two countries.” As Head of Canada’s mission in Mumbai, Consul General Richard Bale leads the charge in promoting relations between Canada and Western India, including the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and Madhya Pradesh.

Welcoming the new appointment, Stewart Beck, High Commissioner for Canada to India, said, “Canada and India are working together towards achieving the ambitious goal of increasing bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2015. We are happy to welcome Richard to India and are confident that he will play a significant role in helping us not only to meet our objectives but to surpass them.”

Canada-India research centre builds healthier communities

Source: Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada via Indian Economic Business News

Communities in Canada and India will be the first to try out new technologies related to water quality, infrastructure and public health, owing to the new India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability (IC-IMPACTS). The centre was announced in November as the winner of the Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence competition, an NCE initiative introduced in the 2011 federal budget. “Canada needs to be connected to an international supply of ideas, research, talent and technologies in order to prosper in an increasingly competitive global environment,” said Prime Minister Stephen Harper in announcing the competition results. “This new Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence will build stronger bilateral research ties and create valuable learning opportunities while generating positive economic and social benefits for both countries.” Major Canadian and Indian universities, as well as various private and public sector partners in Canada and India, will pool their expertise in IC- IMPACTS’ efforts to develop and implement better ways of providing safe drinking water, building sustainable and affordable infrastructure, and preventing and treating diseases in the two countries.

Haryana offers trained manpower to Canada’s Manitoba province

Source: PTI via Indian Economic Business News

Haryana has offered the services of doctors, drivers and trained manpower to Manitoba province of Canada. The offer was made by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda during his meeting with Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and members of his delegation, who called on him recently. Mr. Hooda said drivers of Haryana are well known for their skill and enterprise. Haryana has three government-run Driving Schools in Kaithal, Bahadurgarh and Rohtak. He said Indian doctors are also doing well in the US, the UK and other countries and asked the Canadian authorities to provide their syllabus to fill in the gap and train them as per Canadian requirements. Indian doctors going to Canada will not have to undertake further studies in Canada and it will thus save them a number of years. Hooda said Haryana being an educational hub also has a number of prestigious technical institutions, which are providing skilled training to youth. Their skills can further be upgraded as per the syllabus of Manitoba.

Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce led a 117 member delegation to India

Source: Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce via Indian Economic Business News

The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) led a multi-city, multi-sector trade mission to India from January 2-17. 2013. The 117 member delegation representing various sectors such as trade, banking, construction, food security, education, energy security and infrastructure visited Mumbai, Bangalore, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Delhi. The delegates also participated in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, and in Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar in Vibrant Gujarat. The Mayors of both Markham and Brampton also joined the mission and led large delegations from their cities.

Vibrant Gujarat Summit: Canadian PM lauds Gujarat’s entrepreneurial spirit

Source: Daily News and Analysis via Indian Economic Business News

Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, has lauded the entrepreneurial spirit of Gujarat and said that the state is playing an important role in strengthening Canada-India relations. In a letter to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Canadian PM said that Gujarat, one of India’s most dynamic and industrious states, is world-renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit. “The state is an important partner for Canada thanks to its strategic location, strong economic credentials, and multilingual skilled workforce,” Harper said in the letter. Canada is one of the partners of Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2013,. Describing Vibrant Gujarat Summit as an international platform which provides a wonderful opportunity to foster new commercial relationships and enhance people-to-people ties, Harper said that Canada recently opened a trade office in Ahmedabad to facilitate new business and trade opportunities for Canada and the Gujarati community.“I would like to thank the Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat government for their contributions to strengthening Canada-India relations,” the Canadian Prime Minister added.

Canada showcases trade and investment opportunities at India’s Vibrant Gujarat

Source: High Commission of Canada, New Delhi via Indian Economic Business News

As a partner country, Canada had significant presence at the 2013 Vibrant Gujarat Global Business Summit (VG2013), from January 11 to 13, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. With precursor events starting on January 8, VG2013 brought together business leaders, investors, corporations, industry experts, policy and opinion makers and over 500 exhibitors with over 40,000 visitors attending from India and more than 100 countries. Highlights of Canada’s presence at VG2013 included: Canada Country seminar on January 11; Canada-Gujarat Trade and Investment Opportunities seminar on January 12; Canada Business Partnering Forum (match-making event); Canada Pavilion with provincial representations at the Trade Show and an Education Pavilion at the Trade Show Delegates also participated in the International Conference for Academic Institutions on January 9 and 10, the Innovation Convention on January 9 and the Technology Convention on January 10.