MBiz

Closed Door Policy? New immigration rules may block foreign workers  By Kathryne Cardwell T he province has been praised for its success in helping businesses attract immigrant workers, especially in industries like manufacturing and agriculture.  But recently, the federal government enacted changes to the immigration process that make it harder for businesses to bring in foreign workers — and tougher for immigrants to receive approval for permanent residency.  The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program is operated cooperatively by the federal and provincial governments. The province can nominate people for permanent residency if they have job skills in an area where Manitoba has a shortage of workers, such as manufacturing, trades or farming. Potential immigrants can apply for nomination, which expedites the process when they apply to the federal government for permanent residency.  Since the program began in 1996, it has helped companies fill thousands David Davis Law Office of positions, and it's Keith Levit Photography been a model for other provinces developing their own nominee programs. But now, even applicants who are nominated by the province — including those with jobs skills desperately needed by Manitoba businesses — may not be able to come to Canada.  The biggest changes to the federal rules are in the areas of education and language. All applicants are required to take an English-language proficiency test, which is graded on a scale of 1 - 9. Applicants have to score at least seven, which displays language ability close to that of a native English speaker. But critics say a person only needs to score a five to communicate effectively in most work environments.  Adele Dyck, an immigration consultant in Winkler, worked on the 1996 pilot project in which the policies for the existing nominee program were developed. She says the new requirements will make it easy for wealthy, well-educated, young immigrants to come to Canada. But as there is a lot of competition around the world for people who meet these criteria, fewer immigrants will ultimately make it to Manitoba.  Dyck says it's already becoming more difficult to attract foreign workers, and the higher language and education requirements are unnecessary. "Employers are willing to teach English to foreign-trained workers and train them on the job," she says. Additionally, the job areas in which Manitoba businesses most desperately need workers are in production, skilled trades and labour — areas in which highly educated, specially trained >> 8 MBiz November 2013

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