Immigration spokesman Aiden Strickland said in an email to CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) News that suggested changes to the Express Entry system improve Canadians’ ability to choose applicants who meet their economic needs.
“These changes are necessary to eliminate the labor shortage in Canada”, said Strickland.
The changes in Canada are currently under review. On May 19, Philip Somogyvari of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship of Canada (IRCC) submitted these proposed changes to the permanent citizens’ immigration committee, a committee consisting of elected authorities who review immigration issues.
Somogyvári, the Director-General of the IRCC, explained that the reforms allow the Immigration Minister to invite Express Entry candidates on a new basis.
Details of the lottery, including qualifying criteria, are published on the IRCC website. The Minister of Immigration must also report to the parliament annually.
The Minister of Immigration can’t invite Express Entry candidates with specific work experience or French-speaking persons who belong to a minority community; if the proposed amendments to section 23 of the C-19 bill are approved, the conditions may change.
“For example, these changes allow the Minister of Immigration to focus on all French-speaking candidates in the Express Entry”, Somogyvari said.
“The government would make such decisions after consulting with employer groups, immigration and refugee protection, Canadian employment and social development, and provincial and regional governments”, Somogyvari said.
Express Entry in 2022
Express Entry is a request management system for three immigrant programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
To migrate through one of these programs, foreign workers must announce their interest in immigration to Canada by completing the profile in the Express system. Eligible candidates for one of these programs can earn points based on work experience, academic background, language skills, age, and other factors. “IRCC” invites candidates with the highest score to apply for their permanent residence. Recently, the IRCC has only sent an invitation to the Provincial Nominee Program. After large volumes of Express Entry during the Coronavirus epidemic, IRCC stopped submitting invitations for FSWP in December 2020; and then the CEC’s draws in September 2021. Immigration Secretary Fraser has just announced that the lottery for these candidates will resume in July and that the processing standard for new applicants will return to six months.
“Somogyvari” has confirmed that these reforms will not affect the processing time or future processing.
Last word
Quan has asked the government to list groups affected by this proposed law.
And the head of the Liberal Party, Salma Zahid, agreed to request changes in the proposed reforms of the Express Entry by May 27.