In a move to attract highly skilled immigrants with strong French language proficiency, Canada’s Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, announced the implementation of category-based selection draws for Express Entry candidates. This new initiative will also prioritize applicants with work experience in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), carpentry, transportation, agriculture, and agri-food.
Under this arrangement, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will prioritize candidates applying for Express Entry who possess robust French language skills or have relevant work experience in the aforementioned sectors. The upcoming category draws are scheduled to commence later this summer, aiming to address the current job vacancies across Canada.
Minister Fraser emphasized that by inviting more skilled workers in these targeted professions, Canada is fulfilling its commitment to welcoming in-demand professionals into communities nationwide. He stated that immigration plays a pivotal role in alleviating labor shortages and enhancing the prominence of the French language in French minority communities outside of Quebec.
“Everywhere I go, I’ve heard loud and clear from employers across the country who are experiencing chronic labor shortages,” said Fraser. “These changes to the Express Entry system will ensure that they have the skilled workers they need to grow and succeed. We can also grow our economy and help businesses with labor shortages while also increasing the number of French-proficient candidates to help ensure the vitality of French-speaking communities.”
Fraser added that Canada’s immigration system has never been more responsive to the country’s social and economic needs.
This latest development aligns with the amendments made to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in June 2022. These modifications grant the Minister the authority to select immigrants based on key characteristics that support Canada’s economic priorities.
The specific categories for the selection draws were determined through legislative mandates. Minister Fraser engaged in public consultations with provinces, territories, industry representatives, unions, employers, workers, worker advocacy groups, settlement provider organizations, and immigration researchers and practitioners to identify these categories.
Express Entry was established in 2015 to address the evolving demands of Canada’s economy and labor market. It serves as a system for managing applications for three economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Workers Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.
Candidates for these programs are assigned scores based on factors such as work experience, language proficiency, occupation, education, and more, using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Those with the highest overall CRS scores are most likely to receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence in Canada.
With these latest reforms, Canada seeks to attract skilled professionals who can contribute to the country’s growth while also nurturing the vitality of French-speaking communities throughout the nation.
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