Sean Fraser was questioned about, when is the government of Canada is planning to resume Canadian Experience (CEC) draws. He said that the Government of Canada is soon going to resume the draws “in the near term”. The government’s objective is to bring flexibility to the Express Entry system.
On February, 16 The Canadian Club Toronto streamed the discussion of Sean Fraser, the president and the CEO of the Business Council of Canada, Goly Hyder talking on the matter of Canadian Immigration.
The immigration minister also mentioned that there is no exact date for the commencement of CEC draws. But he also indicated that it would begin soon. In addition to this, he also mentioned that the Express Entry system will have a certain relaxation in the near future.
Fraser mentioned that Federal skilled workers draw could begin in the near future. Also, he highlighted that the immigration levels plan for forthcoming years also aims to welcome a record number of federal skilled workers, including immigrants from the Canadian Experience Class.
By no means do I want to communicate that there will be any kind of abandonment of what I would argue is one of the most successful immigration programs anywhere in the world.
He also explained that the rules and regulations for the Express Entry system are soon going to be lenient. Express Entry can be used as a solution to needs like inviting immigrants into smaller communities.
He further mentioned that more immigrants will be invited who are specialized in a particular educational field will be strategically used to educate the workers of Canada.
Making the Express Entry system lenient is something that Fraser has been constantly working on currently in order to make the responses wiser when there is increasing demand.
It has been anticipated after Fraser met with Canadian immigration lawyers that there can be a high possibility of Occupation specific Express Entry draws in the coming years.
Fraser has prioritized giving permanent residency to temporary foreign workers and international students entering through Express Entry is listed in his mandate letter. Assistance to small communities through the expansion of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot and Municipal Nominee Program has been promised by Fraser.
The eligibility for Express Entry managed program is dependent on the applicant’s previous work experience in their occupation.
The candidates who get qualified for an Express Entry managed program are rewarded with points based on factors like their educational qualification, prior experience, and their language proficiency. The candidates with the highest scores become eligible to apply for Canadian immigration.
Express Entry
PNP candidates were only invited through the Express Entry system last year. Fraser had also mentioned that the halt in FSTP, CEC, and FSWP is not permanent whereas the pandemic has become the reason for the backlog of applications through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
More than 60,000 FSWP and CEC applicants are expecting their application decisions. Immigration levels plan 2022-2024 is inviting fewer Express Entry immigrants because of the backlog. Although, this year Canada is planning to call 55900 immigrants which does not include PNP candidates. In 2023, the Government of Canada will invite 75,750 immigrants through the Express Entry stream.
Canada is aiming to make a record by inviting 1,11,500 immigrants by 2024 through the Express Entry stream.
