Canada Wipes Federal Skilled Worker Program Backlog

Around 280,000 applicants to Canada’s Federal Skilled Worker Program are to have their fees refunded as part of a bid to create a fast and flexible immigration system. The March Budget 2012 set aside 130 million Canadian dollars to cover the cost of refunds and clear the astonishing backlog of unprocessed applications.

Jason Diggs, Sales Director for Anglo Pacific, explains, “The applicants affected are those who applied prior to 27 February 2008 and are thought to number around 280,000. They will be encouraged to re-apply under new programs that focus on work skills – a similar path to the Australians who will replace their points system with SkillSelect from 1 July 2012. The 20,000 applicants who have already passed the selection criteria stage will continue to have their applications processed. Of course this is a major blow to the 280,000 people who have been held in limbo for four or five years or more as a refund will set them back to square one, however the replacement skills-based system promises to be quicker and more efficient.”

The phased-out Federal Skilled Worker Program is set to be substituted for a Federal Job Bank where skilled migrant applications will go into an online selection pool. Employers and provincial governments will then be able to dip into the pool and pick the best-fit employees to fast-track through the application process to get them working within months rather than years. This will give Canada the ability to focus on the skills and talents that the country needs today. Legislation will be needed to establish the new Federal Job Bank system and could take up to two years to implement.

Canada has a growing demand for skilled workers, particularly in Western Canada’s booming resources sector. Canadian Business this month revealed the 50 best-paying highest-demand career choices today. They surveyed hundreds of occupations tracked by Statistics Canada and placed Petroleum Engineer as the number one job to seek, or indeed keep. This is both the fastest-growing occupation in Canada, with employment increasing by 85% between 2006 and 2011, and the second-highest in pay. Oil is Canada’s largest driver of employment and economic activity and the Canadian Business list also ranks other oil-related jobs highly such as chemical and civil engineers and environmental and occupational safety inspectors. Construction is another sector crying out for skilled workers.

For removals enquiries to Canada, or indeed any of our other key markets such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, contact Anglo Pacific on 020 8838 8081, email removals@anglopacific.co.uk or visit www.anglopacific.co.uk.

About Anglo Pacific - As the UK’s largest independent international removals company, Anglo Pacific handles around 20,000 baggage shipments and overseas removals annually. A known market leader for Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada and South Africa, Anglo Pacific has been established for more than 30 years and has an unrivalled reputation for friendly, professional and reliable container shipping services. What's more, as a fully bonded member of the British Association of Removers, clients’ belongings could not be in safer hands.

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About Anglo Pacific - As the UK’s largest independent international removals company, Anglo Pacific handles around 20,000 baggage shipments and overseas removals annually. A known market leader for Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada and South Africa, Anglo Pacific has been established for more than 30 years and has an unrivalled reputation for friendly, professional and reliable container shipping services. What's more, as a fully bonded member of the British Association of Removers, clients’ belongings could not be in safer hands.

Anglo Pacific are located at:

5/9 Willen Field Road, Park Royal,
London NW10 7BQ

tel: 020 8965 1234
fax: 020 8965 4954
email: info@anglopacific.co.uk

Unit 1 Townley Park,
Hanson Street,
Middleton,
Manchester M24 2UF

tel: 0161 653 4455
fax: 0161 653 4466
email: north@anglopacific.co.uk

26 Eastmuir Street,
Annick Industrial Estate,
Shettleston,
Glasgow G32 0HS

tel: 0141 764 1010
fax: 0141 764 1013
email: scotland@anglopacific.co.uk

This release was published on openPR.