Provinces working to make it easier for internationally educated nurses to work in Canada

In the face of a severe shortage of registered nurses, British Columbia and Ontario are working to remove obstacles for internationally educated nurses.

British Columbia has recently announced that it is removing some of the barriers for internationally educated nurses (IENs) to register with the province. It will do so by removing application fees and providing new financial support to nurses returning to practice after a period of absence.

The province says it will now cover application and assessment fees for IENs, which can cost more than $3,700. Further, the province will provide up to $4,000 per person to cover assessments and eligible travel costs for nurses returning to practice after a period of absence.

“Supporting nurses is key to our work to making health care accessible to all British Columbians. Still, the demand for nurses is outpacing the supply,” said Premier David Eby. “There are talented and skilled nurses with the right experience who want to practice in BC and support high-quality care, but they are kept on the sidelines by an expensive and complicated registration process. Whether a nurse was trained in or out of the province, we are ready to welcome those who are ready to care for British Columbians.”

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The BC government announced $12 million in bursaries for IENs back in April 2022. Since the funding was announced, 5,000 people have expressed an interest in nursing in British Columbia. Of these, 2,000 people are actively working toward the completion of the registration and assessment process.

Overall, more than 90% of nursing applications received by the BC College of Nurses and Midwives in 2022 came following the changes.

Ontario is also working to hire and retain more IENs

Last fall, Ontario made similar strides toward smoothing the path for IENs. In October, the Ontario Ministry of Health, the College of Nurses of Ontario, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario implemented several changes, such as:

• Allowing internationally educated nurses to register in a temporary class and begin working sooner while they work towards full registration;
• Making it easier for non-practicing or retired nurses to return to the field by introducing flexibility to the requirement that they need to have practiced nursing within a certain period of time before applying for reinstatement; and
• Creating a new temporary independent practice registration class for physicians from other provinces and territories, making it easier for them to work for up to 90 days in Ontario.

These measures were the beginning of a longer-term plan. Additional measures for IENs came into effect on January 1 this year that will have a further positive impact and speed up the registration process including:

• Requiring health regulatory colleges to comply with time limits to make registration decisions;
• Prohibiting health regulatory colleges from requiring Canadian work experience for the purpose of registration, with some exceptions such as when equivalent international experience is accepted; and
• Accepting language tests approved under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to reduce duplicate language proficiency testing for immigrants to Canada.

Ontario supported over 800 IENs between last January and October by expanding funding to the supervised practice experience partnership program. The province expects that number to go up to 1,000 by the end of March this year.

Like BC, Ontario is temporarily covering the cost of fees for examinations, applications, and registration fees for the College of Nurses of Ontario, which can go as high as $1,500. Finally, Ontario has invested $764 million to provide Ontario nurses with up to $5,000 as a retention incentive.

Why is Canada working so hard to attract healthcare workers?

Canada’s healthcare system is under pressure due to several factors such as an aging population. This means there are more people requiring healthcare and that many professionals within the healthcare sector are also reaching retirement age.

Additionally, a report by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Union says there was a significant strain and a shortage of nurses even before the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the height of the pandemic, many healthcare professionals were working unprecedentedly long shifts with little time off and this has caused many to require extended leave for their mental health, or to quit the healthcare sector altogether.

According to data from Statistics Canada, there were 151,200 vacant positions in health care and social assistance in October, the highest level across all sectors, and little changed from the record high of 152,800 in July. The most recent data from December shows that the rate of employment in healthcare and social assistance is continuing to decrease, with the biggest number of job losses occurring in Ontario.

Two provinces issue invitations in most recent PNP draws.

 British Columbia and Manitoba issue invitations to apply for provincial nominee programs

Two provinces issued invitations in the most recent PNP draws.

British Columbia and Manitoba have issued invitations to apply to candidates through their most recent rounds of provincial nominee program (PNP) draws.

Most Canadian provinces and territories (except Quebec and Nunavut) operate their own PNPs. Through these programs, interested candidates may be invited to apply for provincial nomination. Receiving a provincial nomination can be advantageous for gaining permanent residence.

Quebec’s immigration programs are administered by the province and are distinct from Canada’s immigration programs. Quebec is the only province that has control over all economic class immigrants.

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) accounts for 105,000 PR admissions per year. It began in 1998 and the annual number of PNP admissions has since increased steadily. Both federal and provincial governments consider it an effective tool to promote economic development outside of urban centers.

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Provincial immigration results December 31-January 6

British Columbia

British Columbia issued 163 invitations to apply to candidates in a general draw that included tech occupations on January 4.

The invitations were issued to candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduates categories, including Express Entry and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled candidates.

Candidates from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams are required a minimum SIRS score of 105. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled candidates required a score of 82. SIRS acts much like the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) but is only used for British Columbia’s PNP.

The province also held rounds of invitations for candidates working in the following occupations.

• 28 early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 4214) with scores of at least 60 points;
• 20 healthcare workers from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, including Express Entry category, with scores of at least 60 points.

Manitoba

Manitoba invited 280 candidates through the Manitoba Provincial Nomination Program on December 29. To receive an invitation, candidates must meet a baseline of criteria specific to their program. In total, the province invited:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba issued 202 invitations with a minimum score of 750.
• Skilled Workers Overseas issued 40 invitations with a minimum score of 711.
• International Education Stream issued 38 invitations with no score requirement.

Of all invited to apply, 21 had profiles in the Express Entry system.

The province will continue to process all Expressions of Interest (EOI) received before November 16 under the NOC 2016. Any EOIs received on or after November 16 will be evaluated under NOC 2021.

Canada Start-Up Visa Program

 Am I eligible for the Start-Up Visa Program?

What are the requirements to receive permanent residence under the Start-Up Visa Program?

The Start-Up Visa Program (SUVP) is for entrepreneurs who want to start and grow their companies in Canada. The program is created for entrepreneurs (and identified essential people within their businesses) who want to set up, work, and grow their businesses in Canada.

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Under the SUVP, business owners are given permanent residence (PR), guidance, as long as Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is satisfied that their businesses can potentially:

• Create jobs in Canada;
• Be innovative within a sector or industry; and
• Can compete on a global scale.

Successful applicants under the program will retain PR status, even if their business venture should fail after immigration to Canada.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, you must own a qualifying business. This means that at any point in time, you (as an owner) will need to own at least 10% of the voting rights of the business. In addition, all owners (up to five may apply together) and the designated investment organization in Canada must (at all times) collectively own at least 50% of the total voting rights.

Individuals who have such ownership must then:

• Prove their business has sponsorship and support from a designated organization in Canada;
• Ensure they meet the minimum language requirement for either English or French;
• Have sufficient funds to settle and live in Canada; and
• Pass immigration security and medical clearance checks.
• Proving support from a designated organization

As a prerequisite, you must have support from a designated organization in Canada, including proof of funding. A designated organization is a business entity that has been approved by the government to invest in or support start-ups.

These designated organizations will need to give you a letter of support, which you will then have to include in your application for PR. In addition, the designated organization must send a commitment certificate directly to IRCC outlining their support and expectations from the venture.

Support and sponsorship can also come from multiple organizations simultaneously (also called syndication). In these cases, all designated organizations need to be identified, and will collectively submit a single letter of support and commitment certificate.

Proof of funding

Under the SUVP you do not need to invest any of your own money—however, investment and proof of funding are required.

You will need to show a certain level of funding, depending on whether your business has support from a venture capital firm, or angel investor group. Note that if sponsorship is obtained from a business incubator, you do not need to show proof of obtained funding.

• If sponsorship has been obtained from a designated venture capital group, CAD $200,000 in confirmed funding must be shown.
• If sponsorship has been obtained from a designated angel investor group, CAD $75,000 in confirmed funding must be shown.
• In cases of multiple sponsorships, the higher criteria for proof of funding will apply.

A peer review will also be conducted by a governing third body of your designated institution, to ensure that all necessary checks and protocols have been followed in accordance with the SUVP.

Have sufficient funds to settle in Canada

The government of Canada does not provide financial support for successful applicants within this program. Before arriving, you will need to prove that they have a sufficient number of funds for you and your family.

Minimum language requirements

To be eligible for the SUVP, applicants must show at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 5 in either English or French. The CLB is a Canadian system for assessing capability in listening, reading, writing, and listening. English testing happens through IELTS or CELPIP, while French testing can be assessed through TEF or TCF.

Medical and security clearance

Canada also has standard security and medical clearance checks that must take place in order to be admissible to enter the country. Police clearance certificates/checks may be needed to prove security clearance; while an Immigration Medical Exams (IME) may be requested for medical approval.

Applicants under the program will also have the option of obtaining a temporary work permit to arrive and begin work in Canada.

Alberta Provincial Nominee Program

 What is the Alberta Provincial Nominee Program?

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) offers streams for workers and entrepreneurs who wish to settle in Alberta.

Alberta is a western province that boasts two major Canadian cities: Calgary and Edmonton. The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), formerly the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program, invites immigrants who have the right skills and work experience to come and settle in the province.

There are eight options for immigration streams under the AAIP. The streams are divided between options for workers and options for entrepreneurs:

Streams for workers

• Alberta Opportunity Stream
• Alberta General Express Entry Stream
• Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway
• Rural Renewal Stream

Streams for entrepreneurs

• Farm Stream
• Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
• Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
• Rural Entrepreneur Stream

Streams for workers

The Alberta Opportunity Stream is an option for skilled workers who are currently working in Alberta and international graduates who have completed their studies at an approved Alberta post-secondary institution.

The AAIP urges student applicants that can demonstrate education and work skills that are aligned with Alberta’s labor market needs to apply for the Alberta Opportunity Stream.

The Alberta General Express Entry Stream is an option for candidates in the Express Entry system with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 300. The candidate must also have an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification.

If the candidate is nominated by Alberta, they will receive an additional 600 CRS points, which essentially guarantees an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the following Express Entry draw.

The Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway is an option that falls under the Express Entry stream. It is open to candidates that currently work in Alberta’s technology industry or who have received a job offer in the technology industry in one of 38 occupations listed by the province.

The Rural Renewal Stream was created to address labour needs and skill shortages in rural Alberta communities. Its purpose is to address local economic needs and promotes community growth. The stream is an option for candidates with a job offer to work in a rural Alberta community from an Alberta employer.

Streams for Entrepreneurs

The Farm Stream's purpose is to attract farm owners and operators to come to Alberta to purchase or manage their farming businesses. The stream is an option for applicants who can demonstrate farm management skills and sufficient financial resources to invest in a primary production farming business in the province.

Alberta’s Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is intended for international students who have graduated from approved post-secondary institutions in Alberta and who wish to start a business. Applicants under this stream establish or operate a business in Alberta on a work permit and can then apply for Canadian permanent residence.

The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is designed for talented foreign graduates from outside Canada who wish to start a business. Once the applicant starts a business in Alberta, they will be nominated for Canadian permanent residence.

The Rural Entrepreneur Stream is for immigrant entrepreneurs looking to start a business or acquire a business in one of Alberta’s rural communities. The goal of the program is for entrepreneurs to create jobs for Albertans and nominate the applicant for Canadian permanent residence.

How does it work?

An applicant must first determine, based on eligibility criteria, what stream is right for them based on their specific situation.

Enhanced streams are aligned with the federal Express Entry system. Candidates in the Express Entry system who want to immigrate to Alberta may receive a Notification of Interest from the Alberta government and must reply to it. If selected, they must apply through the AAIP portal.

In Alberta, only the Alberta Express Entry stream and the Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway are enhanced.

All other current streams in Alberta are base streams. In order to apply through one of these streams, applicants are required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the province’s AAIP portal, instead of being selected through the Express Entry system.

Am I eligible for the Start-Up Visa Program?

What are the requirements to receive permanent residence under the Start-Up Visa Program?

The Start-Up Visa Program (SUVP) is for entrepreneurs who want to start and grow their companies in Canada. The program is created for entrepreneurs (and identified essential people within their businesses) who want to set up, work, and grow their businesses in Canada.

Under the SUVP, business owners are given permanent residence (PR), guidance, as long as Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is satisfied that their businesses can potentially:

• Create jobs in Canada;
• Be innovative within a sector or industry; and
• Can compete on a global scale.

Successful applicants under the program will retain PR status, even if their business venture should fail after immigration to Canada.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, you must own a qualifying business. This means that at any point in time you (as an owner) will need to own at least 10% of the voting rights of the business. In addition, all owners (up to five may apply together) and the designated investment organization in Canada must (at all times) collectively own at least 50% of the total voting rights.

Individuals who have such ownership must then:

• Prove their business has sponsorship and support from a designated organization in Canada;
• Ensure they meet the minimum language requirement for either English or French;
• Have sufficient funds to settle and live in Canada; and
• Pass immigration security and medical clearance checks.
• Proving support from a designated organization

As a prerequisite, you must have support from a designated organization in Canada, including proof of funding. A designated organization is a business entity that has been approved by the government to invest in or support start-ups.

These designated organizations will need to give you a letter of support, which you will then have to include in your application for PR. In addition, the designated organization must send a commitment certificate directly to IRCC outlining their support and expectations from the venture.

Support and sponsorship can also come from multiple organizations simultaneously (also called syndication). In these cases, all designated organizations need to be identified, and will collectively submit a single letter of support and commitment certificate.

Proof of funding

Under the SUVP you do not need to invest any of your own money—however, investment and proof of funding are required.

You will need to show a certain level of funding, depending on whether your business has support from a venture capital firm, or angel investor group. Note that if sponsorship is obtained from a business incubator, you do not need to show proof of obtained funding.

• If sponsorship has been obtained from a designated venture capital group, CAD $200,000 in confirmed funding must be shown.
• If sponsorship has been obtained from a designated angel investor group, CAD $75,000 in confirmed funding must be shown.
• In cases of multiple sponsorships, the higher criteria for proof of funding will apply.

A peer review will also be conducted by a governing third body of your designated institution, to ensure that all necessary checks and protocols have been followed in accordance with the SUVP.

Have sufficient funds to settle in Canada

The government of Canada does not provide financial support for successful applicants within this program. Before arriving, you will need to prove that they have a sufficient number of funds for you and your family.

Minimum language requirements

To be eligible for the SUVP, applicants must show at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 5 in either English or French. The CLB is a Canadian system for assessing capability in listening, reading, writing, and listening. English testing happens through IELTS or CELPIP, while French testing can be assessed through TEF or TCF.

Medical and security clearance

Canada also has standard security and medical clearance checks that must take place in order to be admissible to enter the country. Police clearance certificates/checks may be needed to prove security clearance; while an Immigration Medical Exams (IME) may be requested for medical approval.

Applicants under the program will also have the option of obtaining a temporary work permit to arrive and begin work in Canada.