Immigration Minister Sean Fraser and the president and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, Goldy Hyder, discussed on February 16 about Canadian immigration possibilities in the future.
Sean Fraser was asked about the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws in the discussion. He stated that the CEC draws could be expected to resume “in the near term”. He also added that he was finding ways to make the Express Entry system more flexible.
Fraser suggested to aspirants that the Express Entry would start looking normal in the coming years. Even though it is on a slow road, Canada plans to bring it up to pace in no time and welcome immigrants just like before.
On the discussion over the integration of Federal Skilled Workers, Sean Fraser stated that the immigration levels plan over the next couple of years clearly shows that the balance of Express Entry draws for Federal Skilled Workers is shifting back to normal. The aspirants can expect a record number of invitations by 2024, including draws for CEC.
Fraser assured that there would not be any kind of abandonment of the Express Entry draws ever. He arguably agrees that this is one of the most successful immigration programs anywhere in the world, and he aims to keep it afloat and effective for as long as possible.
The discussion revealed some other plans too. Fraser admitted that he was looking for different ways to make the Express Entry system more flexible, and he made suggestions about including programs to fulfil short-term needs. The Express Entry could be used to integrate people into smaller communities or sectors with high demand and to welcome people from a particular region with educational institutions that will train the workers needed in strategically important sectors.
Bringing this flexibility is something that Fraser is personally invested into. He believes that a flexible system could enable them to respond to the increasing transformation more quickly and easily.
Previously in a meeting with Canadian immigration lawyers, Fraser hinted that there could be a possibility of Occupation-specific Express Entry draws in the future.
Fraser listed in his minister’s mandate letter that expanding pathways to permanent residence for international students and temporary foreign workers through Express Entry is one of his priorities. He has also taken the objective of expanding the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot and moving forward on the Municipal Nominee Program to ensure that immigration supports small- and medium-size communities in a better way. Since taking office in the fall, Fraser has already completed one of the items on the list by making the Atlantic Immigration Pilot a permanent program.
System of Express Entry Draw
Express Entry System manages the immigration applications of skilled workers through three federal economic programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). It uses a point-based system, Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to rank candidates’ profiles. Candidates get points based on their human and capital factors such as age, education, experience, etc.
The highest-scoring candidates are issued Invitation to Apply (ITA) through the bi-weekly Express Entry draws. Candidates have to follow the further procedures laid down by IRCC to complete their application process.
As mentioned in its latest Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024, Canada plans to welcome a record number of 111,500 immigrants through Express Entry by 2024.
