5:2 THE ALBERTA PNP

The Alberta PNP has only one category, that of Skilled Worker. The programme is ‘employer-driven’, meaning that it is the employer who has to apply and seek approval to recruit foreign candidates. The employer will have to submit a ‘business case’ that will demonstrate the company’s need for the position, and its inability to fill the position with a qualified Canadian resident. More precisely, the employer will have to prove that there is a shortage of qualified workers for the position in Alberta.

See Figure 6 for a sample Employer Application, and for a list of the supporting documents that the employer has to submit.

Once the employer has been approved and has found a candidate for the position, the employer must make an offer of employment to the candidate and enter into a contract with the latter. The employer must then submit the contract and the completed Guaranteed Job Offer Form (Figure 7) to the provincial immigration authorities. The potential nominee will submit the completed Skilled Worker/Professional form, a sample of which can be found in Figure 8.

For more information about the Alberta PNP, please visit www.alberta-canada.com, and contact:

Provincial Nominee Program

Economic Immigration

Alberta Economic Development

4th Floor, Commerce Place, 10155-102 St.,

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 4L6

5:3 THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PNP

The British Columbia PNP is divided into the following categories: Strategic Occupations, Business Skills and Projects.

5:3.1 Strategic Occupations category

An important aspect of this category of the programme is the fact that it is not run by a specific skill shortage list(like the Manitoba PNP, which is described in more detail below). Rather, the province will assess applications on a case-by-case basis, focusing on the following aspects:

• the existing shortages of qualified workers at a particular time; and
• the level of skill involved (i.e. the skill level of the job must be high).

5:3.1.a Shortages

Currently, the province has identified certain sectors as high priorities: aerospace, post-secondary education, information and high technology. However, if employers in other industries identify key shortages and can prove them with required documentation, they can also apply.

5:3.1.b The level of skill

Individuals considered for nomination will generally have considerable education and experience, and often will be developing or using new knowledge, skills or technologies. In many cases, these individuals will bring new skills to the provincial workforce.

An employer should not apply under the PNP for approval if the position offered falls under one of the categories listed below:

• medium and lower level management;
• most administration and all clerical occupations;
• retail sales, both management and salespersons;
• most hospitality industry jobs and other service sector jobs where training periods are short;
• semi-skilled manufacturing and fabricating jobs;
• helpers and unskilled labour in construction, agriculture and resource industries.

This is not an exhaustive list. Other fields for which shortages are unlikely to be seen as requiring recruitment of foreign workers include recreation supervisors, employment and family counsellors, editors and journalists, lawyers, general accountants and bookkeepers, civil engineers and technicians, forestry technicians, draftspersons, bicycle repairers, small engine repairers, tailors, roofers and floor covering installers.

Apart from shortage and the high level of the skill, the other factors considered are the ones mentioned above in section 5:1.La.

For a list of documents to be submitted in a Strategic Occupations application, please see Figure 9. For more information about the Strategic Occupations category, visit www.mcaws.gov.bc.ca/amip/pnp/ and contact:

The Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’ Services

Immigration Branch Provincial Nominee Program P.O. Box 9214 Stn. Prov. Gov’t Victoria BC V8W 9J1 Canada

Tel: (250) 387-6540 Fax: (250) 387-3725 E-mail: PNPinfo@Victorial.gov.bc.ca

With regard to the British Columbia PNP, it should be noted that registered nurses are, at the time of preparation of these materials, in high demand in the province. As such there is an expedited procedure for such applicants under the programme. For information specific to this issue, please visit www.mcaws.gov.bc.ca/amip/pnp/ and contact:

Tara McAteer

Search Analyst

Health Match BC

Suite 200-1333 W. Broadway

Vancouver BC V6H 4C6

Canada

Tel: (604) 736-5920 Ext 222

Fax: (604) 736-5963

E-mail: tarac@healthmatchbc.org

Web site: www.healthmatchbc.org

5:3.2 Business Skills category

This category allows people with extensive resources and business experience to apply for permanent residence in British Columbia, provided that they satisfy the following eligibility criteria:

• successful business experience;
• minimum net worth of CDN$ 2 million;
• minimum investment in the business of CDN$ 1 million;
• applicant to own at least 1/3 of the equity in the business;
• a business plan;
• business to create a minimum of five new jobs;
• applicant to have an active management role.

For more information, please contact:

Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise BC Trade and Investment Office 999 Canada Place Vancouver BC V8C 3E1 Canada

Tel: (604) 844-1810 Fax: (604) 660-4092 E-mail: Bus.imm@gems7.gov.bc.ca Web site: www.cse.gov.bc.ca/subwebs/busimm/ app-process.htm

5:3.3 Projects category

This category is designed to assist companies with the timely entry of skilled key managers and key technical professionals essential to the success of a business expected to generate significant economic benefits to the province. The eligibility criteria are as follows:

• the company must have a proven record of successful experience in an area relevant to the proposed business;
• the position relates to new investments or business expansions (minimum CDN$1 million);
• key staff presence is essential to the success of the province.

For more information, please contact:

Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise BC Trade and Investment Office 999 Canada Place Vancouver BC V8C 3E1 Canada

Tel: (604) 844-1810 Fax: (604) 660-4092 E-mail: Bus.inim@gems7.gov.bc.ca Web site: www.cse.gov.bc.ca/subwebs/busimm/ app-process.htm

5:4 THE MANITOBA PNP

The Manitoba PNP is divided into the following categories: Skilled Workers and Business Immigrants.

5:4.1 Skilled Workers

If you are a skilled worker and you are interested in living and working in Manitoba, you can apply to the provincial authorities yourself. Your application will be accepted for consideration only if you can demonstrate proof of one or more of the following:

• you have past education or work experience in Manitoba;
• you have a guaranteed job offer consistent with your training and experience;
• you have family or community support in Manitoba to assist you upon your arrival in the province.

In Manitoba, you have the best chance of being nominated if your training and work experience is in demand. The province has an overall demand for skilled workers and professionals in a number of specific industrial and economic sectors. Please see Figure 10 for the Manitoba High Demand Occupation List and the required sets of conditions associated with each listed occupation.

You can download a Self-Assessment Guide online at www.gov.mh.ca/laboui7immigrate/immigration/2.html. For the complete checklist of documents and information to be included in your nomination application, please see Figure 11.

5:4.2 Business Immigrants

The eligibility criteria under this category of the Manitoba PNP are the following:

• minimum personal net worth of CDN$250,000;
• minimum amount of equity investment in Manitoba of CDN$150,000;

Document Checklist

READ THIS CAREFULLY AND INCLUDE ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS WHEN SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION. Translations are required for any documents in languages other than English or French. The translation must be directly attached to a copy of the original document.

Assemble your documents in the order listed below. Attach the necessary DOCUMENT CHECKLIST TAGS provided in this package. Use this checklist to make sure that you have all the required documents Do not submit your application until it is complete.

• demonstrated business experience or extensive experience in senior management of a successful company;
• conducted a visit or planning a visit to Manitoba within a few months of applying to explore business opportunities and Manitoba’s quality of life; and
• supply a cash deposit to the Government of Manitoba, in the amount of CDN$75,000 guaranteeing the establishment or purchase of a business in Manitoba. In most cases, the cash deposit will be released when the investment is made and the intended business is undertaken as outlined in your application.

You will have to submit a business proposal. For more information about the details that have to be submitted as part of the business proposal, please see Figure 12.

5:4.2. a Types of businesses that will help you become nominated

Although not an exhaustive list, value-added businesses are welcomed which provide meaningful and lasting employment in Manitoba, such as:

• manufacturing;
• food processing;
• ICT (information, communications and technology);
• primary production (mining, fishing, farming);

• life sciences (pharmaceuticals and biotechnology);
• energy.

5:4.2.b What kind of businesses will not be considered

Although the programme offers flexibility in the types of businesses being considered, it is essential that the planned business be an operating business. Passive investments such as loan companies, property rental and investment and leasing companies will not be considered. For more information about this category of the Manitoba PNP, please visit www.gov.mb.ca/itm/trade/pnp-b/index.html

For more information about business in Manitoba and exploratory visits, please contact:

Manitoba Trade and Investment

1100-259 Portage Ave

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 3P4

Tel: (Canada 001) 204-945-2466

Fax: (Canada) 204-957-1793

E-mail: pnp-b@gov.mb.ca

www.manitoba-canada.com

5:5 APPLYING TO THE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES AFTER BEING NOMINATED

It is important to note that when applying to the federal immigration authorities, the Provincial Nominees are not assessed on the six selection factors that were discussed in more detail in Chapter 3. In terms of the supporting documents that must be submitted, you will have to obtain this specific information from the relevant visa office, as discussed in Chapter 1. Certainly though, include a copy of your certificate of nomination, even though the province that nominated you will send this directly to the relevant visa office. As for the processing time, once again, the relevant visa office will be in the best position to provide you with an accurate estimate of the time required.