Canada / Immigration / New skilled trades program

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is set to unveil the details of a new program that should speed the arrival of tradespeople in Canada whose skills are in demand.

The program will give more weight to applications from people with skills that are desperately needed in many parts of the country, particularly in the West, according to industry groups and provincial government officials. 

Applicants to the skilled trades program will not have to meet the criteria of the points system used for the rest of the federal skilled worker category.

Instead, it’s expected the new program will instead give weight to applicants who:

• Have a job offer in Canada.
• Have basic proficiency in French or English, but not at the level required by the skilled worker points system.
• Can prove they recently worked in the trade.
• Can show their occupation falls within the federal trade classification system.

“These changes are a great step in the right direction,” said Michael Atkinson, president of the Canadian Construction Association.

Choosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor from

via Immigration minister to unveil new skilled trades program – Canada – CBC News.