Jason Kenney, the Minister for Citizenship and Immigration showed his gratitude towards the police of Vancouver and the prosecutors of the British Columbia. This was for their efforts in convicting a fraud who portrayed as an immigration consultant.

He also said that such acts which involves innocent people being targeted, especially when they are hopeful of seeking better opportunities for themselves. And so, due actions would be taken against those involved.

The Vancouver Police conducted an investigation into the same which led to the conviction of Fereydoun Hadad. He has been sentenced for a year of imprisonment by the provincial court. He was caught cheating a man from Iran for over $49,000 who was trying to immigrate to Canada. Hadad used fake documents as being a genuine one.

Hadad persuaded the applicant to even open a Canadian bank account proving it to be mandatory if the applicant wanted to apply under the investor category. Post helping him opening the account, he forged the applicant’s signature to take all the money from his bank account. He pleaded guilty in the court. Post imprisonment, there would a year of probation term as well for him.

According to Kenney, prevalence of fraudulent consultants is a major problem which needs the government to work effectively at all levels. Nabbing such a fraud is a message for all those involved in such unscrupulous activities to stop or be punished. He also repeated and emphasized on his previous statement regarding more measures being taken to have a better control over consultants. Steps would be taken to oversee the functioning of these consultants and would be under constant scrutiny. This is to ensure that no fraudulent practices are in action.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada already has regulation in place regarding who can represent an applicant. Those planning to hire the services of a consultant must ensure to check that he meets the definition of being an authorized representative.

While the whole Canada makes a favorable immigration destination, people often get confused deciding where to live or which city would suit them best! Of course, choosing the right place to live makes one of the most important facets of the immigration process. It comes across as the most important factor when you plan to take your family along with you.

Many of you might have already chosen the Canadian city where you will work and live. Though, here is a little description about Vancouver. Even though this city does not need any introduction, here is what makes this city special and one of the most popular Canadian immigration destinations. There are a number of reasons for which overseas people intend to immigrate to Vancouver.

• Vancouver in British Columbia is a very multi-cultural city like most of the Canadian cities, where you would get to see a wide range of cultures and languages spoken. Thousands of immigrants, including students, investors, entrepreneurs from all over the world come to this city and do not want to leave!
• Vancouver’s economy is evolving and it holds endless job opportunities for local, as well as overseas workers. Some of the prominent sectors that are generating these opportunities include education, technology, film production, and financial services. The city is North America’s third largest film production location.

Apart from these, Vancouver’s temperate climate is one of the reasons as to why people prefer it as an immigration destination. Not to forget its natural beauty, that comprises mountain rages, forests and coastlines, which offers a multitude of opportunities for outdoor activities like skiing, snowboarding, biking, hiking and walking!

In an attempt to meet the demands of French teachers in British Columbia, Canada, the recruiters of the province is eyeing at European skills. The recruiters are hoping to address the shortage of French teachers by traveling to job fairs in Europe.

British Columbia is in need of French teachers who could teach French in both English and French school systems. Recruiters like Janet Stewart traveled Paris and Brussels in Europe and attended job fairs at the end of 2009 in a hope to draw teachers to British Columbia who could deliver core French and French-immersion programs in English, as well as French schools.

Earlier, Quebec had been the reliable source of French-speaking teachers, but of late, the province is not producing sufficient number of teachers who could teach French. Thus, slowly the education sector, like many other industries are relying on foreign skills to address the labor shortage.

British Columbia is running short of speech-language pathologists; French-immersion teachers; education specialists; and teachers for areas like music, physics and special education. However, it is seen that teachers from foreign countries are not flocking as much as other skills immigrate do in various other sectors. This is because the province has not yet worked on some of its bureaucratic complications when it comes to gaining British Columbia certificate.

The executive director for British Columbia Chapter of Canadian Parents for French, Robert Rothon asserts the need of French teachers and said that the shortage of the teachers in the province has diminish the growth of French-immersion programs!

It seems that immigrants as well as temporary migrants play an important role in Canada’s demographic pattern, besides their contribution to the Canadian economy. According to the reports from Statistics Canada, in the third quarter of 2009, the country’s population increased by 133,500, largely contributed by foreign migrants.

The aforesaid gain was the strongest demographic growth in the third quarter since 1990. From July to October, Canada welcomed a total number of 90,500 international migrants, which accounted for more than two third of the population growth. In the third quarter of 2008, overseas migrants totaled 90,000.

Amongst all the states in Canada, stronger demographic growth was recorded in Western provinces. However, this does not mean that other states did not welcome immigrants. Almost every province and territory in Canada saw demographic growth, barring the Northwest Territories.

To be very precise, British Columbia’s population grew by over 0.56% in the third quarter of 2009. During the same period, the province also recorded the largest inter-provincial migration gain since the third quarter of 2007. Similarly, Alberta’s population increased by 0.44%. Some other provinces that saw significant population growth in the third quarter of 2009 include Saskatchewan (0.47%) and Manitoba (0.35%).

Ontario also saw an increase of 0.38% in the third quarter, however the province’s inter-provincial migration declined to a record level since 2002. Quebec’s population also increased by 0.36%, mainly due to the flow of international migrants! This was highest population growth rate for Quebec since 1988!

This western province of British Columbia is known for its spellbound natural beauty. Created in 1871, its capital city – Victoria, is the fifteenth largest metropolitan city in Canada and the second largest in the Pacific Northwest, between the Pacific Ocean and the eastern Rocky mountains.

The province is known for its enchanting flora and fauna draping the beautiful landscapes making it a sight for all the tourists. There are many activities to indulge in for all age groups. The biggest of all the attractions in British Columbia is that it is home to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics Winter Games. What more could be asked for? Witness the games live which is just the perfect vacation that could be asked for.

Apart from the biggest attraction mentioned above, try out hiking, exploring beaches, mountain climbing and relax by the lakes. The moderate climate of the province (except for the mountainous regions), makes it one of the most happening provinces in Canada. With Olympics happening in the near future, this hustling has almost doubled wit the preparations.

The most popular cities in British Columbia are Victoria, Vancouver and Whistler. Here, you can indulge in shopping in some up market complexes. You can get a taste of the various Canadian exhibitions as well.

Vancouver has many tourist spots to be visited. Some of them include the Granville Island, Robson Street for that endless shopping, Grouse Mountain (don’t forget the tram ride here!), Chinatown and Chinatown Night Market which is one of the biggest Chinese communities in North America. However, Vancouver has much more to explore.

Similarly, Victoria is known for its historical sites and museums. Activities to indulge in here include whale watching, Butchart Gardens which are more than a century old, Chinatown to get the feel of Asia in America, the Fisgard Lighthouse which is one of the key landmarks in the city and the Royal British Columbia Museum to get an insight into the history of the province.

Whistler is known as one of the top four season resorts in North America. It is the perfect place for that adrenaline rush to come. Get involved in Zip Lining, Hiking, Heli – Rides, apart from skiing and snowboarding.

All in all, British Columbia has to be explored with a human eye. Putting it down in words is not sufficient to describe the beauty and enigma of the place. So, pack your bags and start unwinding!

Vancouver is an amazing destination… You must have read various articles on Vancouver but until and unless you don’t witness the charms the place yourself, you cannot search its beauty in written words! Still, here is an effort to shrink the glamour of Vancouver in this article. We will start from its wonderful location. It is located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia and is just half an hour drive away from downtown, which means that ‘commuting’ is not at all a problem!

Nature is decked in the lap of Vancouver! One can experience a merge of the serenity and modernity of Vancouver at the same time. Apart from the always welcoming tourist destinations, visitors can try their hand at various outdoor activities like skiing, sailing, hiking, to name a few. The best part is that all these activities are available throughout the year which makes Vancouver a perfect destination to explore at any time of all twelve months! But be a little cautious while visiting the place between November and March as rain may serve as an unwanted guest in your trip!

Vancouver is also a site for the 2010 Winter Olympics, which makes it an exciting option for all sports geeks out there. Other sporty options include sledge hockey and alpine skiing that can raise the adrenaline rush of any tourist trying his hands in these exciting ventures!

If you love being close to nature, then the refreshing gardens, parks and beeches of Vancouver would come as your savior in your trip to this relishing place. You can cuddle yourself in the arms of your loved ones and spend some memorable days in this ever-growing place! Bloedel Conservatory is one of the favorite destinations for the local tourists! Don’t miss to visit Cambie Street at West 33rd Avenue, which is attired with beautiful floral offerings to tingle the love buds in you and your loved ones!

If we talk about the “Accommodation” factor, Vancouver offers a comfortable and cozy place for people of all income levels. So accommodation is not at all a problem in Vancouver at all! You still want more? Book your tickets today and witness the exquisiteness yourself!

Recently, British Columbia came out with the “Enhanced” Driver’s license, which enables them to enter the US premises (while a passport at the airport is a must). Till now, the concerned licenses were given issued to five hundred Canadian citizens under the Beta format. These residents were the ones born in British Columbia and the activity was for the purpose of “testing.”

If the results come out to be in a successful manner, Canadian residents who are decked with legal driving license would be given new licenses all over the British Columbia.

Other provinces are showing their intentions of implementing this technology. For instance, Quebec has recently made an announcement that they have their sole interest in coming out with High Tech licenses, along with other places like Manitoba and Ontario holding the same intentions.

RFID Driver’s License, the new High Tech Driver License would enable the residents of Quebec to enter the US premises through land or water, however they will need a passport at the airport, just like Enhanced” Driver’s license for the residents of British Columbia.

The enhanced license is attired with high tech systems that enable the border officials to match the data of the cardholder with that of the info that is mentioned in the official database. Some of the information may be linked with the address proof, date of birth and name, the same essentials that are present in a passport. This all can be detected via a code, rather than having the whole information on the card. The code certainly protects the privacy of the card holder in a major way.

Now that you have landed in the new country, there would be many changes you would experience, some expected and others unexpected. This article gives you an insight on such instances.

It is always better to get acquainted with the changes you would need to adapt to. To help you with this, consult an Immigration and Visa Specialist who is adept with all the information in this regard. A Visa Expert would provide you with all the relevant information which would help you better adjust with your new environment. And the more you learn, the better it is.

Since, it is going to be extremely challenging dealing with the extreme weather or the culture shock, it is highly important that you are mentally prepared for the same. Some such challenges include the following:

• Canada could be considered as a mix of cultures where you can find people from different ethnicities from across the world. Thus, you would meet people totally different from you in all aspects. You would have to get used to the local customs and traditions followed by the citizens.
• You might end up feeling uncomfortable, alienated, insecure and uncertain of the decision you took. This would lead to an increase in your stress levels. You might feel helpless and how to react to situations initially.
• You might have to get used to the Canadian accent or even learn English or French according to the province in which you reside.
• Getting your children enrolled into a school, get yourself a job and a house to live in a decent community.

During such circumstances, it is important that you do not give up hope. It is all a matter of time for you to adjust to the new country. All you need to do is keep trying and learn at every step.

A Visa Veteran would help you contact an Immigrant – Serving Organization which would help you with the necessary resources to cope with the circumstances.

The Canadian government offers various services to all the newly landed immigrants on its soil. These are executed via the Immigrant Serving Agencies or organization in the various communities throughout the country.

For some of the provinces, the respective provincial governments are responsible are implementing such programs. These include British Columbia, Quebec and Manitoba. You can contact the concerned provincial authorities to know more on the same.

The various Immigrant Serving Organizations cater to the following services –

• Getting in touch with the local Canadian officials who could help with the various services.
• Housing and accommodation facilities.
• Applying for the Social Insurance Number (SIN) and a Health Insurance Card.
• Register with a Doctor to rush to incase of emergency.
• Helping to enroll your children in a good school.
• Availing language skills classes.
• Referring to the services offered by the government and the community.
• Making you familiar with the day to day activities such shopping, banking and so on.

To know more, contact an Immigration and Visa veteran who is updated in this regard. He would help you find an Immigrant – Serving Organization in your community which will make it easier for you and your family to better acquaint with the new country.

Knowing well about the requirements demarcated for the occupation of “electricians” under the NOCL is necessary, if you wish to immigrate to Canada as an electrician. However, this occupation doesn’t include power and industrial system. Professionals of this group are responsible to lay, install, assemble, troubleshoot, test and repair control devices, fixtures, electrical wiring and related pieces of equipment within buildings or other structures.

Electrical contractors or maintenance department of a building and other such establishments are the immediate employers of these professionals. Self-employment is another option available to these professionals. Titles that are qualified under this occupation are: apprentice electricians, rural and domestic electrician, construction electrician apprentice, electrician and many others.

Employment requirements for the occupation of electricians, except those in the industrial and power system are:

• Secondary school completion
• 4-5 years of apprenticeship program (duly completed)
• Construction electricians must have trade certification in Ontario, Labrador, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland and the Northwest territories but it is voluntary available in Manitoba
• Rural and domestic electricians must have a trade certification to work in Ontario and Quebec, while this certification is voluntary available in Labrador and Newfoundland.
• Qualified construction electricians are also provided with an Interprovincial trade certification or Red Seal.

Primary duties that electricians of this group are expected to perform are:

• Interpreting and reading drawings, specifications of the electrical code and circuit diagrams to determine the layouts of wiring for existing or new installations
• Pulling wires through holes in floors and walls and conduits
• Installation of hangers and brackets for supporting electrical equipment
• Installation, replacing and repairing of electrical control, lighting fixtures and distribution equipment, like circuit breaker panels, relays and switches
• Splicing, joining and establishing connection between components, wires and fixtures, in order to make circuits
• Testing circuits continuity with the use of test equipment and to check the safety and compatibility of system, followed by repair and installation
• Troubleshooting and isolating faults in electronic and electrical systems and replacing and removing faulty components
• Connecting electrical power with visual and audio communication equipment, cooling and heating systems and signaling devices
• Keeping maintenance records and conducting preventive maintenance programs

There is no better time for you to immigrate than when you are eligible. It may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of you, who may not become eligible any time later, after amendments in the terms and conditions have been made. So, in case you have been privileged with this opportunity today, do not let it slip from your hands. Grab it and apply under the guidance of an able immigration consultant for the NOCL occupation of “electricians.”