After the series of controversies pertaining to the niqab or burqas (veils) in France, similar incidents have been reported in Canada. It was all started when an Egyptian woman refused to remove her head-to-toes veil in her French language class in a Canadian college.

The woman with veil, whose identity is yet to be revealed, is a new immigrant to Canada and has enrolled herself to French language class. When the college authority asked the mother of three to remove her veil, she did not but quit the class. As a result of the incident, the woman has filed a petition with the human rights commission of Quebec on the basis of violating her religious rights.

The principal of the college confirmed that the woman was allowed to wear the veil on special demand when the very first session in the college started in August. All the adjustments were made to her comfort- she was given the front seat in the class in order to avoid confronting her male classmates; and make presentations from the rear of the classroom without facing the class. Reportedly, the class had seventeen female and three male students altogether.

Her demands were never-ending…things have gotten worse with the start of the second session in the college in October, when the class did not have single female instructor. Besides, the students were supposed to sit facing all students around a table in order make the conversation more fruitful. This is when the college authority and the provincial government of Quebec asked her to remove her veil for better interaction and effective learning of the language.

The verdict of the human rights commission is yet to come. Let’s wait till the spring and find out whether the country will impose similar legal restrictions on Muslim women wearing veils as France or not!

Quebec is one such concerned province in Canada that has recently rolled out a few regulations to the immigration consultants. This concern is for the potential immigrants who want to migrate to Canada. In an effort to discourage the unlawful immigration consultancy practices that have been cheating on many prospective immigrants, the provincial government of Quebec has recently announced what are the guidelines that from now onwards immigration consultants in Quebec should stick to.

As per the recent regulations proposed by the Quebec government, immigration consultants must clear a test and they have to register with the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants. Besides, they should have a clean background in this practice and fair knowledge of French language and should be residents of Quebec.

With this implementation, a public database will also help people identify which immigration consultants are accredited by the provincial government and those who are not recognized. The new guidelines for the consultants clearly indicate that the Quebec government will no more accept illegal immigration consultancy services that would deter prospective migrants from entering Canada. The government made it clear that all services will have to obey the guidelines, else they will have to stop their practices.

In appreciation of the guidelines, the Canadian federal government showed its keenness of implementing similar actions. However, the government is yet to reveal when it’s going to make this happen in the future!

The steps taken by the government of Quebec are undoubtedly commendable. Since, cases of cheating people by false or dishonest immigration consultants are common in many places. Hope, other countries and places would also take such steps in the near future and let lawful consultants provide services!

The Quebec Government has come out with a new Immigration program to enhance PR status for overseas trained employees.

Yolande James, Quebec Immigration Minister confirmed the news, stating that their technology market is one of the facets which suffer from the deficit of skilled workers which leaves them with no option but to bank on workers from overseas workers in Canada.

This move would allow their economy to retain overseas workers and overcome the shortage faced by their technology sector too. The conference was also arrayed with executives from the technology sector including executives from Montreal International, which are involved in fulfilling the demands of skilled workers in the market.

Bernard de Jaham from Montreal International affirmed that the program would assist Quebec in fulfilling the shortage of skilled workers faced by its technology market. This way they don’t have to take assistance from the Canadian immigrants. He confirmed that the program would make it easy for the immigrants to get a certificate of selection, which is one of the most important facets to get a Permanent Residence.

The program is also draped with a marketing facet, which is clear from their tag line: MONTREAL: FOR YOUR CAREER AND FOR YOUR LIFE! In order to fulfill the eligibility criteria, immigrants need to have a work experience of a minimum of twelve months in Quebec, along with having proficiency in the French language. The speech was made at Montreal’s Science Centre.

Want to enjoy the benefit of Two-Language Province (English and French)? Quebec is your choice! Also, the higher education in Quebec is diversified as compared to the education system prevalent in other provinces.

Other provinces are decked with the education system that provides the option of entering university or college directly after completing the schooling. On the other hand, students in Quebec enter post secondary institutions after completing schooling at Grade 11. These institutions are given name Collèges d’enseignement générale et professionel (CEGEP) - “College of General and Vocational Education.” It is mandatory to CEGEP diplomas to get admission in Universities. CEGEP plays a very crucial role in preparing the students for further education at post-secondary level.

Education system is Quebec is bedecked with first six years of primary education (that goes for Grade 1 to Grade 6), followed by the secondary schooling (lasting from Grade 7 to Grade 11, or Secondaire I to V in French). It means that students in Quebec complete one grade less as compared to other provinces in Canada before commencing their post-secondary education.

A glance at the financial aid: Student financial aid has been set up to offer loans and other financial bursaries/assistance to the eligible students. In addition, it is vital for follow the following guidelines in order to avail the financial aid for students:

• It is a must to have a PR Status or Canadian citizenship or a status protected under the terms of the Law on Immigration and Protection.
• The student must be enrolled in a full time course in an educational institution recognized by the Minister for Education, Leisure and Sport
• Should have a physical presence in Quebec at the time of applying for aid.
• Don’t have the right to exceed the number of days of studies entitled for the financial aid and/or can not reach the limit of debt fixed
• Students can not be imprisoned
• In a case, where the couple is studying, only one spouse qualifies for full-time studies.
• Special aids are available for pregnant students.

There are other mandatory requirements. Consult an Immigration expert for more info on the same.

Here is a quick overview for all those applicants planning to study in Canada. Know about the Canadian Education System via this blog:

Under the Canada’s Constitution Act, 1867, the education system in Canada has been kept under jurisdiction of the provinces and territories. Also, the curriculum is overseen by the province. Each province is draped with a different education system, thus reflecting a diverse heritage of every province.

The education is divided into “Private Education System” and “Public Education System.” The public education is provided free of cost up to and including secondary school. Secondary education could go up to Grade 11, 12 or 13, in accordance with different province. Also, private religious schools are dealt differently in every province. It is mandatory to have education up to the age of 16, barring Ontario and New Brunswick, where the age limit is 18.

Division:

• Pre-School: Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten
• Elementary School: Grade 1 to Grade 6 (some province include Grade 7 and Grade 8 )
• Junior High School: Some provinces merge High School and Junior High School. That makes it Grade 8 to Grade 12.
• High School: Grades 9 to 12. Some provinces define it as Grade 8 to 12.
• Post Secondary Education: Students can opt for various institutions like University, University Colleges, Career Colleges or Community Colleges.

Also, the education system in Quebec is governed by the Ministry of Education, Recreations and Sports.

To know as to why Canada is one of the prospective countries to study, click here

Canada and Haiti have always maintained a cordial relationship and the former hosts one of the largest community from the Caribbean nation. Not surprisingly, following the widespread earthquake in Haiti, Canadian government has introduced new immigration rules for Haitian immigrants. As part of the new implementations, the government said that it will give emphasis on Haitian applications that are already in process.

The immigration minister said that the government is likely to prioritize their measures, of course, people intending to enter Canada under the family sponsorship comes in first. Haitian immigrants in Canada who are willing to sponsor family members in the Caribbean nation will be given priority first of all. However, it seems hard for the government to come in terms with the provincial government of Quebec in expanding the “family” definition under the family sponsorship program. The province’s government is in favor of altering the family definition in response to the appeal of the Haitian community in the province. Reportedly, Quebec has about ninety percent of Haitian immigrants out of the total in whole Canada.

The federal government is also very clear that priority will be given to the people who have been directly affected by the earthquake in Haiti in order to reunite families. Thus, with fulfilling the basic requirements of the sponsorship program, the applicants must prove that they have been significantly affected by the disaster.

As per the new rules, the immigration department of Canada is also planning to allow temporary residents in Canada to apply for extension of stay, minus additional fees; relieving Haitian nationals who have been decided to remove from Canada and more. Another measure that the Canadian government has been intending to implement is about fast-tracking the adoption process for Haitian orphans.

In response to the recent disaster in Haiti, the Canadian government has taken a number of measures in order to get the families reunited, belong to the Caribbean nation. Canada happens to be the host to one of the largest Haitian communities, outside Haiti. Further, Montreal, Quebec houses about ninety percent of the Haitian population. Thus, it is quite obvious for Canada to offer a helping hand to the people affected by the disastrous earthquake, as well as their families living in Canada.

Let’s have a look at the special measures introduced by Canada in respect of immigration:

• One of the most important measures is that Immigration Canada is going to let Haitians who reside in Canada sponsor their family members on a priority basis. In order to reap the advantage of this measure, the new applications must be marked with “Haiti”.
• Prospective migrants under family class category, whose applications had already been put to processing in process when the earthquake hit, will also be benefited from the above mentioned measure.
• Nationals from Haiti residing in Quebec, Canada are provided with the provision of sponsoring their near ones (who generally are not allowed), who meet the prerequisites.
• The priority processing is also applicable in respect of the adoption process involving Haitian children by Canadian parents.
• Haitians who are in Canada on temporary basis are given the provision to apply for extension of stay, minus the additional fees involved, as well as eligible candidates to apply for Open Work Permit.
• The requisite of temporary/transit visa has been put off for rescue and relief workers who are traveling to Haiti through Canada.

The government of Quebec is intending to soften its immigration rules to welcome more and more Haitians, following the tragic earthquake in the Caribbean nation, despite the disapproval of the federal government. If we go by the statistics, Quebec hosts about ninety percent of the total 135,000 Haitian population in Canada.

At present, as per the immigration law, Canadian government allows Canadians to sponsor close members of their families, but does not let siblings, children above the 21-year-old or cousins and other relatives to immigrate to the country on family sponsorship. Recently, the Haitian community in Quebec appealed the government to allow them to include other family members under the family class category.

In response to the appeal, the Quebec government is looking forward to ease the immigration regulations for the Haitians and their families in Canada. The government is planning to relax the rules on a number of facets, such as family sponsorships; third party sponsorships; relaxation in the costs involved in filing the paperwork etc. The Immigration and Cultural Communities Minister of Quebec said that the government is going to use the ‘power of selection’ in the process, which is used on rare occasions. This is a clause included in the federal and provincial immigration agreement that allows implementing an expanded definition of family class category.

However, Quebec is not going to welcome above 55,000 immigrants this for 2010. It has set the target to allow between 52,00 and 55,000 migrants!

While the Provincial government of Quebec is intending to ease the immigration rules under the family class category, the federal government is determined not to alter the definition of the aforementioned category. The existing definition of the ‘family’ states that Canadians can sponsor family members including parents, grandparents, spouses, and dependent children. It does not allow them to sponsor members like cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

The federal government’s decision not to expand the family sponsorships has already caused protestation from Haitian community in Canada. The federal government is reluctant to do so, because it thinks it would be unfair on the part of other groups or communities who have experienced massive destruction in the past.

However, Canadian government’s unwillingness to expand the family sponsorship definition will mean that it’s concerns about the Haitians in the Caribbean nation as well as their family members in Canada, may be questioned. The government has already introduced new rules in order to make the immigration easier for Haitians. As part of the action, Immigration Canada is going to give priority to family class immigrants. Canadian Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister said that applications from family members who have been directly affected by the earthquake in Haiti are most likely to get the government response. Thus, in order to get the clearance from the Immigration Canada, applicants must require proving that they have been affected directly by the disaster, besides meeting the other standards under the family sponsorship.

The Province of Quebec is more likely to use the ‘power of selection’ clause of the immigration agreement that exists between the federal and provincial governments in order to expand the definition of the family class category, thereby allowing more Haitians to enter the province. Reportedly, ninety percent of the total Haitian community in Canada is hosted by Quebec!

With the Canadian province, Quebec implementing new immigration rules of Haitians, it would become easier for the latter to enter the province! Towards the end of the last month, provincial government announced that it is going to welcome more Haitians immigrants affected by the recent earthquake.

While the Province of Quebec expressed its intention to let more Haitians immigrants come to the province, the federal government is quite reluctant to alter the quota for permanent residents. According to the federal Minister of Immigration and Citizenship Minister, Jason Kenney, if the country increases the quota for permanent residents, as well as alter the definition of family class for immigrants, such steps may have a biased impression on other groups faced with disasters in their native lands. Thus, this is very important for a government to obey the immigration law, even when it attempts to be more flexible!

Quebec, as well as Canadian governments’ action for Haitians and their families in Canada, following the tragic widespread earthquake, where thousands lost lives, many still struggling with the lives, should really be acknowledged! The Canadian government has come up with a number of new rules in order to ease the immigration of Haitians, such as letting temporary Haitian residents to apply for extension of stay without additional fees; fast-tracking the adoption of Haitian orphans to name a few.

With the latest implementation of new rules for Haitian immigrants, it can be said that more and more people from the Caribbean nation would come and start a new life in Canada!