Welcome to the Fall edition of Thinkr.

Contents:
Relocation and Immigration news
Upcoming events
Editorial
Archive

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More interesting nuggets for everyone involved with recruitment and relocation:

BC's Top 100 Companies
Source: BC Business

Canada's Fastest Growing Companies
Source: Canadian Business

Comprensive Housing Report
Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Think About it

Extended: IT workers program in BC

The IT Workers program has been extended in BC until March 31, 2011. The BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development will work in conjuction with Service Canada to continue facilitating this program. Employers must notify Service Canada and the Ministry by e-mail with employer and job information prior to making the application with Immigration (see link for specifics).

Coming Soon: Time Limit on Work Permits

CIC announced changes that will take effect in April 2011 that will impact employers hiring foreign workers. The maximum time a foreign worker can be in Canada on a work permit will be four years. There are some exceptions to this, including intra-company transfers and provincial nominees. While employers do have four years to plan for this, it's never too early to update or create a resourcing plan.

Extended: Work Permit program for Dependent Children in Alberta and Ontario

CIC has extended its work permit program for dependent children of work permit holders in Alberta and Ontario until 2012.

Update: List of countries whose citizens require medical exams

CIC updated its designated country list. Citizens of Mexico, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and many others no longer require a medical exam prior to coming to Canada. Added to the list is Greenland, Tuvalu, and a few others. View the full update on the CIC website.

New: Mandatory Language Test for Canadian Experience Class applications

Employees applying for permanent residency through the Canadian Experience Class must now take a French or English proficiency test. It must be a test accepted by CIC and taken at one of its designated third party testing agencies.

Updated: Federal Skilled Worker program occupations list

Potential permanent resident applicants who wish to apply independently (without the support of a Canadian employer) through the Federal Skilled worker program must have experience in one of the occupations on this updated list.

North American Mobility Survey

The results of CERC's survey on relocation assignments in North America, including locations, policies, and expected volumes.

Diversity makes for a stronger management team

This research from Accenture makes the case that diversity (gender, culture, age, and more) make for a more effective executive team.

Learning and Sharing

It's Fall so we headed back to school and took in plenty of continuing professional development courses through the Canadian Migration Institute.

We thoroughly enjoyed of co-presenting an Immigration Update to the HR Tech Group's Recruitment SIG and thank them for allowing us to send them back to school momentarily.

Many thanks to those who joined us at our summer Immigration Basics workshop. We enjoyed meeting you all!

Think Ahead

Webinar: Residential Leasing Requirements for Rental Properties

This webinar will introduce you to the basics of leasing residential property and may be useful for companies who have a rental property component in their relocation policies.

Doing Business in the USA

This full-day seminar introduces companies to the selling and delivering of products and services to the U.S. market. It includes immigration, customs, logistics, and marketing as topics.

Some examples of groups for newcomers, including immigrants:

YMCA Connections Program

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Settlement services

Meetup Groups

Think Tank

An empathetic ear

There's empathy, and then there's having had the same experience as someone else. Empathy is that abilty to identify with someone else and what they're going through; having the same experience as someone else takes empathy to a whole other emotional level. Whether the shared experience is witnessing a sunset at the Eiffel Tower, relocating to a new country, enduring childbirth, or learning of a loved one's illness, there is an immediate rush of emotions, images, and empathy. There is a knowing smile, common understanding, or shared anguish that arises and bonds.

The bond of the shared experience bring people together in groups: travel groups, newcomers clubs, mommy groups, cancer survivor group and so many more. The shared, common experience is vital to the weeks, months, and years that follow for support and friendship. Friends can be found in unexpected places; all you have to do is reach out and make the effort. Enjoy the support, the bond, and the empathetic ear.

Empathetically yours,

Marlene
Principal, Think Relocation Consulting