Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has been exhorting Indian travellers to visit Canada. It's not surprising that India is big on the Canadian Tourism Commission's radar. According to media reports, Indian leisure travellers added C$82 million to the Canadian economy in 2009.
But Canada is opening its doors not just to Indian tourists but also to skilled workers. The Canada immigration story is gaining traction every passing day. "In 2012, Canada plans to admit between 2,40,000 and 2,65,000 new permanent residents.
We have maintained the immigration levels despite the recession because our economic growth will require a steady stream of new immigrants to meet labour market demands," says Simon Cridland, spokesperson of the High Commission of Canada in Delhi.
And the stats on permanent residence in Canada are looking good. Between 2005 and 2010, economic applications for permanent residence from Indian citizens increased by 7%.
RISING NUMBERS
In the economic categories of immigration including skilled workers, Canadian experience class, entrepreneurs, self-employed, investors and provincial nominees; Indians were among the highest numbers of immigrants who moved to Canada in 2010. Overall, there were 30,252 Indians who gained PR status in Canada in 2010, a rise of over 4,000 over 2009. In terms of source country for immigrants, India was second only to the Philippines.
"For skilled Indian professionals, the economic categories are very attractive. Many Indians have done very well in this country as entrepreneurs, executives, academicians and in public life," says Deepak Obhrai, the Indo-Canadian MP from Calgary, Alberta.
Take the case of Harinder Takhar, Ontario's minister of government services. He has been an elected member of the state legislature in Canada since 2003. An immigrant from Punjab, he moved to Ontario in 1974 as a student.
Takhar's story is not an uncommon one in Canada, of an Indian immigrant who achieved professional success and then launched out on his own entrepreneurial journey. After he embarked on an active political career, his wife Balwinder took over the business, which is in the area of suspension systems, transformers and medical equipment.
"Despite the global slowdown, many sectors of the Canadian economy have been showing growth and there are opportunities for immigrants from India," says Takhar, who specialised in financial services himself. He sees banking and the construction industry as areas which Indian professionals could look at for jobs in Canada.
Besides the traditional hubs of Vancouver and Toronto, where a large number of Indians immigrants have settled, Obhrai now finds Indians looking at moving to new destinations such as Calgary as well. "Calgary now has over a 1,00,000 Indians. Various provinces have their own nominee programmes to attract skilled immigrants to fill in local shortages," says Obhrai.
STUDIES AND AFTER
Besides highly skilled professionals, the other category of immigration that is very popular for Indians is students. The government of Canada is committed to giving Canadian educational institutions a competitive edge in attracting international students. Recent initiatives, including the Canadian experience class and post-graduation work permit programme are very attractive for Indian students.
The number of Indian students who went to study in Canada in 2011 is estimated at around 13,000. Over the past two years the numbers have more than doubled. "The three-year open work permit that international students get along with the advantage of the Canadian experience class, make Canada a very attractive destination," says Maria Mathai, director of an educational consultancy MM Advisory Services.
The "Canadian experience class" allows foreign student graduates with Canadian work experience the opportunity to stay in Canada as permanent residents and eventually become Canadian citizens. To be eligible to submit a Canadian experience class application, foreign graduates must have 12 months of work experience in Canada within 24 months preceding the date of application.
This experience must be acquired after completing a minimum of two academic years of full-time study in Canada and after obtaining a Canadian degree.
The student partners programme in India, which is aimed at increasing approval rates for students going to study in Canadian public colleges, has also helped in increasing the number of Indian students going to study in Canada.
But Canada is opening its doors not just to Indian tourists but also to skilled workers. The Canada immigration story is gaining traction every passing day. "In 2012, Canada plans to admit between 2,40,000 and 2,65,000 new permanent residents.
We have maintained the immigration levels despite the recession because our economic growth will require a steady stream of new immigrants to meet labour market demands," says Simon Cridland, spokesperson of the High Commission of Canada in Delhi.
And the stats on permanent residence in Canada are looking good. Between 2005 and 2010, economic applications for permanent residence from Indian citizens increased by 7%.
RISING NUMBERS
In the economic categories of immigration including skilled workers, Canadian experience class, entrepreneurs, self-employed, investors and provincial nominees; Indians were among the highest numbers of immigrants who moved to Canada in 2010. Overall, there were 30,252 Indians who gained PR status in Canada in 2010, a rise of over 4,000 over 2009. In terms of source country for immigrants, India was second only to the Philippines.
"For skilled Indian professionals, the economic categories are very attractive. Many Indians have done very well in this country as entrepreneurs, executives, academicians and in public life," says Deepak Obhrai, the Indo-Canadian MP from Calgary, Alberta.
Take the case of Harinder Takhar, Ontario's minister of government services. He has been an elected member of the state legislature in Canada since 2003. An immigrant from Punjab, he moved to Ontario in 1974 as a student.
Takhar's story is not an uncommon one in Canada, of an Indian immigrant who achieved professional success and then launched out on his own entrepreneurial journey. After he embarked on an active political career, his wife Balwinder took over the business, which is in the area of suspension systems, transformers and medical equipment.
"Despite the global slowdown, many sectors of the Canadian economy have been showing growth and there are opportunities for immigrants from India," says Takhar, who specialised in financial services himself. He sees banking and the construction industry as areas which Indian professionals could look at for jobs in Canada.
Besides the traditional hubs of Vancouver and Toronto, where a large number of Indians immigrants have settled, Obhrai now finds Indians looking at moving to new destinations such as Calgary as well. "Calgary now has over a 1,00,000 Indians. Various provinces have their own nominee programmes to attract skilled immigrants to fill in local shortages," says Obhrai.
STUDIES AND AFTER
Besides highly skilled professionals, the other category of immigration that is very popular for Indians is students. The government of Canada is committed to giving Canadian educational institutions a competitive edge in attracting international students. Recent initiatives, including the Canadian experience class and post-graduation work permit programme are very attractive for Indian students.
The number of Indian students who went to study in Canada in 2011 is estimated at around 13,000. Over the past two years the numbers have more than doubled. "The three-year open work permit that international students get along with the advantage of the Canadian experience class, make Canada a very attractive destination," says Maria Mathai, director of an educational consultancy MM Advisory Services.
The "Canadian experience class" allows foreign student graduates with Canadian work experience the opportunity to stay in Canada as permanent residents and eventually become Canadian citizens. To be eligible to submit a Canadian experience class application, foreign graduates must have 12 months of work experience in Canada within 24 months preceding the date of application.
This experience must be acquired after completing a minimum of two academic years of full-time study in Canada and after obtaining a Canadian degree.
The student partners programme in India, which is aimed at increasing approval rates for students going to study in Canadian public colleges, has also helped in increasing the number of Indian students going to study in Canada.
