Express entry failures nothing to brag about

Express entry failures nothing to brag about

ANDREW CASH

Canada’s Immigration Minister has come to Toronto to claim Express Entry is a big success, but the reviews have been anything but positive. Prospective immigrants, employers, lawyers and stakeholders all agree that Express Entry has many failures.

Here are four things you won’t hear from the Immigration Minister today:

Express Entry makes it harder for higher-skilled workers already working in Canada to become permanent residents. Many of these workers are in positions that don’t require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LIMA), and so far, no invitations to apply have been issued to anyone without a LMIA.

Express Entry makes it harder for international students to become permanent residents. International students who came here with the promise of being able to apply for permanent residence are feeling betrayed, while universities fear their ability to attract international students has just been undermined by the Conservatives.

Express Entry puts all the emphasis on the LMIA instead of valuing Canadian experience. Employers are finding it harder to retain their experienced employees because they are forced to go through the expense and process of applying for a LMIA, with no guarantee their employee will even be invited to apply for permanent residence in the end.

Express Entry lacks transparency and accountability. Immigration lawyers, including the past president of the Immigration Section of the Canadian Bar Association, have criticized, arguing it makes immigrants less interested in Canada because of all the uncertainty.

“This is no way to attract the best and the brightest immigrants to Canada,” said NDP Multiculturalism critic Andrew Cash (Davenport). “Express Entry needs to give more value to Canadian experience and stop creating so much uncertainty for immigrants and employers.”

(PRESS RELEASE)