Vancouver, BC – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society is celebrating the recent designation of the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs as a Mission Blue Hope Spot. Hope Spots are described by Mission Blue as “special places that are critical to the health of the ocean” and are particularly deserving of protection. The reefs were one of just 14 sites around the world chosen for this special recognition.
The Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs were nominated by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, who have been working to secure protection of the reefs for decades. “We have known for a long time that the glass sponge reefs are very special and really need protecting, so to see them announced as a Hope Spot, and just one of 14 sites chosen from around the world, is a really great feeling,” said Sabine Jessen, director of CPAWS’ ocean program.
The announcement of the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reef Hope Spot was made by “Her Deepness” Dr. Sylvia Earle, world famous marine scientist and founder of Mission Blue, and Carl Gustaf Lundin, IUCN’s director of the Global Marine and Polar Program.
Living glass sponge reefs were first discovered in 1987 by a team of Canadian scientists who were surveying the seafloor of Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound. Before this discovery, scientists thought that glass sponge reefs had gone extinct with the dinosaurs some 40 million years ago. Dr. Manfred Krautter, a palaeoecologist who studied fossilized glass sponge reefs and was one of the first people to study the living reefs, likens the discovery to finding a herd of dinosaurs on land.
Since the discovery of these sponge reefs, a few more smaller reefs have been discovered in Alaska and British Columbia, in the Strait of Georgia, Howe Sound and most recently in Chatham Sound, near Prince Rupert. The Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Reefs are by far the largest living glass sponge reefs, covering an area of 1,000km2. The reefs can grow to a height of 25 m (equivalent to an eight storey building), and are 9,000 years old.
The reefs are a very important seafloor ecosystem, providing habitat for many important species like endangered rockfish, spot prawns, and halibut. Scientists who first studied the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound glass sponge reefs noticed vast areas of reef damaged and destroyed by bottom trawlers. “Bottom trawlers drag a great big heavy net along the seafloor, and destroy everything in their path,” says Jessen. “The glass sponges are so fragile that the nets just smash them to pieces.”
Jessen and her colleagues have been fighting to have the reefs protected as an MPA (Marine Protected Area) since 2001 in order to protect them from harmful activities. The MPA is close to completion, but Jessen is worried, “The proposed regulations that were released for public comment in 2015 were far too weak. They allow bottom trawling to continue right next to the reefs and other harmful activities like cable laying, anchoring, midwater trawling and trap fisheries to happen right around the reefs,” says Jessen. “As it is currently proposed, this MPA won’t protect the reefs at all,” she adds.
According to Jessen, the announcement of the reefs as a Hope Spot is wonderful news. “The Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound glass sponge reefs are unique, they really are one of the wonders of the world.” Jessen hopes that this new designation will inspire Canadians and world citizens to learn about the reefs and stand up for their protection. “If we don’t protect them now, we risk losing the reefs again, this time for good. I am hopeful that we can give this amazing Hope Spot the protection it needs and deserves,” Jessen adds.
For more information about the glass sponge reefs, visit: www.glassspongereefs.com
For more information about Mission Blue Hope Spots, visit: https://www.mission-blue.org/hope-spots/
-30-
OTTAWA – In its latest annual report released in advance of Canada Parks Day, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is calling on Parks Canada to re-focus on its legal obligation to protect nature as the first priority for managing our national parks, and to immediately stop development in Banff and Jasper National Parks.
In recent years, CPAWS has observed a major shift in how Parks Canada is managing our national parks, moving away from its priority mandate of nature conservation, and towards a greater focus on tourism and marketing, increasing visitation, and revenue generation. This shift in priorities has resulted in developments being approved behind closed doors, with inadequate regard for how they impact on parks’ ecological integrity or for public input, and financial decisions being made that undermine the Agency’s conservation and science capacity.
“National parks are supposed to be the gold standard for conservation in our country,” says Alison Woodley, National Director of CPAWS’ Parks Program. “If Parks Canada shifts away from its conservation mandate, where will our wildlife and wilderness be safe?”
CPAWS is encouraged by the new federal government’s commitments to limit development in our parks, re-focus on protecting their ecological integrity, re-invest in science-based management, and restore open, transparent decision-making. So far two important decisions have been made that begin to deliver on these promises – cancelling the giant Mother Canada statue proposed for Cape Breton Highlands National Park and strengthening legislation for the Rouge National Urban Park to focus on protecting ecological integrity as the first priority. However, as this report highlights, there are systemic problems in Parks Canada’s management approach that need to be overcome for the new government to fully implement their commitments. For example:
- Limiting development: Recent development approvals include a massive expansion of the Lake Louise Ski Resort in Banff into legally protected wilderness, commercial accommodations proposed for Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park that contravene the management plan; and a $66 million paved bike path through sensitive caribou and grizzly bear habitat which mysteriously appeared in the 2016 Federal Budget with no prior public discussion or environmental review.
- Re-focusing on ecological integrity and funding for science: Parks Canada’s last publicly available report indicates that less than half of national park ecosystems measured were deemed to be in “good condition”, more than a third were in declining health, while 41% of park ecosystems remained to be assessed. There is an urgent need for more conservation effort, not less. Yet over the past five years there has been an over 30% decrease in Parks Canada’s conservation staffing while visitor experience staffing has risen by 9% over the same time period. The report also finds that public “state of park” reporting has virtually disappeared, and park management plan reviews are less frequent.
- Open, transparent decision-making: Public consultations on development proposals within national parks have become short processes that are geographically restricted, and that largely ignore public feedback. Legally required biennial Round Tables on Parks Canada’s performance are no longer focused on accountability, instead focusing on how to increase park visitation with little or no attention to how well the Agency is delivering on its core conservation mandate.
“We have put forward 17 recommendations to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change that we believe will help get Parks Canada back on track to conserving nature as the first priority in our national parks,” says Woodley. “We hope the new government will act immediately to stop developments in Banff and Jasper, and restore Parks Canada’s culture as a science-based nature conservation organization working in the long term public interest. The future of wildlife and wilderness in our national parks depends on re-focusing on nature first and foremost in their management.
-30-
Read the full report.
Read the Executive Summary with recommendations.
For interviews, contact: Karen Turner (613) 569-7226 x 232
Vancouver, BC – June 8, 2016 – On this World Oceans Day, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is pleased to announce the launch of its Sea of Glass website, the latest component in a campaign to protect BC’s ancient and unique glass sponge reefs.
“We have been working for over 15 years to get the glass sponge reefs protected,” says Sabine Jessen, CPAWS’ National Oceans Director. “We think that these important, rare and fragile ecosystems deserve to be fully protected from all harmful activities, and designated as Marine Protected Areas.”
The visually engaging website has been developed to promote widespread public awareness of these rare and amazing treasures, and encourage people to take action to protect them. “The new website is an important tool to educate Canadians about why these reefs are so important and so worth protecting” says Alexandra Barron, CPAWS-BC’s Ocean Conservation Manager.
Prior to being discovered in 1987 by Canadian scientists during seafloor mapping, glass sponge reefs were thought to have gone extinct some 40 million years ago. The silica skeletons of the sponges are extremely fragile and vulnerable to damage from fishing gear. Scientists estimate that 50% of the reefs were destroyed by harmful bottom fishing methods before the reefs were discovered. Today, they cover a combined area of about 1,000 km2, and provide essential habitat for a number of deep-sea species, and serve as a nursery for many commercially important species including rockfish, prawns and crabs.
Last June, the previous government released the draft regulations for the proposed Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound glass sponge reef MPA for public comment. The draft regulations allow for harmful fishing activities, anchoring and cable laying to continue around the reefs. In addition to accidental damage, bottom fishing gear, anchors and cables can kick up sediment plumes which can choke the sponges and stop them from feeding, leading to starvation. “Allowing these activities to continue poses an unacceptable risk to the reefs,” says Jessen, “if we want a healthy fishing industry then we need to take precautionary measures to fully protect important ecosystems like the reefs.”
“The Hecate Strait reefs are not the only ones in need of protection,” Jessen is quick to add, “We need to also protect the 12-kilometre long reef that was recently discovered in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, as well as the other reefs in Howe Sound.”
The Hecate Strait MPA will make an important contribution to the government’s commitment to protect 5% of our oceans by 2017, and 10% by 2020. “We do need more marine protected areas and we need them quickly,” says Jessen, “but we also need to make sure that they are strong MPAs, that provide real and meaningful protection for important ocean ecosystems and species.”
Visit www.glassspongereefs.com
-30-
Vancouver – In the first joint conservation assessment of progress on marine protected areas (MPAs) in North America, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and the Marine Conservation Institute (MCI) finds Canada and the USA have a long way to go to collectively and individually reach international and national targets to protect at least 10% of the continental ocean estate.
“Despite the known effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) in protecting ocean ecosystems in the long term, and our international commitment to protect at least 10% of our ocean estate by 2020, North America has collectively protected only 1% of ocean, and only .04% is in fully protected areas,” says Sabine Jessen, CPAWS’ National Ocean Program Director.
“In BC, only one of our marine protected areas, the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents MPA, is considered fully implemented, and it is so small that it covers less than 0.01% of Canada’s Pacific Ocean estate,” says Alexandra Barron, Ocean Conservation Manager at CPAWS-BC. “Bowie Seamount MPA and Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area have been designated, but neither has a final management plan so we consider them to be partially implemented,” adds Barron.
There are an additional four proposed new MPAs in BC: the Hecate Strait Glass Sponge Reef MPA, Race Rocks MPA, Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area and the Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area. “These sites are really important in helping the government meet their commitment of protecting 5% of our ocean by 2017, but we are concerned that in some cases the government is proposing to allow harmful activities to continue within the MPA,” says Barron.
To prepare the assessment, CPAWS and MCI reviewed publicly available data provided by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the USA on existing MPAs. Each site was evaluated against international criteria, including a legal designation, permanence, the presence of an administrative structure, and the existence of a management plan. Sites that met all four criteria were considered “implemented”, while any sites lacking an administrative structure or management plan were considered only “partially implemented” and were excluded from analysis.
“If we are going to protect the incredible variety of ecosystems in our ocean, and the diverse marine species that call them home, we need to do more. The ocean provides irreplaceable ecosystem services that have an estimated worth of $24 trillion dollars globally. Protecting the future of the ocean protects our future too,” says Dr. Lance Morgan, President, Marine Conservation Institute.
The Report outlines the need for urgent action, including recommendations to designate all currently proposed sites and partially implemented MPAs, implement strict interim protection measures, establish strategic MPA network planning, and secure full, permanent protection for at least 30% of each ecoregion, among other things.
“We have the opportunity to do the right thing, but we need sufficient and consistent funding for MPA establishment, stronger MPA legislation to help overcome jurisdictional complications, and multi-nation collaboration to create transboundary MPAs,” adds Jessen.
Other report highlights:
• According to our analysis, only 0.88% of the North American continental ocean estate is currently in “implemented” MPAs and only 0.04% is fully protected. Analysis of ecoregion coverage shows that of 23 continental North American marine ecoregions, 18 are safeguarded within any marine protected areas. Of these, only nine have more than one percent of the area protected.
• Canada is furthest behind in protecting its ocean estate with only 0.11% protected. Of this 0.03% is in the Arctic, 0.00% in the Pacific and 0.08% in the Atlantic. 14 proposed MPAs, if completed, would contribute another 2-3% to Canada’s MPA targets. Partially implemented MPAs could add an additional 0.78% to Canada’s total, but only if they had management plans and legislated regulation of marine activities like fishing. Just 0.02% is in strict no-take reserves, the rest is still open to commercial fishing, shipping, and industrial activities.
• Mexico has 43 MPAs covering a total of 50,873 km², protecting only 1.62% of its ocean territory. Out of this this total, 0.66 % is located in the Pacific Ocean, 0.46% in the Gulf of California, 0.33% in the Gulf of Mexico, and 0.17% in the Caribbean Sea. Out of Mexico´s 43 MPAs, 34 have been implemented and 9 are considered to be partially implemented. Partially implemented MPAs would add only an additional 0.08% coverage. There are currently five proposed MPAs under consideration that, if completed, would contribute another 19.8% to Mexico´s marine conservation efforts.
• The USA has protected only 1.29% of its continental, ocean estate (excluding Hawai’i and Pacific Island territories). Of this 0.00% is in the Arctic, 0.72% in the Pacific and 0.57% in the Atlantic/Gulf. A rigorous, quantitative account of fully protected areas in the waters of coastal states indicates the best-protected ones (excluding Hawai’i) are California, Oregon, and Florida. The majority of states still lack fully protected areas in their coastal waters. Only 0.03% of the total USA continental coverage is in fully protected areas; the rest is still open to commercial fishing, extraction, and industrial activities.
-30-
View full report
Vancouver – The B.C. Ministry of Environment recently released a report confirming strong support for additional protection in the South Okanagan-Similkameen, including the creation of a new national park reserve. The report summarizes 3,460 responses to a proposal for new protected areas in the region, circulated between August and October 2015. The South Okanagan – Similkameen National Park Network (SOSNPN) gathered over 500 of these responses, including at local events such as Oliver’s Festival of the Grape.
“This overwhelmingly positive response echoes what local polling has consistently shown – that people see great value in having a national park in this area,” said Doreen Olson, Coordinator of the SOSNPN. “We are impressed with the number of local people and organizations that took the time to register their comments and support, and we are looking forward to the next steps in the process.”
The report indicates that landscape connectivity and species-at-risk were identified as key values that need additional protection, and that the majority of submissions support the inclusion of what the Province is referring to as “Area 2” within a national park reserve, instead of a provincial Conservancy as was proposed. In addition to its ecological importance, this area is of great cultural and spiritual importance to local First Nations, including Mount Kobau (Txasquin).
“It’s uplifting to see that the public supports local First Nations in their conclusion that this area deserves the higher level of protection and funding that comes with a national park,” said Peter Wood, Director of Terrestrial Conservation, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. “A third of all BC’s species-at-risk are contained in this small area, and it is one of the world’s rarest ecosystems.”
The report launch coincided with the Meadowlark Nature Festival, a local event held annually on the May long weekend, which has enjoyed huge popularity through the years and includes several tours of the area proposed for the national park.
“People love exploring the open spaces of grasslands. Ecotourism could be a huge draw for our region, but we need the resources that come with a national park, such as interpretation,” said Olson. “Many of the submissions reflected on the economic and public access benefits that a national park would be able to provide to this rare and sensitive landscape.”
The report is only the most recent of several (including Parks Canada’s Feasibility Study and the First Nations’ Feasibility Study) indicating a positive outlook for the creation of a national park, due to the significant economic and ecological benefits that would be achieved.
“This clearly opens a window for the Province to re-engage with Parks Canada and local First Nations to discuss next steps,” said Wood. “It’s at this stage that specific local benefits can be discussed, as well as how existing land uses will be accommodated. We look forward to this process moving forward.”
-30-
For more information:
Doreen Olson, Coordinator, South Okanagan- Similkameen National Park Network: 250 497 6869, threegates@telus.net
Background information:
BC Government’s Intentions Paper and Summary of Submissions: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/planning/protected-areas-framework-s-okanagan.html
Recent poll on support for park: https://sosnationalpark.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/local-support-for-national-park-grows/
National Park Feasibility Study: http://cpawsbc.org/upload/South_Okanagan-Similkameen_National_Park_Feasibility_Study.pdf
Building a Syilx Vision for Protection (First Nations’ Feasibility Study): https://www.syilx.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Assessing-Feasibility-Syilx-Final-Report-December-18-2012-2.pdf
A child plays with a kite in an area of grasslands proposed for a national park reserve. Photo credit: Graham Osborne
May 13, 2016 – VANCOUVER – On Thursday the BC Government passed legislation that changes the boundaries of Finn Creek Provincial Park to allow the proposed Kinder Morgan TransMountain oil pipeline to pass through it, despite earlier statements indicating that it does not meet their conditions for approval. The park, located on the North Thompson River, protects important spawning habitat for bull trout, Coho and Chinook salmon, and supports grizzly bear and moose populations. This is the first of four provincial parks that Kinder Morgan has requested be opened up to accommodate the pipeline.
“This pipeline project clearly threatens the values that this park was established to protect. It should never have been allowed to proceed this far, let alone be approved. Allowing industrial activity in an ecologically sensitive area like Finn Creek Park runs counter to the government’s mandate of protecting these places,” says Peter Wood, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (BC Chapter).
In January 2016, the BC Ministry of Environment made a formal submission to the National Energy Board (NEB) indicating that the pipeline proposal does not meet conditions the Province set out in 2012. The NEB has yet to make a decision on the proposal.
“Why is the BC Government proceeding as if this pipeline project is a done deal? It’s inappropriate for the province to be allocating resources to opening up our parks for a pipeline, let alone one that may never be approved,” says Wood. “This is particularly shocking given the high levels of opposition from First Nations and the general public.”
The other parks that this pipeline expansion will affect are ecologically important and protect fragile ecosystems and wildlife, and any removal of lands will put these places at unnecessary risk. Approving these requested boundary adjustments undermines the integrity of B.C.’s entire parks system, and sets a dangerous precedent for all of B.C.’s protected areas.
CPAWS and over 30 other participants withdrew from the Kinder Morgan’s NEB review in August 2015 over concerns that the process was biased in favour of approving the project. The NEB is expected to deliver its final report by May 20.
A SumofUs.org petition against allowing pipelines through parks has attracted over 160,000 signatures to date.
– 30 –
Resources:
B.C. responds to NEB hearing order for Kinder Morgan project
Finn Creek Provincial Park Website
Bill 25
Backgrounder on the Parks Act and Boundary Adjustments
SumofUs.org Petition
Photo:
Petition against allowing pipelines through parks being delivered to the BC Government in May 2014
Vancouver — CPAWS-BC welcomes a new Bill tabled yesterday in the B.C. legislature which will add more than 11,700 hectares of lands and ocean to the province’s protected areas system, including a new Class A park in the northern interior and a rare glass sponge reef near Vancouver. There is much to be celebrated in this proposal, however concerns remain over the ongoing funding crisis for BC Parks and the need for the federal government to add protection measures for the globally unique glass sponge reefs.
The bulk of the lands to be added are in the proposed Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Wudujut Park, located near Prince George, which will protect globally unique inland temperate rainforest, one of B.C.’s least protected ecosystems.
“BC’s rarest and most vulnerable ecosystem types are under-represented in our protected area system, so we’re glad to see that the Province is taking this into account. We hope to see protection expand to other ancient forests around the province,” said Peter Wood, CPAWS-BC’s Director of Terrestrial Campaigns.
The Bill also officially renames two provincial parks in the South Okanagan – formerly known as Haynes Point and Okanagan Falls– to their traditional First Nations names, sw̓iw̓s and sx̌ʷəx̌ʷnitkʷ parks.
“The renaming of these parks to their traditional First Nations names represents an important first for B.C. and we hope to see more of this. The Osoyoos Indian Band and the Province are to be commended for achieving this significant milestone,” said Wood.
CPAWS-BC also welcomes the extension of Halkett Bay Marine Park to include the extremely rare glass sponge reef but is concerned that the reefs remain vulnerable to impacts from fishing and boat anchors.
“While we applaud the BC government for recognizing the significance of the glass sponge reefs, they will only be adequately protected when the federal government steps up and and closes the area to commercial and recreational fishing,” said CPAWS’ National Ocean Program Director Sabine Jessen.
No commitment to increase BC Parks funding
The annual budget for BC Parks has not changed in 15 years, despite significant additions to the parks system in that time. When factoring in inflation, the relative value of this budget has actually decreased by nearly $10M and yet new additions to the parks system are announced on a near-yearly basis.
“While we welcome the expansion of the parks system, funding for BC Parks is already at rock-bottom levels and this will strain an already meager budget. We run the risk of creating ‘paper parks’ – lines drawn on a map that are unable to assure on-the-ground protection,” adds Wood.
Vancouver, BC – CPAWS Welcomes the BC Government’s Announcement to Reengage with Parks Canada in the South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Reserve Process
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, BC Chapter (CPAWS-BC) welcomes the news that the government of British Columbia has committed to reengage with Parks Canada on the creation of a National Park Reserve in the South Okanagan-Similkameen.
“A national park reserve will forever preserve the ecological integrity of this stunning landscape while maintaining the delicate balance upon which it relies,” said Bruce Passmore, Executive Director of CPAWS-BC. “To be successful, the process requires all levels of government to participate, including First Nations, BC, and the federal governments.”
The grasslands of the South Okanagan-Similkameen is an area of outstanding natural beauty, with habitat and species found nowhere else in Canada. 30% of Canada’s species at risk are found in the South Okanagan-Similkameen, including iconic wildlife like the American badger and burrowing owl. It is also severely threatened, with less than 10% of the historic grasslands in their natural state.
A National Park has been proposed for the region since 2002. However, the BC government pulled out of negotiations with Parks Canada in 2011. Since that time support in the region for the national park has grown with local First Nations, regional governments, conservationists and chambers of commerce coming out in favour of the proposal. In 2015 the provincial government announced a new conservation framework for the region, but did not re-open negotiations with Parks Canada around a national park.
“A National Park Reserve for the South Okanagan-Similkameen would be an amazing legacy for this region,” continued Passmore. “It would help protect Indigenous culture and land use values, promote lasting economic development, and conserve some of our nation’s most unique and stunning ecosystems. We are heartened by today’s news but know a lot more needs to be done to realize this vision.”
-30-
For more information:
Bruce Passmore, Executive Director, CPAWS-BC
bruce@cpawsbc.org, (604) 685-7445 x 23
The landscape for international students seeking to transition to permanent residence after graduation has changed considerably in the last 12 months. Gone are the days when an international graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution could be assured of being able to apply for permanent residence on the strength of obtaining a post-graduate Work Permit, working in Canada for a year in a skilled position and passing a language test.
Now, under Express Entry, obtaining that year of post-graduation work experience and demonstrating your language ability only gets you into a pool with other applicants who are similarly qualified. Once in that pool, you are ranked and only the top scorers are invited to apply for permanent residence approximately twice a month.
Launched in January 2015, Express Entry is the new system used by Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) to manage applications under the three Federal Economic Immigration programs:
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC)
Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC)
Applying for permanent residence under Express Entry is a two-step process, with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) at the core. Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria under CEC, FSWC or FSTC must first create and submit an online profile to CIC, which details their language scores, education background, and work experience. They will obtain CRS points based on their qualifications in each category and, as noted, are then entered into a pool of candidates. Applicants with permanent offers of employment (supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment) can add an additional 600 points to their profile. Only applicants who have managed to score above the minimum ranking at each round of invitations are invited to apply for permanent residence. CIC routinely conducts rounds of invitations, each time adjusting the minimum score to reflect the numbers of candidates in the pool and their current application intake. Profiles are deleted from the pool after 12 months if applicants do not receive an Invitation to Apply within that time.
Under Express Entry, program eligibility criteria have been modified so that all applicants who meet minimum requirements may submit their profiles for consideration (including those who are working in previously barred occupations). Many provinces have also introduced new Express Entry-based nomination streams that allow nominated applicants to gain a whopping 600 points in their Express Entry profile.
These are all efforts by CIC and the provincial governments to ensure that only candidates who are “most likely to succeed” are invited. Unfortunately, this means that applicants are discovering that it is no longer possible to obtain permanent residency simply by meeting eligibility criteria in one category or another. In particular, international graduates from Canada’s post-secondary institutions are finding themselves at the bottom of the pool.
While international graduates may have the advantage of earning top CRS scores in some categories, including age, education, and language proficiency, they often lack points in categories such as Canadian and foreign work experience and permanent offers of employment backed by LMIAs.
Previously, international graduates in B.C. who completed one year of full-time, skilled work experience in Canada were able to submit an application under the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program’s Express Entry stream. However, with the temporary closure of many provinces’ nominee programs including the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program, international graduates are again struggling to scrape together enough points to receive an Invitation to Apply.
In order to maximize points under the CRS, international graduates should focus on the following areas:
Improving English and French Proficiency: Graduates should ensure that they obtain the highest possible mark in each of the four language testing categories, not just enough to make them eligible under CEC. The difference between getting a CLB 10 and a CLB 7 in each category can mean a total of 68 additional points.
Accumulate Skilled Canadian Experience: International graduates should endeavour to obtain a skilled, full-time position (NOC 0, A, or B) or seek career advancement as soon as possible. Given that most international graduates hold 3-year open work permits, they have the ability to obtain a total of 64 points at the end of that period.
Accumulate Foreign Work Experience: If three years have gone by without obtaining an Invitation to Apply, international graduates should consider returning to their home countries and accumulate skilled work experience there. This is perhaps not the most desirable of options. However, CRS points are awarded for each year of skilled foreign experience, as well as a combination with previous Canadian experience, education, and language test scores. A total of 100 points may be obtained this way.
Obtain a Canadian Post-Graduate Credential: For international graduates whose future goals include obtaining a post-graduate degree in Canada, it may be to their benefit if they were to directly apply for their master’s or doctorate programs after completing their current studies. A Canadian Master’s degree is worth 135 CRS points, and a doctorate degree is worth 150 (compared to 120 for a Bachelor’s Degree and 98 for a two-year diploma). Students could choose to defer applying for a Post-Graduate Work Permit until they complete their post-graduate studies, which would allow them to begin accumulating Canadian experience after they’ve already obtained those additional CRS points.
A multitude of options remain open for international graduates, and it is entirely possible to obtain an Invitation to Apply even without a LMIA or a provincial nomination. However, it is crucial that students begin to organize their post-graduate plans before they graduate so that they do not waste precious time. Begin the job search early or attend job fairs and networking events; whichever option students choose, planning is, and will always be, the key to successfully obtaining permanent residence.
Canada has long been recognized as one of the top destinations for international students pursing higher education. Indeed, the federal government issues thousands of Study Permits every year to Foreign Nationals who are intending to study in Canada. However, with its growth, the International Student Program has experienced an increasing number of problems in recent years. In many cases, unlicensed and unscrupulous agents have provided fraudulent documents to facilitate Study Permit applications. In other cases, students who had enrolled in and paid tuition fees to unregulated institutions became victims when these institutions suddenly went out of business. As a result of this exploitation of prospective students, the federal government has introduced changes to current regulations. In doing so, they aim to reduce the potential for abuse of the Program, and to improve services for genuine students.
On February 14, 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced a number of changes to the current International Student Program, which took effect on June 1, 2014. At the forefront of the changes to the Program is the introduction of a designated learning institutions list, which limits prospective students to a selection of “pre-approved” schools that are qualified to host international students. All such schools have now been issued designated learning institution numbers, which must be provided as part of the applications for Study Permits. In essence, only students who have been accepted into one of the designated learning institutions will be eligible to apply for Study Permits. (Institutions at the primary- and secondary-school level are automatically considered designated institutions.) A full list of designated learning institutions in each province has now been published on the CIC website.
Other reforms to the International Student Program include:
Proof of actively pursuing studies. Students must demonstrate their enrollment in and continued intention to pursue their studies in Canada. Twice a year, all designated learning institutions are required to submit reports to CIC on their international students’ registration status. To that end, students may also face routine checks from CIC to provide proof of their academic status. Failure to maintain their enrollment or registration in classes can result in the international student being issued an Exclusion Order by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and removed from Canada for a period of up to two years.
Permission to work off-campus. Students no longer need to apply separately for an Off-Campus Work Permit. They are now automatically authorized to work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the school year, and full-time during scheduled breaks. However, only students registered in a degree, diploma, or certificate-granting programs are eligible to work off-campus under this change.
Limiting the issuance of Co-Op Work Permits. Under this particular change, only international students who are pursuing studies at a secondary school or a designated learning institution may apply for a Co-Op Work Permit. Students must continue to demonstrate that the co-op placement is an integral part of their course of study.
Allowing certain types of visitors to apply for a study permit from within Canada. Visitors who are at the pre-school, primary, or secondary level will now be eligible to apply for a Study Permit from within Canada. In addition, students who are on an academic exchange or are visiting students at a designated learning institution, or have completed a course or program of study that is a pre-requisite for admission at a designation learning institution may also submit applications from within Canada. Applications for Study Permits can be submitted either online or by mail, to the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta.
Scheduled expiration of Study Permits. Study Permits will automatically expire and become invalid 90 days following the completion of studies. Therefore, post-secondary graduates are advised to apply for Post-Graduate Work Permits immediately following completion of their program, in order to ensure they have authorization to remain in Canada. Secondary school graduates are also advised to apply for a new Study Permit (or another status document) immediately following completion of their secondary school studies.
Permission to work full-time following completion of studies. Eligible international student graduates, who have already submitted applications for Post-Graduate Work Permits, are now authorized to begin working full-time upon completion of their studies. This form of “implied status” will allow them to work until they receive a decision from CIC on their Work Permit applications.
Despite the numerous changes the federal government has introduced to the International Student Program, many existing regulations remain unaffected. For example, Study Permits are still not required for a program of less than six months in duration, and accompanying family members of Study Permit holders may still be eligible to apply for open Work Permits. Furthermore, CIC has announced a “grace period” for International Students who enrolled in a non-designated institution prior to June 1, 2014. Students who are currently studying at a non-designated institution can still complete their studies for up to three additional years (until 2017). Similarly, international students currently holding Off-Campus and Co-Op Work Permits issued by non-designated institutions may continue working under these authorizations until the completion of their studies, also for a period of up to three additional years.
It is important to note that these changes do not otherwise impact a Visa Officer’s assessment of a Study Permit application. When assessing an application, Visa Officers are still taking into consideration all determining factors, including evidence of financial support, credibility of the applicant and his or her supporting documents. Therefore, students who have been accepted into designated learning institutions may still be refused a Study Permit if a Visa Officer is not satisfied with any other part of the application. It is imperative that students continue to make every effort to demonstrate their genuine intent to study in Canada.
In introducing the above changes, CIC’s ultimate goal is two-fold: to ensure that genuine students are given every benefit of Canada’s excellent higher-education programs, and to regulate educational institutions so that only reliable and reputable establishments are conducting business in the industry. This can be viewed as part of CIC’s continued effort to crack down on immigration fraud at every level.
For more information on the changes to the International Student Program, visit www.cic.gc.ca, or call J. Kenney Consulting Ltd. at 604-568-4200 or 604-649-2627 to schedule a free consultation. You can also view our website at: www.jkenneyconsulting.com.
