The Canadian Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism announced that Canada will maintain its immigration level in 2009, welcoming between 240,000 to 265,000 new permanent residents. The 2009 plan includes up to 156,600 immigrants in the economic category; 71,000 in the family category; and 37,400 in the humanitarian category.

Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) recently announced that it will be funding a new initiative through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program for internationally-trained architects (mostly Canadian Immigrants)

Currently profession of architect is regulated differently in all provinces and territories in Canada. This means that, by law, no one can practise the profession of architect without a license.

To help new health care immigrants to quickly start working in Quebec, Canada, the Immigration Minister has established agreements with seven professional corporations - governing doctors, nurses, nurses' aides, occupational therapists, inhalations therapists, midwives, and medical technicians. The goal is to make sure that every foreign trained medical or helth professional who comes to Quebec, Canada and who wishes to be a part of a professional order..

Controversial changes to Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) have passed final reading in the House of Commons. If made law, the amendments will give the Immigration Minister more power to decide which applications will be fast-tracked, which will remain in the queue, and which will be refused outright. These changes are needed to reduce processing times so that badly needed skilled workers can get to Canada quickly

In order to overcome the delays and difficulties of getting foreign credentials recognized in Canada, a new government office will provide services to newcomers and immigrants to assist in navigating the credential recognition process. This will help new immigrants to work in their chosen fields in Canada The Foreign Credential Referral Office is a new project that will help immigrants begin the process of getting their credentials recognized before they arrive in Canada, preventing time from being wasted on arrival.

As of May 19th 2009, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) has removed certain occupations from its list of qualifying occupations for the popular U.S. Visa Holder category. Eight Information Technology (IT) occupations are no longer listed as "occupations under pressure" in Alberta. Applicants with work experience in these occupations are no longer qualified for the program.

In the recent announcement by Ontario's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Mike Colle, nearly $3 million was allotted for programs that will smooth the entry of foreign-trained nurses into the province's healthcare system. The new funding is targeted at the various steps that must be completed in order to practice nursing in Ontario. Nurses will receive increased support for their licensing exam, their language training, and with acquiring work experience.

Under the expanded Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the province will now be making Canadian Permanent Residency nominations for individuals in manufacturing, food and beverage, transportation, and hospitality occupations. Alberta employers have been suffering from chronic labour shortages in these industries; the new PNP is designed to alleviate them.

The construction industry in Canada is in desperate need for more workers from abroad. With potential growth being held back by labour shortages, industry leaders are asking the government to increase immigration and to improve recruiting strategies to bring individuals with much-needed construction skills to Canada.

Quebec Skilled Worker / Professional applicants intending to reside in Montreal or another city in the Province of Quebec are selected based upon a different set of criteria than applicants who wish to settle elsewhere in Canada. If you want to imigrate to Quebec as a skilled worker, you must first follow a separate selection process before your application is finalised by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.