01-02-2013
The Canadian immigration system provides many paths for foreign workers to immigrate to Canada. In the beginning of this year, Immigration Minister Jason Kenny announces a creative and supposedly more efficient new deal to channel skilled labour into the country—an online matchmaking service to connect workers with potential employers.
If implemented, this program managed by the federal immigration agency will significantly shorten the process of obtaining a permanent residence status for a foreign worker in Canada. Kenny states that a worker can be a permanent resident within months of being employed through the matchmaker. Ultimately, the goal of the matchmaking program is to lure young, educated, and English or French speaking immigrates into the country.
The idea sounds attractive, but it also raises some concerns. Unlike romantic fairy tales, relationships between the employer and the employed do not necessarily produce happy endings. If a foreign worker travels half-way across the globe to find out that his or her “other-half” is not suitable, is the government responsible for settling the worker and finding a new match? If an ideal match cannot be made in the end, should the foreign worker be given the boot and face deportation?
While the matchmaking service may be good news for those who wish to work and live in Canada, some Canadians question why such a service is unavailable for young Canadians looking for jobs?
In order to confront the anticipated challenges, the new matchmaking idea needs to go through many stages of experimentation and improvement before it can be fully implemented. Kenny’s New Year resolution requires a lot of thought to ensure the welfare of those who participate in the program. We cannot wait to see what the details of the program will be in the coming months.
