British Columbia (BC) Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaThe British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is employer-driven since it has been developed to assist employers fill critical skill shortages. It is divided into two main streams: Strategic Occupations and Business Categories.

Strategic Occupations:

* Skilled Workers
* Registered Nurses, Physicians & Midwives
* International Students

Skilled Workers:

Managers, professionals, technicians/technologists and skilled trades who have full-time arranged employment in British Columbia are eligible to apply for BC PNP.

Managers must have a relevant university degree, college diploma, professional designation or other management training as well as proven management experience. Examples of managers category are CEO, CFO, vice president, controller, general manager, executive director, accommodation service manager, marketing manager, production manager, research director and software development manager. Examples of ineligible occupations are managers in social and community services, public administration and retail trade.

Professionals must have a relevant university degree, 2-year college diploma or professional designation as well as several years of directly related work experience. Examples of professionals are accountant, architect, planner/surveyor, audiologist, speech pathologist, biologist, biochemist, microbiologist, chemist, software developer, interactive media developer, conference/event planner, dieticians/nutritionist, engineer (all fields), financial/investment analyst, geologist, geochemist, database analyst, physiotherapist, pharmacist, university/college professor, veterinarian and writer (advertising, interactive media and technical). Examples of ineligible occupations are secondary/elementary teacher, clergy, probation officer, government program officer/researcher and librarians.

Technicians and Technologists must have a relevant university degree or 2-year college diploma as well as several years of directly related work experience. Examples of technicians and technologists are aircraft instrument and avionics mechanics; architectural technician/technologist; computer/information systems technician; construction estimator; engineering and industrial technician/technologist; mining technologist; graphic artist; health, medical and veterinary technician/technologist; land survey and mapping technician/technologist; and technical sales specialist (wholesale). Examples of ineligible occupations are hairstylists and other technical personal service occupations.

Skilled Trades must have 2-3 years of apprenticeship training or trades certification as well as several years of directly related work experience. Examples of skilled trades are aircraft mechanics and structural repair technicians; aquaculture, nursery and greenhouse managers; audio, video, motion picture and broadcasting technicians; automotive and heavy equipment mechanics; bricklayers, tile setters and stone masons; carpenters and cabinetmakers; crane operators, drillers and blasters; concrete finishers; chefs; electricians and telecom line workers; glaziers; ironworkers; machinists, millwrights and industrial mechanics; plasterers and drywall installers; plumbers, pipe fitters and gas fitters; and welders. Examples of ineligible occupations are clerical, administrative and financial supervisors; brookkeepers; secretaries; paraprofessionals; upholsterers, tailors, jewelers; sales and service supervisors; insurance and real estate brokers; and operators in manufacturing and processing.

Registered Nurses, Physicians & Midwives:

Registered nurses who have arranged employment (regular full-time) can apply for BC PNP as long as they have a letter from the Registered Nurses Association of BC (RNABC) stating that they are eligible for an interim permit. Physicians who have been practicing in BC on a work permit for at least 9 months can apply for BC PNP as long as they have been issued a letter from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia indicating that a supervising physician has given them a positive assessment of their work in BC. Midwives who has registered with the College of Midwives of British Columbia (CMBC) with a job offer at a established practice for 6 months can apply as well.

International Students:

Full-time international students (or recent graduates) of B.C. post-secondary institutions who have arranged employment (regular full-time) in B.C. can apply for BC PNP as long as the arranged employment is directly related to their field of study. High priorities are given to international students who study natural sciences, applied sciences, engineering, health sciences, computer sciences, information systems, digital media and business/commerce (i.e.. IT management, tourism & hospitality management, international trade, finance, and accounting).


Business Categories:

* Business Skills
* Regional Business
* Projects

Business Skills:

Business applicants under Business Skills category must have:

* successful business experience
* minimum net worth of $2 million (CAD)
* minimum investment of $800,000(CAD)
* a minimum of 1/3 equity
* a business plan
* a business to create at least 5 new jobs
* an active management role

Regional Business:

Business applicants under Regional Business category must have:

* a project located outside of the Greater Vancouver Area
* minimum net worth of $600,000 (CAD)
* minimum investment of $300,000 (CAD) excluding real estate
* a minimum of 50% equity
* a business to create at least 2 new jobs
* an active management role

Project:

This category is to assist companies with the timely entry of skilled, key managers and key technical professionals essential to the success of a business expected to generate significant economic benefits to British Columbia.

* The company must have a proven record of successful experience in an area relevant to the proposed business
* Only for new investments or business expansions (minimum investment of $1 million and create a minimum of 5 new jobs)
* Key staff presence is essential to the success of the project

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Desaprueban gasto excesivo en Vancouver 2010
Agencias

Toronto, Canadá
Viernes 15 de enero de 2010

Al menos el 48 por ciento de los canadiense considera que el dinero destinado a la realización de los Juegos Olímpicos de Invierno fue una exageración

Casi la mitad de los canadienses cree que el país se está gastando demasiado dinero en la organización de los Juegos Olímpicos de Invierno de Vancouver, que se iniciarán el próximo 12 de febrero.

Según publicaron hoy medios de comunicación locales, el 48 por ciento de los encuestados en un sondeo realizado por la firma Ekos Consulting, dijeron que el país se está gastando demasiado dinero, mientras un 45 por ciento dijo que la cantidad era apropiada y un 7 por ciento dijo que no era suficiente.

Además, un 68 por ciento de los encuestados en la provincia de Columbia Británica, sede de los Juegos Olímpicos, dijeron que el gasto es excesivo, lo que Ekos dijo era quizás el dato más revelador.

"Obviamente, la emoción de organizar un evento que atraerá la atención mundial no tiene demasiado peso entre los habitantes de Columbia Británica, que están luchando para salir de la recesión" dijo el presidente de Ekos, Frank Graves.

Comentaristas políticos de todo el país han señalado que las cifras de la encuesta anticipan problemas para el Gobierno del primer ministro, Stephen Harper, quien en diciembre decidió suspender el Parlamento hasta el final de los Juegos Olímpicos.

La decisión ha sido ampliamente criticada tanto dentro como fuera del país.

La comentarista política del principal periódico canadiense, Jane Taber, dijo hoy que "unos Juegos Olímpicos exitosos para Canadá (multitud de medallas de oro) creará buenos sentimientos hacia el Gobierno conservador, que podría utilizar como trampolín hacia unas elecciones y un Gobierno de mayoría" .

"La estrategia puede haberle salido mal", añadió Taber.

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PROTEST JANUARY 20TH - OBAMA FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE

OBAMA FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE SEES NO IMMIGRATION REFORM

HERMANDAD MEXICANA AND MAPA DEMAND OBAMA FULFILL PROMISE
Los Angeles - Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana and the Mexicana American Political Association along with other organizations will protest President Barack Obama's first year in office as a promise unfulfilled to the immigrant communities.

"January 20th concludes the first year in office for President Obama with great lament due to the extraordinarily aggressive enforcement tactics directed against working class immigrant families completely opposite to what candidate Obama promised during the presidential campaign," declared Nativo V. Lopez, President National of Hermandad Mexicana and MAPA.

Hermandad Mexicana and MAPA call on the immigrant community, their families, and allies to participate in two actions directed at President Obama to demand immediate White House action to pursue fair and humane immigration reform, particularly the legalization of all undocumented persons, this year.

The actions occur in coordination with immigrants' rights coalitions and networks nationally that are organizing similar protests during the month of January. These are the first public protest actions in favor of favorable and humane immigration reform in 2010.

The two protests will occur at the following locations:

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - (5:00 p.m.)
Federal Building, 300 N. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 - (5:00 p.m.)
Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - 34 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana

Nativo V. Lopez
National President