Bedford, Nova Scotia: In order to address the issue of labor shortage in the health care sector, immigration minister Sean Fraser Wednesday made an important announcement.
Last month, the minister had announced new changes to Canada’s flagship economic immigration program, Express Entry. After those changes, Canada can issue invitations to apply for permanent residency to candidates from particular fields or with specific skills, training or language ability.
Moving forward in this direction, Sean Fraser announced the use of these new features for a dedicated round of invitations to be sent to health workers, including doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and optometrists.
“The first round for category-based selection will open today and will invite 500 health workers to apply. A second round, inviting 1,500 workers to apply, will take place on July 5. This phased approach will ensure the smooth launch of the program,” Sean Fraser announced during an event in Bedford.
He said by focusing on candidates with health care expertise and by bringing in the talent the country needs, this measure will help improve access to health care services for Canadians and their families.