ARCHIVED – Newsletter – July 2019

This edition of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Newsletter includes the following:

• IRCC launches 2 new pilot projects for caregivers
• IRCC launches the “X” gender identifier on Canadian passports and other IRCC documents
• New initiative to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning and 2-spirit refugees
• Did you know …? Welcoming Francophone Communities, the International Metropolis Conference and more
• IRCC featured video – Promoting patient care in Iqaluit
• Upcoming events and important dates

IRCC launches 2 new pilot projects for caregivers

IRCC has launched 2 new pilot projects that will help caregivers who are coming to Canada make this country their permanent home.

The Home Child-Care Provider Pilot (HCCPP) and Home Support Worker Pilot (HSWP) opened for applications on June 18, 2019, replacing the expiring Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots.

Under the new pilots, caregivers who are not yet in Canada get a work permit if they have a job offer in Canada and meet the standard criteria for Canada’s other economic immigration programs. Once they are working in Canada, caregivers can gain the required 2 years of Canadian work experience and qualify for permanent residence.

These pilots also include occupation-specific, rather than employer-specific, work permits. These permits allows caregivers to change employers quickly when necessary. Open work and study permits are also available for the caregivers’ immediate family, which helps families come to Canada together. Employers hiring a caregiver through the new pilots are using a new job offer template to do so instead of the Labour Market Impact Assessment process.

Most importantly, these pilots provide a clear, direct transition from temporary to permanent resident status, ensuring that caregivers are able to become permanent residents quickly, after they have met the work experience requirement.

Associated links

• News release – Launching 2 new pilots: Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot
• Infographic – Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot

IRCC launches the “X” gender identifier on Canadian passports and other IRCC documents

Canadian citizens and residents now have the option to apply to have an “X” gender identifier on any IRCC-issued document.

Since June 4, 2019, IRCC has been offering the choice of an “X” gender identifier for those who do not identify exclusively as male or female. Individuals can apply for an “X” gender identifier on any documents issued by the department, including Canadian passports and travel documents, citizenship certificates and permanent resident cards.

To get an “X” gender identifier, first-time applicants and individuals who are renewing documents due to expire in less than 6 months can select “X” on the application form. Those who hold a document that is valid for 6 months or longer or that has no expiry date can apply to replace their document with one that has an “X” gender identifier without paying a new application fee.

Having the “X” gender identifier as an option is a significant and historic milestone in advancing the Government of Canada’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. On August 31, 2017, an interim measure made it possible for individuals to request that an observation sticker be added to their passport or travel document or supporting citizenship or immigration document, noting that the sex of the bearer should read as “X”. IRCC has been working with its government and private-sector partners since then to introduce the “X” gender identifier on its official documents.

Associated links

• Canadians can now identify as gender “X” on their passports
• Making programs and services inclusive of transgender, non-binary and 2-spirit people

New initiative to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning and 2-spirit refugees

On June 1, 2019, Canada introduced a new initiative that builds on the success of the Rainbow Refugee Assistance Partnership. This partnership increases the number of refugees who can be privately sponsored from 15 to 50 per year. Start-up costs and 3 months of support are provided to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning and 2-spirit (LGBTQ2+) refugees who are privately sponsored by Canadians.

The Rainbow Refugee Assistance Partnership, established in cooperation with the Rainbow Refugee Society, encourages more Canadians to support LGBTQ2+ refugees and helps strengthen collaboration between LGBTQ2+ organizations and the refugee settlement community in Canada. This unique partnership works in addition to Canada’s other existing refugee programs, which continue to provide protection to LGBTQ2+ and other vulnerable people from around the world.

Associated links

• News release – Canada announces new initiative to support LGBTQ2+ refugees
• LGBTQ2+ refugees

Did you know …?

• Ten more Welcoming Francophone Communities have been announced since our last issue. Here is the complete list of all 14 Welcoming Francophone Communities:

  • Prince George (British Columbia)
  • Calgary (Alberta)
  • Moose Jaw and Gravelbourg (Saskatchewan)
  • Seine River region (Manitoba)
  • Hamilton (Ontario)
  • Hawkesbury (Ontario)
  • Sudbury (Ontario)
  • Labrador City and Wabush (Newfoundland and Labrador)
  • Haut-Saint-Jean (New Brunswick)
  • Municipality of Clare (Nova Scotia)
  • Evangeline region (Prince Edward Island)
  • Whitehorse (Yukon)
  • Yellowknife (Northwest Territories)
  • Iqaluit (Nunavut)

  Learn more about immigrating to Francophone communities outside Quebec.

• Last month, Canada hosted the International Metropolis Conference, the largest international gathering of experts in the fields of migration, integration and diversity. The conference was held from June 24 to 28 at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa.
• All year long, IRCC hosts citizenship ceremonies, and they are open to the general public. Find out if there’s a citizenship ceremony near you.

IRCC featured video – Promoting patient care in Iqaluit

The IRCC video team produces informative and creative videos on a wide range of subjects of interest to the department, Canadians and our clients. In each issue of our newsletter, we highlight one of their productions.

In this issue, we bring you the video Promoting patient care in Iqaluit.

Listen to Nurse Rhose Harris-Galia’s story of immigrating to Iqaluit and how she promotes continuity of care for patients in Canada’s northern communities. This video was produced by Immigration Matters, an IRCC initiative that shows how immigration benefits everyone by telling the stories of Canadian immigrants who have made a difference in their communities. Join the conversation by using the #ImmigrationMatters hashtag when sharing stories on your own social media account.

Upcoming events and important dates

Mark your calendar! Below is a selection of upcoming special events and national celebrations.

July 11 is World Population Day, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues.

National Peacekeeper’s Day is on August 9. Each year, veterans and Canadian Armed Forces personnel who have served in various peace support efforts gather across the country to honour their comrades.

On August 9, learn about the unique cultures of the world’s Indigenous peoples and recognize their right to their way of life on International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

Celebrate International Youth Day on August 12, a day dedicated to bringing awareness to the cultural and legal issues affecting young people around the globe.

Honour the excellent work and dedication of humanitarian workers all over the world on August 19, World Humanitarian Day.

Features