Canada opens new residency paths for military recruits, other workers

[FJAG]

Yup, this occurred to me. It would probably heavily depend on where they’re coming from. With that said, this is also something that’s entirely a matter of policy within the federal executive; with ministerial level support, much could be decided and implemented.

Less of a concern for doctors and nurses; much more of one for pilots.

I'm not 100% sure about doctors and nurses, but one requirement for being a legal officer is qualification and good standing in a provincial law society. That's because that's where the evaluation standards and control take place. My guess is that its the same for various other professions including doctors and nurses. To the best of my knowledge, the feds have no system for professional qualification evaluation and accreditation for those fields either.

I think the last thing we'd want is yet another "trade" which is not transferable from the military to civvy street. That would mean this initiative needs to partner with at least one province's various accreditation authorities or be a bit of a lame duck.

 

[brihard]

I'm not 100% sure about doctors and nurses, but one requirement for being a legal officer is qualification and good standing in a provincial law society. That's because that's where the evaluation standards and control take place. My guess is that its the same for various other professions including doctors and nurses. To the best of my knowledge, the feds have no system for professional qualification evaluation and accreditation for those fields either.

I think the last thing we'd want is yet another "trade" which is not transferable from the military to civvy street. That would mean this initiative needs to partner with at least one province's various accreditation authorities or be a bit of a lame duck.

It may not be a tough sell to find a province willing to move quick to accredit if it potentially gets them an inside track on enticing those medical professionals over to the civilian system after service.

 

[OldSolduer]

These are the types of immigrants that were coming here in the 60s.
It’s about time.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

I hate to be the debbie downer, but security clearances don’t always easily transfer to Canada.

Sheesh, just switch Departments in government, or come from a Provincial government job to the Federal and see what happens. We need to have it that if you switch departments and you currently have a clearance, it remains valid for whatever timeframe remains. That will reduce security clearance checks and give the folks who do it more time to focus on new applications.

 

[MilEME09]

Oh man the disinformation train started fast on this one, critics immediately saying Carney is letting the Chinese communist party to take over the CAF

 

[GK .Dundas]

Oh man the disinformation train started fast on this one, critics immediately saying Carney is letting the Chinese communist party to take over the CAF

Yeah , but where does Carney stand on alien space lizards ?
Everybody know they're the real threat !

 

[Jarnhamar]

A recent report indicated 1 in 5 immigrants leaves Canada within a short time of arriving (IIRC) , with highly skilled, educated, and PhD-holding immigrants leaving at nearly twice the rate.

Are the new changes addressing any reasons why that's happening?

 

[daftandbarmy]

A recent report indicated 1 in 5 immigrants leaves Canada within a short time of arriving (IIRC) , with highly skilled, educated, and PhD-holding immigrants leaving at nearly twice the rate.

Are the new changes addressing any reasons why that's happening?

Well, we'd have to fix our whole crappy economy for one thing

I had a conversation with one 'economic immigrant' who told me that Canada was easy to get into but, once you're here, they crush your dreams and your bank account. He went to the US pretty fast as he had highly marketable skills...


Why Skilled Immigrants Are Leaving Canada

Recent reports show that while family and refugee retention rates remain steady (only 8.6% leave over 25 years), economic migrants are departing at much higher rates—nearly 48.1% within the first seven years. Multiple factors fuel this exodus:

Housing Crisis: Nationally, affordability ratios have hit 9:1, and in major cities like Toronto and Vancouver, rents for one-bedroom apartments average over $2,000 per month.

Job Market Strain: Unemployment is rising and foreign credentials remain unrecognized for almost 40% of skilled professionals, delaying promotions and permanent residency applications.

Policy Changes: Federal caps on non-permanent residents, new study permit limits, and longer processing times (up to 196 days in some cases) have created uncertainty for international students and workers.

Global Competition: U.S. tech hubs, European opportunities, and higher salaries abroad lure Canada’s top talent away.

Canada Emigration Trends 2025: Why Skilled Immigrants Are Leaving - ICC Immigration Inc

Canada has long been known as a destination of opportunity, attracting skilled workers, students, and families from across the globe. Yet 2025 data reveals a growing challenge: while refugees and family-sponsored immigrants are largely staying, skilled immigrants are leaving Canada in record...

iccimmigration.ca

 

[Colin Parkinson]

"Come to Canada , we need your skills". "Welcome, oh dear you don't seem to have any Canadian experience or certifications, please go to a Canadian university for 4 years and we might have work for you then. But don't worry there are lot's of jobs for engineers driving pizza delivery"

 

[OldSolduer]

"Come to Canada , we need your skills". "Welcome, oh dear you don't seem to have any Canadian experience or certifications, please go to a Canadian university for 4 years and we might have work for you then. But don't worry there are lot's of jobs for engineers driving pizza delivery"

And making it financially difficult to get the qualifications because it’s very costly

 

[ModlrMike]

I'm not 100% sure about doctors and nurses, but one requirement for being a legal officer is qualification and good standing in a provincial law society. That's because that's where the evaluation standards and control take place. My guess is that its the same for various other professions including doctors and nurses. To the best of my knowledge, the feds have no system for professional qualification evaluation and accreditation for those fields either.

I think the last thing we'd want is yet another "trade" which is not transferable from the military to civvy street. That would mean this initiative needs to partner with at least one province's various accreditation authorities or be a bit of a lame duck.

I cannot speak for nurses, but International Medical Graduates are currently being fast tracked by most provinces. In MB for instance, the program is run by UofM and lasts from 3-12 months. Preceptorship is done at all six of the Wpg hospitals, and some of the more northern ones. The CF funding extra seats should not be a show stopper. Some GP and some specialists coming from US, UK, and AUS can bypass a number of the requirements and obtain licensure relatively quickly.

 

[Quirky]

Immigrants who have passable english are going to love learning french as well!

 

[daftandbarmy]

Immigrants who have passable english are going to love learning french as well!

Quebec already brings in a large number of French speaking immigrants.

And, in case you weren't aware, we have targets for French speaking immigration outside of PQ too...

Canada exceeded its Francophone immigration target for 2025

Francophone and Acadian minority communities outside Quebec contribute to the economy, culture and vitality of the French language in Canada. Francophone immigration remains essential and aims to address labour needs and to support communities across the country.

www.canada.ca

 

[Jarnhamar]

Immigrants who have passable english are going to love learning french as well

That's going to throw a wrench into attracting immigrants and PRs into the CAF.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

Immigrants who have passable english are going to love learning french as well!

So they can work and train solely in English. At least if they are working in any technical trade at least

 

[Ostrozac]

So they can work and train solely in English. At least if they are working in any technical trade at least

Not if they want to make it past Sergeant. If you’ve seen the new official languages directive it’s B/B/B for all Regular Warrant Officers and above, and all Regular Commissioned Officers, in all occupations, effective 2030.* That’s going to be a huge obstacle to attracting quality skilled transferees from the UK and Australia.

* All Reserve Warant Officers and Commisioned Officers to be B/B/B bilingual by 2035. Not sure how that’s going to work in such hotbeds of French immersion as Corner Brook and Kenora.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

Not if they want to make it past Sergeant. If you’ve seen the new official languages directive it’s B/B/B for all Regular Warrant officers and above, and all Regular Commissioned Officers, in all occupations, effective 2030.* That’s going to be a huge obstacle to attracting quality skilled transferees from the UK and Australia.

* All Reserve Warant Officers and Officers to be B/B/B bilingual by 2035. Not sure how that’s going to work in such hotbeds of French immersion as Corner Brook and Kenora.

I have read the DM/CDS Direction on the OLA changes. I am aware of the policy and think its flawed in both it's poor execution and practicality.

The technical aspects of employment within a modern, NATO-centric armed forces are based in English. Our defence procurement heavily relies on technical data, eqpt, training, and vendors that are wholly Anglophone or marginally bilingual (unless we are economically stimulating Quebec for some reason).

English is the common language of our Allies within ABCANZ, NORAD, NATO, and the UN. Its the language of instruction for my IS/Sig/ATIS Techs, because the train in Networks and not Réseaus.

This is a political decision that did not receive the amount of pushback it should have from the CAF. It will have an adverse affect on our recruiting, retention, and operational output.

 

[brihard]

Oh man the disinformation train started fast on this one, critics immediately saying Carney is letting the Chinese communist party to take over the CAF

Oh dude is it ever. This has definitely been picked up, twisted into shapes it doesn’t at all actually resemble, and amplified and repeated hard on social media. And people seem to be falling for it.

 

[Haggis]

Oh man the disinformation train started fast on this one, critics immediately saying Carney is letting the Chinese communist party to take over the CAF

You mean like this?

Not a concern to the present government until one of our new pilots lands a CAF F-35 on a waiting PRC aircraft carrier off the west coast.

I would not be surprised of POTUS47 put a halt to all foreign military sales to Canada in anticipation of such an event and to dissuade us from this path.

 

[Halifax Tar]

I have read the DM/CDS Direction on the OLA changes. I am aware of the policy and think its flawed in both it's poor execution and practicality.

The technical aspects of employment within a modern, NATO-centric armed forces are based in English. Our defence procurement heavily relies on technical data, eqpt, training, and vendors that are wholly Anglophone or marginally bilingual (unless we are economically stimulating Quebec for some reason).

English is the common language of our Allies within ABCANZ, NORAD, NATO, and the UN. Its the language of instruction for my IS/Sig/ATIS Techs, because the train in Networks and not Réseaus.

This is a political decision that did not receive the amount of pushback it should have from the CAF. It will have an adverse affect on our recruiting, retention, and operational output.

This is such a short sighted policy.