Posts Tagged: covid-19

February 22, 2021

Further flexibilities to support international students and additional quarantine requirements

We are pleased to share that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada has announced further flexibilities to support international students: New measures will allow up to 100% of a student’s program to be completed online from outside of Canada while remaining eligible for the post-graduate work permit (PGWP). Studies completed outside of Canada until December 31, 2021 will count towards the eligibility and length of the PGWP. This announcement reflects the ongoing evolution of the pandemic. It also reflects the impact of our extensive advocacy efforts to demonstrate the value of international students to Canada. Note that additional testing and more stringent quarantine requirements for... Read more

Tags: covid-19

February 4, 2021

New testing and quarantine requirements for travellers to Canada

Based on recent conversations with officials from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), we understand that the Government of Canada intends to include international students as travellers who would be subject to these recently announced testing and quarantine requirements. At this point, we understand that International students would be tested at the point of entry (Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver) and would be required to book a stay of at least three days at a nearby government-approved hotel. Should they test negative, they can complete the remaining 11 days of their quarantine in... Read more

Tags: covid-19

May 13, 2020

The College and Institute Response

In response to COVID-19, the incredible versatility of Canada’s colleges and institutes has been evident! Here’s some of resilient and creative ways we’ve seen colleges and institutes step up to support their communities: Applied Research InsightScope is a software platform built entirely by Algonquin College students that dramatically accelerates the process of completing systematic reviews in healthcare. The platform is currently being used on four COVID-19 related projects. Algonquin College partners with the Ottawa Hospital on a new CanPRIME initiative to provide students with specialized training to develop, test and manufacture novel biotherapeutics. The Arts, Crafts & Technology Micro-manufacturing Centre... Read more

Tags: colleges, covid-19, institutes

April 22, 2020

New measures to support students affected by COVID-19

Many Canadians are facing unprecedented financial challenges because of COVID-19 and students are no exception. Not only have their studies been disrupted, but many have lost part-time jobs and are facing the prospect of spending the entire summer unemployed, losing out on much needed financial support. Colleges and Institutes Canada has been advocating on behalf of members and their students since the beginning of this unprecedented crisis, as previous measures designed to help Canadians did not address the specific challenges they are facing. Today we are so pleased that the federal government announced new initiatives worth $9B specifically for students... Read more

Tags: covid-19, students

April 17, 2020

Update from IRCC – Implied Legal Status for in-Canada Work Permit and Study Permit Extension Applicants

We [Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada] are writing to inform you of important information as it pertains to temporary foreign workers and international students in Canada whose status have or will expire in the next 90 days and who may be benefiting from continued implied legal status in Canada. IRCC is aware that temporary worker and student status is used within provincial and territorial jurisdictions to help determine eligibility to social and health benefits. This information should help your jurisdiction confirm if the temporary foreign worker or international student, including their family members if applicable, is still under legal status... Read more

Tags: covid-19, IRCC

April 15, 2020

COVID-19 updates from International Experience Canada

The Government of Canada is working closely with partners in Canada and around the world, including the World Health Organization (WHO), to respond to the current outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). One measure that the Government of Canada has put in place is to limit travel to Canada. This restriction has an impact on youth who come to come through one of Canada’s 36 youth mobility arrangements. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the federal department responsible for International Experience Canada (IEC) the program that manages these youth mobility arrangements on behalf of Canada. At this point in time,... Read more

Tags: covid-19, International, students, update

April 9, 2020

Changes to Canada Summer Jobs program to help businesses and young Canadians

The Government of Canada is taking action to support workers, businesses, and all Canadians impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including young people facing challenges finding work. The measures announced include temporary changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program that will help employers hire summer staff and provide young Canadians access to the jobs they need during this unprecedented time. The program will help create up to 70,000 jobs for youth between 15 and 30 years of age. Temporary changes to the program for this year include: an increase to the wage subsidy so that private and public sector employers can... Read more

Tags: covid-19, students

April 8, 2020

Online Delivery and PGWP eligibility – New measures announced for international students starting in May or June

We are pleased to share that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended online delivery exemptions with respect to Post-Graduate Work Permit eligibility for international students as we have been calling for. Those who have a study permit or who have been approved for a study permit for a program starting in May or June can begin and complete up to 50% of their program online from abroad in anticipation of a transition to Canada. These are exceptional circumstances and we appreciate this flexibility. Important decisions regarding the Spring/Summer intake can now be made with some clarity. We know,... Read more

Tags: covid-19, students

April 7, 2020

Updates for students and employers

During our weekly COVID-19 update webinar, Employment and Skills Development Canada (ESDC) shared changes made to the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) to assist students and employers during the COVID-19 outbreak: Post-secondary institutions are now eligible to hire students under SWPP and receive the wage subsidy. Contact any of the nine organizations selected as SWPP Employer Delivery Partners for more information. Start dates and the duration of placements are now more flexible. Students are permitted to work remotely and work from home. Wage subsidies can be paid up front to SME and not-for-profit employers. Employers can have their eligibility for the program confirmed before selecting a student... Read more

Tags: covid-19, employers, students

April 4, 2020

A message from the Hon. Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry regarding the denaturing agent, guanidine thiocyanate

Please see a message the Hon. Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, has asked us to share with our members regarding the denaturing agent, guanidine thiocyanate. Dear Colleagues, On March 20, I wrote to you asking for your support and cooperation in helping Canada to combat COVID-19, requesting post-secondary institutions to identify stocks of personal protective equipment that could be made available to the critical care system. I also asked for your assistance in identifying innovative manufacturing solutions to address potential shortages of essential medical equipment. Thank you to those of you who responded to this request or... Read more

Tags: covid-19