Become A Registered Practical Nurse

In long-term care, registered practical nurses (RPNs) play a vital role in creating individualized care plans that meet the unique needs of each resident. They work as an integral member of an interdisciplinary team that includes physicians, social workers, dieticians, speech language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and more.
Registered practical nurses care for residents with stable and more predictable medical needs. However, the varied demands on registered practical nurses in long-term care means they not only exercise a wide range of skills, but also have the opportunity to pursue different medical specializations. Caring for residents over a long period of time, registered practical nurses not only become indispensable members of their care teams, but also develop strong, personal relationships with residents and their families.

Job Requirements

To become a registered practical nurse, you must:

• complete an approved program of practical nursing
• complete the national registration examination
• be registered and in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario

Education

Registered practical nurse programs approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario, are offered at publicly-assisted colleges, as well as some Indigenous institutes in partnership with publicly-assisted colleges.
Admission generally requires:

• Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent academic achievement
• individual college or program prerequisites

Programs are two-years long and lead to an Ontario college diploma.

Become A Registered Nurse

Registered nurses working in long-term care provide comprehensive care to residents with ever-increasing levels of complex needs.
They are clinical leaders in assessment, care planning, carrying out care and measuring what’s working or not for all residents in a long-term care home. Registered nurses are also responsible for leading residents’ care teams, which can include a number of different designations and practitioners. Due to the wide scope of their role in the sector, registered nurses with experience in long-term care can achieve leadership roles in their careers much sooner, than in other sectors

Job Requirements

To become a registered nurse, you must:

• complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree offered by a university, college, or through a college-university partnership
• complete the national registration examination
• be registered and in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario

Education

In Ontario, Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs are provided by:

• 2 university stand-alone programs (Queen’s University and University of Toronto)
• 17 collaborative university-college programs
• 4 college stand-alone programs (Humber, St. Lawrence, Seneca and Georgian colleges)

Admission generally requires:

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent
• minimum academic achievement average
• individual college or university program prerequisites

Programs are typically four years in length. However, some compressed and accelerated options are available for students with prior education and experience.

Become A Personal Support Worker

Personal support workers are the backbone of the long-term care sector. On a day-to-day basis, they are able to make the biggest difference to the residents’ quality of life and are involved in every single aspect of care-planning, including:

• personal care
• social and emotional well-being
• housekeeping
• culturally-specific supports

Given the support they provide across a spectrum of needs, becoming a personal support worker in long-term care is a great opportunity to develop a wide range of valued skills like inter-personal communications, teamwork, adaptability and collaboration.
It is also a much-in-demand role, with the long-term care sector alone looking to employ thousands of personal support workers over the next four years.

Education

Personal support worker education programs are offered by:

• publicly-assisted colleges
• private career colleges
• district school boards
• Indigenous institutes

Programs take from five months to a year to complete.

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia is rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic and looking to fill jobs with skilled workers through economic immigration programs for occupations in the healthcare, hospitality, finance and other sectors.

TD Economics is projecting growth in Maritime province’s real GDP of 4.2 per cent this year, more than reversing its slump due to the COVID-19 global pandemic last year, and a tightening job market. In 2022, the economists are forecasting real GDP growth of a further 2.4 per cent.

“Employment remains only 0.4 per cent below its pre-pandemic level as of August, one of the best performances in Canada,” wrote economists Beata Caranci, Derek Burleton, Rishi Sondhi, and Omar Abdelrahman in their TD Economics Provincial Economic Forecast earlier this year.

In addition to growth in the healthcare sector, which is under particular strain due to the pandemic, the construction and finance, insurance and real estate industries in the province are all on the upswing.

Strong housing construction and the government’s commitment to spend $1.2 billion on capital projects are boosting employment in the housing market, driving it up five per cent year over year.

“Manufacturing activity has also impressed, with sales up 15 per cent year-to-date, lifted by shipments of plastic and rubber products. This suggests that the tire manufacturing industry has held firm, despite weak automotive production,” state the economists.

The re-opening of the Canadian border, the loosening of some public health restrictions, and the arrival of vaccine passports have all helped Nova Scotia return to economic activity that is closer to normal. That’s creating labour shortages with many jobs going begging.

Economic immigration to Nova Scotia typically accounts for about three-quarters of new permanent residents annually. During the last full year before the start of the pandemic, economic immigration to Nova Scotia resulted in it welcoming 5,875 new permanent residents, or 77.5 per cent of the 7,580 who made the province their home in 2019.

The growth in jobs in Nova Scotia mirrors what is happening across much of Canada and is particularly encouraging because many of the new jobs are full-time.

“Employment gains in September were concentrated in full-time work, and among people in the core working age group of 25 to 54,” noted Statistics Canada in its September Labour Force Survey. “Increases were spread across multiple industries and provinces.”

As foreign nationals look to Nova Scotia as a possible immigration destination, here are the Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs that they should consider to apply under economic immigration programs.

1. Nurse Aides, Orderlies And Patient Service Associates (NOC 3413)

These are the people who assist nurses, hospital staff and physicians in the basic care of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted care facilities for the elderly and other healthcare establishments.

In early December, there were 50 positions for nurse aides in Ontario alone and 832 across the country, according to Jobbank.

In Nova Scotia, these positions come with an average annual salary of $35,100 based on a 37.5-hour work week but that pay can go up to $40,950 depending on experience and the location of the job.

2. Physicians – Family (NOC 3112) and Specialists (3111)

In early December, Indeed listed 48 positions for family physicians and 149 jobs for specialists in Nova Scotia.

General practitioners and family physicians diagnose and treat diseases, physiological disorders and injuries. In Nova Scotia, they make a median annual salary of $192,605 but can earn as much as $351,221.

Specialists, a category that includes surgeons, diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders and act as consultants to other physicians. In Nova Scotia, a specialist earns a median annual salary of $236,222 but that income can reach $431,517 per year.

3. Nurses (NOC 3012)

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses provide direct nursing care to patients, deliver health education programs and provide consultative services regarding issues relevant to the practice of nursing.

Indeed listed 635 open positions for nurses in Nova Scotia in early December as the demand for nurses was driven up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The occupation comes with a median annual wage of $76,050 based on a 37.5-hour work week with top wage earners making up to $84,669 along the North Shore.

4. Food And Beverage Servers (NOC 6513) and Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers (NOC 6711)

Restaurateurs in Nova Scotia are facing a serious labour shortage for cooks and servers. Luc Erjavec, the Atlantic Canadian vice president of Restaurants Canada, said earlier this year the entire restaurant sector is facing an acute labour shortage.

“It’s unprecedented times out there,” he said. “I’ve heard of restaurants changing their hours, closing earlier … The staff they have is burning out.”

There were 114 jobs for servers and another 260 for cooks in Nova Scotia in early December, according to Indeed.

The median annual income for a server or cook in Nova Scotia, based on a 37.5-hour work week, is $27,300 and the annual salary for cooks tops off at $40,872.

5. Cleaners (NOC 6731)

Those who clean lobbies, hallways, offices and rooms of hotels, motels, resorts, hospitals, schools, office buildings and private residences were a hot commodity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In early December, there were 318 jobs for cleaners in Nova Scotia listed on Indeed. Jobbank gave the occupation’s prospects for job growth its highest rating of “good” and noted there were then 1,052 such jobs across the country.

In Nova Scotia, commercial cleaners earn a median annual salary of $28,370 based on a 37.5-hour work week but can make up to $39,000.

6. Transport Truck Drivers (NOC 7511)

Trucking jobs initially dipped during the COVID-19 pandemic due to safety protocols to provide interprovincial and intra-provincial transportation of goods as well as the loss of access to many of the services on which truckers rely.

Many card lock sites (fuel stations specifically for commercial trucks), restaurants, washrooms, and some rest areas simply closed down during the early pandemic.

Then, though, the retail environment shifted as shoppers turned to the web to buy goods – and truckers became and even hotter commodity than they had been before the pandemic.

In early December, there were 634 ads for trucking jobs in Nova Scotia on the Indeed website.

The median annual income for a trucker working a standard work week in Nova Scotia is $39,000 but that can rise to $58,500 for those working in Halifax.

7. Construction trades helpers and labourers (NOC 7611)

Construction trades helpers and labourers help skilled tradespersons and perform labouring activities at construction sites, in quarries and in surface mines or construction companies, trade and labour contractors, and surface mine and quarry operators.

In early December, which is typically a slow time of the year for this industry, Indeed listed 72 jobs for construction workers in Nova Scotia.

The median annual wages for a construction worker in Nova Scotia, based on a 37.5-hour work week is $37,050 but they can earn up to $58,500 per year.

8. Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane) (NOC 7521)

Those workers who operate the heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures, in surface mining and quarrying activities, and in material handling work are in hot demand.

Indeed.ca listed 49 jobs for heavy equipment operators in early December.

Employed by construction companies, heavy equipment contractors, public works departments and pipeline, logging, cargo-handling and other companies, these workers have a median annual income of $42,900 based on a standard work week. At the upper end, they can earn $67,370 for the same 37.5 hours per week.

9. Information Systems Analysts And Consultants (NOC 2171)

During the first year of the pandemic in Canada, the number of jobs for IT professionals shot up by roughly 32 per cent as travel restrictions and lockdowns forced Canadians to turn to online shopping and Zoom meetings.

Information systems analysts and consultants analyze and test systems requirements, develop and implement information systems development plans, policies and procedures, and provide advice on a wide range of information systems issues.

Suddenly, they were in even bigger demand than usual. In early December, Indeed had 177 positions for information systems analysts in Nova Scotia.

These professionals earn a median annual wage of $73,125 in Nova Scotia based on a standard work week but can make up to $106,000 per year.

10. Computer Programmers And Interactive Media Developers (NOC 2174)

The same trends that boosted the demand for IT analysts also upped the demand for computer programmers and interactive media developers during the pandemic. Employment for this occupation grew by 15 per cent during the first year of the pandemic.

These are the people who write, modify, integrate and test computer code for software applications, data processing applications, operating systems-level software and communications software. Interactive media developers write, modify, integrate and test computer code for Internet and mobile applications, computer-based training software, computer games, film, video and other interactive media.

In early December, Indeed had 404 positions for programmers in Nova Scotia.

They earn a median annual wage of $69,260 in Nova Scotia based on a standard work week but can command up to $114,370 in the Annapolis Valley of the province.

Tech workers have a number of options for immigrating to Canada.

First, let’s talk about getting to Canada. Foreign nationals need a work permit in order to legally work in Canada. Some of these work permits are specifically tailored to tech workers. Although, it is possible for tech workers to skip straight to applying for permanent residency without ever setting foot in Canada. That being said, studies have shown that immigrants with Canadian work experience tend to have better labour market outcomes. They tend to make more money and are more likely to be employed in the first year after landing.

Without further ado, here are some Canadian work permit options for tech workers.

Global Talent Stream

A major temporary path is the Global Talent Stream. This route is designed to process 80 percent of applications in two weeks or less. Employers use it to bring in high-skilled staff quickly. An employer who qualifies can be either Category A or B.

Category A is for companies that are growing very quickly and need specialized talent from abroad. A Category A employer must get approval from a referral partner. This is usually a local, governmental or semi-governmental agency that has as its mission a city or area’s economic development.

Category B is for employers who are looking for certain skilled workers that Canada has listed as being needed but in short supply. The list is known as the Global Talent Occupations List. Canada’s most recent list contains twelve occupations. Each of them is in the technology field.

Employers must meet certain other requirements. For example, they must show that hiring the foreigner will create permanent benefits for Canada. Proving the new hire will create jobs for Canadians or transmit skills or knowledge to Canadians are ways to do this. The employer must also show they are paying the foreigner a certain minimum wage. This can vary between occupations and provinces.

CUSMA

This is the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, which replaced NAFTA. It has provisions that facilitate talent mobility between the three countries. The two categories relevant to tech workers are Professionals and Intra-Company Transfers (ICT).

CUSMA identifies 63 occupations that qualify under the Professionals category. Computer systems analysts are among these occupations.

ICTs are employees that are moving locations within the company to a branch in Canada. There is no list of which occupations qualify or are excluded. Generally, an intra-company transferee is a person who has worked for the company for at least one year and has either management roles or special knowledge.

Intra-Company Transfer (non CUSMA)

It is possible to make an ICT from a country other than Mexico or the United States. For example, the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada (CETA) has provisions for ICTs, as does the agreement with the U.K.

A worker coming to Canada through any ICT does not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment. The LMIA, as it is often abbreviated, is a process that shows that hiring a temporary worker will not replace any Canadian workers.

Pathways to permanent residency

Those who want to stay in Canada more long term can apply for permanent residency. Permanent residents oftentimes get more mobility within Canada than temporary residents. They no longer need a work permit, though they may have to renew their PR card at some point. Also, the possibility of becoming a citizen opens up after a few years of living in Canada as a permanent resident.

This is mainly because of the per-country quota on issuing the employment-based Green Card or permanent residency, the experts said on Tuesday, urging the US Congress to act fast

The much sought-after Indian talent is moving to Canada from the US due to the country’s outdated immigration policies, particularly on H-1B visas, experts have told American lawmakers. This is mainly because of the per-country quota on issuing the employment-based Green Card or permanent residency, the experts said on Tuesday, urging the US Congress to act fast to prevent the Indian talent from moving to Canada from the United States.

Without Congressional action, the total backlog for all three employment-based categories for Indians would increase from an estimated 9,15,497 individuals currently to an estimated 21,95,795 individuals by fiscal 2030, executive director of National Foundation for American Policy Stuart Anderson said.

“We should let that number sink in: Within a decade, more than 2 million people will be waiting in line for years or even decades for employment-based green cards,” he submitted in his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee-Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Testifying before the panel on “Oh, Canada! How Outdated US Immigration Policies Push Top Talent to Other Countries, Anderson said that highly skilled foreign nationals, including international students, are choosing Canada over America.

“This has happened in response to how difficult it is to work in the United States in H-1B status or gain permanent residence, and the comparative ease of international students and foreign nationals working in temporary status and then acquiring permanent residence in Canada,” he said.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

The number of international students from India enrolled in graduate-level computer science and engineering at US universities declined by more than 25 per cent between 2016-17 and 2018-19 academic years, according to an analysis of US government data by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP).

To place the significance of the decline in context, international students represent approximately 75 per cent of the full-time graduate students at US universities in computer science, and in the 2016-17 academic year, two-thirds of the international students at the graduate level in computer science at US universities were from India.

At the same time, fewer Indian students were coming to America, the number of Indian students attending Canadian universities rose from 76,075 in 2016 to 1,72,625 in 2018, an increase of 127 per cent, according to the Canadian Bureau for International Education, he said.

“In sum, Canada’s immigration policies are much better than America’s for facilitating the entry of talented individuals. Congress established America’s policies in 1990, before smartphones, e-commerce, social media, cloud computing and the daily use of the internet exploded the demand for high-skilled technical labour.

“The world has changed since 1990, the US immigration policy has not, Anderson said.

The Canadian government has made it increasingly easy for employers to attract and retain talent. On the other hand, numerical restrictions on high-skilled temporary visas block the vast majority of foreign-born applicants from working in America in a given year, Anderson said.

In March 2021, employers filed 3,08,613 H-1B registrations for cap selection for FY 2022 for only 85,000 H-1B petitions. ”That means over 72 per cent of H-1B registrations for high-skilled foreign nationals were rejected even before an adjudicator evaluated the application, he said.

Jennifer Young, the CEO of Technology Councils of North America, said that fast-growing Canadian companies are permitted to hire highly-skilled foreign talent, or people with skillsets most commonly found among H-1B applicants in the United States, in as little as four weeks, pre-pandemic. By comparison, the United States immigration system is paper-based, causing nearly all applicants significant delays in processing, she said.

Young said that a former colleague of hers, Ketaki Desai, and her husband were both educated in the United States, on student visas. They were fortunate to obtain H-1B status upon graduation and were strong contributors to the US economy.

After 18 years and realising their path to permanent residency was looking very bleak, they left the United States for Toronto, Canada. They bought a house and are actively recruiting and helping individuals leave the US workforce and join them in Canada, she told the lawmakers.

With more than 1,00,000 H-1B cap submissions denied annually, the United States has turned away millions of qualified, highly-skilled, and often US-educated individuals who are going to other countries to contribute to their economy, Young said. She said that the matter of raising or eliminating H-1B visa and per country immigrant visa caps have often fallen victim to incorporation into an overall immigration reform bill.

Sudip Parikh, CEO and Executive Publisher, Science Journals, American Association for the Advancement of Science, told lawmakers that it is critical that US immigration policies reflect a 21st-century approach in the same way that Congress is now working on legislation to advance research and innovation in critical technologies to compete with China.

Parikh urged Congress to expand dual intent visas to include foreign student visas (e.g., F-1 visas) to allow them the option to apply for permanent residency and adjust post-graduation immigration law to ease entry to work for skilled graduates.

“Some organisations have recommended proposals to ‘staple a green card’ to international students graduating with a diploma in specific, targeted fields of study to meet US demands, he said, urging Congress to continue to exempt higher education and research institutions from the H-1B visa caps.