Minimum wage sees a rise in two Atlantic Canada provinces
As of January 29, 2024, two Atlantic Canadian provinces – Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick – have raised their minimum wages. Newfoundland and Labrador have announced a $0.60 increase effective April 1, 2024, per the Labour Standards Regulations. This means their minimum wage will be $15.60 per hour from April 1 onwards. Meanwhile, New Brunswick has increased its minimum wage to $15.30 per hour, up from the current $14.75 per hour, effective April 1. This 55-cent increase means the minimum wage has risen by 36% since 2019.
The arrival rate for spousal sponsorships is set to increase in 2023
Spousal sponsorship arrivals in Canada decreased by 14.8% in November, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data. After an 8.7% rebound in October with 5,155 new permanent residents, the numbers fell to 4,390 in November. Despite this, Canada was still predicted to see a 17.6% increase in spousal sponsorships for 2023, with 75,458 new permanent residents compared to 64,145 in 2022. Ontario recorded the highest number of arrivals under this program, with 36,905 spouses settling there in the first 11 months of the year.
Thousands of Ukrainians will arrive in Canada in early 2024
Thousands of Ukrainians are expected to enter Canada by March 2024, escaping violence from the Russian invasion. Over 936,293 temporary emergency visas have been issued since March 2022, and 210,178 individuals have arrived in Canada as of November 28. Pre-arrival surveys show over 90,000 visa holders will come before the deadline. Manitoba alone anticipates thousands of arrivals. The Operation Ukraine Safe Haven project was formed to support Ukrainians moving to Canada, focusing on housing, donations, jobs, and other resources. The organization’s executive director, Sarosh Rizvi, expects the number of arrivals to increase significantly in the coming months.
New Brunswick to tackle construction sector labour shortages
The provincial and federal governments are investing in a Labour Force Adjustment Committee to tackle New Brunswick’s construction sector labour shortages. Spearheaded by the Construction Association of New Brunswick, the committee concentrates on filling job openings through immigration. Their goal is to cater to the increasing demand for skilled tradespeople, with a special focus on residential construction. Present labour force data reveals that roughly 4.2% of construction jobs are currently vacant. Based on labour force projections, we anticipate 8,400 retirements and thousands of new jobs by 2032. The committee’s initiatives will bolster ongoing efforts to encourage apprenticeships and skilled trades. The provincial government has pledged $250,000 to the project, and the federal government is contributing $190,612.
