Canada lifts education requirement for Hong Kong immigrants

Vancouver resident Calvin Wong says he can finally start picturing a future in Canada after the federal government announced it was dropping educational requirements for Hong Kongers seeking permanent residency in the wake of the Chinese city’s crackdown on dissent.

Wong, 28, had graduated from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with a computer science degree in 2017 before moving to Canada on a work permit in 2021, looking for a life where he could enjoy “political freedom.”

But immigration pathways for Hong Kong residents that have allowed thousands to settle permanently in Canada excluded Wong because it has been more than five years since he graduated.

That will change from August 15, after Ottawa announced on Tuesday it would remove all educational requirements for people with at least a year of work experience in Canada.

Immigration consultants say the move effectively opens pathways for Hong Kongers of all ages, instead of the current focus on students and recent graduates. They said they had been flooded with inquiries since the announcement.

“It’s a very great move by the Canadian government and I can eventually get permanent residence here, contribute and live in Canada safely,” said Wong, his voice breaking with emotion.

The store clerk said the chance to secure permanent residency came as a “huge relief,” and his decision to move to Canada was something he would “never regret.”

In 2021, the federal government created two immigration pathways for Hong Kong residents who had either worked or studied in Canada.

The pathways were in response to a crackdown on political dissent after protests drew millions onto Hong Kong’s streets in 2019, followed by the introduction of a harsh new national security law in 2020.

Stream A applies to former Hong Kong residents who graduated from a postsecondary institution in Canada within three years. People with at least one year of work experience in Canada who graduated from a foreign or Canadian institution within five years could apply for Stream B.

The changes open up Stream B to anyone with a year of work experience in Canada, regardless of education.

Sean Fraser, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, said the change was a “win-win situation.”

“(It) means that we can welcome more Hong Kongers to Canada who need our support, while simultaneously helping Canadian businesses fill labour gaps with workers who already have work experience here,” he said in a statement.

The announcement by Fraser’s ministry said Canada “continues to stand by Hong Kong residents, and supports their freedom and democracy.”

Canada has welcomed 3,122 permanent residents under the two pathways as of April 30, 2023.

Wong said that being excluded under the current rules had left him depressed.

“I felt it was really difficult to plan my future at that time. I was thinking: where should I go? Should I try my best to stay in Canada or go to the United Kingdom?” said Wong.

Wong said he can now make plans for the future and would submit his immigration application as soon as he completes his one year of work experience in Canada.

The federal government has announced funding to support initiatives aimed at reducing homelessness across Canada. Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen says the $5.3 million will support 12 programs under the Community Capacity and Innovation (CCI) stream of Canada’s homelessness strategy. Those initiatives are expected to build capacity within the sector, as well as “reduce and prevent homelessness.”

“Through these 12 initiatives that have received funding under the CCI, communities and the homeless-serving sector will receive vital tools, supports, and assistance, empowering them to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those experiencing homelessness,” Hussen said Monday.

“Although considerable progress has been made, we will continue to work with our partners to tackle chronic homelessness across the country.” The money is being allocated to several groups, including those dedicated to supporting urban, Indigenous, territorial and rural, and remote communities.

The federal government says the CCI stream of its housing strategy is aimed at providing communities with the tools, resources, and support they need to address homelessness.

“The CCI stream also funds collaboration activities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners that helps to further

Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang progress with addressing Indigenous homelessness using approaches that are culturally-appropriate and relevant for Indigenous people,” the government explains.

According to Statistics Canada, more than 25,200 people across 61 communities in Canada were experiencing homelessness on a single day in 2018.

The agency adds estimates show an average of 235,000 people across Canada “experience one of the many types of homelessness” every year.

“These estimates are a best guess as studying homeless remains quite difficult,” Statistics Canada adds.

The Canadian Press

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