WHY T&T’S MIDDLE CLASS IS FLEEING TO CANADA

CANADA, with its perennial labour shortage, is offering various immigration paths to visitors – and Trinidadians and Tobagonians are seizing every opportunity.

Middle-income and small business people – badly affected by the depressed state of the economy and the crime scourge – are especially utilising the system set up by the agency Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

With Canada welcoming 450,000 immigrants this year, there is a reasonable chance of success for applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.

The benchmarks for entry, which are within the reach of most middle-class T&T citizens, include language skills and educational levels, work experience, and requisite settlement funds.

A conservative estimate is that there are about 200,000 people with T&T ties in Canada, and this allows for new migrants to settle in relatively easily.  

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the number of T&T nationals currently seeking to migrate to Canada is matched in recent history only by applications for refugee status in the mid-1980s.

An entire Penal community applied then, claiming they were victims of political discrimination and oppression.

Over the past decade, Canada has simplified the process of immigration applications for foreign workers and students.

The Express Entry programme includes a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which grants prescribed scores on various attributes.

T&T nationals have been going well on these yardsticks, an immigration expert said.

For example, in many cases, work experience and industry know-how are relevant to the Canadian market.

Language skills are also pertinent.

There are additional points for speaking skills in French; some applicants have been brushing up on that language through courses such as Alliance Francaise and other organisations.

Middle-class applicants have the required settlement funds.

The Student Direct Stream programme allows for fast-tracking student visas, and again T&T nationals have had a high level of success.

Students could seamlessly enter the job market through the Post-Graduation Work Permit and Provincial Nominee Programme.

Just over a year ago, Canada introduced the Atlantic Immigration Programme which offers opportunities to settle in Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Labrador.

T&T and Canada have had longstanding ties among their people, in addition to official links in trade, culture and diplomacy.

Over the years, thousands of T&T students have studied at Canada’s well-regarded tertiary institutions.

A number of T&T nationals who settled in the North American country are engaged in commerce between both places.

There is also much holiday travel of Trinidadians and Tobagonians, especially during the months of warm weather.

The T&T middle class, estimated at around 700,000, has suffered major losses in the small and medium-sized commercial sector, and several have been victims of brutal crimes, including home invasions.