ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS
1. Visit to South Africa
2. Summer in Canada
3. Current Jobs
4. Unique Job Hunting Abilities
5. Unique Abilities in Immigration Law
6. Protect Yourself and Your Family: BEWARE of Unauthorized Representatives
7. Never Pay for a Job Offer
8. Can I Work in Canada?
9. Job Losses due to Low Oil Price, Coal Price and Agriculture
10. Read the News
1. VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA
Cobus Kriek from Matrixvisa Inc will be in South Africa fromThursday 17 September until Monday 28 September 2015. Our schedule will be as follows
- Thursday 17 September (from 8:00 am) – Monday 21 September (until 11:00 am) in Johannesburg
We will meet clients at the City Lodge directly in the Oliver Tambo Airport (not the City Lodge at Barbara Rd, which is 5 km away from the Airport. Your GPS probably will take you to the City Lodge at Barbara Rd, which is the wrong City Lodge). - Monday 21 September (from 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm) in Durban
We will meet clients at:
Road Lodge Umhlanga Ridge,
Corner of Medigate and Hospital Road,
Umhlanga Ridge - Tuesday 22 September (11:00 am – 3:00 pm) in Port Elizabeth Airport
Location will be given to clients. - Tuesday 22 September (5:00 pm – 8:00 pm) in Jeffrey’s Bay
Location will be given to clients. - Wednesday 23 September (from 2:00 pm) – Saturday 26 September (until 5:00 pm) in Stellenbosch
Location will be given to clients. - Monday 28 September (1:00 pm – 6:00 pm) at Johannesburg Airport
We will meet clients at the Oliver Tambo Airport in Johannesburg.
It would be wise to make appointments in advance by contacting Cobus at cobus@matrixvisa.com
2. SUMMER IN CANADA
The summer month in Canada is a great time to get out and adventure with your family – whether it be fishing, boating or camping. The Kriek family started their own tradition this year in growing a small mielie land (corn field) in their backyard. The corn is an impressive 9 feet high!
The summer also included a couple of camping trips, a boat trip as well as various fishing trips. There is plenty of nature to be explored. Many families also go off roading with dirt bikes and quad bikes.
Above: The Kriek family on a boating trip on Lake Koocanusa in British Columbia, Canada.
Above: Canadians on dirt bikes and quad bikes in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, west of Calgary, Alberta.
Below: Walter Kriek fishing in the Fraser River, British Columbia.
3. CURRENT JOBS
We currently have jobs in different provinces including the following positions:
a. Precision farming expert (employer pays our legal fees)
b. Agriculture Mechanics(employers pays our legal fees
c. Farming jobs
d. Automotive mechanics
e. Overhead Crane Technicians
h. Medical doctors through our associated Barbara Dinkelman from Medrec.
i. Elevator mechanics
If we cannot find a job for an applicant, we could assist you to find your own employment.
4. UNIQUE JOB HUNTING ABILITIES
What are Matrixvisa’s unique capabilities when it comes to job hunting ?
a. Matrixvisa has recruitment licences in most provinces, as required. In the province of Manitoba Matrixvisa is on of only 24 licensed recruiters of which Matrixvisa is one.
b. The owner of Matrixvisa, Cobus Kriek, has completed recruitment assignments for large employers for close to 15 years and we understand the employment markets in the provinces of our focus.
c. The owner of Matrixvisa, Cobus Kriek, has lived in Eastern and Western Canada and traveled from the Southern tip of Nova Scotia to Western Shores of Vancouver Island. We have a personal understanding of the geography and climate of the different regions of Canada.
d. We know how to work with regulated occupations, from engineers to journeyman (artisans). For a practical example see our efforts with regards to foreign trained industrial electricians in Saskatchewan on our website: Navigate to Matrixvisa.com and click on “Our Efforts” and then scroll to point number 12. You will see that we took the matter to the premier of the province and we forced the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certificate Commission to change the rules to allow foreign trained journeyman to enter the province.
5. UNIQUE ABILITIES IN IMMIGRATION LAW
We strongly advise potential immigrants to research potential immigration advisors/ practitioners before making a well informed decision. Most foreign agencies in countries like South Africa are just agents of others (middlemen) without the specialized knowledge to give you tailored advice.
We have met immigrants that have appointed representatives because the representative had an office in a specific city (close to where they live). Choosing a representative because they have an office in Johannesburg or Durban is not does not contribute to an informed choice. Often to the individuls’ detriment, they fail to investigate the company’s history, the competence of the representative etc.
If you need to know more about Matrixvisa Inc, navigate to Our Site and click on the link “Our Efforts. ” Read my affidavit to Federal Court at point 23.
In addition to the information on our website, it should be mentioned that we conduct a large number of Access to Information Requests that give us rare knowledge about certain provincial programs that many other representatives do not have. For example, we completed an access to Information Request to a provincial government (File number ECON059-15G dated 5 Aug 2015). According to report released to us the top 20 occupations in this specific province of Canada were as follows on 25 March 2015:
a. Elementary School and Kinderganderen School Teachers
b. Cooks
c. Registered Nurses
d. Restaurant and Food Services managers
e. Financial Auditors and Food Service managers
f. Automotive Service Technicians
g. Early childhood educators and assistants
h. Bookkeepers
i. Information Systems analysts and consultants
j. Farmers and Farm Managers
k. Insurance agents and brokers
l. Sales, marketing and advertising managers
m. Community and social services
n. Property administrators
o. Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators
p. Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics
q. Millwrights
r. Telecommunication installation Repair workers
What does this mean to a foreign national that plans to emigrate?
It is expected that these occupations will be listed in the expected occupation list on 2 January 2016. Ensure you are ready when the list is published. Once the list is published it is expected to be filled within a few days
6. BE INFORMED, PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY:
BEWARE OF UNAUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES
We have been contacted by dozens of people in South Africa and from Australia who paid thousands to an immigration agency that is located in Cape Town, South Africa. The company in Cape Town made false promises and gave very bad immigration advice. We believe not a single employee at this company in Cape Town is an authorized immigration advisor and unable to practice Canadian immigration law. We found at least one individual in Cape Town that has also committed fraud in an immigration application by forging a signature.
Another employee of a sister company in Canada has committed an offence under the Immigration Act. We reported the offence in Canada to the Canadian Border Service Agency this week and hope the person will be prosecuted.
Please spread the word to your friends: Before appointing and paying money to anyone please question the immigration company as to whether there is an authorized individual (under Canadian law) employed by that company. Once you have the name speak to this authorized representative as a second step.
In terms of Section 91 (1) and (7) (a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of Canada, a paid representative must be a member in good standing with:
1. the Immigration Consultant of Canada Regulatory
Council (ICCRC) See www.iccrc-crcic.ca
2. a law society of a province;
3. anotary in the province of Quebec (Chambre des notaires du Québec);
Furthermore, when someone is a real estate agent (selling homes) and also an authorized immigration representative, ask yourself if the person is a true immigration expert? Or is the immigration law just a side line /part time job?
If the person has been an immigration representative, how long have they been practicing immigration law? Have they published any immigration law articles? When did they qualify, one year ago or 10 years ago?
If you deal with any recruiter also ensure that the recruiter is licensed in the province where the job is. Why? If you use an unlicensed recruiter your LMIA could be revoked and your work permit cancelled.
We often receive this question: “How many people do we bring to Canada?” The person asking this type of question is attempting to determine whether we are competent.
Make sure you do your homework too!
7. NEVER PAY FOR A JOB OFFER
Remember it is illegal to pay for a job offer in most provinces in Canada !
8. CAN I WORK IN CANADA?
With a few rare exceptions employers in Canada must first attempt to find Canadians and prove a labour shortage before offering a job to a foreign national. The process may vary, but generally:
An employer must first advertise the job for at least 28 days in 3 locations that are accessible to the public from anywhere in Canada. If the employer does not get any satisfactory applications, they may apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The government fees that an employer pays for this LMIA is $1000 or R10 000. If an employer obtains a Provincial Certificate of Nomination, it can also be used as a substitute for the LMIA.
Not only must the employer advertise for 28 days but there must also be a shortage of skilled Canadians for a specific occupation for a specific part of the country. What does labour shortage mean? Navigate to //watershed9.ca/clients/matrix2 and click on the link “More about Us”. Then read the documents provided at point 25. Matrixvisa was the first immigration law firm in Canada to have defined the concept of labour shortage.
On 1 January 2015 there were 750 opportunities to emigrate without a job offer (from certain provinces). We expect these opportunities will again become available on 1 January 2016. These positions often fill up within hours of the applications being submitted. This year we will start preparation on 1 August to give us 5 months to prepare all the documents.
The following occupations were made available in one province on 1 January 2015:
1111 Financial auditors and accountants
1112 Financial and Investment Analysts
1121 Human Resources Professionals
1125 Purchasing Agents and Officers
2113 Geoscientists and Oceanographers
2131 Civil engineers
2132 Mechanical engineers
2133 Electrical and electronics engineers
2141 Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers
2147 Computer Engineers
2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
2172 Database Analysts and Data Administrators
2173 Software Engineers and Designers
2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
2175 Web Designers and Developers
2231 Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
2232 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
2253 Drafting Technologists and Technicians
2262 Engineering Inspectors and Regulatory Officers
2282 User support technicians
3012 Registered Nurses
3142 Physiotherapists
3143 Occupational Therapists
3211 Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists’ Assistants
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
4151 Psychologists
4153 Family, Marriage and Other Related Counselors
6235 Financial Sales Representatives
In another province these positions where available on 1 January 2015 and similar positions might open up again on 1 Jan 2016:
0711 Construction Managers
1111 Financial Auditors and Accountants
2131 Civil Engineers
2132 Mechanical Engineers
2133 Electrical and Electronics Engineers
2161 Mathematicians, Statisticians, and Actuaries
2171 Information Systems Analysts and Consultants
2173 Software Engineers and Designers
2174 Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers
2211 Chemical Technologists and Technicians
2221 Biological Technologists and Technicians
2222 Agricultural and Fish Products Inspectors
2232 Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
2234 Construction Estimators
2241 Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians
2242 Electronic Service Technicians
2253 Drafting Technologists and Technicians
2254 Land Survey Technologists and Technicians
2281 Computer Network Technicians
2282 User Support Technicians
2283 Information Systems Testing Technicians
Social Science, Education, Government and Religion
4011 University Professors and Lecturers
4163 Business Development Officers and Marketing Researchers and Consultants
6221 Technical Sales Specialists
7204 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7205 Contractors and Supervisors, Other Construction Trades, Installers, Repairers and Servicers
7231 Machinists and Tooling Inspectors
7232 Tool and Die Makers
7233 Sheet Metal Workers
7235 Structural Metal and Platework Fabricators and Fitters
7237 Welders and Related Machine Operators
7241 Electricians (except industrial andpower system)
7242 Industrial Electricians
7246 Telecommunications Installation and Repair Workers
7251 Plumbers
7252 Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers
7271 Carpenters
7281 Bricklayers
7282 Concrete Finishers
7283 Tilesetters
7284 Plasterers, Drywall Installers, Finishers and Lathers
7291 Roofers and Shinglers
7292 Glaziers
7293 Insulators
7294 Painters and Decorators (except interior decorators)
7295 Floor Covering Installers
7302 Contractors and Supervisors, Heavy Equipment Operator Crews
7305 Supervisors, Motor Transport and Other Ground Transit Operators
7311 Construction Millwrights and Industrial Mechanics
7312 Heavy-duty Equipment Mechanics
7313 Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics
7316 Machine Fitters
7321 Automotive Service Technicians, Truck and Bus Mechanics and Mechanical Repairers
7322 Motor Vehicle Body Repairer Primary Industry
8232 Oil and Gas Well Drillers, Servicers, Testers and Related Workers
8252 Agricultural Service Contractors, Farm Supervisors and Specialized Livestock Workers
9212 Supervisors, Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Processing and Utilities
9213 Supervisors, Food, Beverage and Associated Products Processing
Applicants within the above-mentioned lists had to have 12 months of experience in the preceding 10 years.
There is also the point system where those with higher points were often selected instead of those with lower points.
9. JOB LOSSES DUE TO LOW OIL PRICE, COAL PRICE AND AGRICULTURE COMMODITIES
In our previous newsletter we mentioned the job losses, but we decided again to mention job losses in Canada. Due to low oil price, low coal price, and low prices for agriculture commodities (wheat, canola, ect) and a drought in Western Canada, thousands lost their jobs in Canada (especially Western Canada). After reading many expert opinions it seems that coal and oil prices might pick up again in 18-24 months. If the large LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) projects starts at the same time, there could be a severe shortage of skilled workers in the coming 18-24 months.
Worldwide thousands of workers lost their jobs in the metallurgical coal and oil industries. That also affected us, here in Canada. It was reported in Global News in Canada that between January 1 and March 12, 36 Alberta employers notified the provincial government of their plans to terminate a total of 6,630 workers. That’s compared to 7,900 employees in all of 2014. That is about 4 times higher than in 2014. Statistics Canada, said by early January 2015, 13,000 jobs were lost in Alberta’s natural resource sector from September 2014 and January 2015 (4 months). Also in January 2015, the Canadian Association of Oil Well Drilling Contractors predicted 167 fewer drilling rigs in the field compared to 2014, resulting in the layoffs of 3,400 rig workers with the loss of another 19,500 indirect jobs.
However the unemployment rate in Canada is still between 4,5 and 6,5 percent, depending in which province one looks at. In South Africa, the unemployment rate is close to 45 % or higher. Therefore the job losses in Canada have not resulted in very high unemployment rates compared to many other countries such as South Africa.
10. READ THE NEWS
If you intend to come to Canada, try and read a few newspapers online to familiarize yourself with the trends and news of Canada.
- Toronto Star – for Ontario News (www.thestar.com/)
- Vancouver Herald – for British Columbia News (http://www.theprovince.com/index.html)
- Star Phoenix – for Saskatchewan News (http://www.thestarphoenix.com/index.html)
- National Post – National News (http://www.nationalpost.com/index.html)
- Global & Mail – National News (http://www.theglobeandmail.com)
CONTACT US
Contact us direct if you have any questions. We can be reached at:
- 087-750-0341 South African number after 5 pm South Africa time (answered in Canada) when Matrixvisa personnel are in Canada
- 076-381-0053 Cell number you can use during my South African visit: only active during visits to South Africa!
- 00-1-780-409-0931 X 101 office in Canada or
- 00-1-604-395-0801 X 101 office in Canada
- 00-1-403-710-7156 Canada Cell number
See you in South Africa and hopefully later in Canada!
All the best!
Cobus Kriek
cobus@matrixvisa.com