By Jayne Barron, CHRP

History is filled with scores of monumental, life-changing inventions, innovations and events, and Canada has made numerous contributions, including the first practical electron microscope, sonar and the IMAX movie system.

In terms of history in the making though, the Canadian government’s creation and passage of the new Express Entry immigration law may become the most innovative talent recruiting pipeline in the history of the world.

What exactly is Express Entry?  The Express Entry program, which came into effect on January 1, 2015, fast-tracks immigration for foreign qualified professionals. While time will tell, properly employed and leveraged, Express Entry could make a major impact for employers and immigrants alike.

While yet in its infancy, the program outlines a faster and more efficient approach to offering permanent residency for skilled immigrants with an interest in coming to Canada—by putting the job offer up front.

Win for Immigrants:  Restoring Dignity  
Under the old “Visa-First” model, immigrants had to quit their jobs in their home countries, drain their bank accounts and support themselves in Canada while looking for a job.  Many depleted their life savings and returned to their home countries in financial ruin, not to mention the toll it took on their families and careers.

Today, immigrants can keep working and living in their home countries while simultaneously looking for the right job in Canada.  Interested applicants are required to submit an application and relevant documentation online at the Express Entry Pool, where it is vetted and matched with labour needs identified by the provinces and territories, as well as employers. Note though, that submitting an application with documentation is not a guarantee that candidate’s will receive an Invitation to Apply.

The process is anchored by the government’s periodic draws from the pool, and a minimum threshhold of points required for applicants to be successful at the time of the draw. The first draw, on January 31, 2015, saw 779 candidates draw with a minimum point total of 886 points out of the 1,200 available under the Comprehensive Ranking System. According to the process under Express Entry, each of these candidates had a qualifying offer of arranged employment, a job offer approved by Service Canada or a Provincial Nomination.

When a match is made, the prospective employee is then offered the Invitation to Apply for permanent residency (PR).

In those instances where “a match”  has been identified, Express Entry could be offered to anyone who has put in an application through one of the following four programs:

• Federal Skilled Workers;
• Federal Skilled Trades;
• Canadian Experience Class; and
• Provincial Nomination Program.

Once a job offer is extended and accepted, the PR Visa is virtually guaranteed as long as the candidate meets the admissibility requirements. The internationally-trained professional then transitions to Canada (with bank account intact) and begins drawing a paycheck from the new employer within a few weeks.

Win for Business:  Competing for Global Talent
For business, Express Entry means an end to long waits, having the ability to source their own qualified talent driven by their specific needs and filling open positions mission-critical to their business goals.  This allows Canadian firms to now compete proactively for the world’s top skilled professional talent in any job category.

Make no mistake—Canadian firms should be doing whatever it takes to take advantage of Express Entry.  Competition for global talent is extreme, especially in Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. These regions are full of highly educated and competent professionals in IT, financial services, engineering, telecom, oil & gas, utilities, and many other sectors.

Win for Government:  Protecting the Tax Base and Canadian Economy
For the Canadian government, Express Entry will help protect Canada’s strong economy, attractive lifestyle, culture, and tax base for generations to come.  No longer will an immigrant land in Canada with a Visa but no job.  Now, he or she will arrive with a Visa and job in hand and begin paying taxes within a few weeks.

One of the biggest challenges for new immigrants is how quickly they can contribute to their new home country. Being a productive professional who contributes to the tax base that supports the Canadian economy is a great outcome for all Canadians and something that is a source of great pride to these new professionals.

Access to world-class talent has many benefits to our economy in Canada—not the least of which is the increased level of productivity that will result from their combined efforts. Attracting the right talent to Canada also supports social programs and retired Canadians, as we must ensure that we are able to reduce the burden of our social services over time.

What’s Next?
As a human resources professional or business leader, you owe it to your organization and your own career to learn quickly all you can about how Express Entry can works to the advantage of all parties.

For companies wanting to take advantage of Express Entry, the primary challenge will be finding, vetting and interviewing the best professional candidates from among the multitude of applicants expected to fill the newly created Express Entry database in the year ahead.

Fortunately, there’s help. The Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Office has an Express Entry team whose members speak to employer groups across Canada and hold web conferences to educate employers about how the new program works.

Another great resource is the Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP) prepares newcomers for economic integration while still in their country of origin. CIIP works with several Focal Point Partners including Career Bridge and Skills International. Certain CIIP clients may receive direct referrals to these organizations for contact with employers across Canada looking to fill certain employment vacancies.

Jayne Barron (jayne.barron@skillsinternational.com) is a multi-faceted career counsellor, speaker, leadership expert and training developer. Based near Vancouver, she is a Certified Career Development Practitioner and was awarded Practitioner of the Year in 2012. She is also on the Fraser Valley Advisory Council for the Human Resources Management Association in British Columbia and is a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP). Jayne has nearly 20 years of HR and career development experience and is an independent professional working as a Career Counsellor with www.skillsinternational.com.