Applying for an open work permit

living inside Canada on a temporary residence permit. The new measure allows those being sponsored from outside Canada to be eligible for an Open Work Permit.

According to IRCC, family members who have valid temporary residence status and the same residential address in Canada as their sponsor are eligible to apply for an Open Work Permit. The IRCC public policy says that officers may issue an open work permit to foreign nationals who meet either one of the following conditions:

• The foreign national is the principal applicant who has submitted a permanent residence application under the spouse of common-law partner in Canada class and has been accepted for processing by IRCC. • They always impressed me as a serious, sincere, energetic and hardworking Member of Canada’s Parliament,” said Pagtakhan. “Her appointment as Canada’s Minister for Small Business is a clear indication of the Prime Minister’s trust in her capabilities and business background. In addition, her appointment reflects the importance Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attaches to the vital role Canadian Filipinos can continue to play in the affairs of our nation – a further validation that our Canadian Filipino community has come of age. She should have submitted a work permit application for a minimum of two years. • They also should have first applied for permanent residence sponsored by their Canadian citizen or permanent resident spouse or commonlaw partner. • The applicant must be residing at the same residential address in Canada as their sponsor at the time of their application. • They must ensure that they have valid temporary resident status and are eligible for or have applied for restoration of their status.

The new category of applicants includes those who have been sponsored from abroad and have entered Canada as valid visitors, workers, or students. They can apply for an Open Work Permit when they are inside Canada and residing with their sponsors. This measure is an enhancement of will do well, added Pagtakhan.”

MP Kevin Lamoureux for Winnipeg also had good words for Valdez’ appointment to the federal government.

“I have known Rechie for close to two years now, I have found her to be a quick learner and a hard worker, which will allow her to do well as a Minister. What inspires me about her is how, in a very humble way, you sense a very strong pride that she has in being a woman of Filipino Heritage, which compliments and adds so much value to the entire Liberal Party caucus.” the options open to the applicants who are being sponsored from outside the country. In the past the option of the Open Work Permit was only available to sponsorships inside the country and upon assessment of their inCanada sponsorship applications. It is now possible for applicants from outside the country to have access to the open work permit in order to further the reunification of the family inside Canada.

The new measure introduced in May by Minister Sean Fraser is part of a series of changes in Family Class immigration. There are number of other measures in place that have been making things better for families and sponsors. These include faster temporary resident visa (TRV) processing times for spousal applicants; Open Work Permit extensions for open permit holders expiring between August 1st and the end of 2023.

The Minister is good for his word. He said IRCC is committed to reuniting families and allowing them to work once they are here. In these actions, Canada is helping newcomers achieve their true potential while strengthening the country’s economy. Reunification is good for families and in turn the country. It is a win-win situation.

Michael Scott is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC, R525678) who has 30 years of experience with Immigration Canada and the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. He currently works as a licensed consultant with Immigration Connexion International Ltd. Contact him at 204-691-1166 or 204-2270292. E-mail: mscott.ici@gmail. com.

The 26th of July saw Member of Parliament Rechie Valdez elevated to Minister of Small Business when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a major cabinet shuffle.

With Valdez’ political promotion, Canadian Filipinos have their voice at the federal cabinet table – the highest body for national-decision making – once more. The only prior presence of a Filipino voice at the Canadian Cabinet was around 20 years ago when this columnist served in the cabinet from 2001 to 2004 during the leaderships of Prime Ministers Jean Chretien and Paul Martin, Jr. Making Canadian history twice

With her election to the House of Commons on September 20, 2021, Rechie Valdez made Canadian history as the second Canadian Filipino and the first Canadian Filipino woman to become a Member of Canada’s Parliament (MP). With her recent appointment as Minister, Valdez achieved her second political milestone in Canadian history by becoming the second Canadian Filipino and the first Canadian Filipina to become a member of Canada’s Cabinet.

Major cabinet change

The cabinet change was sweeping. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau retained only nine ministers in their respective portfolio, 23 ministers changed assignments, and seven new faces were added. A total of 38 cabinet members divided equally among men and women. Thus, the prime minister has kept the gender-parity precedent he established in 2015. Eight members, a fifth of the total are visible minorities.

It is laudable of the prime minister to constitute this cabinet composition. In a news release, he said: “We have the right team, made up of accomplished people who reflect the diversity and talent of our country. We are ready to keep delivering on the things that matter most … making life more affordable, growing the economy, and creating good jobs for the middle class. Together, we will keep building a strong future for the middle class, and for all Canadians.”

Fitting the cabinet mould

In my commentary on Rechie Valdez’ election to the House of Commons, I wrote in part: “Every MP wants to be a cabinet minister … Best, though, that one has a keen and analytic mind, humility, integrity, decisiveness, enviable work ethic, a vision-and-valuedriven leadership style, a relevant prior work resume, team player, and a deep sense of others.”

Let me add another dimension from Canadian Filipino Net’s immediate past Editor Eleanor R. Laquian’s editorial, “Diminishing Filipino Invisibility in Politics, thanks to Filipino Women Power.” She wrote: “Many of these women are adventurous, daring, and indomitable. They have proven to be community organizers, risktakers, trailblazers, and envelope pushers.”

Rechie Valdez fits the mould, indeed. She is eminently prepared. As an MP, she has been serious, sincere, energetic, and hardworking. Those traits, along with her active community engagement and background as a small business entrepreneur, will serve her well in the cabinet – the better not only for Canadian Filipinos but also for all Canadians.

How did Filipinos receive the news?

July 26 was a moment of great excitement for the Filipino community across Canada and beyond. I had a phone message from Rowena Papasin-Cando of ABS-CBN International, The Filipino Channel based in Vancouver, followed by e-mails from Lucille Nolasco Garrido of Pilipino Express based in Winnipeg and from Editor Carlito Pablo of Canadian Filipino Net based in Vancouver. They were wanting to share the news.

Truly, everyone was thrilled. I did an interview via ZOOM, e-mailed my initial thoughts, and confirmed the topic for my column. Then, I was able to send my congratulatory e-mail:

“Hi Rechie, I am excited