The Canadian press expected the government to unveil further details of its reforms to the Federal Skilled Worker Program at the end of October this year. It now seems that details of the changes to the points system for rating skilled immigrants who apply for a visa under the Federal Skilled Worker Class program. will not now be announced until January 2013.
Jason Kenney, Canada's immigration minister announced the suspension of the Federal Skilled Worker Class in July this year. He also said that the system would be revised and reopened, probably in January 2013.
In August 2012, Mr Kenney announced that, under the new system:
• Greater importance will be attributed to youth
• Greater importance will be attributed to aptitude in English and French, Canada's two official languages
• Greater importance will be attached to work experience in Canada and less importance to work experience elsewhere
• Points will be awarded for the language skills of the applicant's spouse
• A new system for verifying the value of foreign qualifications will be established
• A new 'skilled trades' stream will be established because of a shortage of skilled tradespeople in Canada
The details will now remain unclear until the new year.