The Current global recession has affected every country and Canada is no exception for that. Like governments of all other countries, Canadian government has also initiated actions to combat the recession. On 10 March 2009 Harper Government released its first quarterly report on the progress of Canada’s Economic Action Plan – the Government’s broad and aggressive response to the global recession.

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government is acting to counter the effects of the global recession at home, while working with our international partners towards a quick return to global economic growth and long-term prosperity.

While Canada, as part of the global economy, cannot control global events and global downturns, the Government is using every tool at its disposal to protect the jobs, savings and retirement security of Canadians.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan

It provides focused and targeted action on four key priorities as give below.

• Further reducing the tax burden on Canadian individuals, families and businesses with $20 billion of additional tax cuts that will leave more money in the hands of Canadians.

• Engaging in smart stimulus spending that creates jobs including unprecedented new investments in roads, bridges, and transit projects as well as a major new tax credit to encourage Canadians to invest in renovating their homes.

• Helping Canadians who are hardest hit by the recession by enhancing Employment Insurance benefits for the unemployed and broadening access to skills training so more Canadians can prepare for the jobs of the future.

• Strengthening the Financial System and Improving Access to Credit through groundbreaking new measures that ensure Canadians can continue to obtain mortgages and car loans, extending additional credit to Canadian businesses and providing assurance that Canadian financial institutions are competing on a level playing field in international markets.

In just 42 days the Harper Government has made an unprecedented and extraordinary effort to cut red-tape and delays in order to quickly respond to the urgent challenges posed by the global recession. These actions build on the Government’s early action in the fall of 2007 to protect Canada from the emerging global credit crunch.
Now, under Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government has provided a framework through which most of the money can flow to the people who need it most, beginning April 1st.

For Attention of Immigrants to Canada

Immigrants planning to move to Canada must consider the following to minimise the effect of global recession on their settlement in Canada.

• Thorough knowledge and orientation to social life in Canada

• Thorough research of Canadian labour market, keeping abreast with the futuristic trends, knowledge of the skills in demand and alternate jobs to start a career

• Attend Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP), offered by Government of Canada at its High Commission / Embassy in some countries. In India it is available at New Delhi, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

• Attend Employment Readiness Course (ERC) conducted by WWICS for its Gold Package clients

• Initially move alone and get the family in Canada after securing a job

• If employed in a good company or in a government job with good salary package in your native country, do not resign from this job but manage to take about 3-4 months leave and assess your employment opportunities in Canadaian job market during the first visit. Take a final decision to resign from the job and to move to Canada permanently if opportunities are fair. Otherwise gain PR status during first visit to Canada, come back to continue with the job in native country and delay permanent move to Canada till recession recedes.

• While in Canada, be prepared to get started against any temporary / transitional job, irrespective whether it is related to intended occupation or not.

• Rediscover your hidden talents which may not have been used while in native country but may be exploited to get the first job in Canadian labour market

• Improve your basic computer and communication skills as these skills are mandatory even to get the lowest type of temporary jobs

• For young couples without children, if spouse is well educated and has also been working in native country, move to Canada together. It may happen that the spouse, specially wife, gets job earlier as compared to principal applicant and starts supporting the family

• Mothers with small children may look for opportunity to work at day-care centers where they can also take their own small children at nominal expense at work place instead of working elsewhere and paying more for the day care of their small children

• Be prepared to work overtime if opportunity available. Overtime is often paid one and half time the normal shift hours.