Globe editorial: Ottawa’s entry point to reform immigration

Yep, back to the more generic approach:

….Express Entry works by allocating each candidate a certain number of points for factors such as age, proficiency in official languages and work experience. But in recent years, Ottawa stopped doing general rounds of invitations to pick candidates with the highest scores. Instead the immigration minister does a “category-based selection” to meet an identified economic goal, selecting the top candidates within these smaller pools.

While there are some narrow cases when niche rounds makes sense – a recentone selected physicians with Canadian work experience, for example – most are questionable. Express Entry is supposed to focus on the country’s economic goals, but one of the highest priority groups now is French-speakers outside of Quebec. This group has cut-off scores significantly lower than most other groups, meaning they are more likely to struggle economically and make less money.

Of course, the overall Express Entry system should continue to value proficiency in French (and English) as part of an applicant’s overall score. Highly skilled Francophone candidates are needed by Quebec and other parts of Canada.

Other category-specific rounds, such as those for certain trades occupations, require the government to micromanage the job market, something it rarely does well. Category draws for people with Canadian experience help absorb some of the still enormous population of temporary workers, but displaces applicants outside Canada who are stronger candidates.

Ottawa hasn’t done a general round since April, 2024. It should bring general rounds back as the main way of selecting economic immigrants, with narrow exceptions….

Source: Ottawa’s entry point to reform immigration