Skip to Main content

14.3°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Aug 14, 2020 3:32 PM -

Asylum seekers on front lines of COVID-19 to have chance at permanent residency

Share On

Asylum seekers working on the front-lines of the COVID-19 crisis are getting an early chance at permanent residency in Canada.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced the program today in response to public demand that the so-called "Guardian Angels" many in Quebec be recognized for their work in the health-care sector during the pandemic.

Ordinarily, asylum seekers must wait for their claims to be accepted before they can become permanent residents, but the new program waives that requirement.

To apply for residency now, they must have claimed asylum in Canada prior to March 13 and have spent no less than 120 hours working as a orderly, nurse or other designated occupation since then.

They must also demonstrate they have six months of experience in the profession before they can receive permanent residency and have until the end of this month to meet that requirement.

In a statement, Mendicino says the approach recognizes those with precarious immigration status are filling an urgent need and putting their own lives at risk to care for others in Canada.

Latest news

surrey-police-arrest-28-year-old-in-electronics-store-robberies

Surrey Police Arrest 28-Year-Old in Electronics Store Robberies

The Surrey Police Service’s Prolific Offender Unit has arrested a 28-year-old suspect in connection with a series of break-ins and robberies at electronics stores across Surrey. According to police, Austin Thomas Romeo Hogan is accused of smashing display cabinets at electronics retailers, assaulting staff members and stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise between June and October 2026. The BC Prosecution Service has approved 17 charges against Hogan, including robbery and assault with a weapon. Police said the incidents caused an estimated $100,000 in losses for Surrey busine

24-year-old-surrey-man-killed-in-coquihalla-highway-crash-three-others-seriously-injured

24-Year-Old Surrey Man Killed in Coquihalla Highway Crash, Three Others Seriously Injured

A 24-year-old man from Surrey has been killed in a head-on collision between a Toyota Tacoma and a Toyota RAV4 on the Coquihalla Highway near Merritt, B.C., on Saturday morning. According to B.C. Highway Patrol, police received multiple reports of a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction on the highway. Officers were on their way to intercept the vehicle when the collision occurred near the Helmer exit. One of the four Surrey men travelling in the RAV4 died at the scene. The other three men, aged between 24 and 38, suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital, where they remain unde

canadas-inflation-rises-to-3-1-raising-prospects-of-interest-rate-hike-by-year-end

CanadaOct 19, 2026

Canada’s Inflation Rises to 3.1%, Raising Prospects of Interest Rate Hike by Year-End

Economists believe the Bank of Canada could raise interest rates by the end of 2026 following the release of the country’s September inflation figures. According to Statistics Canada, the annual inflation rate climbed to 3.1 per cent, driven by higher oil and gas prices, moving above the Bank of Canada’s target range of 1 to 3 per cent. However, underlying inflation has eased, offering some relief to the central bank. Ongoing trade tensions with the United States and the crisis in the Middle East could put further upward pressure on inflation. According to KPMG Canada, the Bank of Canada i

13-injured-in-multi-vehicle-crash-involving-semi-truck-and-double-decker-bus-in-surrey

13 Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash Involving Semi-Truck and Double-Decker Bus in Surrey

Thirteen people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck, a double-decker bus and several other vehicles on Highway 99 in Surrey on Friday evening. According to the Surrey Police Service, the collision occurred around 4:30 p.m. near the Highway 99 and Highway 91 interchange. A semi-truck first struck three cars travelling in the same direction before losing control, crossing the median and colliding with an oncoming double-decker bus and another car. Approximately 50 to 60 people were aboard the bus at the time of the crash. According to B.C. Emergency Health Services, two

Eby Urges Green Party Voters to Back NDP as Emily Lowan Fires Back Ahead of B.C. Election

Political activity has intensified in the final week of British Columbia’s provincial election campaign, with NDP Leader David Eby urging Green Party supporters to vote for the NDP, prompting a sharp response from Green Party Leader Emily Lowan. On Sunday, Eby appealed to Green voters not to waste their votes on the Green Party, arguing that Lowan is unlikely to become premier. He warned that votes for the Greens could split the vote and benefit the B.C. Conservatives. Responding to Eby’s remarks, Lowan accused him of calling the election two years ahead of schedule for political gain. She

Related News

Canada’s Inflation Rises to 3.1%, Raising Prospects of Interest Rate Hike by Year-End

Canada’s Inflation Rises to 3.1%, Raising Prospects of Interest Rate Hike by Year-End

Economists believe the Bank of Canada could raise interest rates by the end of 2026 following the release of the country’s September inflation figures. According to Statistics Canada, the annual inflation rate climbed to 3.1 per cent, driven by higher oil and gas prices, moving above the Bank of Canada’s target range of 1 to 3 per cent. However, underlying inflation has eased, offering some relief to the central bank. Ongoing trade tensions with the United States and the crisis in the Middle East could put further upward pressure on inflation. According to KPMG Canada, the Bank of Canada i

Canada’s Annual Inflation Rate Rises to 3.1% in September

Canada’s Annual Inflation Rate Rises to 3.1% in September

Canada’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.1 per cent in September, slightly exceeding the Bank of Canada’s upper target limit of 3 per cent. Inflation had remained steady at 3 per cent in August. According to a report released by Statistics Canada on Monday, higher gasoline and diesel prices were the main contributors to the increase in inflation last month. Food prices also rose, although the pace of growth was slower than in the previous month. Statistics Canada reported that grocery prices increased by 1.7 per cent year over year in September, down from 2.8 per cent in August. This marke

Four Canadian Soldiers Killed in Explosion at Alberta Military Training Base

Four Canadian Soldiers Killed in Explosion at Alberta Military Training Base

Four Canadian Armed Forces personnel were killed in an explosion following a wildfire at the Wainwright military training base in Alberta on Saturday, while 39 other soldiers suffered serious burn injuries. Nineteen of the injured remain in critical condition. Military officials acknowledged that they had been aware of the fire but initially did not consider it a threat, as it was approximately one kilometre away and appeared to be under control. Live-fire training was therefore allowed to continue. However, strong gusts of wind suddenly changed the fire’s direction in the evening, allowing

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital