Role of the FSWP in the Immigration Policy of Canada
When the Federal Skilled Worker Program was first launched, at that time, Canada’s immigration system was predominantly restricted to grant PR to “white” Europeans and Americans. The fundamental regulatory changes were set up in 1962 in Canada, intending to defy and change the Canadian immigration policy’s discriminatory facets. Moreover, in 1967, another notable change was made in the country’s immigration policy, with the launch of the world’s first point-based system to rank potential immigrants. This system was designed considering various factors such as language ability, education level, and professional skills. During that time, the preference was given to the educated, working-aged Francophones and Anglophones with family connections to Canada. Also Read: How to Get a Job in Canada? The Ultimate Guide However, the points-based system allowed Canada to target potential immigrants worldwide with human capital traits in the interest of the economy. Nevertheless, it took nearly a decade for Canada to become a favorable immigration destination across the world, with the introduction of the 1976 Immigration Act. The reason for the success of the law was its focus on three admission criteria, which includes a points-assessment of candidates based on:- Education level
- Professional qualifications
- Language ability
Eligibility under the FSWP
To qualify for the FSWP, the applicant must:- Have minimum relevant work experience of one year in a skilled occupation falling under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes 0, A, and B
- Have a language ability equivalent to or above the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in English or French in all the four abilities (Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening)
- Have an eligible Canadian educational credential or an equivalent foreign educational credential with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report
- Age
- Work experience
- Education
- Arranged employment
- Language ability
- Adaptability



