Yukon gov’t, airline to make it easier for Filipinos to immigrate

Yukon’s Minister of Economic Development Raj Pillaj said the agreement will also reduce the red tape businesses in the territory face to access the YNP immigration program. FACEBOOK

The governments of the Yukon and the Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding March 18 to make it easier for Filipinos to immigrate to the Yukon under the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) that allows employers to hire foreign workers for the long-term if they can’t find qualified Canadians or permanent residents.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) makes it easier for Filipinos to be identified and recruited through the YNP process, according to a government news release.

The MOU also gets rid of the fees applied by the Philippines to YNP applicants and creates a joint committee for the two governments to cooperate on labour mobility and the YNP.

Ranj Pillai, the Yukon minister of economic development, said the agreement will also reduce the red tape businesses in the territory face to access the program.

Aurora Viernes,  president of the Canadian Filipino Association of the Yukon, said an MOU and travel agreement will make it easier for Filipinos to immigrate to the Yukon Territory in Canada. FCNC

“It’s going to make it easier for us to come to the Yukon while reducing the cost to employers,” said Aurora Viernes, president of the Canadian Filipino Association of the Yukon.

Similarly, Air North announced an agreement with Philippine Airlines, making it possible for travelers to purchase a single ticket to fly between Whitehorse and Manila, according to a CBC report.

The Air North and PAL agreement it will reduce the stress of flying to Manila from Whitehorse through Vancouver. Passengers can fly back and forth to the Philippines without having to re-check in at the Vancouver layover.

According to the Yukon government, the Philippines is the single largest country of origin for YNP applicants.

Filipinos also make up the largest immigrant group in the Yukon, according to the 2016 Census. Of the 4,410 immigrants living in the Yukon in 2016, 926, or 21 per cent are Filipinos. They also form the largest visible minority group in the territory, accounting for 39.7 per cent of those who identify as being part of a visible minority.

The MOU will help address some of the labor shortage in the Yukon. Vernes said that in the past month alone, five employers approached her looking for help to find employees.