On January 1, 2016, the Harmonized Life Licence Qualification Program (LLQP) will come into effect. The Harmonized LLQP standardizes the entry level qualifications of new entrants to the industry across all jurisdictions in Canada (including Québec).

Ashton College Financial Services instructor Ian Whiting was one of three Ashton instructors who assisted in the creation of exam questions for the the new Harmonized LLQP certification exam. Last week we featured Becky Wong, who served as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on ethical financial practice. This week tips, we’ll be sharing insight and feedback from Ian Whiting, a financial planner with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Ian helped to develop 25% of the questions included in the new Harmonized LLQP exam.

Why was the new harmonized LLQP introduced in Canada?

The main reason was the fractured nature of LLQP in different provinces and territories. The Financial Services industry has experienced quite a few changes in Canada over the last several years; and because of that, consistency has become even more important.

Another reason for changes was the existence of multiple course providers, and therefore the lack of unified preparation materials across the county. Each provider was allowed to have their own set of texts, which resulted in different study materials for the same provincial LLQP exam.

To achieve more consistency, CISRO (Canadian Insurance Self-Regulatory Organization) worked with all provincial and territorial insurance regulators, including Quebec, to create new, unified course material in every province and territory and in both official languages (English and French).

What are the key differences between the older version of LLQP and the new harmonized LLQP?

There are now four sets of texts, corresponding with the four study modules.

One text is on Life Insurance-related issues: what life insurance is, how it works, what can and can’t be done, taxation, beneficiaries, different policies types. This section is quite lengthy (there are around 273 pages in the textbook), but that makes sense, because it includes the fundamentals about the industry.

Another text is Ethics and Professional Practice, which is around 147 pages. This section is different in Quebec, which relies on the French civil code, as opposed to Canadian common law. In Quebec, the Ethics and Professional Practice section is close to 300 pages.

The third text is on Segregated Funds and Annuities, and includes around 235 pages.

Lastly, Accident and Sickness Insurance, which includes materials on disability, critical illness, long-term care etc. – this one is around 223 pages.

If we compare existing printing materials to the previous exam preparation materials, we can clearly see the difference. Old materials ranged from 260 pages to just below 300 for the entire course, so there is much more depth in the new texts. I believe that expanding the course materials will to raise the professional standards in the insurance industry, so that the advisors are better prepared to service their clients.

What are the main changes to the new Harmonized LLQP exam?

The most important change is the fact that one doesn’t need to simply know the materials, but also how to apply their knowledge to the client’s situation. The new exam is still multiple choice, but it requires students to think about the underlying use of the products and services, not simply memorize the textbook. When taking the exam, students may have to think about the best course of action, depending on the situational example – in other words, it is necessary to apply your critical thinking skills.

Student are also required to take a Certification Exam prior to writing the final module exams. Students are given enough time to write the exam, but they need to use that time wisely.

Furthermore, if the student thinks he/she doesn’t need to read the book to pass the test on the exam, then they are deeply, deeply mistaken. Since the exam is designed to test your ability to apply the knowledge to specific cases, you definitely need to read the materials prior to going to the exam.

After receiving a passing mark and a certificate that you passed the Certification Exam – then and only then can you sign up to write a final exam. The final consists of four marginal exams. It is computer-generated; the exam questions are randomly selected from a large bank of different questions, which is why it is very unlikely for two people across Canada to have the same exam.

The modular exams can be taken together or separately within one year. You can rewrite each module if you fail; however, the new regulations give you only three chances to re-write the exam. If you do not pass the third time, to my knowledge, you have to wait several months prior to taking it again.

In my view – and this is strictly my own opinion, which one can feel free to agree or disagree with – if somebody takes more than two attempts to pass the exam, they need to take the time to evaluate if this is the right career and industry for them.

Do you think the fact that the LLQP now takes longer to study and prepare for will make people less likely to apply?

Some people who want to get into the industry on a part-time basis may be forced to give it a second thought, just because of the amount of studying that you need to do in order to be successful. For instance, if under the old system it was enough to study about 3 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the total of 120 hours, under the new regulations, you need to triple that.

The industry has increased in complexity due to the changes in things like taxation and product design; and I am glad that the exam and study materials are starting to reflect that. I believe that longer, more extensive education for the LLQP program is a great decision.

What advice do you have for students studying for LLQP exam under the new system?

First, don’t try to take any shortcuts. Second, take your time to properly read and understand the materials. I am an advocate for extensive studying: when you get materials, read the entire material once; then read it the second time and underline the key ideas (only the key ones, not the entire textbook). Then go through the book again and write out in your own words what you understand from the key ideas you have highlighted.

If you have an opportunity to work with a mentor or take courses, I believe it’s a plus. I personally get a lot more from facilitated environments, such as discussion or study groups. You can hear different perspectives and examples of real-life situations you might not have encountered before, and learn to apply the theory to different situations.

Any tips for the instructors teaching the course?

I would advise them to forget the old material, and make sure you have done the course material and the online practice exams all the way through. In fact, my hope is that people who have the licence today would retake the new LLQP exam: as I mentioned, there are a lot of changes to the industry, and I believe that redoing the new version of the exam will be extremely beneficial to the instructors and current practitioners in the insurance industry. However, under the current regulation, there is no need for people who hold the licence to requalify.

Another piece of advice for instructors is to always relate the text materials to the real world (protecting client confidentiality, of course) – especially since the exams are focused on plausible situations.

About Ian Whiting

Ian Whiting has been a Financial Services instructor at Ashton College for over three years. Ian teaches the CFP course, the CLU course, the LLQP, and facilitates corporate training sessions for Ashton College with companies such as SunLife Financial and Investors Group.

Ian Whiting obtained his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) in 1987 while completing his Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) qualification. He completed his Fellowship in the Life Management Institute with a specialty in Financial Services in 1988. In 1989, Ian completed qualifications for his Chartered Financial Consultant (CFC) designation. In 1992, he qualified as an Associate of the Academy of Life Underwriters and in 1993 he completed his Associate, Customer Service designation program through LOMA.

In 1997, Ian qualified as a Certified FInancial Planner (CFP) and also completed his courses and exams to obtain the Associate, Insurance Agency Administration designation. In 1999, he completed the study and examinations to qualify as a Trading Officer, Partner and Director for Mutual Funds with the BC Securities Commission. As a result, he is also qualified as both a Branch Compliance Manager and Head Office/Provincial Compliance Officer.

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The post Expert Insight into the New Harmonized LLQP Program – Part Two appeared first on Ashton College.

The Government of Canada is taking immediate action to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada through a five-phase national plan. Check out this infographic for more details on the federal government’s plan to #WelcomeRefugees.

As of December 11, 2015:

• 687 Syrian refugees have arrived in Canada;
• 1,545 permanent resident visas have been issued; and
• 12,527 resettlement applications are in progress.

Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/welcome/overview.asp

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Donald Trump has become arguably the most controversial figure in contemporary US politics. Though Trump has amassed a staunch right-wing support base and currently leads the Republican primary polls by nearly 15 points, he has drawn significant criticism for his policies and vehement ridicule for his antics, ranging from his proposal to temporarily ban all Muslim immigration to the United States to his unflattering impressions of a disabled reporter at a campaign rally.

Trump has become an extremely polarizing figure in the United States, and recently his controversy has migrated north to Canada – in fact, to the very same city block as our Ashton College campus in downtown Vancouver. We occupy the same block as Trump Vancouver, an elegant, mixed-use residential-hotel skyscraper that will be the second-tallest building in Vancouver upon its 2016 completion. The project has come under fire from many Trump critics who assert that the brand now symbolizes xenophobia, ignorance and intolerance.

Let’s quickly make one thing clear: Donald Trump may provide branding, but he is not responsible for building his eponymous Vancouver tower. Before becoming such a tremendously divisive political figure, Trump helped to revolutionize the industry through spearheading the development of luxurious mixed-use condominium properties, a building style that has since become synonymous with downtown Vancouver. Today, Trump makes his millions by lending his luxury brand and reputation to building projects across the world, including Trump Vancouver, which was actually developed and constructed by the Vancouver-based Holborn Group.

Donald Trump gives the thumbs up as he leaves an announcement with sons Donald Jr, Eric and daughter Ivanka in downtown Vancouver, B.C. Wednesday, June 19, 2013. (Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

So, Trump is associated with Trump Vancouver in name only, but here’s the problem: in recent months, the Trump brand has become corrupted by his procession of increasingly radical suggestions, assertions and proposals, particularly with regard to immigration and multiculturalism. During this past summer, Trump targeted Mexican immigration to the United States. He accused the Mexican government of sending “the worst elements in Mexico” to the United States, asserting that most members of the Mexican diaspora are responsible for bringing drugs, murder, rape and infectious disease to the United States. Presently, Trump has shifted focus to Muslim immigration, primarily in response to the Paris terrorist attacks and San Bernardino shootings. Trump has proposed a temporary total ban on all Muslim immigration and refugee migration, and he supports the creation of a government database for tracking and monitoring US Muslims.

These stances have generated approval among a substantial portion of US voters, but many here in Vancouver argue that the racism now associated with the Trump brand should have no place in the city skyline.

At Ashton College, we absolutely condemn the xenophobia promoted by Trump and his supporters. However, we cannot help but notice the irony in the fact that our campus shares the same block as the Trump Vancouver tower. Since our inception, Ashton College has been tremendously proud to have helped countless individuals of any religion, ethnicity and nationality gain a foothold in Canadian society through education. Our President has stated that we pride ourselves on diversity, and we believe that multicultural tolerance, collaboration and celebration improves all institutions, from our college to our country. With the comments of Donald Trump and his supporters in mind, we can only wonder if, or to what extent they might agree. How would Trump and his supporters respond if they knew that Trump Vancouver shares the same block as Ashton College, an institution committed to providing everyone with an equal opportunity for success in Canada regardless of their personal background or situation? At Ashton College, we’re considering the more complicated side of that question: what does it mean to share the same space and city as a development branded with values so opposed to our ideals of diversity, tolerance and equal opportunity?

These grand societal questions are difficult to grapple with, and we don’t have an easy answer. However, we will continually maintain and affirm our commitment to helping anyone succeed in Canada by delivering innovative, real-world education and a positive experience from first encounter to graduation and beyond. As for Trump Vancouver, the Holborn Group has stated that its relationship with the Trump brand will continue, and as for Trump himself, we can only hope that enough Americans share our respect for diversity and tolerance to prevent him from winning the upcoming federal election.

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Ashton alumna Qunying (Suzie) Xue recently traveled from Saskatchewan to attend the 2015 Winter Ashton Achievement Awards. A three-time Ashton grad, Suzie sat down with us to share how her diploma from Ashton helped her launch a new career, and her own business.

Born and raised in China, Suzie holds a Master of Education Management from Nanjing Normal University. After immigrating to Canada in 2011, Suzie found that her previous education and work experience in the education field were not being recognized. “I had over 15 years of experience in education: teaching, curriculum design, research, administration- I had done it all. When I arrived in Canada, I quickly realized that I would need to start over, and decided to pursue a new career path.”

In 2013, Suzie enrolled in Ashton’s Immigration Consultant Diploma (IMCD) online program. Halfway through her online program, Suzie applied for Ashton’s Lilian To Bursary, offered each year to recent immigrants who want to pursue full-time academic programs at Ashton College. After being awarded one of four 2013 Lilian To bursaries, Suzie chose to enrol in Ashton’s Diploma in Human Resources Management (DHRM) online program.

“For new immigrants, going back to school helps our integration and gives us Canadian experience, so I wanted to seize every educational opportunity available to me. The fact that the programs were offered online was the icing on the cake, because I live in rural Saskatchewan and work-part time, so I needed a flexible format. Ashton’s online programs allowed me to communicate with my instructors and classmates online, and helped me manage my time and keep my schedule flexible.”

After completing the DHRM program, Suzie successfully completed the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC)’s licensing examination, and became certified as a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC). “I took Ashton’s ICCRC Exam Prep Course as a refresher, because it had been over a year since I completed the immigration consulting program and I had heard how tough the exam is. Thanks to [instructor] Francis Ng, I passed the exam on my first attempt.

I now have my own immigration firm, Anchor International Immigration & Education Services, and my goal is to set up a bridge for students in China to have a chance to study here and become international students in Canada.” Suzie’s firm handles Labour Market Impact Assessment applications, work permits, visitor visas, citizenship applications and more.

“I’m grateful to Ashton for providing me with the training I needed to embark upon this new career, and for helping me prove that it’s never too late to learn!”

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The 2015 Winter Ashton Achievement Awards (AAA) took place on Saturday, December 12th, 2015. This biannual event is an opportunity to celebrate our students’ successes through a gathering with their classmates and the faculty, to give students an opportunity to meet the program advisers and staff behind the College, and most importantly, to recognize every single graduating student for the completion of their program.

This year’s Winter AAA was a wonderful opportunity for graduates to network with their peers and faculty. It was exciting to see our online graduates meeting their classmates and instructors for the first time, and to welcome Ashton graduates from across the country.

A selection of the day’s highlights is included below and additional photos can be found on Ashton College’s Facebook Page.

Held at Vancouver’s Best Western Plus Chateau Granville, the theme for the event was “Let it Snow”. Complimentary copies of the most recent edition of our alumni magazine, Beyond Ashton, were available for all guests.

Ashton Online Course Design Assistant Lyon Tsang (left) and Talent Acquisition Specialist Heather Blanchard served as the afternoon’s emcees. The pair did a wonderful job keeping our event on schedule, and managed to sneak in a few jokes.

Every organization needs someone with vision to lead the way. At Ashton College, the one who builds the blueprint and helps turn vision into reality is our president, Colin Fortes. Colin was welcomed to the podium to give an inspirational speech. “You have worked hard to get to where you are today, and I am happy for you. Remember how accomplished you feel today and use that same motivation to succeed in your career goals,” he told our graduates. “Don’t be afraid to go the extra mile, and try hard everyday.”

Immigration expert Nick Noorani, the founder of Canadian Immigrant magazine served as the event’s keynote speaker. Nick’s compelling speech focused on the three P’s:

Purpose. What is it that you want to accomplish with your life? How do you want to be remembered? What is your vision? These are questions we must periodically ask ourselves in order to ensure we are on the right track.

Passion. Passion is something you have to grow, some days are harder than other to pursue your passion, but this is the key to having a full and rewarding life.

People. Who are the people in your life? You are the sum total of the 5 people closest to you, so choose your friends and partners carefully.

Finally, Nick spoke about the importance of cultivating a mentor who can guide you and provide advice and support, in both a professional and a personal capacity.

Ashton alumna Vitoria Correia gave the alumni address at this year’s AAA. A 2014 Immigration Consultant Diploma program graduate, Vitoria now owns her own immigration consulting firm. Vitoria’s speech focused on the importance of perseverance, especially for recent Canadian immigrants looking to begin a new career.

After all the inspirational speeches, the Ashton Achievement Awards reached its climax: the recognition of our graduates and special awards presentation. On Saturday our graduates were recognized for successful completion of the following programs: Certificate in Bookkeeping, Certificate in International Trade, Diploma in International Trade, Diploma in International Trade Management, Certificate in Sales and Marketing, Diploma in Sales and Marketing, Diploma in Sales and Marketing Management, Diploma in Human Resources Management and the Immigration Consultant Diploma. Family, friends, faculty, and staff gave graduates a big round of applause to recognize their achievements.

The Academic Achievement Award is presented to a highly-motivated candidate who has achieved outstanding academic performance, earning the highest grade average at Ashton College during their program. The 2015 Academic Achievement Award was presented to Mark Liew.

The Perseverance Award is presented to an individual who has overcome challenges during the pursuit of his/her education, is viewed as a role model and is perceived by others as possessing a true sense of leadership. The 2015 Perseverance Award was presented to Spencer Isaac.

The Faculty Award is chosen by students and presented to a faculty member who demonstrates a sense of leadership within the school community. The 2015 Faculty Award was presented to HR instructor Amr Shokry.

From left: Immigration Consultant Diploma (IMCD) graduate Jing Jing Fan, IMCD graduate and 2015 Perseverance Award winner Spencer Isaac, CAPIC – Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants British Columbia Chair Mansour Motamedi Lanjani, IMCD instructor Nevena Djuricic, IMCD alumna Vitoria Correia, and CAPIC Membership Committee Representative Jennifer Ding. CAPIC was on hand to present an award to Trish Forrest, the Immigration Consultant Diploma graduate with the highest overall GPA. Trish was also the recipient of the President’s Award, presented to the individual with the highest overall academic standing.

Graduates  had the opportunity to pose in an Ashton cap and gown with their guests throughout the ceremony.

Congratulations again to all of our graduates and may you have a lifetime of fulfilling adventures!

We’ve already started planning for the next Ashton Achievement Awards! The date is set for June 18, 2016. Stay tuned for more details!

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In the beginning of November BMO bank announced a plan to launch robo-advisory services in their branches, providing online portfolio assessment and management for clients. According to BMO, their intention is to implement the changes by the end of 2015.

Robo-advising is becoming an increasingly prevalent topic of discussion, raising the question: what does emergence of robo-advisers mean for investors and the financial services industry?

Robo-Advisers

Robotic advisers are a new type of automated financial advisers that are gradually becoming more available to the general public. Robo-advisers help investors with their portfolio management: they are designed to analyze the situation through client surveys and suggest investment strategies that would work best for that situation. This software-based assistance aims to create a clear, transparent representation of the available options, fees and comparative performance data.

Robo-advising is growing rapidly in Canada, with ten independent platforms currently available. With such rapid growth, it’s important to consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of being advised by the software.

Benefits and Disadvantages

There are several advantages of robo-advising:

1. Cost: as is usually the case with technological advances, the introduction of software-based investment management can reduce the cost of advising services for the investors. When using robo-advisers, the fee drops from 1-2% (a standard adviser fee) to .0.15-0.35%, which makes investing more affordable. After all, 1% can amount to quite a large chunk of your money when you’re investing large amounts.
2. Transparency: with robotic advisers, clients have a better idea of the breakdown of the services that are offered and the fees that they have to pay – which is a big plus when you are budgeting for your investments.
3. Convenience: because of technological advances, clients have increased options, including easier access to advising (in terms of scheduling appointments, communication, etc.) and better tracking of investment decisions through robo-advising platforms. They also have an option to place the settings of the investments and leave them on the automatic mode. (This is convenient for those users who would like to invest, but do not necessarily want to be continuously involved in those investments)
4. Availability: cheaper costs and technological advancements make investment advisory services more available to a younger generation of clients. Furthermore, a smaller (or nonexistent) cap on the minimum investment gives less wealthy clients an opportunity to start investing as well.

At the same time, robotic advisers also have noted disadvantages compared to regular advisers:

1. Relationships: some clients still prefer to have interactions with the people instead of the machines: they may be unsure of their investment plans and strategies, and may prefer to discuss them with someone who has the experience and expertise in the area. Human advisers also work better for less technologically-savvy users.
2. Connection: human investors not only analyze the survey data, but can help clients align your investment goals to their dreams and future plans. They do not only focus on the numbers, but help to translate those numbers into tangible experiences, connecting them with the personal goals. With robo-advisers, the client has to figure this part out on their own.
3. Adjustments: with advisers, clients have more flexibility to adjust their investments if they have a complex financial situation or a large portfolio. This is especially relevant for larger investments, where the risks are also higher.

How Will Robo-Advisers Change the Financial Services Industry?

The emergence of robo-advisers may, in fact, change the investment industry – but it doesn’t mean the changes will destroy the livelihood of regular advisers. In fact, many advisers remain optimistic, saying that automation does not pose a threat – it will be of help. Becky Wong, CFP, an independent financial planner with over twenty years of experience noted that

“while there is certainly a market for robo-advisers, (primarily younger clients who tend to be DIYers), there are still clients require face-to-face interaction and personalized advice in order to be comfortable making financial decisions. However, I do like the idea of robo-advisers introducing a larger number of consumers to the benefits of financial planning.”

Robotic software and other technological advances can benefit advisers along with users. Technologies can help with data and risk assessment, while in-person advisers maintain relationships with the clients and provide advice based on the clients’ goals.

Secondly, robo-advisers will push human advisers to be more efficient because of perceived competition. For instance, advisers are likely to become more effective with communication, such as offering ongoing online support or longer customer service hours. Robo-advisers can also diminish the amount of scams in advising, and encourage advisers to focus on the services they provide, rather than the products they want to sell to the client.

Thirdly, new technologies can, in fact, increase the number of investors in general. Robo-advisers can attract people who were previously not able to afford advising. Potentially, when they grow their revenue, they could choose to switch to in-person advising for more complex assessments.

Summary

We have yet to see full effect robotic advisers will have on the financial services industry. It does seem that robo-advisers offer various benefits to the clients; however, they still have several drawbacks compared to in-person advising. The choice of advising depends on the person’s goals and preferences. If clients are comfortable with technology, willing and able to align their investment and life goals, and want to make smaller investments, a robo-adviser is a more suitable choice for them. If, on the other hand, they prefer human interaction, are investing large amounts of money or have a complex financial situation, and want to be strategic with their money, in-person investing is a more suitable choice.

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A recent series of events has reignited the “Canadian citizenship for sale” controversy.

On December 8, five Chinese investors filed lawsuits against a Maple Ridge developer who allegedly guaranteed them immigration to Canada in exchange for a $7 million investment into his proposed hotel development. Three of the investors are also suing the immigration consultants who connected them with the developer, Seiko Huang. All five plaintiffs have asserted that their immigration applications were rejected in December 2013 and that they have yet to see their investments returned. Additionally, three of the plaintiffs are claiming that they were misled by their immigration consultants, who introduced them to Huang and allegedly reneged on an agreement to refund 70% of their $51,000 fees.

Though Huang has denied he ever insinuated immigration in exchange for investment, stating that “nobody can promise immigration,” this case has reopened the debate on “citizenship for sale.”

Critics argue that the Canadian government, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and immigration consultants have all been complicit in enabling and promoting the sale of Canadian citizenship to the highest bidder.

Let’s examine the debate by considering Canadian immigration investor laws and practices in relation to this most recent turn in the citizenship for sale controversy.

The Canadian Immigrant Investor program began in 1986. In the context of Vancouver, the advent of the program interestingly coincided with Expo ‘86, the event since been characterized as the moment Vancouver was discovered by wealthy overseas investors like the five plaintiffs in this most recent case. When the program began, investors were able to receive status for themselves, their spouses and young children for a 3-year investment of between $150,000-$250,000. Through the 1990s, investor qualifications had been raised to require a net worth of $500,000 and an investment of $350,000. Controversy regarding the immigrant investor program intensified throughout this period as the economic benefits became increasingly disputed and numerous investors and immigration consultants were charged with fraud and all manner of disreputable financial practices.

By the early 2010s, approximately the time when the five Chinese investors entered into a relationship with Seiko Huang, investor immigrants were required to have at least 2 years of business experience, a minimum net worth $1.6 million legally obtained and a $800,000 investment. Criticism of the Immigrant Investor program had also evolved over the decades, assuming both an economic and political dimension. Particularly in Vancouver, housing and real estate prices ballooned to astronomical proportions, and a robust body of research, inquiry and anecdotal evidence suggests that the real estate inflation has something to do with the influx of increasingly wealthy, predominantly Chinese investors. From a political perspective, critics accused the Stephen Harper Conservative regime of encouraging elite investor immigration at the expense of more vulnerable groups like refugees and working-class immigrants. As further studies and surveys have noted, xenophobia probably plays a role as well.

In a surprising move, the Harper government abruptly ended the Immigrant Investor program through Bill C-31 on June 19, 2014. The stated reason for shutting down the program was that the tremendous backlog of applications was bogging down the Canadian immigration system. Indeed, the program was wildly popular, especially with ethnic Chinese investors hoping to immigrate to Canada, preferably Vancouver. By 2012, the backlog of unprocessed applications in Hong Kong alone had swelled from 1,645 in 2006 to 16,340. While no details or allegations have been proven as of yet in court, the five Chinese plaintiffs who recently filed against their partner and immigration consultants are unlikely to have been affected by the program termination because they were apparently rejected in December 2013 and the cutoff was February 11, 2014. Nevertheless, the rejection of their applications could potentially be related to government plans and sentiment that would bring an end to the program just 7 months later.

Only a year after the closure of the Immigrant Investor program, a similar initiative has been reopened by the Canadian government, the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program.

This pilot program requires individuals to have a legal net worth of $10 million and an investment of $2 million. Citizenship and Immigration Canada will only process 60 applications between May 25 and December 30, 2015, with a waiting list of a further 60 names. These requirements mean that the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Program is far more exclusive than the Immigrant Investor program. Under this new pilot project, fewer investors will be able to come to Canada, but those who do successfully immigrate have the potential to be much wealthier than some individuals in the former Immigrant Investor program.

The recent case of five Chinese investors and their grievances against Seiko Huang and their immigration consultants is only the latest chapter in the controversial history of investor immigration to Canada. There are many wealthy people in the world who would like to come to Canada, and Citizenship and Immigration is continually faced with the responsibility of balancing the economic potential of these investors with the pressure to retain the value and integrity of a Canadian citizenship. We’ll be following the details of this case closely in order to learn more about how this responsibility has been managed or mismanaged.

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On October 19th, Canadian voters granted a majority mandate to the Liberal Party of Justin Trudeau. During the 11-week election campaign, Trudeau repeatedly vowed that a Liberal government would legalize and regulate the production, sale and consumption of recreational marijuana, an abrupt change of policy from the staunch prohibition maintained under Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party.

The Liberal Party asserts that the legalization and regulation of marijuana will prevent youth from accessing the drug, decrease crime rates and take money out of organized crime. While the sociological impacts of the Liberal plan have been mired in the usual insecurity, contradiction and politicization surrounding much of the discourse about marijuana legalization, one aspect of the debate is proving to be significantly less controversial than most of the prevailing dialogue: the economic benefits. The legalization of marijuana has the potential to create (and save) an enormous amount of money for the federal and provincial governments.

Let’s briefly explore and compare some of the proposed economic benefits of legalizing marijuana in Canada.

Legalization could generate a lot of money for the federal government.

In a policy paper printed in 2013, the Liberal Party estimated that marijuana regulation would contribute an extra $4 billion of revenue per year to government coffers.

This substantial annual infusion would be supported by a $65 million investment over the first five years, which would be required to implement the new cannabis regulatory scheme. All told, that’s a projected profit of $3.935 billion dollars annually.

If the Liberal government is able to successfully institute a regulatory framework for the sale of cannabis, Canadians can expect the federal government to benefit from a substantial increase in revenue. Perhaps this could trickle down as further tax breaks?

Legalization could also generate a lot of money for the provincial governments.

Under a new Liberal framework, the sale of marijuana will be subject to PST in addition to GST. In British Columbia, individual dispensaries have already paid over $200,000 each in GST, and in total this will translate to millions of dollars in revenue for the provinces. In Colorado and Washington, two US jurisdictions that recently legalized the regulated sale of marijuana, the state governments have generated over $70 million in tax revenue annually. Colorado and Washington have populations similar to the Canadian province of Quebec. The legalization of marijuana is likely to provide enterprising provincial governments with a lucrative source of income.

Legalization could save the government a lot of money.

Under the Conservative system, millions of dollars were spent equipping law enforcement to sustain the prohibition of marijuana. Between 2003 and 2012, 44,522 people in British Columbia alone were detained and charged for crimes related to cannabis. While critics have taken exception to the enforcement of marijuana prohibition for a number of reasons, the Liberal Party has argued that prohibition and detainment places an unnecessary financial strain on the criminal justice system. By legalizing and regulating marijuana, the Liberal government hopes to save as much as $500 million annually on law enforcement and legal expenses. Advocates for the Liberal legalization strategy hope that cannabis regulation will free up government funds that can be diverted to other issues.

The debate about marijuana legislation is clouded in controversy. Despite the assertions and majority mandate of the Liberal Party, many Canadians are unsure of what the proposed legalization of marijuana will mean for the future of Canada. However, if precedent and projections are any indication, Canadians can expect the country to at least benefit from a significant source of new revenue.

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On January 1, 2016, the Harmonized Life Licence Qualification Program (LLQP) will come into effect. The Harmonized LLQP standardizes the entry level qualifications of new entrants to the industry across all jurisdictions in Canada (including Québec).

Ashton College Financial Services instructor Byron Boone was one of three Ashton instructors who assisted in the creation of exam questions for the the new Harmonized LLQP certification exam. Last week we featured Ian Whiting, who assisted in the creation of 25% of the new exam questions. This week tips, we’ll be sharing insight and feedback from Byron Boons, a financial planner with over 30 years of experience in the industry.

What was your work with the new harmonized LLQP?

I wrote some of the questions for the harmonized LLQP. It wasn’t for CISRO though – it was for a course provider: I wrote certification exam questions and I edited other people’s exam questions. I also mapped the curriculum onto the textbook to ensure the distribution of the exam questions was correct.

Why was the new harmonized LLQP introduced in Canada?

One of the reasons for introducing the new LLQP was its fragmented nature: every province had their own test and different preparation materials available, and hence there were different levels of competency. A number of provinces got together to review the whole process, and they realized that the current system was not really meeting their needs.

There were too many differences between the tests and course content from different providers under the old LLQP version. Every course provider had their own textbook and would emphasize or de-emphasize certain topics. Sometimes, the text terminology wouldn’t necessarily match the actual LLQP provincial exam. So there was a big difference between in the LLQP exam success rate depending on the course provider and something needed to be done about it.

Furthermore, it was hard to continuously keep reviewing and updating so many materials all the time (which, of course, is necessary to ensure quality, but is very time and resource-consuming when you have so many versions to take care of). The provincial regulators realized that if they had a standard textbook, it would be easier to update it.

What are the key differences between the older version of the LLQP and the new harmonized LLQP?

The main difference is the fact that students now need to be competent in each of the four different modules. Furthermore, there are two different Ethics and Professional Practice modules: one for all provinces except Quebec (Common Law), and another specifically for Quebec only (Civil Code). Prior to the new LLQP, it was possible to pass the LLQP exam even without understanding some of the components, which could result in some people in the industry not knowing all the products. The new harmonized LLQP requires you to have the depth and breadth of knowledge necessary to successfully advise clients.

The exam was also changed to open-book format. This change actually makes more sense, because in real life, you don’t do everything from memory: if you need more information, you can look it up. Being able to look up, interpret and apply information is a skill by itself, and it reflects what happens when you’re on the job.

The course providers have strict rules and regulations on the kinds of questions they can provide (for example, having no negative questions), so they came up with different situations and scenario-based questions under those guidelines.

Another difference is having more situational questions included on the exam. In the older version, some questions were oriented towards memorization and recall, while now it is more important to synthesize and apply the information. Students must understand how certain regulations and products work in a particular case and draw conclusions.

The textbooks are the same across Canada. The exam is fairer this way. Every student in Canada has exactly the identical study material and same-style exam, so everybody has an equal chance of passing the exam.

What are the key changes to the LLQP exam?

There are four modular exams under the new regulations, each are 75 minutes long. So the total exam is now five hours long instead of four; however, you can take them separately, and not in one sitting. I believe it is less stressful this way. There are also more materials to study under the new LLQP (around 800 pages), but that gives the students more training and more product knowledge.

Moreover, if you fail one part, you don’t fail the whole exam: you can just go back and retake the part you failed. This ensures more consistent competency across all the exam topics.
Interestingly, there is also an additional textbook on taxation. This textbook does not have a course component, nor is it examinable separately (the questions for the exam come from the main four textbooks), but I believe you are still expected to read it and be familiar with the material.

What tips do you have for students studying for the LLQP exam under the harmonized system?

One piece of advice would be to concentrate on understanding the logic behind everything: you should know how things work, why they are designed a certain way, and how to apply the knowledge in practice. The new exam really concentrates on scenario-based questions, so having the ability to reason is key.

Under the new LLQP, studying becomes not simply about “cramming” and possibly forgetting, but about learning and having more competency in the subject. It is important make sure you understand the materials. When studying, learn how to apply your knowledge – application and logical reasoning are the keys to success.

Another piece of advice I would give is to be familiar with the location of material when you take the open book exam. If you are bringing your own book, know where the key topics are in the textbook. Put sticky notes or comments at the key parts if you can – you will save a lot of time that way. And of course, be calm when taking the exam: there is more material to study now, but it is still doable.

About Byron Boone

Byron Boons has been a Financial Services instructor at Ashton College for almost three years. Byron teaches the LLQP and facilitates corporate training sessions for Ashton College with companies such as SunLife Financial and Investors Group.

Byron Boone has nearly three decades of financial sales and management experience. A believer in continuous learning, Byron holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from the University of British Columbia, an Executive Master of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, and a Certificate in Financial Management from British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Byron also has more than a dozen finance-specific licences and designations, including the Life Licence Qualification Program (LLQP) and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

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The post Expert Insight into the New Harmonized LLQP Program – Part Three appeared first on Ashton College.

Spencer Isaac, a recent graduate from the Immigration Consultant Diploma (IMCD) program, was honored to receive the Perseverance Award for his leadership abilities and fighting spirit. Spencer attended the Winter 2015 Ashton Achievement Awards as a Regulated Immigration Consultant who had already launched his own immigration firm. He is very determined to make a difference in Canada by working with refugee cases.

Born in Kazakhstan, Spencer studied in Turkey and in the US on a full scholarship prior to arriving in Canada. His work experience was varied, including award-winning video projects, as well as being a Senior Manager at Dell computers. However, Spencer has always had an interest in immigration and wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. He started volunteering in the immigration industry, and then decided to pursue Immigration Consulting as his career.

“I like volunteering: I am a member of CAPIC, and I also put my name in as a volunteer to help out by giving my expertise to the Syrian refugees settling in BC.”

Spencer took the full-time four-month IMCD program. “I liked the idea that it was only four months long. It was very quick, but also very intensive – I called it Bootcamp! I liked being able to interact with my classmates and ask questions: since I was already helping the refugee cases as a volunteer, I wanted to get as much information as possible on immigration law.”

Spencer has opened his own company, Prescott Immigration. He is currently doing immigration work here in Vancouver, mostly handling refugee appeals and hearings.

When talking about his experience at Ashton, Spencer was very grateful. “I really enjoyed taking classes at Ashton, especially the modules with Nevena and Francis. I learned a lot about immigration from both the legal perspective and the practical side. I am happy both the instructors and the advisers at Ashton took their time to answer my questions and concerns: I felt like they really wanted to help me with my career.”

Spencer was very touched to win the Perseverance Award. “I set up the study groups to help everyone without thinking about the award”, he shared with us. “It am truly honored to be nominated by my class”.

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With the holiday season upon us, people are looking forward to joyful and relaxing times with their loved ones. It is a chance to catch a break and enjoy the presents, but it is also a good time to think about the future, especially if you are a business owner.

The end of the year is an opportunity to reflect on the progress of the previous year and set goals and plans for the next. Ashton College has put together a list of New Year’s resolution ideas to help your business prosper and grow in 2016.

Set smart goals!

Goal-setting is key to ensuring growth, be that personal, financial or business. Goals can help you determine the direction in which to take your business, as well as the quarterly, weekly and daily targets needed to achieve those goals. Most importantly, goals set the tone for the rest of the year. The earlier you start, the further you can get by the end of the year.

Take some time to evaluate this year’s events and see what you want to happen next year. What would you like to continue doing and what things you would like to change? What aspects of the business would you like to work on?

We find a good goal-setting tool in Smart Goals:

• Specific: It can be very tempting to set general goals, but more often than not they do not give any significant results. Make them more specific in order to understand the right course of action to take to achieve them. For example, if you have a goal to provide better customer service, instead think about how you could achieve it best: you could focus on retraining your employees, or incorporating the emphasis on serving clients into your company’s mission statement. That would be the first step.
• Measurable: You should be able to evaluate changes and see if you are getting closer to goals that you’ve set for your business. Some goals can be easier to measure than others: for instance, increasing the company’s revenue or sales is easier to measure than better customer service. In that case, get creative! In the case of customer service, you could ask customers for feedback (paper evaluations, online feedback, etc.) to measure improvement.
• Achievable and Realistic: You should be able to achieve your goals. That does not mean you should stop challenging yourself and only choose simple goals, but you also should not make your goals so difficult and unrealistic that you will be discouraged to pursue them. The goals should be challenging enough to motivate you, and should require you to work harder and be strategic.
• Time-bound: Set a time limit on what you are trying to achieve. For instance, if you are aiming to increase the number of sales this year, specify how much increase you want quarterly or monthly. This will keep you accountable to your goals, and will help to determine whether certain strategies are working or not.

Keep your goals visible.

Share your goals and visions with your employees and partners, and make them a part of those goals. After all, the objectives you set for your organization can only be achieved if other people are working towards them. When the goals are set, everyone should be regularly reminded of them: common goals can help the whole team to stay motivated and keep each other accountable.

Furthermore, when you openly communicate about what you want to achieve, you give opportunities for creative thinking and input from people who may have a different view on the situation, and therefore who can give you new ideas and perspectives you didn’t consider.

Take care of your finances.

If you have not yet done so, look at your budget. Ask yourself some important questions: What is your plan to get out of debt (if you are in debt)? Are you looking for financial support to expand your business? How much money are you investing back into your business? You need to be aware of your investments, your assets and your spending in order to properly manage your finances and stay on top of your goals. Refer to the list of common mistakes business owners make when it comes to money and budgeting.

Connect with others.

Communication is key to success for any organization or company, be it communicating with your partners, customers, clients or staff. Through communication with your employees, for instance, you can find out what they are struggling with, what changes they would like to see, and what strengths and assets they have that you can rely on. Same with the customers or clients: you can get more feedback and ensure the quality of the services when you go an extra mile to deliver customer service to them.

Communication includes several key aspects that you as a business owner should consider:

• Exposure: You should be able to both communicate about your business to your current clients and partners and reach out to new ones. It includes being available to people: having an active presence on social media, or ensuring that your website displays detailed and updated information. It also includes actively looking for ways to promote your organization, products and/or services. Make sure you spend some time during your New Year resolutions reviewing (or creating) your marketing plan for the upcoming year.
• Transparency: Be open and honest about your organization’s progress and setbacks, both with yourself and your employees. This can help you adjust the course of action that you take with your company to fix the problems or consolidate success. The earlier you and your team can see what you need to change or work on, the faster you’ll see improvements and the less disappointment and explanations you will have to face in the future.
• Connections: Don’t forget to connect with people! Show both your customers and your team that you are personally invested in them. As a leader, you are there to help them meet their goals and ensure their satisfaction and growth. Organize in-person meetings with your employees, or show your appreciation to the customers by throwing in pleasant incentives (however, make sure they are within your company’s budget). Personal touch does go a long way: it helps form trust and creates a better work environment.

The key is to find the balance that will both attract the customers and ensure the business stays profitable. A good practice to use is reaching out to the existing list of regular customers and followers, who may be more excited to support your business during holiday season.

If you are doing holiday discounts, you should also remember that there may be promotional cost associated with advertising. It is important to budget for those promotions, so that you do not end up losing money during the sale.

Don’t Advertise without Doing Research First

Advertising is necessary to ensure people are aware of your organization or company: what you stand for, how are you different, what are the ongoing promotions, etc. Advertising is also big during the holidays, since the goal is to reach out to as many potential customers as possible to ensure that they know about, and take advantage of the discounts you offer.

Learn from others.

Don’t be afraid to ask other people for advice and guidance. To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to keep an open mind and be able to reach out to other people and sources for help. Welcome feedback from your team, join networking events, and surround yourself with successful people who keep the go-getter attitude. If you put learning and growing as your top priority in the New Year, you will definitely succeed with your plans and goals for your business.

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Ashton alumnus Mark Liew was recently awarded the Academic Achievement Award at the 2015 Winter Ashton Achievement Awards. Presented to an Ashton student who achieves outstanding academic performance and earns the highest grade average, the prestigious award was presented to Mark, who maintained an A+ average throughout his program.

We spoke with Mark at the Winter Ashton Achievement Awards ceremony to find out more about what he plans to do with his Immigration Consultant diploma (IMCD) from Ashton College.

Mark Liew (left) accepts the 2015 Winter Academic Achievement Award from IMCD instructor Francis Ng on December 12, 2015. 

A graduate of the part-time IMCD program, Mark completed his Ashton education in July of 2015. Mark enrolled at Ashton after researching his options online and speaking with a program adviser.

“I saw that Ashton had a great program with a strong reputation and very credible instructors, so I spoke with [program advisor] Perry Gross and registered soon after.”

As an immigrant himself, Mark was drawn towards a career where his skills and own experience could be used to help others. “I immigrated to Canada in 2012 from Singapore, and I’ve seen so many new immigrants and potential immigrants struggle with the process. I felt there was room to help a lot of people in this industry.”

During the eleven month part-time IMCD program, Mark enjoyed learning from Ashton’s esteemed instructors, all of whom have years of experience in the field.

“Like many other students, I enjoyed all of my instructors. If forced to choose, I would say my favourite module was module eight, (Immigration Consulting Research and Application), because it was an opportunity to apply everything we learned throughout the program, to see how the legislation applied in specific situations, and work through the entire process. I know that experience will be invaluable to me as I prepare to launch my own practice.

Now preparing for the ICCRC’s Full Skills Exam, Mark plans to register as a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and start his own immigration consulting firm. “I have no regrets, I’m very happy with Ashton, the IMCD program, and what I learned.”

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It has almost one year since Express Entry Immigration system had its first draw in January 2015. Together with Nevena Djuricic and Peter Perram, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants with over 20 and 30 years of experience in the field, respectively, we looked at the system’s successes, discussed its drawbacks and made predictions regarding the future of the program in 2016.

Express Entry Overview

Express Entry is a new immigration system designed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to ease immigration for economic immigrants that are likely to succeed in Canada. Express Entry processes applications under the Federal Skilled Workers Program, Federal Skilled Trade Program and Canadian Experience Class.

Candidates are required to go through the two-step process. Firstly, they create an Express Entry profile to be entered into a pool of candidates. This is where applicants provide basic information about themselves to ensure they meet the immigration criteria. They also are required to register with the job bank if they do not have an offer of employment in place.

Secondly, successful candidates receive the invitation to apply. To determine success, the candidates are ranked against each other: they receive points based on age, education, language proficiency, Canadian work experience, foreign work experience, and a combination of those factors. Extra points (600 out of possible 1,200) are given for a Labout Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-approved job offer or a Provincial Nomination. Successful candidates receive an invitation to apply and have 60 days to submit all the necessary documents.

Comprehensive Ranking System

Express Entry system launched in the beginning of 2015, with the first draw being held on January 31st. As of December, 2015, there were 23 Express Entry draws, with a little over 30,000 invitations issued. On average, draws were conducted twice a month, although no one can guarantee that the trend will continue.

Then Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander welcomes some of the first permanent residents to Canada under Express Entry on April 10, 2015.

One of the biggest questions throughout the year was the number of points necessary to become a successful candidate. The first four rounds required the candidates to score above 600 points on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which would imply they needed to have either a job offer or a Provincial Nomination. However, in the subsequent rounds, the minimum score fell below 600 and only jumped back once, on May 22, during the longest gap in between the draws.

Presently, the majority of applicants in the pool fall within the 350-450 point range. The minimum score required to be selected from the pool has been within the 450-489 point range on 18 out of 23 draws, which is just above the average score in the pool. Throughout the second half of the year, around 1,500 people were selected from the Express Entry pool every draw.

Benefits of Express Entry

Express Entry has received a great deal of positive feedback from immigration professionals regarding its potential. The most cited benefits of the system are the following:

• Express Entry has the ability to shorten the application process. After receiving the invitation to apply and submitting all the necessary documents, the majority of candidates only have to wait for a maximum of six months to hear the final decision on their application, according to the CIC website.
• There is more structure and clarity in the immigration process: all the criteria are listed on the website and are open to the candidates to look through and see if they qualify. Candidates can estimate their comprehensive ranking score and see what kind of skills and experiences they need to gain in order to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency.
• Express Entry is designed to help individuals determine what they need to succeed in Canada. As Peter Perram put it, “not every immigrant has the necessary skill set to adjust to the new environment; however, without having made the commitment to immigrate to Canada, they won’t be successful. The new system helps potential immigrants who are committed to making Canada their home to determine the areas that would make them a successful immigrant.”
• The new system aims to better reflect the needs of the Canadian society for economic immigrants. Express Entry aims to ease immigration process to those professionals who are in demand in the country.

Both Perram and Djuricic agree that Express Entry is not a perfect system; however, they both recognize that it has a potential to be a great tool for economic immigrants.

Drawbacks of Express Entry

Despite many successful applications processed through Express Entry, the system is far from being perfect. There were several technical difficulties with online document submission this year. Furthermore, the job-matching between the potential candidate and the employer is not fully functioning yet, and the job bank needs to be updated more frequently.
There are two main aspects of Express Entry that put certain immigrants to Canada at a disadvantage.

• International students. Under the old immigration system, students were clearly identified as someone who had a great potential to contribute to Canada economically, and were provided a lot of support for immigration purposes. Express Entry system, on the other hand, makes the students less likely to succeed in their immigration application. According to Djuricic, “international students are probably exactly the kind of immigrants Canada wants: educated, with Canadian experience, has created links, friendships and ties in Canada, has paid taxes to Canada for many years – yet, this new system disadvantages them and makes it more difficult for international students to remain in the country permanently.” Recent graduates often lack Canadian and foreign work experience, and are less likely to get a LMIA-approved job offer for the entry level positions. Even though the students can meet and exceed the education criteria, they now have to compete against all the other applicants with more skills and experience than recent graduates have, which puts them at a disadvantage.
• People over 30. Another bias in the Express Entry is for individuals over the age of 30. CRS gives the most points to the individuals in their mid-twenties, and it drops quite drastically for people younger and older than that. “Unfortunately, this means that there can be 40-year-old people with a Master’s degree and years of foreign work experience that will not come close to being drawn from the Express Entry pool if they don’t have a job offer or a provincial nomination”.

Although Express Entry can be a great immigration tool, we hope to see revisions the Express Entry system in the near future to account for their age bias and to make it more accessible to the recent graduates.

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The post Express Entry Overview: 2015 and Beyond appeared first on Ashton College.

On January 1, 2016, the Harmonized Life Licence Qualification Program (LLQP) will come into effect. The Harmonized LLQP standardizes the entry level qualifications of new entrants to the industry across all jurisdictions in Canada (including Québec). Over the past month, we have shared insight and feedback on the new Harmonized LLQP from three industry experts (Becky Wong, Ian Whiting, and Byron Boone). Check out this infographic for a summary of the key changes that will be implemented in 2016.

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When it comes to money, we all are vulnerable to overspending, making rush decisions, getting ourselves in debt or losing money to unwise investments. According to a recent poll conducted for CBC, paying down debt remains the top financial priority of Canadians, the sixth straight year debt reduction has topped the list.

Financial literacy is an essential skill; it applies to everything, from how we spend our free time to where we choose to invest our resources. Check out this infographic for some tips on how to get your finances under control and ensure 2016 is your best financial year yet!

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A native of East Africa, Doctor James Lutaaya was raised in the United Kingdom before immigrating to Canada. “The UK was home to me, but I decided to immigrate to Canada in order to further my career and expand my professional knowledge.”

Trained as a lawyer, Dr. Lutaaya has over a decade of experience working with immigrants and refugees, and specialized in immigration and human rights law before coming to Canada. He holds a doctorate in human and group rights and is a renowned minority rights activist who has advocated for refugees, children, women, migrants and acid attack victims. Dr. Lutaaya also guest lectured on HIV and human rights at Greenwich and Thames Valley Universities.

“When I came to Canada, I wondered what my options were for a career that matched my background. I felt that I had two options: 1. Take the bar and recertify, which takes approximately three years, or 2. Complete a quick program that would allow me to start earning income again. I decided to do both, and after hearing of Ashton at an immigration settlement fair, enrolled in the full-time Immigration Consultant Diploma Program. Because I practiced immigration law in the UK, the program was perfect for me as it gave me the opportunity to familiarize myself with Canadian immigration policies before becoming a lawyer in Canada.”

During the four month long program, Dr. Lutaaya balanced his academic commitments with roles as the Chief Legal Officer for the Center for Rehabilitation of Survivors of Acid and Burns Violence (CERESAV), and the Legal Services Executive for Bridge Canada Immigration Services. Considering his dedication to helping others, it comes as no surprise that his favourite module during the program was Refugee Law.

“I personally feel that refugee law is the area of immigration law that affects the most people and requires the most attention, because these individuals are escaping from prosecution.

With other categories people are immigrating out of choice but refugees are fleeing and often have no choice, so learning how Canada deals with these individuals from a legal standpoint was fascinating.”

Now that Dr. Lutaaya has completed the program, he is focused on completing the bar, and plans to establish his own law firm dealing primarily with immigration law.

“I’m glad I took the IMCD program because it helped me understand immigration policies in Canada and that experience and education will be valuable when I recertify next year.”

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In 2015 Canadians endured the longest federal election campaign since 1872, we chose a new Prime Minister, and we opened our doors (and hearts) to new Canadians fleeing war and oppression. Immigration was a hot topic throughout the year for reasons ranging from the refugee crisis to the introduction of  so-called “second-class citizenship”.

As we enter 2016, Ashton College took a moment to review the key immigration stories in Canada that happened over the past twelve months. Listed below in no particular order are these stories.

Bill C-24 and “Second-Class” Citizenship

The discussion of the controversial Bill C-24 began in 2014 and continued on this year as the bill’s remaining provisions officially came into effect in May 2015. The bill allows the government to revoke Canadian citizenship from individuals with dual citizenship (or the opportunity to obtain dual citizenship) if they are convicted of terrorism or other serious offences.

Also known as the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, Bill C-24 has been widely criticized for creating a “second-class”  of Canadian citizens who are born outside of Canada, have another nationality or are eligible to apply for dual citizenship. Many Canadians found the bill offensive and immigration activists criticized the uncertainty of the circumstances under which citizenship may be revoked.

On May 29, under the new revocation provisions, more guidelines on revoking Canadian citizenship were introduced. At the same time, the fact that the revocation is decided by Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister (instead of the federal court) remains a point of contention.

Alan Kurdi and Syrian Refugees

The power of photography in capturing our attention and facilitating action was proved once again this year, with the heartbreaking photograph of Alan Kurdi, a 3 year old Syrian toddler who drowned while trying to reach the Greek island of Kos, ignited international outrage. Because it was initially reported that Kurdî’s family had been trying to reach Canada, his death and the wider refugee crisis immediately became an issue in the 2015 Canadian federal election.

The refugee resettlement to Canada was, and still remains, a controversial topic with many Canadians, with debate circulating around the number of refugees that should be allowed to enter Canada, refugee healthcare and financial aid. Despite all the controversies however, the response from Canadians on refugee resettlement has been largely positive.

As of January 3, 2016 the Canadian government has welcomed 6,300 refugees, and is determined to meet their original target of 25,000 by early spring 2016.

Introduction of Express Entry

The talk of the year, Express Entry has elicited feelings of anticipation and anxiety for both applicants and immigration professionals. Express Entry combines the applications for three federal economic immigration programs, Federal Skilled Workers Program, Federal Skilled Trade Program and Canadian Experience Class, under one system. Candidates are ranked against each other through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The score is based on the key characteristics that the Canadian government deems essential for economic immigrants, and successful candidates are drawn out of the pool and are invited to apply for permanent residence.

The new system launched in January 2015, and has since had 23 rounds of invitations, with just over 30,000 invitations issued.  You can read a complete overview of Express Entry here.

Immigration news in 2015 was chock-full of updates on Express Entry, changes in immigration processes and immigration draws. Among those, several topics stood out the most:

• Passing CRS score: One of the biggest questions this year was the CRS score needed to be drawn from the pool. Since half of the points (600) are given for a Provincial Nomination or a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-approved job offer, many were worried that the score will have to be higher than 600 in order to qualify. Even though it was the case with the first few draws, the score later fell and stayed (for the most part) between 450-489 throughout the year.
• Express Entry biases: Express Entry was created to ease the immigration process, reduce the waiting times for applicants and increase the number of immigrants that can help Canada’s economy. Despite many benefits, the system is often criticized for making the applications more difficult for international students, federal skilled-trade workers and people over the age of 30. In all those cases it is hard for the applicants to get the necessary number of CRS points due to lack of experience, education or reduced points due to age, respectively.
• Draws changes in 2016: The majority of applicants in the pool are currently at 350-450 points, just below the passing mark. There have been predictions of the CRS scores dropping in 2016, which would make it easier for international students and skilled-trade workers to apply. CIC is also expecting more invitations to apply to be issued this year than in 2015.

Zunera Ishaq and the Niqab Policy

Another controversial topic amongst Canadians thise year was the discussion of whether individuals should be permitted to wear a niqab at their citizenship ceremony. Zunera Ishaq, an immigrant from Pakistan, decided to fight for her right to wear a traditional face-covering veil during her oath. She was willing to lift it or take it off to identify herself prior to taking the oath, but she insisted upon the right to wear her traditional dress and represent her culture during the ceremony.

Zunera Ishaq poses in her home. Photograph: Vince Talotta/Toronto Star via Getty Images

The niqab policy that banned face covering during the citizenship ceremony (in place since 2011) was determined by the Federal Court of Appeal to be a violation of religious freedom and was overturned. Zunera Ishaq was finally able to complete her Oath of Citizenship on October 9, proudly standing up for her beliefs and her culture.

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With the first full week of January in the books, there’s a decent chance your New Year’s resolution, if you made one, has already been broken.

According to statistics, approximately 25 per cent of Canadians make New Year’s resolutions, but 73 per cent eventually break them, with most abandoning their resolutions within seven days. While you may have given up on your personal resolutions to hit the gym, learn Spanish, or save money, there’s still plenty of time to set some specific professional resolutions that can help make 2016 the year you take your career to the next level!

1. Make a Plan

Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten? Twenty? Having a clear idea of where you want your career to take you can clarify the steps you need to take to achieve those goals. For tips on how to build your short, medium and long-term career plan, click here.

2. Learn a New Skill

Your career plan should help you to identify your strengths, as well as areas you perceive as weaknesses. This year, aim to expand your expertise in any number of ways: learn a programming language, master a new software program, or take a course in project management or leadership.

Your new skill might offer immediate benefits in your career, like a promotion or a raise. But even if it doesn’t, learning new things as an adult is a key part of staying mentally sharp and can even help increase overall life satisfaction.

3. Get a Raise

If your company doesn’t tie annual performance reviews to salary increases, the onus may be on you to ask your boss for a pay increase. Before marching into your supervisor’s office and demanding a raise make sure you’re able to demonstrate your value to the company and explain why you’re worth the extra investment. Take stock of your accomplishments and research your market value to ensure you get what you’re entitled to.

4. Get Organized

While it may feel like you know where everything is in your office, having a well-organized workspace can increase productivity as well as creativity. It also shows your co-workers and supervisors that you are put-together and ready to work! Clear out your workspace, wipe down your desk, and organize your computer files and bookmarks to start 2016 off right.

5. Be Proactive

Attend the optional training and professional development offered by your company. If there are none available, consider online courses from sites like  edX and Coursera. Also, don’t just think of professional development as something that happens in the workplace. Take an interest outside of work and actively look for material and people that share your interest area and get involved.

6. Network

It is frequently said that it is not what you know but who you know. This highlights the importance of making contacts, reconnecting with fellow professionals, colleagues, friends, and family. This year, make an effort to attend more professional events and expand your network.

7. Learn How to Say No

While it feels great to be the go-to employee who is able to swoop in, agree to the impossible project, and get things taken care of,  nodding enthusiastically to every opportunity that comes across your lap is a recipe for stress overload.  When you’re overwhelmed with work and being inundated with last-minute requests to do more, it’s perfectly acceptable to politely (but firmly) refuse. Click here for some tips on saying no at work.

8. Get Moving

Make it a habit to get up from your desk at regular intervals throughout the day. Take a walk around the office, step outside for some fresh air, do some push-ups, just do something other than sit at your desk. We have heard plenty about the health risks of a sedentary lifestyle, but you may find that a walk of quick stretch can help you refocus and get back on track when you are finding it difficult to stay on task.

9. Update Your Resume

Keeping your resume up-to-date is important for several reasons. For one, if a recruiter or contact calls out of the blue with a great job opportunity, you’re going to want to have it ready to go. On the other hand, if the worst happens and you are fired or laid off from your position, you’re going to have enough to think about without adding updating your ancient resume into the mix.

It’s a lot easier to update your accomplishments periodically, when they’re fresh in your mind, rather than trying to add in a couple of years of experience all at once.

10. Leave a Job You’re Not Happy In

If you wake up miserable every morning because you can’t stand the thought of going to the office to do a job you hate, it’s time to leave. Look for tell-tale signals which show that you are not in the right job for you. If every day feels like a chore, your boss is a jerk, or you’re constantly stressed out, don’t allow your fear of the unknown to stop you from doing what you really want to do in life!

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The post Ten Career Resolutions for Savvy Professionals appeared first on Ashton College.

When arriving in Canada, new immigrants often struggle to find work despite extensive experience gained abroad. Canadian employers have trouble balancing foreign work experience against relevant Canadian experience or education.

Shogher Zorabyan and Adela Brezai both encountered this problem immigrating to Canada from Armenia and Romania, respectively. However, after taking the Bookkeeping Certificate program through Ashton College, Shogher now works in Accounts Payable for a large construction management firm and Adela is a self-employed bookkeeping consultant.

Upgrade Your Existing Experience

Prior to arriving in Canada, Shogher worked in Armenia in the accounting industry.

“When I immigrated to Canada, I knew that I wanted to continue working in accounting. I’ve always loved working with numbers and solving problems, so it’s the perfect career for me.”

However, after immigrating, Shogher had trouble finding a position related to her training and work experience. “I realized that I would need to take some additional courses in Canada in order to break into the industry here. I decided to enroll in Ashton’s Bookkeeping program in order to upgrade my skills and receive formal training with computerized accounting programs.”

Shogher recalled how intuitive the various software programs were, noting “[My instructor] Lannie taught us how to create a company, enter historical data, set up payroll and budgets, complete sales tax reports, customize forms and so on. Nowadays there are so many different programs with hundreds of features that can be used in so many different ways. It was really interesting to see the practical applications of all the different bookkeeping functions.”

After graduating, Shogher landed a job in Accounts Payable with a large construction management firm, where she is responsible for receiving and logging invoices, preparing cheques and securing financial approval, and maintaining a listing of accounts payable. “I really enjoy my current position. I like working in an office environment, dealing with numbers, and my coworkers are wonderful. I work with Sage on a daily basis and I’m glad I’m able to utilize the skills I learned during my academic training.”

Be Your Own Boss

Adela Breazai was working an office administration job when she decided it was time to return to school in order to further her career. “Because it was a smaller office, I had a variety of different duties, but the tasks I enjoyed most were always accounting-related.”

“Accounts payable and receivable, payroll, maintaining a ledger; it sounds odd but I’m very organized and methodical so working with numbers and records was very enjoyable. I decided that I wanted to pursue a full-time career in bookkeeping, and began researching the options that were available to me.”

After realizing she would need a formal education in order to secure a bookkeeping position, Adela enrolled in Ashton’s Bookkeeping Certificate program. “I visited the campus with a friend, so I had the opportunity to view the computer lab where many of the bookkeeping courses take place. I also spoke with a program advisor about the career opportunities that would be available to me after I completed the program, and he explained the program format and the topics that would be covered. He mentioned that students would be trained in how to use Sage 50 as a tool for business, which I was very interested in, because my husband was managing a small company at that time.”

Adela completed the program in June 2010 and after obtaining membership with the Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada, began working as a freelance contractor, assisting organizations with payroll, bill collection, and installing & optimizing their Sage accounting software setup.

Eventually Adela and her husband Adrian decided it was time to realize their dream of becoming business owners, and founded their own consulting firm, Aaroca Systems Inc., offering bookkeeping and information technology consulting services to businesses small and large. “I generally have at least four clients at any given time, although often it’s more than that, and the business has grown very quickly in such a short time. The clients are small business owners, so we help them with a variety of business issues, and suggest ways they can enhance or streamline their operations.” Adela encourages the business owners she works with to familiarize themselves with the accounting software, and to use it for “everything from payroll to inventory management. ”

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The post How Bookkeeping Can Be Your Path to a New Career appeared first on Ashton College.

Maureen Isadore always knew that she wanted to work with people and make a difference in her community.

As the Executive Assistant to the Nak’azdli Band Chief, Maureen found that her colleagues often came to her for help with their professional and personal troubles. “Because there was no Human Resources department in our small office, it was decided that I would take over that role, which felt like a natural progression for me, as a large part of my job consisted of addressing employee concerns, developing internal documents, coordinating job competitions (promoting job opportunities, receiving and reviewing resumes, scheduling interviews and so on), basically serving as an HR generalist.”

The Nak’azdli Band’s main community is located near Fort St. James in Northern British Columbia. “I live and work in a rural area, where the closest post-secondary institution is over two hours away, so I knew that an online program was the best academic option for me. My employer and I researched several different options but there were some that required students to travel down to Vancouver for two weeks, or were more expensive and less flexible, so Ashton was the best fit for what my company and I needed.”

Maureen enrolled in Ashton’s Online Diploma in Human Resources Management (DHRM) program in October of 2014. “At first it was difficult because I didn’t have any experience with online education, but once I got used to it I felt that it was a lot easier than conventional methods.

Flexible scheduling and recorded webinars allowed me to balance work with the program and I was able to complete my coursework when it suited my schedule.

I travel quite a bit for work, so I completed classes in Calgary, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. The DHRM program was a great option for me as a busy professional who did not have the option of going to school on a full-time basis.”

After completing the DHRM program on June 3o, 2015, Maureen was quickly promoted to the position of Human Resources Manager for the Nak’azdli Band, and is now looking forward to continuing her education. “I’ve joined HRMA [Human Resources Management Association] and I’m researching colleges that offer online degrees so that I can pursue the CHRP [Certified Human Resources Professional] designation.

So much of what I do now is directly related to my academic instruction; organizational effectiveness, staffing, and development and training; I’m able to apply my theoretical knowledge in a practical way on a daily basis, and I want to continue to grow as an HR practitioner.”

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The post Alumni Update | Maureen Isadore appeared first on Ashton College.