076: Canadian Business Immigration - The best options available with Jeffrey Lowe

Canadian Immigration Podcast

Since 2014 Canada has been without any real immigrant investor program at a federal level. However, in this episode we are going to pull the curtain back on three great options that your business immigration clients may want to consider as they look to invest in Canada and use that investment of time and money to secure permanent resident status for them and their families.

It was great to have Canadian Immigration Lawyer Jeffrey Lowe join me to shed some light on some of the best business immigration options available for entrepreneurs and like-minded foreign nationals who are looking to invest in Canada and secure permanent resident status in the process. You can learn more about Jeffrey and his background working as a Canadian immigration lawyer in Episode 19 of the Canadian Immigration Podcast.

Jeffrey S. Lowe has practised Immigration and Business law in British Columbia since 1983. He holds both a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia, and is considered an innovator in the convergence of Business, Technology and the Law. Jeffrey is the Chief Inspirational Officer of Lowe & Company, and has taught Immigration Law, Practice Management and Legal Ethics to lawyers across Canada since 1990.

In this episode Jeffrey and I discussed three of his favourite option when advising high net worth clients seeking to immigrate to Canada. Two of the programs are PNP based and the third is a home grown strategy involving a combination of creative work permits and existing skilled worker programs to secure PR status in Canada.

Show Notes for This Episode:

1. Introduction to Business Immigration
2. 2 general routes:
   • Entrepreneur Provincial Nominee Programs
     • 7 Provinces and 2 Territories have them
     • Most work the same way;
     • And
   • The “Canadian Business Experience Strategy” (a new term coined by Jeffrey!)
     • Buy or invest in a business
     • Apply for a Work Permit through a number of options:
       • Owner Operator LMIA
       • NAFTA Investor;
       • CETA or CPTPP Investor;
       • Significant Benefit Work Permit;
     • Work in Canada;
     • Apply to Immigrate under Express Entry
3. Closer look at 2 Entrepreneur PNP Programs we recommend:
   • BC PNP Programs:
     • Base Program:
       • $600K PNW
       • $200K minimum investment
       • Create 1 job
       • Can buy a business or start new. Need to spend 75% of your time in BC
       • Need CLB 4 when applying for Nomination (after 2 years)
     • Regional Pilot:
       • $300K PNW;
       • $100K Minimum Investment
       • Create 1 Job
       • Must start new business
       • Need to spend 75% of your time in BC
       • Need CLB 4 at the beginning
       • 66 Communities, with