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______________________________________________________________________________Stewart McKelveyDoing Business in Atlantic CanadaBusiness ClassBusiness immigrants are people who can invest or start businesses in Canada and are expected tocontribute to the growth of the Canadian economy. Business immigrants are selected based on theirability to become economically established in Canada.There are three categories of business immigrants:InvestorsTo be eligible for immigration as an investor, an applicant must make a prescribed investment of$400,000 payable to the Receiver General of Canada. The investment is subsequently allocatedto participating provinces and territories in Canada and is used towards job creation andeconomic development programs. The full amount of the investment (without interest) is repaidto the investor after approximately five years. The investor must also have a net worth of at least$800,000 and satisfy certain other requirements relating to business management experience.EntrepreneursTo be eligible for immigration as an entrepreneur, an applicant must have managed andcontrolled a percentage of the equity of a qualifying business for at least two years during the fiveyear period before the date of application, have a net worth of at least $300,000, and intend andbe able to manage and control a percentage of the equity of a qualifying Canadian businessequal to or greater than 33.33%, and create at least one full-time job equivalent for Canadiancitizens or permanent residents, other than the entrepreneur and his or her family members, for aperiod of at least one year within three years of arriving in Canada.Self-employed PersonsTo be eligible for immigration as a self-employed person, an applicant must have at least twoyears of one of the following types of experience in the period beginning five years before thedate of application:• self-employment or participation at a world-class level in cultural activities;• self-employment or participation at a world-class level in athletics; or• farm management experience.Self-employed persons must have the intention and ability to be self-employed in Canada and tomake significant contributions to cultural activities or athletics, or to purchase and manage a farm.Business immigrants who meet the definition of the class under which they are applying (investor,entrepreneur or self-employed person) are then assessed against five selection criteria and must obtain aminimum of 35 points, which are allocated according to the following criteria: education, experience, age,proficiency in English or French and adaptability. The pass mark can change at the direction of theMinister of Citizenship and Immigration.Skilled Worker ClassSkilled workers are eligible to become permanent residents because they are considered able to becomeeconomically established in Canada. To be accepted as a skilled worker, applicants must meetestablished minimum work experience requirements, prove that they have the funds required forsettlement, and earn enough points under six selection criteria to meet the pass mark.Family ClassCanadian citizens and permanent residents living in Canada, 18 years of age or older, may sponsor closerelatives or family members who want to become permanent residents of Canada. Sponsors mustpromise to support the relative or family member and their accompanying family members for a period ofthree to 10 years to help them settle in Canada.Page 20