Temporary Foreign Worker Program

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SCSAST) has recommended that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stop issuing closed work permits. These permits, which tie workers to a single employer, are criticized for increasing vulnerability to abuse and limiting workers' rights.

Starting August 28, visitors in Canada on a temporary visa can no longer apply for work permits from within the country. This policy, initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020, aimed to assist visitors stranded due to border closures.

Starting September 26, Canada will stop processing Low-Wage Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) in some metropolitan areas with unemployment rates of 6% or higher.

Canada is set to lower its immigration targets over the next three years, starting in 2025. The country’s new Immigration Levels Plan, announced on October 24, outlines a reduction in permanent resident admissions, with a focus on rebalancing the system to prioritize economic immigrants already residing in Canada. Here’s a summary of the key changes:

The Canadian regions that could potentially see a reduction of temporary foreign workers due to Employment and Social Development Canada's (ESDC) recent policy include Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) with an unemployment rate equal to or higher than 6%. Based on the latest data, the following CMAs are likely to be affected:

Starting November 8, the Canadian government will require employers hiring temporary foreign workers in the high-wage stream to pay at least 20% above the provincial median wage.

IRCC checks if the employer is actively engaged in business, verifying legal existence, operation in Canada, and stability. They review the business start date, type, number of employees, income, and main activities. New or obscure businesses get extra scrutiny.

The facilitated Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) helps Quebec employers efficiently address labor shortages in the province.

Quebec has its own programs and criteria for foreign skilled workers hoping to settle in the province.

In a significant policy shift, Immigration Minister Marc Miller has unveiled plans to integrate temporary resident targets into Canada's annual Immigration Levels Plan from fall 2024. Historically focusing solely on permanent residency quotas, the updated plan will now also consider the influx of temporary residents, aiming to refine and potentially reduce their numbers over the next three years. This move is not designed as a hard cap but could lead to application limitations in specific sectors.

It is important to know that Quebec simplified LMIA processing if different from the rest of Canada

IRCC has announced that it is extending the Agri-Food Immigration pilot and lifting annual occupational caps for program participants.

The Canadian government has introduced six new measures to manage the increasing number of international students and temporary workers.

Median hourly wages in all provinces and territories (except for Nunavut) will increase after May 31st.

Normally, processing involves an officer individually evaluating each work permit applicant to determine if they are approved. This includes a review of the applicant’s experience, education, language ability and any licensing requirements.

Immigration minister Sean Fraser said that temporarily extending work permits to family members of principal applicants in the temporary foreign worker program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program (IMP). This measure will help Canada combat chronic labour shortages

During the processing of a family class sponsorship application, some sponsored spouses, partners, and their dependent children, will come to Canada as temporary residents to be with their sponsor. Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced at the end of May a temporary public policy allowing these individuals to work in Canada while their application is being processed.

Quebec released its updated occupations list on February 24, 2023.

Starting September 3rd, Quebec will suspend processing Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for jobs in Montreal offering wages below $27.47 CAD per hour.

Temporary residents in Canada, such as visitors, international students, and temporary foreign workers, are permitted to travel outside Canada but must comply with specific re-entry requirements by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).