This article was originally published on April 6, 2022, and was updated on April 25, 2022, to reflect new information.
April 25, 2022, Update: The government of Canada announced that it would implement new measures for individuals who previously applied for permanent residence through the temporary resident to a permanent resident pathway introduced in 2021. According to the announcement, these measures will be presented to support the government’s broader effort to address labor shortages throughout the country and build on the TFW Program Workforce Solutions Road Map. These measures, which will go into effect in the summer of 2022, include the following:
- Applicants will no longer be required to remain in Canada while the application is processed
- Applicants who applied for an open work permit while waiting for their permanent residence application to be finalized will be permitted to obtain a work permit that will remain valid until the end of 2024
- Immediate family members currently located outside of Canada who were included in the principal applicant’s permanent residence application will be eligible for their open work permit
Original Post From April 6, 2022:
Key Points
- The government of Canada introduced the Temporary Foreign Worker Program Workforce Solutions Road Map and its five phases as a means of addressing labor shortages throughout the country
Overview
On April 4, 2022, the government of Canada announced the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program Workforce Solutions Road Map. Under the Road Map, the government aims to address labor shortages throughout the country, enhance worker protections, and provide new pathways to permanent residency. Over the coming weeks, Canada will implement five fundamental policy changes.
Beginning April 4, 2022, the government will:
- Address seasonal immigration peaks by removing limits on the number of lower-wage positions that employers in seasonal industries can fill through the TFW Program, making the Seasonal Cap Exemption permanent
- The maximum duration of lower-wage positions in seasonal industries will also be increased from 180 days to 270 days per year
- Increase the validity of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) from nine months to 18 months
- Extend the maximum duration of employment of High-Wage and Global Talent Streams workers from two years to three years
Beginning April 30, 2022, the government will:
- Allow employers from sectors with demonstrated labor shortages to hire up to 30 percent of their workforce through the TFW Program for lower-wage positions for one year
- Allow all other employers in sectors that do not demonstrate labor shortages to hire up to 20 percent of their workforce through the TFW Program for lower-wage positions
- End all current policies that automatically refuse LMIA applications for lower-wage occupations in the Accommodation and Food Services, and Retail Trade sectors in regions where unemployment is at a rate of six percent or higher
What are the Changes?
The government of Canada introduced the TFW Program Workforce Solutions Road Map to adjust and improve the Temporary Foreign Worker Program while also mitigating the economic effects felt by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking Ahead
The government of Canada will continue to monitor the outcome of the project. Employers are encouraged to submit applications online to benefit from reduced processing times. Continue to check the government of Canada’s website for the latest updates and information.
Written by: Jessie Butchley, Global Immigration Writer, Envoy Global
Source: Employment and Social Development Canada
