Last Updated on February 23, 2023
This article was originally published on 4 April 2022 and was updated on 25 April 2022 to reflect new information.
25 April 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 permanent resident pathway that was introduced in 2021. According to the announcement, these measures will be introduced in order 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 own open work permit
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 4 April 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 key policy changes.
Beginning 4 April 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, therefore, making the Seasonal Cap Exemption permeant.
- 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 30 April 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 a one-year period.
- 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 and Envoy’s website for the latest updates and information.
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Content in this publication is for informational purposes only and not intended as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. For additional information on the issues discussed, consult an attorney at one of the two U.S. Law Firms working with the Envoy Platform or another qualified professional. On non-U.S. immigration issues, consult an Envoy global immigration service provider or another qualified representative.
