Work Permit Exemptions and Facilitation under the Global Skills Strategy

The Government of Canada has announced the details of the newly implemented Global Skills Strategy (GSS). The GSS is an effort involving two departments that work separately on the admission of foreign nationals to work in Canada, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). IRCC is offering work permit […]

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Changes to LMIA Advertising Requirement of Owner/Operators

As a general rule, in the context of a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application, evidence of a satisfactory Canadian recruitment strategy is needed to satisfy Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that there is a shortage of Canadians eligible for a specific position of employment. However, there are situations in which exemptions exist. One […]

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Compliance Requirements for Employers of Work Permit Holders

In a small percentage of cases, Employment and Social Development Canada may request evidence of the compliance with the terms of a previous Labour Market Opinion (LMO) approvals or Confirmations. In doing so, a reviewing official would seek to be satisfied that “substantially the same” wages and conditions as outlined in an application were in […]

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Servicing Machinery for Canadian Clients

[UPDATE] Also, see information on new provisions for repairs of out of warranty equipment. A frequent source of frustration for foreign equipment and machinery manufacturers is the ability to carry out installation and quick repairs for Canadian customers. In some cases, such repairs are done within the sales warranty, an extended warranty negotiated separately, or […]

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Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Program

As earlier announced, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC; formerly Human Resources and Social Development Canada) has implemented changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and specifically, the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) application process and requirements. These changes are as follows: 1. There is now a processing fee associated with the submission of an LMO application. […]

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Revisions to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Recent controversy over one of Canada’s largest banks’ inappropriate use of the temporary foreign worker program is having further fallout. Yesterday, Canada’s  Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism yesterday announced the following immediate and future modifications to the program: Immediate removal of previously implemented provisions allowing wage flexibility, thereby requiring […]

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Agricultural Stream Labour Market Opinions

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada today announced changes to the Agricultural Stream of the Pilot Project for Occupations Requiring Lower Levels of Formal Training. The program, now referred to simply as the Agricultural Stream, was formerly limited to lower skilled (NOC C, D) primary agricultural occupations in specific commodities (see below), the program has been expanded […]

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Accelerated Labour Market Opinion

HRSDC and Service Canada have enacted a program allowing for the accelerated processing of certain Labour Market Opinion applications. The program, entitled the Accelerated Labour Market Opinion (A-LMO) Initiative, allows eligible employers (excluding those in the province of Quebec at present) seeking the admission of higher skill workers (i.e., National Occupational Classification (NOC) levels 0 […]

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Removal of Name in Labour Market Opinion

Due to privacy concerns, Service Canada (HRSDC) Labour Market Opinion (LMO) Confirmations and Annexes will no longer necessarily carry the name of the foreign worker approved therein. In some cases, where privacy concerns are not an issue, officials may include the name of the foreign worker in the notes in the case, this is not […]

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