News
Effective November 1, 2024 - Government announces reduction of Temporary Residents in Canada
In response to labour shortages and the aftershocks of the pandemic, the federal government has taken steps to meet the needs of businesses and support our economic recovery.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced a decrease in the number of temporary residents from 6.5% of Canada’s total population down to 5% by 2026.
The International Student Program is being reformed, tightening eligibility requirements for temporary foreign workers, enforcing employer compliance more strictly, and making labour market impact assessments more rigorous.
To ensure the temporary residents welcomed to Canada can be supported, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced additional measures earlier this year to manage the volume of temporary resident arrivals, uphold the integrity of our immigration system and protect vulnerable people.
Please click on the link below for the full news article and list of additional measures:
Quick Facts effective November 1, 2024:
- Graduates from programs at public colleges will remain eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) of up to three years if they graduate from a field of study linked to occupations in long-term shortage.
- As part of changes to the PGWP Program, all applicants will be required to demonstrate a minimum language proficiency in French or English. A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 for university graduates and CLB 5 for college graduates will be requiredfor anyone applying for a post-graduation work permit on or after November 1, 2024.
- The 2025–2026 study permit intake cap will include master’s and doctoral students who will now have to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter. We will be reserving approximately 12% of allocation spaces for these students in recognition of the benefits they bring to the Canadian labour market.
- On January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living requirement for study permit applicants was updated to better reflect the true cost of living in Canada and help prevent student vulnerability and exploitation.
Please click on the link below for the updated Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility requirements:
Canada Ends Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) “flagpoling” Immediately
On June 21, 2024, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that foreign nationals can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the border, effective immediately. This measure will help reduce what is known as “flagpoling.” Flagpoling occurs when temporary residents of Canada bypass the normal wait times involved in applying for a work or study permit online by leaving the country and then immediately re-entering to receive same-day immigration services.
Flagpoling uses significant resources at the border, causing delays for travellers and slowing down the movement of goods. The Government of Canada is taking measures to encourage applicants to apply in Canada rather than flagpole as they continue to improve processing times and increase fairness amongst applicants, without compromising the integrity of the immigration system.
Please click on the link below for full access to the news article:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2024/06/canada-improves-fairness-for-applicants-by-ending-post-graduation-work-permit-flagpoling.html
Possible strike action by CBSA
On June 3, 2024, the Government of Canada and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) began mediated negotiations with the goal of reaching an agreement on a renewed collective agreement for the Border Services Group. On June 11, 2024, PSAC and the federal government have come to a tentative agreement, avoiding any strike action or work to rule action by Canada Border Services Agency officers.
Although the Border Services Group was at a legal strike position should negotiations fail, 90% of front-line Border Services Officers occupy essential service positions and must continue to provide uninterrupted border services to protect the safety and security of the public.
If a strike were to take place, significant delays would have occurred and flagpoling for work, study or temporary permits would very likely be refused at all land ports of entry.
Please click on the links below for full access to the news articles:
https://psacunion.ca/tentative-agreement-reached-more-9000-workers
