Yesterday Canada ended the temporary public policy that permitted visitors to apply for work permits from within Canada. This policy is effective from today and will expire on February 28, 2025. This is an unexpected move by the Government and Department. Now, we can't call it a sudden change because this policy was introduced in August 2020 . But the motive of this policy was to assist visitors in Canada who were unable to return home because of Border Closures due to Covid Pandemic. In this Blog we will provide you all details related to this decision of the government and also tell you how it is affecting migrants.
If we talk about this change then it will be one of the biggest changes in history which will surely affect a huge number of migrants. According to the official press release, there were worries that some people might use this policy to deceive foreign nationals into working without proper authorization. Along with that IRCC also emphasized that they also need to recalibrate the temporary resident population in Canada. For visitors who were planning to apply for a work permit under this policy now won't be able to proceed further. And if still they wish to apply for a work permit then they might have to explore other options.
This policy was a temporary policy which was implemented at a time when the world was fighting the Covid 19 pandemic. And because of travel restrictions, lockdowns and border closures left many visitors stranded in Canada. These visitors are those who came to Canada to visit someone from their family in Canada and because of Covid stuck there with no clear path forward.
In response , IRCC introduced this policy which allowed visitors ( who are already in Canada ) to apply for a work permit. This policy was particularly beneficial for those individuals who had held work permits in the past and in any situation they needed to change their status to “ visitor ” due to job loss or any other reasons caused by the pandemic.
The decision to end this policy has been framed as a part of IRCCs broader efforts to manage the numbers of temporary residents in Canada and to ensure the integrity of the Immigration system. As this year started Canada made a lot of changes so they won't invite unnecessary crowds in their country. And in their release IRCC also said that after covid pandemic the number of temporary residents in Canada has grown significantly.
And the real situation is that even Canadian people are not finding good enough jobs for themselves. That's why the government is now focusing on maintaining a balanced and fair immigration system . You must also know that Canada is canceling Low wages jobs because somehow they promote exploitation among employers.
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When the government announces CAP on study visas and say that they will reduce 35% from the previous year it somewhere sparks protest between international students. According to Business Insider India’s report, around 70,000 international students in Canada are facing potential deportation due to recent changes on the country’s federal immigration policies. However, the Department says applications submitted under the policy before 28 August will continue to be processed.
Few days before, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also hinted at further tightening immigration controls. He also pointed out that the temporary residents volume in Canada has increased, which necessitates careful management. On the other hand, there is significant criticism, particularly from those who were directly affected by the change. Many feel that the decision was so sudden and left them in a really difficult situation.
The end of the work permit policy is part of a series of recent changes aimed at managing Canada's temporary foreign worker levels. On August 26, 2024, the IRCC announced a pause on certain Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications under the Low-Wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). This pause, set to take effect on September 26, 2024, will affect applicants in regions with unemployment rates of 6% or higher.
Additionally, new restrictions have been imposed on the number of foreign workers that Canadian employers can hire under the TFWP, limiting it to 10% of their total workforce. The maximum term of employment for workers in the Low-Wage stream has also been reduced from two years to one year. These changes reflect the Canadian government's broader effort to recalibrate immigration policies that were temporarily adjusted during the pandemic. The goal is to strike a balance between meeting the country’s labor market needs and maintaining control over the number of temporary residents.
Read more : New Rules for Low-Wage Temporary Foreign Workers
Immigration has become a keystone topic in Canada, with much of this year seeing announcements related to managing and reducing temporary residents within the country. As of this week, Minister Marc Miller has also announced his intention to consider changes in permanent residence in Canada in upcoming years.
As the protest continues, the affected student and their supporters are calling the Trudeau government to reconsider the policy changes and provide a clearer, fairer pathway to PR.
Q1. Is Canada still giving visitors visas ?
Ans. Yes, Canada is still issuing visitor visas. If the applicant meets the eligibility criteria, they have a high probability of getting the visa granted.
Q2. What was the Visitor-to-work permit policy in Canada ?
Ans. This policy, introduced in August 2020, allowed visitors in Canada to apply for work permits without leaving the country. It was initially intended to assist those who were unable to return home due to covid 19 restrictions. The policy was terminated on August 28,2024, several months before its scheduled end. The government cited reasons such as the number of temporary residents and concerns about misuse of the policy by individuals or groups.
Q3. Why did Canada end this policy earlier than planned ?
Ans. The policy was terminated early to address concerns about immigration fraud and to better manage the number of temporary residents in Canada.
Q4. What other changes has Canada made to its temporary foreign worker program?
Ans. Canada has paused certain LMIA applications and imposed new restrictions on the number of foreign workers employers can hire, among other changes.
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