Tag: Global Skills Strategy

By: Katelyn Bell, Summer Law Student

On June 12 of this year, the Government of Canada announced the commencement of the Global Skills Strategy. The program was originally announced back in November, 2016.

The Global Skills Strategy Programme is designed to assist employers to attract foreign workers with top-talent and innovative skills in an effort to help Canadian companies thrive, grow and ultimately, create more jobs. “When companies in Canada can thrive and grow, they create more jobs.”

The intent of the Global Skills Strategy is to provide employers with a faster and more predictable process for attracting top-talent and new skills to Canada.

Under the Strategy, in most circumstances and for managerial and professional occupations, lengthy visa processing delays no longer await highly-skilled workers coming to Canada. Canada’s ambitious two-week turnaround for processing work visas and permits brings a greater level of certainty to both workers and employers.

The two-week service standard also applies to immediate family members accompanying highly-skilled workers to Canada.

The Strategy also introduces work permit exceptions. Highly-skilled workers who need to come to Canada for a short-term work assignment no longer require a work permit. Eligible workers are permitted one 15 consecutive day work permit-exempt stay in Canada every 6 months, or one 30 consecutive day work permit-exempt stay every 12 months.

Researchers taking part in short-term research projects also do not require a work permit. Rather, researchers are allowed one 120-day stay every 12 months with no work permit, if they are working on a research project at a publicly funded degree-granting institution or affiliated research institution, such as a University.

Other changes brought forward by the Strategy include:

* A dedicated service channel for employers making a significant investment to Canada. This channel helps employers navigate the immigration application process. The channel gives employers access to an account manager, who will assess the employer’s needs, answer questions, and provide guidance.

and

* The creation of Global Talent Stream for skilled occupations in shortage and for employers with unique talent needs. The Global Talent Stream is available to two categories of employers:

1. Category A: Firms in Canada that are referred to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program’s Global Talent Stream by an Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Designated Partner because they are innovative and can demonstrate a need to hire unique and specialized temporary foreign workers in order to scale-up and grow.
2. Category B: Firms in Canada that need to hire foreign workers for highly skilled in-demand occupations found on ESDC’s Global Talent Occupations List where there is insufficient domestic labour supply.

Reports indicate that since the official launch of the Strategy, Canada has been quite successful in recruiting new workers and talent. This is not however surprising, given the reputation Canada has for good quality of life, in tandem with the current political climate in the United States.

If you are an employer looking to hire a highly-skilled foreign worker, or you are a highly-skilled worker looking to come to Canada, or for any other immigration related matters, please contact our Immigration lawyers today. For any other inquiries, browse our website, or call us directly at 416-449-1400.

“This article is intended to inform and entertain. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon by readers as such. If you require legal assistance, please see a lawyer. Each case is unique and a lawyer with good training and sound judgment can provide you with advice tailored to your specific situation and needs.”