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3 min read
Canada has announced that it will be doubling its immigration program for out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area. This move is aimed at addressing the shortage of skilled labour in the construction industry and helping these workers gain legal status in Canada.
The Construction Workers Program
The program called the "Construction Workers Program," was launched in 2019 and allows out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area to apply for a work permit and eventually permanent residency. The program has been successful in providing a pathway to legal status for many workers, and the government has decided to expand it to meet the growing demand for skilled labour in the construction industry.
"This is a win-win situation for both the construction industry and the workers," said the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. "These workers have been contributing to the construction industry for years, and now they have a chance to gain legal status and continue to contribute to the Canadian economy."
The expansion of the program is expected to benefit thousands of workers and their families, as well as the construction industry in the Greater Toronto Area. The government will be working closely with industry stakeholders to ensure a smooth implementation of the program.
Why This Program Matters
This program recognizes the vital role that construction workers play in shaping and developing Canada’s cities and provides them and their families with an opportunity for permanent residency, allowing them to stay in Canada long-term. This program is part of several new initiatives implemented to address labour shortages in Canada by bringing in and retaining the workers needed to drive economic growth and build the country’s communities.
The program promotes a more stable construction industry and guarantees that skilled workers in Canada will continue to meet the critical needs of housing development. Additionally, it will assist in bringing a larger number of workers out of the informal economy, which will benefit Canada's renowned programs and services such as the Canada Child Benefit, Old Age Security and Employment Insurance.
Individuals who are qualified for this program have until January 2, 2024, to submit their application for permanent residence. They also have the option to include their spouses, partners and dependent children in their application. The process for applying for the program includes submitting their names to the Construction Labour Relations (CLR), who will evaluate their eligibility and then forward their application to the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for further processing. This will ensure that only eligible individuals are able to apply for permanent residence, and that the process is streamlined and efficient.
What Does This Mean for Potential Immigrants?
This program offers a pathway for out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area to apply for a work permit and, eventually, permanent residency. This means that eligible individuals who are currently working in the construction industry in the GTA, but do not have legal status in Canada, will have an opportunity to gain permanent residency through being a construction worker and continue to contribute to the Canadian economy.
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