Why the Early End of the Policy?
The IRCC has stated that the changes are due to poor exploitation by some “bad actors.” These individuals have been misleading foreign nationals into believing they could work in Canada without proper authorization. Consequently, that undermines the integrity of the immigration system.
This rollback is part of a larger effort by the Canadian government to combat immigration fraud. There have been several high-profile cases of fraud in recent years. For instance, it was discovered last year that around 700 Indian students were in Canada on fraudulent letters of acceptance from Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs). Many of these students had no idea their documents were fake.
In response to this, IRCC has tightened its regulations. DLIs are now required to verify all letters of acceptance within ten days of receiving an international student’s application. The government has also capped the number of international students it will accept for the next two years, limiting the number of international students who can come to Canada while they try to address these fraud issues.
Other Big Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Rules
This recent policy change is part of a more significant move to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers in Canada. On August 26, the government announced that starting September 26, 2024, it will temporarily stop processing some Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications in areas where unemployment is 6% or higher. This applies to applications under the Low-Wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
There are also new limits on how many foreign workers employers can hire under the TFWP. Now, this program only allows employers to hire 10% of their workforce. Plus, the maximum time a worker can be employed under the Low-Wage stream has been reduced from two years to one.
These changes signal a rollback of several pandemic-era policies. Canada temporarily relaxed some immigration rules to fill critical labor shortages. For example, employers could hire up to 30% of their workforce through the Low-Wage stream, and LMIAs were valid for 12 months instead of the usual shorter period.
Then, What’s Next for Immigration in Canada?
Immigration remains a trending topic in Canada, with many discussions focusing on reducing the number of temporary residents. At a recent press conference, Immigration Minister Marc Miller hinted at potential changes to permanent residence levels in the coming years.
With the temporary visitor work permit policy ending, the Canadian government is clearly tightening its immigration system and reevaluating how it manages both temporary and permanent residents.
