Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) are seeking written comments from all interested parties on a proposal to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (the Regulations) to introduce authorities for the issuance of occupation-specific work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, on the basis of an assessment provided by ESDC. The intent of this proposal would be to provide greater labour mobility to foreign workers, enabling them to leave their employer for a new one in their occupation who is approved to hire foreign workers, without the requirement to apply for a new work permit.
The streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, such as the Primary Agriculture Stream, including the Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program or the Low-Wage Stream, have their own set of unique policies and histories, clients, economic conditions, opportunities and challenges. The departments welcome considerations for the occupation-specific work permit that take into account these differences.
Interested persons may submit comments concerning the proposal within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice (June 22, 2019). All such submissions must cite the Canada Gazette, Part I, the date of publication of this notice, and be addressed to Uttara Chauhan, Director, Policy and Program Design, Temporary Foreign Workers Program, Employment and Social Development Canada, 140 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0J9 (email: IRCC.TempResRegulations-ResTempReglement.IRCC@cic.gc.ca), and Jordan Thompson, Acting Director, Temporary Resident Policy and Programs, Department of Citizenship and Immigration, 365 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1 (email: IRCC.TempResRegulations-ResTempReglement.IRCC@cic.gc.ca).
