Entries by Katrina

Everything you need to know about wages and some more

Employers in Canada with foreign worker(s) employees hired under the temporary foreign worker (TFW) program must meet certain compliance obligations. One such obligation is to conduct an annual review of the salary being offered to foreign worker(s) on work permits issued under a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). As part of the compliance obligations, employers […]

International Student Program Changes Take Effect – Full-time students can work up to 24 hours a week off-campus – End of Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express

Back in April 2024, the government announced that in the fall, it would allow full-time international students to work up to 24 hours per week off-campus. This 24-hour per week limit was settled on to strike a balance between allowing students to pay for their studies and living expenses and focusing on their studies as […]

Major New Limits – Intra-Company Transfer Work Permits, Low-Wage LMIAs, Post-Graduation Work Permit Eligibility

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have announced major changes regarding eligibility for intra-company transfer (“ICT”) work permits, low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessments (“LMIAs”), and Post-Graduation Work Permits (“PGWPs”) which will further reduce the number of workers in Canada. Here’s what you need to know: Limits to Intra-Company Transfer Work Permits The changes to ICT […]

Government Acts to Further Limit the Number of Temporary Residents in Canada

As the federal government continues its drive to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada amidst continued high costs of living, continued housing unaffordability, and increasing unemployment, particularly amongst youth[1], it has announced new measures[2] to do so. The government target is to reduce the number of temporary residents from 6.5% of Canada’s total […]

Extension of Open Work Permit and/or Study Permit Eligibility for CUAET Ukrainians

On August 11, 2024, a new public policy[1] from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”) took effect which provides a further avenue for Ukrainians who came to Canada under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (“CUAET”) to remain in Canada as workers or students. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, approximately 300,000 Ukrainian citizens and permanent […]

Further TFWP Restrictions – Low-Wage LMIAs Halted in the Montréal Region

The Government of Québec, with the cooperation of the Federal Government, has announced that beginning September 3rd, 2024, there will be a six (6) month pause of low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications in the Montréal region. Low-wage LMIAs are applications where the wage for the position falls below the provincial median wage, which […]

Update to Rules for Dogs Entering the United States from Countries with Low Risk of Rabies

After feedback and lobbying from various countries, veterinarians, industry partners, and the public, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) has walked back from some of its requirements for dogs from countries that are rabies-free or with a low risk of rabies, including Canada. Specifically, dogs entering or returning to the United States from such […]

Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement – New Avenues for Ukrainians to Work in Canada

Effective July 1, 2024, the immigration provisions of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (“CUFTA”) came into effect. This now brings new avenues for citizens and permanent residents of Ukraine to work in Canada or enter Canada as business visitors. The CUFTA’s immigration provisions contain similarities with other free trade agreements- like the Canada-United States-Mexico-Agreement, the […]