Minister Fraser Announced a New PR Pathway for Skilled Refugees

• Canada to tackle Labour Shortages by allowing Skilled Refugees and displaced people build their careers in Canada
• During the announcement, Sean Fraser announced that Canada will launch a new Economic Pathway under the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP).

Minister Fraser announced a New Permanent Residency (PR) Pathway:

Watch the announcement on this webpage.

Toronto, March 27, 2023:  Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Honourable Sean Fraser has made a new announcement to tackle the labour shortages around Canada and help businesses hire Skilled Refugees and other displaced people.

Honourable Minister of the IRCC,  Sean Fraser delivered a keynote speech and unveiling the new permanent residency (PR) pathway at the Empire Club of Canada in Toronto at 11:30 am EST. He spoke with NGOs, business leaders, and civil society organizations about how Canada’s immigration measures can address labor shortages across different sectors.

Details of this New Permanent Residency Pathway:

The EMPP pairs skilled refugees and other qualified displaced individuals with Canadian employers who need to overcome labour shortages in key occupations. This allows Canada to welcome vulnerable people, while giving Canadian employers access to an untapped talent pool from which they can attract and retain employees with the skills they need to help grow our economy.

The Government of Canada is expanding the EMPP by creating a new federal pathway. The new pathway, which will complement existing EMPP pathways, will open this summer.

Facts about this new Pathway by IRCC:

• Through the EMPP, seven NGO partners help skilled refugees overseas connect with employers who need to overcome critical labour shortages. Once candidates receive a job offer, they can apply to immigrate to Canada through existing regional economic programs. After the relevant province, territory or community approves the application, candidates can then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence, using EMPP measures that remove barriers refugees may experience due to their displacement.
• The application process for the new federal pathway will be easier and faster thanks to standardized eligibility criteria and the fact that only one application needs to be submitted. In most cases, applications are expected to be processed within 6 months, so EMPP newcomers will be able to move to and start working in Canada quickly.
• EMPP facilitation measures include waiving some fees, making it easier to validate work experience, and letting candidates use loans to fund travel costs, settlement needs, start-up costs and fees that cannot be waived. An NGO partner provides low-interest microloans to eligible EMPP candidates who do not have the minimum funds to meet settlement requirements.
• Canada has set ambitious targets for the EMPP—over the next few years, Canada will continue to expand it and welcome 2,000 qualified refugees and other displaced individuals to fill specific labour shortages in high-demand sectors, such as health care, skilled trades and information technology.
• NGO partners are working with provinces, territories and communities to engage employers across the country, for example by organizing job fairs to connect them to qualified candidates overseas.
• With the new federal pathway, employers will be able to hire refugees and other displaced people who qualify under any National Occupation Classification 2021 category (TEER 0–5).
• The Government of Canada will work closely with partner organizations and communities across the country to raise awareness of the new pathway among employers and sector leaders so they can factor skilled refugees and other qualified displaced people into their recruitment plans.
• The new pathway will build on ongoing measures to expand the pilot. In December 2022, IRCC announced new funding for partner organizations to build their capacity in key areas, for example by identifying qualified candidates overseas and supporting candidates and employers throughout the interview, hiring and immigration processes. Canada has also started rolling out a more flexible process with trusted partners to make it easier for qualified candidates to apply to the EMPP.

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Recently, Minister Fraser announced a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) Extension allowing Work Permit holders with Permits expiring in 2023 to extend their stay in Canada for 18 additional months.

Recently, a large number of Permanent Residency candidates have been facing difficulties with the Federal Immigration program Express Entry.

Minister Fraser was confronted by a group of PGWP holders outside of a venue where he was expected to make an announcement on February 5, 2023, where these International workers shared their concerns with the Minister regarding the difficulties they are facing on their pathway to Permanent residency.

Minister Fraser re-assured these workers that the IRCC is working on solutions to clear highly skilled workers’ pathway to Permanent Residency.

Please comment and share your thoughts about this Pathway.