The Global Talent Program has been launched on June 12, 2017, which allows for a faster process of skilled foreign workers. The plan is aimed at reducing regulatory provisions, to help attract foreign investment, and expediting the process to bring in foreign skilled talent.
The Government of Canada believes the global talent program will help bring about innovation and growth for Canadian businesses. The Global Talent plan is to help Canadian firms scale up their work force or expand their knowledge of specialized skills to enable the entry of high skilled workers in high demand occupations to fill labour shortages.
There are two streams that will enable faster processing time for entry of skilled foreign workers for short-term Canadian assignments and the overall Global Talent Stream for Canadian firms to increase their skilled work force with global talent.
Work Permit Exemptions:
Foreign workers entering Canada for less than 30 days are now exempt from the requirement of first obtaining a work permit. Before, workers entering Canada even for a day required a work permit, however under the new provisions, if a worker is entering Canada to work 30 days or less and their occupation is classified as “highly skilled” under NOC Code A, or O, which is usually “managerial”, they are eligible to work without a work permit.
Foreign Researchers are also now eligible to work in Canada without a work permit, providing they will be working no longer than 120 days and they will work at a publicly funded degree-granting institution at a college or university level or affiliated research institutions.
Global Talent Pilot Stream:
The Global Talent Stream is a two-year pilot stream, which offers accelerated access to unique, specialized and highly skilled temporary foreign workers. It is planned for innovative, high-potential, high-growth firms to scale-up and grow. The stream is also for Canadian firms looking to hire highly skilled foreign workers in in-demand occupations.
The two streams of the program are as follows:
Under Category A – of the Global Talent Stream, innovative firms must be referred by one of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)’s designated referral partners and seeking to hire unique and specialized talent. Unique and specialized talent is indicated by:
Advanced knowledge of the industry;
Advanced degree in an area of specialization of interest to the employer; AND/OR
Minimum of five years of experience in the field of specialized experience; AND
A highly paid position with a salary of usually $80,000 or more
Under Category B – for Canadian employers that are seeking to hire highly-skilled foreign workers to fill the following occupations found on the Global Talent Occupations List below:
NOC 0213 – Computer and information systems managers;
NOC 2147 – computer engineers (except software engineers and designers);
NOC 2171 – Information systems analysts and consultants;
NOC 2172 – Database analysts and data administrators;
NOC 2173 – Software engineers and designers;
NOC 2174 – Computer programmers and interactive media developers;
NOC 2175 – Web designers and developers;
NOC 2241 – Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians who earn a wage of at least $38.94 or higher;
NOC 2283 – Information systems testing technicians who earn a wage of at least $37.50 or higher;
Sub-set of 5241 Digital Media and Design – position requires a minimum of five years of industry experience, and skills requirements including: 3D modeling, virtual and augmented reality; animation, level editing, editor and pipeline software and tools in applicable industry; other specialized knowledge of software framework in applicable industry (for example, Unreal 3.0) and/or, Experience in planning and managing a project and earn a wage of at least $38.406 or higher.
Both Category A and Category B firms are required to work with the Department of Employment and Social Development to develop a Labour Market Benefits Plan that establishes their commitment to activities that will track overall job creation, skills and training investments, and provides a benefit to the Canadian economy through the employment of the highly-skilled global talent.
Under Category A employers must commit to creating jobs either directly or indirectly for Canadians as a mandatory benefit. Under Category B employers must commit to increasing skills and training investments for Canadians as a mandatory benefit. However, both Category A and B employers must also commit to achieving at least two complementary benefits with at least one activity for each benefit such as job creation, investment in skills and training, skills transfer to Canadians, enhanced company performance and implementing best practices or policies as an employer for your workforce.
To that of the current labour market impact assessment process, there is no recruitment prerequisite and the assessment of the application is based on the benefit to the Canadian labour market rather than the availability of Canadian workers for the position.
To apply for a work permit for a foreign worker, a Labour Market Impact Assessment or apply for permanent residency in Canada we would be happy to assist you. Contact us at 647-556-1781 or 1-800-556-4581 or visit us at http://www.crightneyimmigration.com