Canada is clearing pathways for foreign nationals to more easily become permanent residents.
Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller announced two new programs that would offer non-citizen caregivers to establish legal residency upon arrival.
“Caregivers play a critical role in supporting Canadian families, and our programs need to reflect their invaluable contributions,” Miller said in a press release. “As we work to implement a permanent caregivers program, these two new pilots will not only improve support for caregivers, but also provide families with the quality care they deserve.”
Under the program, immigrants who want to work in Canada as home caregivers for the ill, injured, or semi-independent can seek employment through staffing organizations. Applicants must reach level four of the Canadian Language Benchmark, have the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma, recent relevant work experience, and receive a full-time job offer.
“These new PR on arrival pilot programs mark an important step forward in Canada’s efforts to meet the evolving home care needs of its diverse population,” the government said in a statement.
During a press conference discussing the programs, Miller said the new programs create a “one-step” immigration process.
“I am also pleased to share that we are lowering out of fairness the language requirement,” he said. “Our aim is to strike a balance between the barriers caregivers face to get [permanent residency] and selecting newcomers who will be resilient to changes in the labor market. Lowering the language requirement is a much-needed change that we have heard directly from the community on and will align with other programs.” Immigration Minister Marc Miller announces that foreign caregivers will be granted permanent residency on arrival in Canada and that the government is lowering language requirements "out of fairness." pic.twitter.com/TwNOZYp5Rn
— Harrison Faulkner (@Harry__Faulkner) June 4, 2024
Canada announced in November of 2023 that it aimed to bring 500,000 new immigrants into the country each year – celebrating that the goal would mark the highest levels of immigration in national history. The government said it expects to grant permanent residency to 485,000 immigrants in 2024.
As part of the nation’s Immigration Levels Plan, Canada expects to grant permanent residency to more than 15,000 foreign nationals seeking caregiver jobs. The government Immigration Ministry launched the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot in 2019. As of April 30, roughly 5,700 immigrants and their families have used the programs to become permanent residents.
“Canada welcomes high levels of immigration to keep its economy strong. Canada has one of the world's oldest populations and also one of the world's lowest birth rates. This creates economic and fiscal pressures,” said Canada Visa, a website run by an immigration lawfirm. “Canada has a low rate of natural population growth which results in low rates of labour force and economic growth. Low economic growth makes it difficult for Canada to raise the taxes it needs to support social spending on services such as education, health care, and other important areas that provide high living standards in the country.”
