The highlights of these changes, which now apply throughout Canada except Quebec (with the exception of increased processing fees) are as follows:

  • The “Labour Market Opinion” (LMO) is now called a “Labour Market Impact Assessment” (LMIA). Employers must provide more information, such as the number of Canadians or permanent residents who applied for an available job, the number of Canadians and permanent residents interviewed and the reasons why none of them were hired. Employers must also attest that they are aware of the rule that Canadians or permanent residents cannot be laid off or have their work hours reduced at worksites that employ temporary foreign workers.
  • The Temporary Foreign Forker Program, which used to have one stream for temporary employment offers that required an LMO application and another for those that were LMO-exempt, is now divided into two (2) separate programs: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, for temporary employment offers that require an LMIA and the International Mobility Program, for temporary employment offers that are exempt from the LMIA process (e.g., for intra-company transferees, individuals eligible under NAFTA, etc.).
  • The analysis and administration of the program will now focus on the wages offered to the foreign worker rather than on how the job is classified in the National Occupational Classification Matrix.
  • The program now encompasses the following broad streams: high-wage stream: jobs for which the wage offered to the foreign worker is equal to or above the provincial or territorial median wage; low-wage stream: jobs for which the wage offered to the foreign worker is below the provincial or territorial median wage; agricultural stream; highest demand occupations (skilled trades), highest paid occupations (top 10%) or short-duration (120 day or less) occupations: LMIAs will now be completed within a 10-business-day service standard for jobs in these categories; live-in caregivers.
  • In areas where the unemployment rate of 6% or higher, no LMIA applications will be processed for jobs in the Accommodation, Food Services and Retail Trade sectors, or for any jobs for which little or no training is required.
  • The maximum duration of work permits for all low-wage jobs is reduced from two (2) years to one (1) year.
  • The cumulative length of time that a temporary foreign worker in the low-wage stream can work in Canada will likely be reduced.
  • The specific agreements that the Government of Canada has with the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Yukon which have the effect of exempting certain jobs from LMIA will be amended, among other things so as to make more employers subject to LMIA before they can hire a foreign worker.
  • New transition plan for high-wage positions: Employers wishing to hire temporary foreign workers in high-wage positions will now be required to submit a transition plan along with their LMIA application. A form for this purpose is now available online at the Employment and Social Development Canada website. Among other things, an employer, in its transition plan, will have to describe the activities and investments it has undertaken to help Canadians and permanent residents develop new skills and competencies. Employers are also encouraged to take steps aimed at helping such workers transition to becoming permanent residents of Canada.
  • Employers will have to report on the results of their transition plans on reapplying for a LMIA for such workers or if they are selected for an inspection.
  • The LMIA processing fee is increased to $1,000.
  • Lastly, the Government has announced that it is increasing the number of inspections and investigations it will carry out.

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global legal practice. We provide the world's pre-eminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. We have more than 3800 lawyers based in over 50 cities across Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Recognized for our industry focus, we are strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare.

Wherever we are, we operate in accordance with our global business principles of quality, unity and integrity. We aim to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of our offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright Australia, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa (incorporated as Deneys Reitz Inc) and Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, each of which is a separate legal entity, are members ('the Norton Rose Fulbright members') of Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss Verein. Norton Rose Fulbright Verein helps coordinate the activities of the Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.