Canadian Immigration: Ottawa Vows to Cut Wait Times for Foreign Workers Joining Tech Firms

The Canadian government is determined to cut wait times and speed up the process of Canadian immigration for skilled workers.

The skilled workers moving to Canada to work in technological firms are facing delays in the immigration process. This has been affecting the growth of such companies in Canada. The government vows to speed up the process so the companies don’t have to face much delay.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development reported that the government has launched an innovation strategy. It will be taking public input in six areas this summer.

One of the specific goals of this strategy is to cut the waiting times for Canadian immigration with regards to employment of skilled workers in technological firms.

The delays in immigration process have reported to affect the recruitment of highly capable candidates. This has also influenced the business development and growth opportunities for these firms.

The government is determined to complete the immigration process within 6 months time for maximum number of candidates. The Canadian Immigration Minister, John McCallum stated that he wants to accommodate the best candidates for the economic and technological growth of the country. And he is working hard on it.

The Express Entry System demands the employers to provide a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) report to get permission for hiring foreign skilled workers. The process itself is tiring and has discouraged many employers. Moreover, the long duration it takes for the approval has complicated things.

Danielle Lovell, co-founder of a human resources outsourcing company, said that the skill that we are looking for to hire in Canada is actually in demand worldwide. The 6 months duration it takes for the approval is enough for a rival company to hire a potential candidate before a Canadian firm can.

Government might consider dropping the LMIA requirement. This way, the immigration program might become more effective for foreign skilled workers and Canadian employers alike.

While the observers appreciated the government’s innovation strategy to expand businesses in Canada, there are complaints that the program does not offer details. It fails to convince the majority.