1. Priority processing of certain occupations
Effective June 10, 2020, the program is prioritizing certain occupations which are considered essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. The listed occupations have been prioritized across all provinces and territories (except in the province of Quebec).
The list of priority occupations is as follows:
- 3012 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 3111 – Specialist physicians
- 3112 – General practitioners and family physicians
- 3124 – Allied primary health practitioners
- 3131 – Pharmacists
- 3211 – Medical laboratory technologists
- 3212 – Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants
- 3214 – Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
- 3219 – Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health)
- 3233 – Licensed practical nurses
- 3237 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
- 3413 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- 3414 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
- 6331-Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers-retail and wholesale
- 6731 – Light duty cleaners
- 8252- Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
- 8431- General Farm Workers
- 8432- Nursery and Greenhouse Workers
- 8611- Harvesting labourers
- 9462- Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
- 9463- Fish and seafood plant workers
- 9617- Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing
- 9618- Labourers in fish and seafood processing
2. no longer apply policy variations for “owner/operator” applications
For applications received on or after April 1, 2021, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will no longer apply policy variations for “owner/operator” applications. These applications will be assessed using the normal process. That is, owner/operator applications will no longer be exempt from the minimum advertising requirements.
3. Suspending minimum advertising requirements for primary agriculture application
Effective January 12, 2022 and until June 30, 2022, Employment and Social Development Canada will suspend minimum advertising requirements for employers applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire temporary foreign workers in primary agriculture. Employers are expected to continue efforts to recruit Canadians and permanent residents. However, employers will not be required to meet TFWP minimum advertising requirements or submit proof with their LMIA application.