New WP Program – Innovation Stream
Hello World! Today, we would like to share some information about the newly announced Work Permit (WP) program.
On April 15, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the launch of a new two-year Innovation Stream Pilot under the International Mobility Program without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) .
What is the Innovation Stream Pilot?
This is a two-year pilot program designed to help designated eligible companies in securing highly skilled foreign workers. Foreign workers eligible for this stream can apply for a Work Permit for up to five years, and accompanying family members are also eligible for an Open Work Permit.
Innovation Stream Pilot Eligible Employers:
- Ada
- AlayaCare
- CellCarta
- Clarius
- Clio
- DPG (Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group)
- Lightspeed
- Vive.
Foreign workers who are or will be employed in high-skilled occupations at the companies listed above can apply for a Work Permit under the Innovation Stream that does not require an LMIA. This stream will be in place for two years, until March 22, 2026, unless otherwise extended.
Eligibility
The key eligibility criteria are listed below. Please check this link for detailed application requirements.
- The job offer must be from one of the Innovation Stream Pilot eligible employers.
- Applicants must have an offer of employment in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations.
- The wage offered must be competitive.
- The job offer includes a wage review on the first day of work and then annually to ensure worker wages continue to align with the prevailing rate.
- Applicants who are in Canada at the time of submission must have valid temporary resident status or be eligible for restoration of status as a temporary resident.
Wage Requirements
The wage offered must meet the provincial or territorial median hourly wage, as specified in Employment and Social Development Canada.
Also, it must fulfil the terms of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, or if not under such an agreement, it must exceed the prevailing wage defined either as the regional median hourly wage for the occupation posted on Job Bank’s Wage Report or within the wage range for similar positions (with the same skills and years of experience) in the area.
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As noted above, a new Work Permit program has been announced for workers who are or will be employed at the designated companies.
If you are interested in this program or need advice or assistance with your application, please feel free to contact us using this form.
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