Spouses of Some Work Permit Holders can now Apply for Open Work Permits

According to a recent announcement made by Immigration Minister Sean Fraser on December 2nd, 2022, Canada will make an effort to keep families of some Work Permit holders together. The spouses and working-age children of some current work permit holders will now be eligible for Open Work Permits (OWP), under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

What are the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and Work Permits?

Foreign nationals who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents can work in Canada with the use of work permits. One of the pathways through which foreign nationals can obtain a work permit is the TFWP, which allows Canadian firms to apply for a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire international talent.

These work licenses are given out for particular jobs with particular employers. If a foreign national with an LMIA-based work permit loses his employment, he then has a certain time to find another job or depart Canada. On the other hand, OWPs give foreign nationals the freedom to lawfully work in Canada for any business and in any position, without the same conditions.

New Modifications in OWP Eligibility

The opening up of OWP eligibility to families (spouses and children of working age) of some closed Work Permit holders is a significant step toward luring more immigrants to work in Canada and perhaps even to settle there. Spouses of International students, Canadian citizens, and residents of Canada already had the option of having their spouse sponsor them for an OWP.

As a result of this policy change, IRCC anticipates receiving more than 200,000 new work permit applications from relatives of individuals already in possession of work permits. The program will be put into place at the beginning of 2023 as a temporary two-year solution in three phases:

• Phase 1: High-wage stream - For spouses of higher-paid employees who possess a work permit in the TFWP
• Phase 2: Provinces and territories stream - For spouses of lower-paid employees in the TFWP
• Phase 3: Families of agriculture workers - For families of seasonal agriculture workers, a key stream of employment that Canada wants to expand as part of its effort to restore its economy.

Even though IRCC is eager to adopt these adjustments to support the revival of the economy, these timeframes remain speculative. According to Minister Fraser, much of phases two and three will still need to be developed in collaboration with the provinces and employers for enhancements in Canada Immigration.

Why is Canada in Need of More Residents?

Canada has always understood how crucial immigration is to the nation's economic, demographic, and societal well-being; nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the demand for new residents.

In the wake of the pandemic-affected 2020 and 2021, immigration has emerged as a critical concern for economic health and recovery as the nation continues to have record-high job vacancies, low levels of unemployment, and a steady inflow of retirees.

Minister Fraser highlighted this in his announcement on December 2, by saying that, ten years ago, there were nearly seven Canadian workers for every retiree exiting employment. In the next 10 to 15 years, the ratio of employees to retirees is expected to drop to two from its current level of closer to three.

If these figures don't increase, Canada won't have enough skilled labor to support its most important industries, including healthcare and education, let alone its economic development or health. Policy changes like the one mentioned above will be essential for Canada's society to remain healthy. By the end of 2025, the IRCC has already committed to accepting nearly 1.45 million new immigrants (under the Immigration Levels Plan 2023–2025).

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