IRCC’s plans to implement the framework in the coming years
This past week, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced Canada’s plans to expand and escalate the process for temporary residents to become permanent residents.
Minister Fraser presented IRCC’s five-pillar approach expected to benefit foreign workers and international students in Canada as temporary residents. The goal is to expand avenues for temporary residents to attain their permanent residency.
The permanent residency expansion strategy comes as a response to a motion actioned in May 2022. At that time, discussion and demands were peaking for a public framework explaining strategies to expand avenues for economic immigration.
It is expected that this five-pillar program will aid both temporary foreign workers and international students, as well as offer relief to sectors in need of labour.
Read More: Immigration Minister discusses policy considerations for new PR pathway
IRCC’s Five Pillar Pathway for TR to become PR
Colin Singer from Canada Immigration News reports that this strategy will offer support to Canada’s “…shrinking labour market, caused chiefly by low birth rates and a growing number of retirements among the baby boomer generation.”
Outlined below, the Strategy to Expand Transitions to Permanent Residency utilizes a five-step approach providing alternate avenues for foreign workers and students to become permanent residents.
Pillar 1: Elevated rates of Immigration
Minister Fraser reiterated the current plan to elevate Canada’s immigration rates that are outlined in the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan. Increasing the immigration targets to align wit labour supply needs is the primary goal of this pillar. Most notably, the plan suggests adding over 400,000 new permanent residents before 2023.
While this plan is current, Minister Fraser is likely to present a revised Immigration Levels Plan to include 2025 before the end of the month.
Pillar 2: Increasing flexibility of Express Entry
The premise of this second pillar is to expand the parameters of the Express Entry Program to allow IRCC to select applicants in accordance with the demands of the labour market. By 2023, the Express Entry program will be able to operate by extending occupation-centred invites.
Another aspect covered in this pillar is the revision of the Express Entry Program’s Comprehensive Ranking System. This revision is to ensure that appropriate points are allocated based on language levels, completed Canadian education, work experience in Canada, among other considerations.
Read More: Canada Planning Major Express Entry Changes
Pillar 3: Advancing Economic Immigration
Minister Fraser’s presentation of pillar 3 looked at the proposed steps to aid temporary essential workers in becoming permanent residents. Among the propositions is IRCC’s adoption of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
Additionally, among other propositions, this pillar seeks to improve temporary residents’ access to information to guarantee that they are equipped with proper knowledge regarding certifications and requirements.
Read More: Canada’s Immigration Backlog
Pillar 4: Providing Support for Communities & Francophone Immigration
This pillar mentions lending support to communities in attracting and retaining newcomers. This pillar puts a special emphasis on Francophone immigration and supporting minority Francophone communities outside of Quebec.
Moreover, IRCC’s Municipal Nominee Program (MNP) is mentioned as a way to accomplish these initiatives and address Canadian labour needs.
Pillar Five: Increasing IRCC Support & Processing
Pillar five is about ensuring that the government is increasing processing capacity. To do so, there will b reworking of the immigration processing system with technological advancements to ensure that newcomers have a positive experience in the immigration process is of high importance.
The Five Pillars Put into Action
Over the coming months, Immigration minister Fraser is expected to make additional statements regarding the progress of the strategy. The next update can be expected as early as the beginning of November.
