As part of our newly launched Doing Business in Canada Guide 2025, Chapter 13 on Labour and Employment offers a comprehensive overview of the legal landscape that governs the Canadian workplace. Whether your organization operates under federal jurisdiction or within one of Canada’s provinces or territories, understanding the dual framework of employment regulation is
What Canadian Employers Need to Know to Ring in 2024
In 2023, we helped Canadian employers overcome a host of new challenges across the employment law landscape. Many companies started the year with difficult cost-cutting decisions and hybrid work challenges. We’ve worked hard to keep our clients ahead of the curve on these issues, as well
On June 27, 2023, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship launched Canada’s new Tech Talent Strategy. Through this strategy, Canada hopes to improve on existing measures and introduce new measures for attracting top talent and supporting high-growth STEM industries and occupations. Additionally, on the same day, the Minister announced that study authorization would be extended for certain eligible work permit holders.
Starting immediately, this new public policy removes the limit on the length of study programs that a temporary foreign worker can enroll in without a study permit—which previously was limited to programs of six months or less in duration. Now, regardless of the program length, foreign workers will now be able to improve their education, upskill or validate their foreign credentials through certain programs, or receive additional professional training, without needing to first apply for a study permit. It should be noted, however, that any Canadian work experience gained during a period of full-time study may negatively impact a person’s eligibility for permanent residence, as this work experience does not count toward eligibility for the Canadian Experience Class, nor for receiving Canadian work experience points under the Express Entry system.Continue Reading Canada’s First-ever Tech Talent Strategy
On May 31, 2023, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a significant change in the Express Entry application management system. They will now conduct category-based selection draws to provide more opportunities to skilled workers in specific occupations who may not otherwise receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. This change aims to support individuals working in Canadian industries facing or expected to face labour shortages.
The Express Entry system operates on a points-based system, where applicants earn points for personal characteristics including age, language ability, education, work experience (both inside and outside Canada), and arranged employment in Canada.
However, even with attributes like work experience and strong language skills, some individuals may not have enough points to receive an ITA for permanent residence. Consequently, eligible candidates remain in the candidate pool without the ability to submit an application. To address this, IRCC is introducing targeted draws to assist skilled workers in high-demand occupations who have a lower points score. This change provides more predictability for Canadian businesses in specific industries to invest in foreign talent, while reducing the burden and costs associated with ongoing work permit extensions and compliance administration.
Category-based selection draws will initially focus on industries with the highest demand, such as STEM occupations and healthcare professions, which are already experiencing widespread labour shortages expected to worsen due to increasing retirement rates. Continue Reading Addressing labour shortages in Canada through changes to Express Entry
With special thanks to co-presenters Agnes Won, Pamela Mafuz and Tony Haque.
In our latest Global Immigration and Mobility Video chat, our on-the-ground immigration and mobility attorneys explore the impact of geopolitical changes to immigration and mobility of employees in the EMEA region.
Click here to watch the video.
Special thank you to co-presenters, Sarah Bahn and Daniel Urdiain.
Our on-the-ground immigration and mobility attorneys explore considerations for US employers looking to send foreign national employees to work in Canada or Mexico if they were not selected in the H-1B visa lottery this year and what steps to take before the next H-1B cap
Special thanks to Sarah Adler, Immigration Legal Counsel.
In our latest Global Immigration and Mobility Video chat, our immigration and mobility attorneys explore the most recent changes in Canadian immigration law introduced in 2022; as well as some updates and anticipated changes to consider as we look ahead towards 2023. The 10-minute video covers
Special thanks to Sarah Adler, Immigration Legal Counsel.
Our webinar was designed to bring Canadian in-house counsel and human resources leaders up to speed on the top labour, employment and human rights law developments of 2022 and to prepare them for what’s on the horizon in 2023.
Using our “quick hits” format, we
