Earlier this week, news surfaced of changes that would mean some Temporary Foreign Workers in Alberta would get a one year work permit as they wait to find out if their application for permanent residency is approved.
However, Peace River MP Chris Warkentin explains it was really just a technical amendment, and not hope for people wishing to become permanent residents.
“In fact, what it is going to do is allow those people that had their applications in for the Provincial Nominee Program to have a bridging so that they weren’t forced to leave the country before their application had been considered.”
Warkentin says it’s more important to make sure Canada’s entire immigration program better reflects the needs of growing labour markets like the Peace region.
He appoints to the recently released Express Entry program as an example.
“It will be more of a process matching people with skills that are needed to an employer in a community like ours where there’s guaranteed jobs, and then of course with the provision that these people will be able to stay in Canada permanently.
Once an application is matched up, it’s expected the review process will be only six months, which is considerably shorter than the current immigration process.
TFWs who have been in Alberta since 2011 or earlier have until April 1st to leave.