Canadian Free Trade Agreements with more than 50 countries help strengthen the financial connections between other nations and Canada. The commercial relationship is a result of removing hurdles in performing business with one another, with a temporary shift of business people frequently moving to and from Canada.
Advantages of Canadian Free Trade Agreements
Canada’s Free Trade Agreements enable business people from nations under agreements to enter and work temporarily in Canada. Moreover, these individuals must possess a work permit, whereas there will be no need to acquire a Labor Market Impact Assessment. The Canadian government uses the LMIA to observe and analyze the impact of recruiting foreign workers on the labor market in Canada. If the LMIA requirement is exempt, acquiring the work permit via an FTA program becomes more convenient and faster.
Moreover, these individuals will achieve better work opportunities and access Canadian immigration under permanent residence. They will have the chance to exemplify their work experience in Canada in their applications while they apply for PR because IRCC gives special importance to the work experience in their evaluation process. It also holds significance in increasing the CRS score. The Comprehensive Ranking System is the perfect way to evaluate the Express Entry pool candidates.
Overall, the federal government uses the Express Entry system as the chief pathway to welcome Canadian immigrants under three of its main programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the FSTP, and the Canadian Experience Class.
Free Trade Agreements of Canada
Canada’s Free Trade Agreements also make it more convenient to make investments across borders or let the workers move between Canada and the partnering countries under FTA.
Canada has become a part of the following Free Trade Agreements:
- CUSMA– The agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico, known as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.
- CPTPP– Agreement between several countries, including Chile, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Peru, Mexico, Vietnam, Canada, Malaysia, and Brunei. This is known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
- CETA– This lies between Canada and European Union members and is known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
- GATS– This agreement covers World Trade Organization’s members. This agreement is the General Agreement on Trade in Services.
However, other FTAs are also prevalent. The Signatory Nations are more likely to obtain work permits through a faster process under the specific terms and conditions of the agreement between the country and Canada.
Applying for the process for a work permit under an FTA program
The application process under any one of the programs of FTA will be different because it will depend upon the particular path. Usually, workers and employers have the chance to directly apply to the programs.
However, for a few programs, let’s say CUSMA programs, Mexico and U.S. citizens will not require Temporary Resident Visas to arrive in Canada. Therefore, their work permit application processing might take place at the port of entry.
When candidates begin the application process, they will have to ensure a specific program under which they will be applying. Next, they will make sure they have all the relevant documents to demonstrate that they are eligible for that particular program.
FTA program workers and their eligibility for specific immigration programs
After the FTA program workers gain Canadian work experience, they also gain eligibility for numerous PR programs. However, they must be willing to pursue Permanent Residence in Canada.
Consider the following:
- Programs managed under Express Entry, including the Federal Skilled Workers Program, Canadian Experience Class, and the FSTP.
- Enhanced Provincial Nomination and Provincial Nominee Program. Essentially, Enhanced Provincial Nominations occur via the Express Entry pool, and the candidates receive a provincial nomination, further providing a guarantee for an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
- Quebec Skilled Worker Program or the Quebec Experience Program have individual selection parameters and procedures.
Conclusion
The Canadian government’s primary objective revolves around economic immigration within the following years. Overall, Canada seeks to welcome more than 431,000 new permanent residents, specifically in 2022, through the numerous economic immigration programs. Therefore, Canada will become successful in meeting the labor demand and competing in the existing labor market.
