The Council of Canadian Innovators made a provision for workers not possessing a job offer will now need a new visa.
The Council of Canadian Innovators took the initiative of letting highly skilled tech workers enter the country without possessing a job offer. This is a solution proposed against the challenge of labor shortage.
The CCI proposed a detailed recommendation report for the Talent and Skills Strategy. Under this, they have elaborated 13 major suggestions to the administrators forming policies regarding how to increase the workers in the tech industry in Canada.
The novel Visa introduced is considered a High Potential Tech Visa. This Visa will majorly target the professionals working in highly demanded industries like data science, software engineering, etc. This Visa would give them the freedom and the opportunity to work and switch jobs. Also, it will assist the workers in receiving Canadian permanent residency.
CCI had mentioned in its report on Talent and Skills Strategy that the primary requirement for a job offer as a part of eligibility is hindering a lot of highly skilled professionals in getting a work visa and thus entering the country. It has also been mentioned that if the requirement of a job offer is waived, a lot of skilled and qualified professionals engaged in high-demand industries like data science and software development could enter the country hassle-free.
The importance of working remotely has been realized after the pandemic. In its response, the CCI has asked the Government of Canada to approach the private sector of the country to permit in-demand professionals to come to Canada without possessing a job offer only for a limited period of time.
This concept has already been implemented in the United Kingdom. The country allows highly Skilled professionals working as data scientists, software developers, and engineers to come without requiring a job offer.
This proposal for a High Potential Tech Visa would integrate with the Global Skills Strategy which provides the facility to high in demand professionals for processing work permit applications within at least 14 days. Moreover, the CCI is aiming to reduce the processing time to 48 hours for this program.
It has also been mentioned that the significance of distorting the requirement of job offers would assist in an increase in the number of skilled workers being hired by Canadian-based companies. Rather than processing through a long time-consuming procedure.
The CCI has also suggested the Government of Canada assist the Canadian enterprises to guide them through a quick and easy process to call more skilled professionals as permanent residents through the category of Global Talent Stream. It is a specialized work permit that is only available to specified employers and professionals. This program is undertaken by the Global Skills Strategy.
It has also been recommended in the report to introduce the Digital Nomad Strategy which will help in building Canada as a destination for remote jobs. And regularly analyze the codes of National Occupation Classification to efficiently reflect the changes happening in jobs related to the tech sector in Canadian provinces.
They also look forward to the expansion of consideration of credentials for work permit holders
Processing time of 14 days for the work permit
There have been various immigration pathway options like work permits available for workers engaged in the technology industry. The Government of Canada has various immigration pathways to offer for giving the status of Canadian permanent residency like the Global Talent Stream. This stream gives the opportunity of getting a work permit to temporary work permit holders within a time span of 14 days of submitting the application.
This is one of the ways to assist in the expansion process of companies by giving them access to highly talented skilled professionals.
The Global Talent Stream also lets employers hire workers without the need for advertising and LMIA assessment. This option is only accessible to large-scale companies that can assure the recruitment of highly skilled professionals from all around the world.
Employers falling in this category need to have a referral from the Global Talent Stream through a valid partner.
Access to GTS is also given to the employers hiring employees who are highly skilled and are engaged in highly in-demand jobs which are listed in the category of Global Talent Occupation List.
The employers of both categories are obliged to meet all the eligibility requirements regarding the payment of skilled workers.
The following are the details of current wages which should be allocated to the workers hired in the industry. The workers should be at least paid the following salaries or higher.
The average salary for professions included in the Canadian Government’s Job Bank
The salaries granted by the employer should be considered with the position, skills, and experience of the worker
Below is the defined minimum salary prescribed in the list of Global Talent Occupations
The GTS also has exemptions like workers not possessing a work permit and engaged in High in-demand occupations listed in the category of A-Level occupation of NOC skill type 0 have the freedom to come to Canada either for 15 days out of 180 days or for 1 month out of a period of 1 year.
Whereas research analysts not holding work permits and working at Government-funded research institutions can enter Canadian province for about 4 months out of a time period of 12 months
