As indicated in the linked article, it appears the new Liberal Government will be undertaking another review of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program:
While the program appears to suggest that the review is linked to Atlantic Canadian employers need for more seasonal foreign workers, it should be noted that the last time a review was undertaken there was a moratorium imposed on the issuance of LMOs (now LMIAs). Any such moratorium linked to a further review could be catastrophic to both employers and foreign workers whose work permits are expiring. It is also difficult to discern from the article what the focus of the review would be, beyond the issues raised in Atlantic Canada.
As previously mentioned on this blog, the issuance of LMIAs and work permits based on LMIAs is, right now, the best guarantee for selection for permanent residents through the Express Entry system. Any moratorium or review could result in lower scores in the pool of Applicants under Express Entry. If this occurs, the government needs to either lower the scores for selection or amend the selection criteria to place more value on work experience, education, age, adaptability rather than the current system which is weighted heavily towards arranged employment. Piecemeal reviews and changes will not work given how the current selection system for PRs is so intertwined with the LMIA process. If review of LMIAs is encouraged then many aspects of the current immigration regime will need to change with it so as to ensure immigration levels are met and we are attracting the best immigrants to Canada.
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