This article was published by CBC News and Investigative Journalism Foundation (IJF).
The federal government will no longer grant extra points toward permanent residency for some temporary foreign workers, less than two months after a secret investigation by the CBC News and Investigative Journalism Foundation (IJF) was revealed. It’s so easy to buy and sell these jobs online.
On Tuesday, Mark Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said: express entry The program will no longer allow you to receive 50 or 200 additional points for working in supported employment. Labor market impact assessment (LMIA) — An immigration lawyer called the move “drastic” but expected.
A Labor Market Impact Assessment is a document issued by the federal government to employers. If Canadians or permanent residents cannot be found, foreign workers will be allowed to be hired.
This position was created in 2014 as “Finally, and limited resort This is to temporarily fill critical labor shortages when there is a shortage of qualified Canadians. ”
Previously, LMIA-backed positions not only allowed foreign nationals to work legally in Canada, but also increased their chances of becoming a permanent resident by adding points to their permanent residence application.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Mark Miller announced that employment supported by a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) will no longer result in additional points for applicants seeking permanent residence in Canada. Remove incentives for candidates to purchase LMIAs and increase the “fairness and integrity” of the system.
This change was announced during the following period: press conference About Canada’s plan to address immigration and border security issues.
“This measure removes the incentive for candidates to purchase LMIAs, increases the fairness and integrity of the Express Entry system, and is expected to take some of the value away from the fraud already occurring in the LMIA system.” Miller told reporters. .
In response to a request from CBC News, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada provides a timeline and details of the policy change, including whether it applies to foreign workers currently employed in LMIA-supported occupations. Not yet.
‘Radical’ but predictable changes: Lawyers
Calgary immigration lawyer Jatin Shorey said the change was “drastic” but expected.
He said he understands the push to reduce fraud, “but it’s unfortunate that all good officials are punished as a result of the actions of bad actors.”
Foreign nationals employed in LMIA-supported jobs receive an additional 50 or 200 points out of a potential 1,200 points. Comprehensive ranking system Score used to evaluate candidates for permanent residence.
Some are praising the change. youth immigrant advocacy group Naujawan Support Network posted on X It said the move “signals a victory in our fight for a fair path to PR” and will reduce the exploitation of migrants.
Regulatory immigration consultant Stephen Paolasini previously told CBC/IJF that the system “needs an overhaul” and that the LMIA “should not directly benefit immigrants.”
LMIA-backed jobs come with a closed work permit, which prevents temporary foreign workers from working for other employers.
Early November, parliamentary report The LMIA recommended that the LMIA be re-evaluated as to whether it should become a closed work permit, as it “could result in an increase in work permits”. [temporary foreign worker’s] Dependence on employer.
Because of this, “workers are less likely to insist on adequate working conditions, safety and contract terms, and less likely to seek assistance, because they fear deportation, possible non-payment to recruitment agencies, and financial ruin.” “is decreasing,” the report says.
Some, including John No, a Toronto labor lawyer who has represented dozens of exploited and abused temporary foreign workers, are calling for the program to be abolished completely.
“Even if we intervene, exploitation will still occur,” he said.
The only viable solution is to give newcomers permanent residency upon arrival in Canada, said No.
“From day one, they’re going to have stability, they’re going to have status. … It’s not a radical idea. Today, and in the past, many immigrants come with status on arrival. Ta.”
Speaking in Toronto on International Immigration Day, Saeed Hassan, executive director of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, announced a series of promises for immigrants, including regularization for undocumented immigrants and permanent residency for care workers on arrival. criticized the federal government for being broken.
$45,000 for “no work” LMIA.
In October, a thorough investigation by CBC/IJF uncovered a thriving black market in LMIA. tracked reporter dozens of online accounts Openly selling LMIA-backed jobs and government documents on sites such as Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace.
An undercover journalist posing as a recently graduated international student spoke with multiple sellers who offered LMIA-approved jobs for between $25,000 and $45,000. One person asked, “Do you want a job with LMIA or a job without LMIA?” [the] work. “
CBC/IJF notes that these immigration programs often come with a choice between a “real” or “fake” position, and pay stubs to use as evidence of work history in Canada when applying for permanent residence. It was discovered that fraudulent supporting documents such as tax notices and tax notices were complete. .
Some transactions included “employer costs” of more than $27,000; Employers are prohibited from charging fees to foreigners Any recruitment fees.
Based on the Immigration and Residency Management ActIt is illegal to charge foreign workers money for LMIA. Experts who spoke to CBC/IJF described the offers as a “complete scam.”
Another part of the investigation revealed that What impact did one of these immigration programs have on the workers who paid tens of thousands of dollars to LMIA? He then allegedly paid his own wages for the fake work.
As Canada tightens its path to permanent residency, more immigration schemes online are offering fake jobs to foreign workers in exchange for up to $45,000.
The key to better communication to reduce fraud
Immigration lawyer Shorey argues the true measure of whether these immigration policy changes can effectively reduce fraud lies in how they are presented to prospective Canadian immigrants. I am doing it.
“Ultimately, these ghost consultants, or what we call agents overseas, essentially become the first point of contact and control the narrative,” he said.
“What are we to expect that people who are so vulnerable that they believe they have to pay to do work in Canada will realize that the LMIA is no longer useful for accumulating points?”
Over the past year, the federal government has implemented several measures aimed at curbing immigration and reducing the number of temporary foreign workers in Canada.
One such measure is Refusal to process Labor Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for low-wage jobs in large cities with high unemployment ratesHowever, industries facing serious labor shortages are excluded.
