Cameron Miranda
Canada has long been a top destination for immigrants and refugees, with foreign-born people making up about a quarter of its population. In 2022, the country granted over 600,000 new temporary work permits to foreigners. Canada's immigration policies have been evolving to meet the country's economic needs and address labour shortages. In 2025, the government announced the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to pause population growth in the short term to achieve sustainable growth in the long term. This plan includes controlled targets for temporary residents, such as international students and foreign workers, and permanent residents. Ontario has also introduced new immigration rules with the Working for Workers Seven Act, which aims to prevent immigration fraud, streamline applications, and align immigration with labour market demands. These changes include increased scrutiny during the application process, such as possible interviews, and a stronger emphasis on job market fit.
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What You'll Learn
Changes to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) was launched in 1998 to allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and settle in a particular province. The purpose of the PNP is to promote economic growth and spread the benefits of immigration across Canada. Under Canada's Constitution, the federal government and each province and territory share the authority to manage the country's immigration system.
Nearly every province and territory operates the PNP to welcome skilled workers from around the world to help strengthen their economies. The PNP is the leading way to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker. Research by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and others shows that immigrants who arrive through the PNP have strong labour market outcomes. They are often able to integrate quickly into the Canadian job market and tend to earn high wages.
The application process for the PNP will vary based on the stream chosen. The first step is to check your eligibility and ensure that you qualify for the PNP of the province or territory where you want to live. The second step is to contact the province or territory and apply for a nomination. The third step is to update your Express Entry profile and show your nomination.
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, formerly known as the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), is one example of a PNP stream. It consists of eight streams divided into two main categories: one for workers and the other for entrepreneurs. The province issues provincial nominations to foreign nationals who meet program-specific criteria and demonstrate an intention to reside in the province.
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IRCC updates and reforms
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented several updates and reforms to improve the immigration process and maintain the integrity of its immigration system. IRCC has ended the practice of 'flagpoling', where applicants would temporarily leave Canada and re-enter at border crossings to expedite their immigration processing. This change is part of a broader strategy to make the immigration process more effective for applicants and the nation.
IRCC has also introduced stricter fraud detection measures, emphasizing the importance of accurate documentation and authenticity for visa applicants. Legislative amendments now empower authorities to cancel visas in cases of mass fraud, helping to maintain the credibility of Canada's immigration pathways. The asylum process has been streamlined to reduce processing times and ensure faster decisions, benefiting asylum seekers and allowing for more efficient resource management.
One significant change is the removal of Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) points from the Express Entry scoring system. This shift prioritizes factors such as education, language skills, and work experience over employer-based assessments. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) remains a cornerstone of Canada's immigration system, allowing provinces and territories to nominate candidates who meet local economic and labour market needs.
In May 2025, Canada introduced a transformative temporary public policy to streamline the process for temporary foreign workers. This policy is in line with the government's 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to pause population growth in the short term to achieve sustainable long-term growth. The plan includes controlled targets for temporary residents, such as international students and foreign workers, and permanent residents.
Ontario, Canada's southernmost province, has unveiled the Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025, a major legislative update that strengthens worker protections and reforms the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The Act aims to prevent immigration fraud, streamline applications, and align immigration streams with labour market demands. It includes tougher workplace safety enforcement and new support systems for laid-off workers, particularly temporary foreign workers. Ontario is also introducing an online employer portal, allowing companies to electronically submit sponsorship applications for hiring international talent.
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New rules for temporary foreign workers
Canada has implemented new rules and regulations for temporary foreign workers. These rules are part of the country's efforts to manage immigration and address the evolving needs of its economy and society. Here are the key details of the new rules:
Registration Requirements:
Employers intending to hire temporary foreign workers through federal foreign worker programs must register with the relevant authorities. This includes registering with the Employment Standards Branch within 30 days of hiring a domestic worker. The B.C. government maintains a public registry of employers registered to hire foreign workers, which includes information such as the employer's name and registration date.
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA):
Most employers need to obtain an LMIA from the federal government before hiring a temporary foreign worker. An LMIA confirms the need for a temporary foreign worker and ensures that no Canadians or permanent residents are available to fill the position. The wage threshold used to determine the high-wage or low-wage stream for LMIA applications will be increased by 20% starting November 8, 2024.
Written Contracts:
Employers must have written contracts with each temporary foreign worker they hire. These contracts outline the terms and conditions of employment, including wages and benefits. It is mandatory to keep signed copies of these contracts, as well as any recruitment contracts, for at least four years, and they must be made available for inspection upon request.
Rights of Temporary Foreign Workers:
Temporary foreign workers have specific rights under the Temporary Foreign Worker Protection Act. Employers cannot charge fees or expenses for recruitment services to the workers. They are also prohibited from reducing wages or benefits to recover recruitment expenses. Additionally, it is illegal for employers to take or hold onto a worker's passport or official documents.
Changing Employers or Occupations:
A temporary public policy, implemented during the COVID era, allows foreign workers on closed work permits to change employers or occupations before obtaining a new work permit. Normally, a foreign worker on a closed work permit is authorised to work only for the employer named on the permit and in the specified occupation. Under this temporary policy, workers can obtain authorisation from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to work for a new employer or in a new occupation. This policy is set to remain in effect until revoked, and foreign nationals must apply for this exemption.
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The Working for Workers Seven Act
On May 28, 2025, the Ontario government introduced Bill 30, the Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025, which builds on the province's previous "Working for Workers" legislative initiatives. The Act proposes significant amendments to various employment-related statutes, including the Employment Standards Act, 2000, Occupational Health and Safety Act, and Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.
- Crack down on employers who submit false information, hide payroll records, or evade premium payments, ensuring injured workers receive proper support and that all businesses contribute their fair share.
- Require job posting platforms to include a mechanism for reporting fraudulent job postings, protecting job seekers from scams.
- Consult on regulating talent agents, managers, and worker representatives to prevent exploitation.
- Explore limits on employer access to employee electronic data, including potential privacy restrictions and new oversight mechanisms.
Additionally, the Act proposes amendments to enhance job mobility and economic resilience. These include:
- Providing up to three days of unpaid leave during the notice period for job-seeking activities, such as interviews, job searches, and training, with employees required to provide at least three days' advance notice.
- Permitting extended layoffs of non-unionized employees, up to 52 weeks in a consecutive 78-week period, with specific conditions and mutual agreement between the employer and employee.
- Requiring employers to retain copies of extended layoff agreements for three years after approval expiry.
The Act also introduces new safety measures, particularly for construction sites. These include:
- Requiring construction projects lasting over three months and employing 20 or more workers to have automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on site, with reimbursement for eligible employers.
- Creating a general Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP) framework to enable regulators to issue financial penalties for non-compliance with health and safety requirements.
- Accelerating the development of Skills Development Fund (SDF) training centers to support workers and strengthen Ontario's skilled trades pipeline.
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Changes to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) is the province's economic immigration program. It works in collaboration with the Government of Canada through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The OINP has multiple streams, and candidates must identify which stream they are eligible for. The OINP regularly posts and updates processing times and standards on their website.
There have been some recent changes to the OINP in 2025. Due to the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, the OINP has only issued 4 invitations to apply for nomination in 2025, a significant decrease from the previous year. This is due to provinces adjusting to halved provincial immigration allocations for 2025. Currently, only one stream of the OINP has issued ITAs in 2025—the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream. However, the OINP plans to maintain all its current immigration streams with no plans of removing immigration pathways to Ontario.
The OINP has several objectives. These include responding to skill shortages in targeted areas, making it easier to invest in Ontario, and ensuring newcomers can settle and integrate well into the province. The OINP recognizes and nominates people for permanent residence who have the skills and experience the Ontario economy needs. Candidates must have a job offer that pays equal to, or higher than, the low-wage level in the specific region of Ontario where they will work.
To apply for the OINP, candidates must be invited. They can register with the OINP's Expression of Interest system and will then be placed in a pool to be ranked against other candidates. The highest-ranked candidates are invited to submit an application through the OINP e-Filing Portal. Candidates will need to hire a qualified vendor to review their personal net worth and legal accumulation of funds. If successful, they will receive a Nomination Approval Letter, a work permit support letter, and a nomination certificate by email.
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