CANADA – Temporary Facilitated Process for IT Workers Extended to 31 December 2011 in British Columbia
Human Resources and Skills Development (HRSD) Canada has announced that the temporary facilitated process to bring foreign nationals in as IT workers, which ended elsewhere in Canada (apart from Quebec) on 30 September 2011, has been extended in British Columbia to 31 December 2011. Employers are required to notify Service Canada and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development (ALMD) of any intention to hire under this process.
Background
The facilitated process for IT specialists was a process whereby work permit applications for IT workers were exempt from the need for a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) or a local labour market test. However, from 30 September 2011, LMOs are needed for IT workers, as for other positions, unless they meet other exemption criteria, or unless the employer is located in British Columbia or Quebec.
Extension in British Colombia
In British Columbia, employers will still be required to notify Service Canada and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development (ALMD) of their intention to hire temporary foreign workers for the 7 IT occupations covered under the process. After the notification has been made, the temporary foreign worker can apply directly to Citizenship and Immigration Canada to obtain a work permit.
The notification will consist of employers informing both Service Canada [bcitoccupation@servicecanada.gc.ca] and the ALMD [TFW@gov.bc.ca] by e-mail, of their intent to hire a temporary foreign worker in one of the 7 IT occupations under the IT facilitated process.
Employers must provide the following information in the e-mail:
- The SUBJECT LINE of the e-mail must state: "BC IT NOTIFICATION"
- Name and address of employer
- Specify the required IT Specialist occupation from the following list:
- Description of the position
- Employment start date and end date
- Duration of employment (number of days or weeks or years)
- Salary to be paid in Canadian dollars
- Location of work
Action Items
- Note the end of the facilitated process for IT workers in provinces other than Quebec and British Columbia
- Note the criteria above for applying under the facilitated process in British Columbia.
