Why Canadian Companies are Hiring More Tech Talent?

Canada has a number of work permit and permanent residency options to support the hiring of foreign talent in tech.

Recognizing the importance of the tech sector to the economy, federal and provincial governments offer a host of options to employers seeking to recruit tech talent.

The shortage of qualified workers in Canada was the crux of the Council of Canadian Innovators Recent call for the federal government to pilot a new visa that would allow tech workers to come to Canada without a job offer.

Canadian tech employers continue to face labour shortages, as the tech sector continues to grow despite the pandemic.

Global Talent Stream

In order to take advantage of this fast-track work permit, employers must fall under Category A or B.

Category A is for companies that have gotten approval from a referral partner.

Category B is for employers who are looking for certain skilled workers whose occupations can be found on the Global Talent Occupations List.

Employers in both categories are required to meet conditions relating to the payment of skilled workers. These referral partners are oftentimes local, governmental or semi-governmental agencies that are mandated to support local economies.

The prevailing wage is the highest of either:

• the median wage for the occupation on the Government of Canada’s Job Bank;
• the wage within the range an employer pays current employees in the same position at the same location, with the same skills and experience; or
• the minimum wage floor as defined in the Global Talent occupations list (if applicable).

CUSMA

Generally, an intra-company transferee is a person who has worked for the company for at least one year and has either a management role or specialised knowledge.

ICTs are employees that are moving locations within their multinational company to a branch in Canada.

CUSMA identifies 63 occupations that qualify under the Professionals category. There are two categories that are relevant to tech workers: Professionals and Intra-Company Transfers (ICT).

Intra-Company Transfer (non CUSMA)

LMIAs exist to show the federal government that the hiring of a foreign worker will have a positive or neutral effect on the labour market. For example, the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada (CETA) has provisions for ICTs, as does the agreement with the UK.

Employers do not need to do a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for employees coming to Canada through an ICT.

Pathways to permanent residency

When foreign workers get permanent residency status they are able to work in Canada without needing to renew any work permit or LMIA. Some pathways to permanent residency require job offers, however, it is also possible for tech talent to get permanent residence on their own.

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