IRCC has introduced a new work permit as part of the Innovation Stream under the International Mobility Program (IMP). This stream is one of four key components of the Tech Talent Strategy, launched in 2023 to attract skilled professionals and strengthen Canada’s position as a global tech hub.
Table of Contents
Certain skilled foreign workers can now apply for an employer-specific work permit if they receive a job offer from one of the companies participating in the Global Hypergrowth Project. This includes eight companies recognized by the government as industry leaders and innovators with high growth potential. Eligible workers can obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-exempt work permit.
An LMIA is a document required by the Canadian government to support the issuance of certain employer-specific work permits. Issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), it evaluates the impact of hiring a foreign worker on the Canadian labor market. For an LMIA to support a work permit, it must yield a “positive” or “neutral” result.
Who is eligible for this new work permit?
To be eligible for a work permit under the Innovation Stream, applicants must:
- Have a job offer from an employer participating in the Global Hypergrowth Project (GHP).
- Hold a job offer in a high-skilled occupation, categorized under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) categories 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- Meet the education and experience requirements outlined in the NOC for the occupation they intend to work in.
This stream is open to eligible candidates both inside and outside Canada.
Applicants hired for jobs in TEER categories 0 or 1 may also qualify for expedited processing of their work permits.
Note: The NOC system is used to classify jobs in Canada, with TEER rankings grouping positions based on the level of Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities required.
Before applicants can apply through the Innovation Stream, their employers must:
- Submit an offer of employment.
- Pay a $230 CAD employer compliance fee.
- Provide the applicant with an offer of employment number.
Which employers have been selected for this stream?
The Canadian government has identified specific employers that align with its “industrial innovation goals.”
| Company | Company Summary |
|---|---|
| Ada Support Inc. | Based in Toronto, Ada Support Inc. is an AI-driven company revolutionizing customer service by shifting from an agent-first to an AI-first approach. They offer an AI-powered platform that enables businesses to automate customer support interactions across multiple languages and channels. With generative AI and voice capabilities, Ada’s platform helps reduce wait times and deliver personalized customer experiences through multi-channel automation. |
| AlayaCare | AlayaCare offers an AI-powered platform designed to improve planning and management for home care agencies. Their system enhances scheduling, time reporting, clinical documentation, and patient monitoring, helping providers deliver superior care and improve patient outcomes. The platform also helps clients reduce operational costs, detect adverse events, and lower hospital re-admission rates. |
| CellCarta | Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, CellCarta specializes in precision medicine, offering customized testing solutions and sample measurement services in immune monitoring, histopathology, proteomics, and genomics. Leveraging expertise in biomarker research, they help identify genetic, biological, and environmental factors affecting patient responses to treatments, enabling the development of more targeted therapies. |
| Clarius Mobile Health | Clarius Mobile Health, based in British Columbia, focuses on making medical imaging accessible with affordable, high-performance, AI-powered solutions. Founded by pioneers in ultrasound technology, Clarius develops wireless, point-of-care systems that deliver high-definition imaging across various medical specialties, enhancing patient care and providing real-time imaging in clinical settings. |
| Clio | Clio, a legal technology company from Burnaby, British Columbia, is at the forefront of the digital transformation of the legal industry. Their cloud-based platform helps law firms streamline operations by managing client intake, contact management, calendaring, document management, timekeeping, billing, payments, and trust accounting. |
| Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG) | Based in Blainville, Quebec, DPG is committed to developing new medicines that enhance patient health and quality of life. The company exports treatments to over 50 countries, leveraging a unique business model and strategic alliances to expand its global reach. |
| Lightspeed Commerce | Founded in Montréal in 2005, Lightspeed Commerce offers technology solutions to help retailers and restaurants optimize their operations and improve customer experiences. Their platform integrates management tools for both in-store and online transactions, inventory updates, and embedded payments, enabling businesses, particularly small and medium-sized ones, to manage everything from a single system. |
| Vive Crop Protection | Vive Crop Protection, based in Mississauga, Ontario, creates crop protection products that enhance crop quality while minimizing environmental impact. Using patented Allosperse technology, Vive ensures the precise delivery of active ingredients, improving efficacy and reducing risks to crops and the environment. The technology also allows for compatibility with other chemicals and fertilizers, enabling farmers to complete treatments in a single application, saving time and resources. |
Candidates interested in learning more about this new initiative can visit the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) webpage for additional details.
Recent updates on work permits and LMIAs
This new work permit is introduced amid increasing restrictions on work permits and Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs).
On August 26, the Canadian government announced that it would stop processing low-wage LMIAs in specific cities. This policy applies to census metropolitan areas (CMAs) with unemployment rates of 6% or higher, with exceptions for certain sectors such as primary agriculture, food processing, fish processing, construction, and healthcare.
Visitors in Canada no longer eligible to apply for job-supported work permits
In addition to changes in LMIA processing, the government has rolled back temporary COVID-era policies that allowed visitors to apply for job-supported work permits from within Canada. While visitors can still apply for other types of work permits, they are no longer eligible to apply for job-supported work permits—whether or not they require an LMIA—from inside the country.
These recent changes contrast with the latest announcement regarding Canada’s Innovation Stream, showcasing the country’s continued commitment to attracting and hiring foreign talent to strengthen the tech sector and support participating companies.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK ON : https://esseindiacomplaints.com/
About Author
