Canada’s federal government and the Yukon have struck a deal to allow up to 215 temporary foreign workers to keep on working while their permanent residence applications are being processed under the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP).
“By giving new work permits for skilled workers in Yukon, we are not only supporting local labour market needs in critical sectors but also giving more temporary residents a clear pathway to permanent residence,” says Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
“This agreement is a key step in our ongoing collaboration with provinces and territories to spread the benefits of immigration across the country, and strengthen the social and economic fabric of our communities. This option remains on the table for other provinces and territories who need to retain their skilled workers.”
The eligible temporary workers are those who have been identified and supported by that territorial government in the Canadian north.
These skilled workers are filling key job vacancies in Yukon and they have to demonstrate that they meet the criteria. They are expected to transition to permanent residence in 2025 and 2026.
“This temporary measure will help provide greater certainty for foreign nationals who call the Yukon home as we work to support their transition to permanent residency,” says Yukon premier Ranj Pillai.
Last year, roughly 23 per cent of all permanent resident admissions in Canada came through the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) and Territorial Nominee Programs – and nearly 40 per cent of planned economic admissions.
“By giving new work permits for skilled workers in the Yukon, we are helping local employers retain their valuable staff,” says Yukon MP Brendan Hanley.
“This initiative is also a positive boost for the economy and supports the growth of our population. I have personally advocated strongly to make this happen, ensuring that our community benefits from these changes. This agreement underscores the federal government’s commitment to supporting and strengthening the social and economic fabric of our communities and the North.”
Yukon-Specific Work Permits Will Be Good For Two Years
Under its deal with the federal government, the Yukon will allow foreign nationals who are already living there and have work permits that have expired since May 16 – or that are set to expire before Dec. 31, 2024 – to apply for the new Yukon-specific work permit.
It will be valid for up to two years.
The temporary foreign workers’ employers must plan to nominate them for permanent residency through the YNP in 2025 or 2026. If eligible, the Yukon will provide a letter of support to accompany the foreign national’s work permit application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
“Candidates for this temporary measure must submit a request and all required information to the Department of Economic Development no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15,” notes the territorial government on its website.
“This will allow the department to issue all letters of support in time for foreign nationals to apply to the IRCC for their new work permit. The IRCC’s deadline to apply for the work permit under this agreement is Dec. 31, 2024.”
The federal-territorial deal comes in the wake of lobbying by the Yukon business community through its chambers of commerce as it struggled with finding enough workers during the temporary intake pause of the YNP.
Canada operates a two-tier immigration system which allows foreign nationals to gain their permanent residency through the federal Express Entry system’s Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) of the 10 Canadian provinces and the three territorial governments.
