Quebec has made it easier for employers struggling to find staff to hire temporary foreign workers.
As of January 10, 2022, businesses in nine specific sectors ranging from food to health care and manufacturing are allowed staff hired through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to make up 20 percent of their workforce. The previous limit was 10 percent.
The change was initially announced in November by provincial authorities, but has now been agreed by Canada’s federal government.
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Quebec is currently in the grip of a chronic labour shortage as it battles the latest wave of COVID-19.
The province has some of the strictest lockdown measures in Canada, including a curfew, the closure of schools and restaurant dining rooms.
But prior to the lockdown, businesses were struggling to find workers, with some having to close on certain days of the week.
Hence why the provincial government moved to relax TFWP limitations for certain occupations.
Sectors and professions targeted by the 10% to 20% increase in the TFW threshold per workplace, in the low-wage component
| Sector | NOC | Profession |
| Retail trade excluding food | 6611 | Cashiers |
| 6622 | Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers | |
| 6732 | Specialized cleaners | |
| Accommodation and catering | 6611 | Cashiers |
| 6711 | Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations | |
| 6731 | Light duty cleaners | |
| Manufacture of food, drinks and tobacco | 9617 | Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing |
| Management of companies and companies and services administrative, support and others | 6731 | Light duty cleaners |
| 6732 | Specialized cleaners | |
| 6733 | Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents | |
| 8612 | Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers | |
| Healthcare | 6731 | Light duty cleaners |
| Forestry and logging | 8616 | Logging and forestry labourers |
| Metal manufacturing | 9612 | Labourers in metal fabrication |
| Plastic and rubber manufacturing | 9615 | Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing |
| Wood manufacturing | 9614 | Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing |
Also part of the November announcement was a decision to exempt certain professions from external posting requirements, designed to ensure jobs are advertised to Canadians before being offered to temporary foreign workers.
These occupations, falling under Level D of the National Occupational Classification, include many of the jobs also included in the threshold relaxation.
They have been exempt from external processing requirements since December 6, 2021.
Level D professions exempt from the external posting process
| NOC | Job description |
| 6611 | Cashiers |
| 6622 | Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers |
| 6711 | Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations |
| 6731 | Light duty cleaners |
| 6732 | Specialized cleaners |
| 6733 | Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents |
| 8612 | Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers |
| 8616 | Logging and forestry labourers |
| 9612 | Labourers in metal fabrication |
| 9614 | Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing |
| 9615 | Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing |
| 9617 | Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing |
| 9618 | Labourers in fish and seafood processing |
As part of the November announcement, Quebec also said it would continue to pay up to $1,200 for businesses using lawyers or immigration consultants to help them recruit temporary workers
Businesses using lawyers, immigration consultants or notaries can claim back up to half of what they spend, so long as the amount does not exceed $1,200.
Meanwhile, two further measures announced in November are still awaiting federal government approval.
The include NOC Level C professions and NOC Level 0, A and B professions to be added to the list of jobs that qualify for simplified processing through the TFWP.
Quebec says it expects federal approval shortly for the two lists of occupations.
Level C professions added to the list of professions eligible for simplified processing
| NOC | Job description |
| 1415 | Personnel clerks |
| 1434 | Banking, insurance and other financial clerks |
| 1435 | Collectors |
| 1522 | Storekeepers and partspersons |
| 1525 | Dispatchers |
| 1526 | Transportation route and crew schedulers |
| 3411 | Dental assistants |
| 3413 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates |
| 4413 | Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants |
| 6411 | Sales and account representatives |
| 6421 | Retail salespersons |
| 6531 | Tour and travel guides |
| 6563 | Pet groomers and animal care workers |
| 7452 | Material handlers |
| 7511 | Transport truck drivers |
| 7512 | Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators |
| 7521 | Heavy equipment operators (except crane) |
| 7522 | Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers |
| 8421 | Chain saw and skidder operators |
| 8422 | Silviculture and forestry workers |
| 9411 | Machine operators, mineral and metal processing |
| 9412 | Foundry workers |
| 9416 | Metalworking and forging machine operators |
| 9417 | Machining tool operators |
| 9418 | Other metal products machine operators |
| 9422 | Plastics processing machine operators |
| 9423 | Rubber processing machine operators and related workers |
| 9431 | Sawmill machine operators |
| 9436 | Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders |
| 9446 | Industrial sewing machine operators |
| 9461 | Process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing |
| 9462 | Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers |
| 9463 | Fish and seafood plant workers |
| 9532 | Furniture and fixture assemblers and inspectors |
| 9534 | Furniture finishers and refinishers |
| 9535 | Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors |
| 9536 | Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators |
NOC 0, A and B occupations added to the list of professions eligible for simplified processing
| NOC | Job Description |
| 0113 | Purchasing managers |
| 0211 | Engineering managers |
| 0212 | Architecture and science managers |
| 0601 | Corporate sales managers |
| 0632 | Accommodation service managers |
| 1123 | Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations |
| 1211 | Supervisors, general office and administrative support workers |
| 1221 | Administrative officers |
| 1241 | Administrative assistants |
| 1314 | Assessors, valuators and appraisers |
| 2211 | Chemical technologists and technicians |
| 2212 | Geological and mineral technologists and technicians |
| 2244 | Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors |
| 2252 | Industrial designers |
| 2253 | Drafting technologists and technicians |
| 2261 | Non-destructive testers and inspection technicians |
| 5111 | Librarians |
| 5113 | Archivists |
| 5225 | Audio and video recording technicians |
| 5242 | Interior designers and interior decorators |
| 5243 | Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers |
| 6222 | Retail and wholesale buyers |
| 6311 | Food service supervisors |
| 6313 | Accommodation, travel, tourism and related services supervisors |
| 6321 | Chefs |
| 6322 | Cooks |
| 6332 | Bakers |
| 6342 | Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners |
| 7204 | Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades |
| 7244 | Electrical power line and cable workers |
| 7305 | Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators |
| 7315 | Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors |
| 7322 | Motor vehicle body repairers |
| 9212 | Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities |
