Thousands Come To Canada Under Global Talent Stream (Audio)

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November 13, 2017 – Thousands have applied, and the vast majority have been accepted under the fast-track visa that promises two-week processing times.

The Liberal government initiative aims to give Canadian companies the edge when hiring the best talent from overseas.

Read More

Global Talent Stream: Early Success For Fast-Track Canada Visa Pilot
Canada’s Global Talent Stream: All You Need To Know
Quebec Launches New Global Talent Stream

New Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada figures suggest it is already working, with 1,600 workers brought in via the program since it was launched in June 2017. The figures show there have been 2,000 applications under the program, indicating an 80 per cent success rate.

Although the GTS had been planned for at least 12 months by the federal government, the timing of the launch was particularly pertinent given Donald Trump’s attempted crackdown on foreign workers in the U.S.

The overall political outlook south of the border means workers who would once have never looked further than America are now considering their options. And with a visa processing time of 10 working days, Canada is in a position to cream off the best talent.

Key Elements Of The Global Talent Stream

• Two-week standard for processing Canada work permit applications (and Canada visa applications when applicable) for highly skilled talent.
• Dedicated service for companies looking to make significant job-creating investments in Canada.
• Dropping of the work permit requirement for short-term highly skilled work (30 days or less in a 12-month period), and brief academic stays.
• Companies applying for workers through the Global Talent Stream will have access to the new streamlined application process that will provide:
  • Client-focused service to help guide eligible employers through the application process and the development of the Labour Market Benefits Plan, with a service standard of 10 business days.
  • Eligibility for workers to have their work permit applications processed in 10 business days.

Previously the standard processing time was six months for high-skilled workers looking to come to Canada. GTS is giving recruiters here a crucial edge over the competition.

Further figures show 8,785 technology workers immigrated to Canada in the whole of 2016, compared with 6,940 in the first eight months of 2017.

The Canada immigration system is geared towards allowing high-skilled workers to make the transition to permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

Canada Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen recently announced a plan to welcome nearly one million new immigrants over the next three years. The Liberal government recognizes an opportunity while Trump is in power in the U.S., and has shown the required flexibility to capitalize.

Global Talent Stream Explained

GTS, part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, features two categories:

1. Category A: For employers who have been referred by a designated organization (listed below).
2. Category B: For employers seeking to hire skilled workers from a new Global Talent Occupations List (also below).

Global Talent Stream: Requirements

Category A: List of ESDC Designated Partners as of September 12, 2017

Under Global Talent Category A, employers must be referred by one of the following (subject to change)

• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• BC Tech Association
• Business Development Bank of Canada
• Communitech Corporation
• Council of Canadian Innovators
• Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
• Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service
• ICT Manitoba (ICTAM)
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Accelerated Growth Service
• MaRS Discovery District
• National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program
• Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
• Ontario Ministry of Economic Growth and Development
• VENN Innovation

Quebec Designated Partners

• Investissement Quebec
• Montréal International
• Quebec International

Under Category A, foreign workers must possess a unique and specialized talent to qualify for a Canada work permit, defined as:

• Advanced knowledge of the industry.
• Highly paid position with a salary of usually $80,000 or more.

EITHER

• Advanced degree in an area of specialization of interest to the employer

OR

• Minimum of five years of experience in the field of specialized experience.

Category B: GTS Global Talent Occupations List

For Category B of the Global Talent Stream, employers must hire highly-skilled foreign workers to fill positions in occupations found on the following list:

* Quebec sets its own minimum wage floors for applications from within Quebec. Consult the Quebec immigration website for more information

Processing Fee

Non-refundable $1,000 to be paid by the employer.

Labour Market Benefits Plan

A key requirement for GTS is the Labour Market Benefits Plan (LMBP).

Developed with ESDC, it must show how hiring a foreign worker will help a company either create jobs for or transfer skills to Canadians. It also allows the ESDC to track a company’s progress.

The LMBP features mandatory and complementary benefits.

Under Category A, the mandatory benefit is creating jobs, whether directly or indirectly, for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Under Category B, the mandatory benefit is to increasing skills and training investments for Canadians and permanent residents.

The LMBP must also provide two complementary benefits, which cannot be the same as the mandatory benefit. These include, but are not limited to:

• Job creation,
• Investment in skills and training,
• Transferring knowledge,
• Enhanced company performance and
• Implementing best practices or policies as an employer for your workforce.

Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.

Interested candidates: Find out whether you qualify to Canada by completing our free on-line evaluation. We will provide you with our evaluation within 1-2 business days.

Read more news about Canada Immigration by clicking here.