Big news for Irish in Canada as Canadian government announces changes to foreign worker programme

Significant changes.

The Canadian government has announced that it will make significant changes to their Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Canada are eliminating the the four-year cumulative duration rule for temporary workers in Canada, effective immediately. The cumulative duration rule, known as the“four-in, four-out” rule was put in place in 2011, limiting work for some temporary foreign workers in Canada to four years. Following these four years, you become ineligible to work in Canada for the next four years. For those temporary foreign workers who do not currently have access, the Canadian government confirmed they are committed to further developing pathways to permanent residency so that eligible applicants are able to more fully contribute to Canadian society. John McCallum, Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship said: In many ways, the four-year rule put a great deal of uncertainty and instability on both temporary workers and employers. We had the sense that it was an unnecessary burden on applicants and employers, and also on officers who process applications. The HUMA hearings confirmed it. We believe this important recommendation from the Committee requires rapid action, which we are taking today.” The move will give more time to workers who come to Canada temporarily and are trying to qualify for permanent residence. Canada is a popular spot for Irish workers with 7,700 people moving there between April 2014 and April 2015 alone according to the Central Statistics Office. Many expect immigration to Canada to remain strong due to the weakening of the Australian economy and the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.