Canada’s immigration department is allocating 6,000 spots for undocumented construction workers and easing apprenticeship rules for foreign workers.
At a March 7 press conference in Woodbridge, Ontario, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced new measures to address labour shortages.
Effective immediately, qualified temporary foreign workers enrolling in apprenticeships can study without needing a separate study permit.
Previously, foreign workers were required to obtain study permits before registering for apprenticeship training programs in Canada.
Miller also introduced an advisory council to influence federal construction policy, including recommendations on wages and workforce intake.
He stated that up to 14,000 foreign construction workers may be admitted but did not specify permanent or temporary pathways.
Canada is relying on immigration to fill critical labour shortages in construction, worsening the nation’s ongoing housing crisis.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimates six million additional homes are needed by 2030 to restore affordability.
Miller admitted a domestic workforce gap, saying, “as hard as we try, we cannot train them all in Canada.”
On February 27, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expanded Express Entry, prioritizing 19 new trades, including construction managers.
