Statement from Immigration Minister Employment Minister on the expiration of the four-year temporary work permits

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander (Facebook photo)

Ottawa – Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander and Employment and Social Development Minister Pierre Poilievre issued the following statement today on the expiration of the four-year work permits:

“Employers and foreign workers have known about the four-year time limit since 2011, when this policy was announced.

“Employers have had four years to find alternative employees.

Similarly, temporary foreign workers have had four years to pursue pathways to permanent residence.

“The purpose of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is exactly that – to be temporary. Canadians rightly expect to get first crack at available jobs.

“Temporary workers may wish to explore the many pathways to permanent residency we offer which are now delivered through Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs.

We encourage foreign workers to apply through these streams so that they can contribute permanently to Canada’s economy and to their communities.

“But let there be no mistake: We will not tolerate people going ‘underground.’ Flouting our immigration laws is not an option, and we will deal with offenders swiftly and fairly.

“Canadians are welcoming and generous but we need to ensure that we’re putting Canadians first and standing up against potential abuse of our immigration system.”