Starting January 23rd, 2023, the Ministries of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Tourism; and Finance are opening work permit eligibility to the families of foreign workers living in Canada.

The move will alleviate labour shortages in healthcare, the trades, and hospitality and was made to promote emotional, physical, and financial health to the families of more than 200,000 foreign workers currently in Canada. That number is up drastically this year. Between January and October 2022, 645,000 foreign nationals received permits to work in Canada, that’s just shy of four times the 2021 numbers.

The temporary measures are in effect for two years and will be phased in in three stages. First, starting with the high-wage stream for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program, then expanding measures for low-wage temporary foreign workers and finally, work visas to the families of agricultural workers.

Allowing family members of foreign workers already living in Canada into the workforce is a win that will lead to fewer vacancies for employers and higher community participation for workers and their families.

Employers and temporary workers to benefit from family work permits to address labour shortages - Canada.ca