March 29, 2023

Canada Opens A New Economic Immigration Pathway For Refugees

In its humanitarian efforts towards refugee resettlement and as a signatory to the Global Compact for Refugee, Canada is introducing a new immigration pathway to settle skilled refugees this summer! On March 27, 2023, IRCC announced that it will be expanding the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), which, in its first phase, proved that refugee resettlement and economic immigration can occur simultaneously.

Compared to existing streams under EMPP, the new pathway would be administered federally, allowing employers access to an untapped pool of skilled and qualified refugees and displaced persons to fill full-time job openings under any National Occupation Classification 2021 category (TEER 0–5). Additionally, it will standardize the eligibility criteria, allowing most applications to be processed within as little as 6 months. Some of the highlighted occupations being considered under the federal pathway are nurse aides, personal support workers, long-term care aides, software engineers, web designers, mechanical and electrical engineers and technicians, teachers, tourism and hospitality workers, and truck and delivery service drivers.

Under EMPP, Canada is planning to welcome 2,000 refugees and displaced persons. Thus, through the expansion of the EMMP, Canada will be providing financial and mental security to vulnerable people and their families while opening another avenue for employers to address their labour market needs.

More information, including who may be eligible for the federal stream, will become available in the coming weeks.