Ontario, Atlantic CA employers get foreign worker guidance

Canadian immigration minister Diane Finley announced an expansion of services to assist employers in Ontario and Atlantic Canada to meet their labor market needs by hiring temporary foreign labor.

Two additional "temporary foreign worker units" are being established in both regions to serve as the main point of contact for employers wishing to hire foreign workers. These units are in addition to three already in existence in Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal.

In general, these units provide facilitation services for employers who hire foreign workers who do not need a visa to enter Canada, and who will work in professions that do not require verification that a Canadian could not be found to fill the position - otherwise known as a Labour Market Opinion. However, they also provide guidance for employers who wish to hire foreign nationals who require a visa and/or wish to work in a profession that does not require a Labour Market Opinion.

"The addition of these two new temporary foreign worker units means that employers across Canada now have a dedicated point of service where they can get help getting the workers they need," Finley said. "The units will help make the process easier for employers, and will help strengthen local and regional economies."

These additional units will provide the same services as the others, which include:

• providing advice to employers who want to hire temporary foreign workers
• facilitating the entry of workers in certain professions who do not require a visa and verification that there are no Canadians available for the position
• pre-screening supporting documentation from employers to make the application process fore foreign labor more efficient
• working with provinces to better meet regional needs

"Temporary foreign workers help support Canada's economic growth and prosperity, and I'm pleased that all regions of Canada will benefit from the exceptional service the units provide," Finley said.

In 2007, Canada took in an estimated 125,000 temporary foreign workers.