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When it comes to immigration to Canada, more specifically to the province of Quebec, many employers lacking skilled labour eagerly await the date of 24 February.

This marks the annual publication of the list of professions in demand in the province eligible for the facilitated assessment process to obtain a work permit.

Employers who wish to hire temporary foreign workers in these professions can use the LMIA, under a facilitated process in Quebec. Explanation.

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What is this list made up of?

The list of professions eligible for the facilitated process is drawn up by Emploi Quebec in collaboration with the Ministère de l’immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).

It is updated annually, taking into consideration the evolution in needs for skilled labor throughout Quebec. The list, therefore, brings together the different professions where there are shortages and/or labor requirements throughout the whole province.

The new list of 228 professions came into effect on 24 February 2022.

For the sake of fairness, as is the case each year, a transitory period of one month, up to 24 March 2022 included, is granted to employers.

In other words, applications received by the Ministry or Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) during this period can be based on the previous list, when the targeted profession is not included in the updated list.

A tool in answer to a shortage of labour

Faced with an important shortage of labor all over Canada, and more particularly in the province of Quebec, the number of professions eligible for the facilitated process has increased significantly in 2022.

There are 228 professions, compared to 181 in 2021 and 226 in 2020.

At the same time, a list of 70 new professions was submitted by the Quebec authorities for approval by the Federal government in November 2021.

The 2022 list includes many professions in demand or with high shortages. Here are a few:

– Chefs and experienced cooks
– Teachers for college, secondary and primary levels
– Health sector workers, including nurses
– Technical professions, such as electromechanics, heavy equipment, or automobile mechanics.

How does this list facilitate the hiring of foreign workers in Quebec?

Answering the needs of the province

To fill the needs for workers in the professions listed, some employers choose international recruitment. Many foreign workers are indeed attracted by the Beautiful Province each year.

As part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, employers wishing to recruit foreign talents normally have to demonstrate, by way of the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), that they have tried to recruit a Canadian. The posting of the job offer has certain rules to be respected.

The facilitated process does not exempt the employer from applying for an LMIA. However, if the job offer corresponds to one of the professions on the list, there is no requirement to post the offer. This simplified process reduces the treatment time, and the different formalities to be completed.

Attracting and retaining talents

The facilitated process in Quebec, on top of simplifying the procedures for recruiting foreign workers with work permits, is also an efficient manner to attract talents to the province.

In fact, workers applying for a work permit after obtaining an LMIA/CAQ under the facilitated process in Quebec can be given a work permit valid for 36 months.

This is longer than work permits issued after obtaining an LMIA/CAQ under the Global Talent Stream or International Experience Canada, for example.

Also, when the time comes to retain the worker, it is often easier for a worker with a permit valid for 36 months, to start the process of obtaining permanent residency when there is no need to renew the status beforehand.

Workers with a permit valid for 24 months usually need the support of their (or of a new) employer to renew their work permit, before starting the process of applying for permanent residency.

In concrete terms, employers can save time and money on the renewal of work permits when their talents already have an initial permit valid for three years.

The process for the employer

Under this program, the employer still has to prove:

– That he has tried to recruit a Canadian or permanent resident;

– That the foreign worker has the necessary qualifications and experience for the job as well as the requirements of the National Occupational Classification;

– That the wages offered correspond to the median salary in the profession by intervals of quarters in Quebec, as set out by Emploi-Quebec.

The list

The list can be consulted using this link.

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This article was updated as of February 24, 2022.