On June 4, the federal government announced plans to quickly issue work permits for AI professionals.
The proposed AI Worker Stream would allow work permits to be issued from start to finish within 20 days.
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The AI Worker Stream will be implemented through Canada’s existing Global Talent Stream (GTS) under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
The GTS provides for 10 days to process labor market impact assessments required for employers to hire foreign workers through the TFWP, as well as 10 days to process work permit applications. This is compared to a typical TFWP work permit where the expected processing time from start to finish is 2-6 months for GTS.
According to a government press release, the flow of AI workers will be accompanied by measures to support the transition of these AI workers to Canadian permanent residency.
The government did not provide information on how employers or foreign workers would qualify or the expected start date.
The initiative was announced as part of a press release on the federal government’s AI for All strategy, part of the Carney government’s program to support economic growth in Canada.
According to a press release, Canada’s new AI strategy “targets an additional $200 billion in economic growth to create 250,000 new AI jobs over the next five years and increase AI adoption from just over 12% to 60% by 2034.”
About the global talent team
GTS is a streamlined pathway under the TFWP designed to help Canadian employers hire highly skilled foreign workers in specialized skills and high-demand occupations.
In its current form, GTS has two categories.
Category A is restricted to employers referred by designated partners, and selected employers can hire foreign workers who demonstrate outstanding knowledge through an advanced degree in a specialized field or at least five years of work experience in a specialized profession.
Category B allows TFWP-eligible employers to expedite the hiring of foreign workers for roles identified as being in high demand by inclusion on the Global Talent Occupations List (such as web designers, data scientists, and cybersecurity specialists).
The government did not clarify whether the proposed AI worker stream would be implemented through amendments to existing categories in the GTS or through the creation of new categories.
For more information about GTS, please visit our dedicated webpage.
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