Five Pillar Strategy is Tabled by Canadian Immigration Minister to Expand Pathways to Permanent Residence

Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has tabled a five-pillar plan to expand pathways to permanent residence for international students and temporary foreign workers. On September 20 while performing routine proceedings, Fraser presented a plan to expand transitions to permanent residence with noteworthy work experience in sectors with labour shortages.

The strategy exclusively highlights a five-pillar approach that IRCC will adapt to assist temporary residents to attain Canadian permanent resident status:

Pillar 1: The strategy highlights that the federal government will utilize the existing immigration targets mentioned in the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan. Canada is expected to welcome a record 431,645 immigrants this year. Before November 1, Sean Fraser will have to present a new 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan.

Pillar 2: The federal government will change the Express Entry system to permit Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to invite applicants based on their economic goals. Also, it is anticipated that the new Express Entry draws are likely to start in early 2023.

Pillar 3: IRCC is planning to adapt to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 on November 16. This latest occupation classification system will permit 16 new jobs to qualify for Express Entry, and discard three previously-eligible occupations. The federal government also targets to improve newcomers’ access to information to make sure that they meet the required qualifications and connect them to federal, provincial, or territorial immigration programs; eliminate barriers for physicians and other restrictions to make the transition to another high-in-demand worker as smooth as possible, improve pilot programs to strengthen permanent residency pathways for caregivers and agri-food workers.

Pillar 4: Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada is working towards increasing French immigration outside Quebec and adding a new Municipal Nominee Program. The federal government is also continuing to work with Canadian provinces, territories, and employers on pathways to permanent residence such as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Pillar 5: IRCC is growing the processing capacity, improving client experience, and updating the immigration system through technological improvements. The idea is to improve processing times to permit newcomers to become Canadian as early as possible.