CANADA - Likely Phase-Out of the Information Technology Workers Program
- Canada
- 12/01/2009
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is expected to phase out the Information Technology ( IT) Workers Program in the near future. This work permit category allows companies to employ workers in seven software development occupations without the necessity of first acquiring a Labour Market Opinion (LMO). Currently, these work permits are issued in one-year increments and are renewable indefinitely. The IT Workers Program was implemented several years ago as a pilot project to address the shortage of software development workers. However, sources indicate that the Canadian Government believes there is no longer a shortage in this area.
Although there is no official communication from the CIC that the IT Workers Program will be discontinued, such an announcement is likely to be made with little or no advance notice. As a result, BAL recommends that individuals currently employed in Canada pursuant to work permits under the IT Workers Program immediately renew these work permits to obtain an additional year of work authorization. An individual interested in long-term employment in Canada should consider whether to begin an immigration application that would result in permanent residence.
