Thank you, Madam Chair and members of the committee.
As we begin, I'd like to acknowledge that I'm joining you from the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin people.
I am pleased to first address the committee's study of labour market impact assessments as it relates to temporary foreign workers and our immigration system. After that, I'll discuss our initiatives to help more Hong Kong residents choose Canada.
As you may know, the temporary foreign worker program, or TFWP, is a demand-driven/employer-requested program that seeks to help Canadian employers access foreign workers to fill labour gaps. It features several streams, including one for the agriculture sector.
To hire through the TFWP, an employer must first apply for a labour market impact assessment, which is a key tool to protect Canadians' access to the labour market by ensuring that employers have made reasonable efforts to recruit and hire Canadian workers before trying to hire foreign nationals.
As our colleagues from Employment and Social Development Canada will explain, they manage the assessment and make decisions on LMIA applications, while IRCC issues the actual work permits. To issue the permit, we need proof of an employer's positive or neutral LMIA, which foreign nationals must submit as part of their work permit applications through the TFW program.
Canada's other work program for foreign nationals, the international mobility program, is solely the responsibility of IRCC and works differently. Its goal is to advance our nation's broad economic, cultural and social interests rather than to fill particular jobs in particular sectors. These workers are exempt from the LMIA process and include post-graduate work permit holders, youth on a working holiday and spouses of temporary residents, among others.
Madam Chair, I hope this provides some useful context on this important issue.
Now I'd like to turn to Hong Kong. In light of the recommendations made recently by the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations, the committee may have questions for me regarding the avenues for Hong Kong residents to come to Canada.
Of course, all of this takes place against the backdrop of an extremely concerning situation in Hong Kong. At this difficult moment, Canada stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Hong Kong and shares the grave concerns of the international community over China's national security legislation.
The ties that bind Canada and Hong Kong run deep, and with many young Hong Kongers casting their eyes abroad, we want them to choose Canada. That's why I was proud to announce new opportunities, last November, for youth from Hong Kong to choose Canada as a place to work, study and settle. These complement the existing pathways already available to Hong Kong residents for economic migration and family reunification, the private sponsorship of refugees program and the government-assisted refugees program as well as our world-leading asylum system.
This new program provides open work permits for up to three years to those who have completed a degree or diploma from a designated Canadian post-secondary institution in the last five years or have an equivalent credential from an overseas institution. Eligible spouses, common-law partners and dependent children may also apply for work or study permits, and applications opened just over a month ago, on February 8.
In addition, the department is creating two new pathways to permanent residence, available later this year.
The first will target former Hong Kong residents who have gained a minimum of one year of authorized work experience in Canada and meet other criteria, such as minimum language and education levels.
The second will allow those who have graduated from a post-secondary institution in Canada to apply directly for permanent residence.
Before moving on, I want to be very clear about one important point. No Hong Kongers will be prevented from coming to Canada or claiming asylum because they have participated in peaceful protests. This is true whether they did so before or after the introduction of the national security law. We strongly support the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
The steps we have taken are in concert with those of our allies who share our grave concerns about the situation in Hong Kong.