Mr. Chair, members of the committee, thank you very much for this invitation.
As director general for immigration policy at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, I am responsible for the development of policies to facilitate the entry of both temporary and permanent residents in a way that maximizes their economic, social, and cultural contribution to Canada.
I'll just make some very brief remarks to follow up on those of my colleague from ESDC, and speak briefly about our overall economic immigration programs that may benefit this industry.
As members of this committee are aware, employers must generally first apply to Employment and Social Development Canada for a labour market opinion (LMO) to hire a temporary foreign worker. Once this authority is granted, the intended employee can apply to CIC for work authorization, and for a visa if they are from a visa-required country.
However, there are certain types of business persons, such as those coming to Canada under a free trade agreement like NAFTA, who may be authorized to work in Canada in the absence of a labour market opinion. Other foreign nationals who may be authorized to work in Canada temporarily in the absence of a labour market opinion include youth coming to Canada on a working holiday as part of bilateral international agreements, and recent graduates of a Canadian post-secondary institution, among others.
In all cases, exemptions to the labour market opinion requirement are only granted in situations where the temporary employment of the foreign national is in the national interest.
Since 2012 the government has been conducting a review of the temporary foreign worker program to ensure that the program is aligned with today's economic and labour market needs, including where Canadians and permanent residents must be first in line for available jobs. Many of the changes to date have focused on the labour market opinion process; however, in addition, Canada's economic action plan 2014 committed to reviewing streams of the temporary foreign worker program that are exempt from the labour market opinion process.
I understand that some of your previous witnesses have commented specifically on changes to the process for bringing in temporary foreign workers as intracompany transferees, which is one of the LMO-exempt streams of the temporary foreign worker program. Last year, CIC consulted with employers and stakeholders in the review of the Intracompany Transferee component. this review is continuing with the objective of ensuring that this stream is used as intended.
More broadly, we are also working to ensure that economic immigrants have the skills and human capital to meet Canada's labour market needs and succeed in Canada. Previous work experience in Canada is often of significant benefit to new permanent residents. In that respect, the temporary foreign worker program serves as an important way to attract foreign nationals who may go on to successfully settle in Canada permanently. Programs such as the Canadian experience class, federal skilled workers program, and provincial nominee programs are all aimed at attracting highly skilled professionals to Canada.
For example, as part of the federal skilled workers program, employers can make a permanent job offer to a temporary foreign worker who is either abroad or is already here in Canada. Under these programs, getting in workers with needed skill sets is a key priority. To that end, applicants with valid job offers move to the front of the processing line.
In addition to existing programs, CIC is working hard to roll out a new electronic system to manage immigration applications next January. This system will allow the Government of Canada, provinces, territories, and employers to actively target highly skilled immigrants under key economic immigration programs. This change is intended to make our permanent immigration programs even more responsive to the needs of the labour market and economy, and employers in the gaming industry may find this to be a useful tool to focus efforts to recruit needed talent.
l understand that employers are concerned about processing times associated with work permit applications. l would like to assure you that CIC is committed to improving client service and modernizing its operations, with measures to improve efficiency, strengthen program integrity, and develop seamless service delivery.
l would just mention two such operational changes that may address some of the issues raised in previous committee meetings. CIC introduced electronic applications more than a year ago for all visitors, international students, and temporary foreign workers. Applicants using this online system are able to self-serve online by enrolling and logging in to a secure environment, uploading forms and documents, paying fees, and communicating with CIC.
Applicants in these categories also have access to application support services in more languages through our rapidly expanding global network of visa application centres. Unnecessary delays—such as when applications are incomplete—are minimized with the help of these centres. Both e-applications and the expansion of the visa application centre network are an improvement to service for temporary foreign workers.
To conclude, our two departments continue to examine ways to improve the existing temporary foreign worker program, with further announcements forthcoming.
Thank you.