Canada Immigration Minister Sean Fraser unveiled a second economic immigration pathway for skilled refugees and other displaced people through the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) on Monday in a much-anticipated move.

Through the new EMPP Federal Skills Job Offer Stream, Canadian employers hire refugees and other displaced people who qualify under any  National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 category with a Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER)  level of 0 through to 5.

“Helping employers access a new global talent pool is another way we are using our immigration system to address ongoing labour shortages,” said Fraser.

“Finding these skilled workers among people who happen to be displaced abroad and lack a durable solution is a made-in-Canada solution that we are promoting globally. 

“Canada will continue to develop and scale up these types of innovative measures that allow us to welcome more vulnerable people, while helping businesses find the skilled workforce they need to grow.”

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The EMPP Federal Skills Job Offer stream is being touted as way for employers to fill a wide range of in-demand Canada jobs, including nurse aides, personal support workers, long-term care aides, software engineers, web designers, mechanical and electrical engineers and technicians, logistics and warehouse workers, tourism and hospitality workers, and truck and delivery service drivers.

“Talent Beyond Boundaries hosts a talent catalog with over 65,000 skilled refugees who want to move for work and a growing network of partners around the world who are adding to that number daily,” said Lara Dyer, the organization’s Canadian director.

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“The new federal pathway for EMPP will have a transformative impact on labour shortages across Canada in key sectors like healthcare, tourism and hospitality, and construction, as well as on the lives of displaced people.”

Foreign nationals who want to apply for the EMPP through the job offer stream must still meet minimum requirements for language, past work experience and education but they do not need to show proof of an education credential assessment or proof of settlement funds. 

The job offer essentially allows those EMPP applicants to be eligible without having to meet all of the higher requirements of the EMPP Federal Skills Without a Job Offer Stream.

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Those candidates are required to meet higher requirements for language, past work experience and education because the government considers they will need to find work after they arrive in Canada. They also need to show proof of an education credential assessment and have a certain amount of funds available to show that they are able to establish themselves in Canada.

Human resources recruitment firms praised Ottawa’s new pathway for skilled refugees Monday.

“Including people who are refugees as part of the global talent pool is a simple idea but for years it wasn’t possible because of built-in, unintentional barriers in the visa process,” said Veronica Wilson, co-founder and legal director at TalentLift.

Recruitment Firms Praise New Pathway As A Boon For Companies Looking To Hire Workers

“The new federal EMPP immigration pathway is a pivotal change. It will open up many more options for people to use their skills to leave refugee situations and enrich the companies and communities where they land. This is a big win for displaced talent globally and the Canadian hiring teams that are eager to get involved.”

Bassel Ramli, cofounder and director of economic mobility at Jumpstart Refugee Talent, agreed.

“Jumpstart Refugee Talent is thrilled about the introduction of Canada’s new EMPP federal streams, simplifying and speeding up the process for employers to hire and relocate talented individuals from displaced populations,” said Ramli. 

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“This initiative addresses chronic talent shortages across various sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing and construction. It’s an exciting opportunity for businesses to find the skilled workforce they need while providing a fresh start for those seeking refuge.” 

In addition to these two federal pathways under the EMPP, foreign nationals can also apply under regional and provincial programs to the EMPP, including the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP).

Last year, Canada resettled more than 46,500 refugees from over 80 countries.