Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy in 2023

Canada has unveiled its first-ever digital Tech Talent Strategy to support its booming digital economy. The plan introduces modifications and enhancements that may impact prospective immigrants seeking to settle in Canada. The services offered by RKY Careers, such as CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn optimisation, can help prospective immigrants boost their chances of success. Candidates can stand out and improve their chances of landing job opportunities by tailoring the applications they submit to the requirements of Canada’s expanding IT industry.

RKY Career offers bootcamp training programmes that concentrate on the in-demand digital industry and professions in addition to profile & application document optimisation. The in-depth training these programmes provide gives international workers the qualifications and skills essentials for the Canadian labour market. Enrolling in these bootcamps enhances employability, offers insights into particular industries, and helps bridge any skill gaps, making participants more appealing to employers.

New Tech Talent Immigration Strategy

Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Presented the Strategy to draw top tech talent and encourage innovation in sectors with high economic growth rates. The Strategy unveiled at Collision 2023, the biggest tech conference in North America, proposes several aggressive attraction strategies to support Canadian companies’ competitiveness in the international market. The following are some of the elements of the plan:

• Open Work Permit for 10,000 H-1B Visa Holders and Their Families.
• A new LMIA-exempt Innovation Stream by the end of 2023.
• A 14-Day Service Standard for Work Permits.
• Promotion of Canada as a Destination for Digital Nomads.
• STEM-Specific Draw under Express Entry.
• Improvements to the Start-up Visa Program.

6 Immigration Policy Changes in the Canadian Tech Industry

1. Open Work Permit for 10,000 H-1B Visa Holders and Their Families: Canada has introduced a new open work permit stream for H-1B visa holders and their families, aiming to leverage their skills and expertise. This allows individuals with H-1B visas and the family members they are travelling with to apply for work permits in Canada without requiring a job offer from a Canadian employer. When accepted, they will be given an open work visa good for three years that will let them work for any Canadian business. Additionally, spouses are eligible for open work permits, and minors are eligible for study visas to study in Canada. This opportunity makes access to free healthcare and education in Canada possible. The programme has a cap of 10,000 work visa applications for one year; thus, interested individuals are recommended to apply as soon as possible. Employers in Canada can take advantage of this channel by getting access to a wider pool of qualified individuals to fill unfilled vacancies. They can now hire H-1B visa holders without an LMIA, which reduces the cost of acquiring foreign workers.
2. A New LMIA-Exempt Innovation Stream by the End of 2023: The Innovation Stream, which is a component of Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy, draws in highly qualified people. It provides two choices: Employer-Specific Work Permits, which exempt businesses contributing to Canada’s industrial innovation goals from the requirement for a labour market impact assessment, and permits up to 5 years of employment. Secondly, Open Work Permits; allowing highly qualified individuals in in-demand professions to work in Canada for up to 5 years while also relocating with their families. The Innovation Stream helps Canadian companies by expediting the hiring process for employees that support the goals of industrial innovation. Employees may work exclusively for the business for up to five years without completing an LMIA. For foreign workers, it offers the chance to work in Canada for up to five years in professions in high demand, with possible pathways to permanent residency through beneficial work experience and eligibility for the permanent residency programme.
3. A 14-Day Service Standard for Work Permits Under the Global Talent Stream: Canada has reintroduced the 14-day processing time for work permits, benefiting employers and skilled foreign workers. The Global Skills Strategy facilitates expedited processing at both the ESDC and IRCC levels, enabling Canadian employers to hire highly skilled talent from around the world efficiently. This reduces administrative burdens and ensures timely recruitment, with the selected foreign talent typically arriving in Canada within a month. Employers in Canada may now confidently seek out talent from around the world, knowing they will arrive soon. Prospective immigrants interested in working in Canada can use websites like Jobbank to check if their profession is included and start their employment search.
4. Promotion of Canada as a Destination for Digital Nomads: Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy promotes the country as an attractive option for digital nomads due to its high quality of life, robust tech infrastructure, multicultural society, and welcoming environment. According to Canada’s Digital Nomad Strategy, foreign remote workers will no longer need a work permit to enter the country, and they can work for non-Canadian businesses for up to six months starting from July 16, 2023. Knowledge-based tech workers should find obtaining an open work visa rather simple. With electronic travel authorisation, citizens of Visa-exempt countries like the US, EU, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the UK can visit Canada without a visa. Visa holders are allowed to migrate to Canada for a period of six months and continue working remotely for their original employer. For additional information on the Canadian Tech Visa, go to the Immigration Canada website.
5. STEM-Specific Draw under Express Entry: Canada has implemented a STEM-specific draw under the Express Entry Programme to entice qualified candidates. This draw, which takes effect on July 5, 2023, gives candidates with knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) preference. Possessing strong French language skills or work experience in the healthcare, STEM fields, trades, transportation, agriculture, or agri-food industries will increase your chances of being requested to submit an application for permanent residency. The new category-specific draw could delay invitations for people lacking the required backgrounds. However, ongoing competitions will still be for federal skilled workers, federal trades workers, Canadian experience class, and provincial nominees. As a potential immigrant worker in this new environment, your approach should be to raise your CRS score through language assessments, employment offers, or learning French.
6. Improvements to the Start-up Visa Program: Canada is enhancing its Start-up Visa Program (SUV) by prioritising start-up applications with committed capital, requiring founders to invest money into their businesses. This is a change from the previous practice of founders mainly paying for incubator programs. Start-ups that receive investments from angel investors or venture capitalists must demonstrate capital commitment. Alternatively, if a Canada Tech Network member endorses a start-up, their application will be prioritised. Additionally, all start-up members can apply for open work permits lasting up to 3 years to earn income while their permanent residence application is processed. Whether this applies to existing backlogged applications or future ones remains unclear.

Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy unveiled during Collision 2023 marks the dawn of a new phase characterised by innovation and economic expansion for Canada. Through targeted efforts to lure exceptional professionals, Canada actively reinforces its status as a worldwide dominant force in emerging technologies. The proactive recruitment initiatives outlined in the Tech Talent Strategy will equip businesses with the necessary expertise to flourish in an intensely competitive environment.

RKY Careers offers various services that may be taken advantage of as an immigrant tech worker considering moving to Canada. These services can help you land your dream jobs before leaving your home country. A permanent position and a source of income in Canada’s labour market can be secured by utilising our depth of experience, which gives you the know-how to position yourself strategically for Visa Sponsorship positions. RKY Careers can help you start the process of moving to Canada with your family by optimising and tailoring your job application documents and profiles, boosting your chances of getting a job placement before your departure. Contact us today!