Human Resources Legislative Update

Federal Budget Bill Tabled, Changes To Temporary Foreign Worker Program Announced

Human Resources Legislative Update

Federal Budget Bill Tabled, Changes To Temporary Foreign Worker Program Announced

Date: April 30, 2013

On April 29, 2013, the federal government tabled Bill C-60, Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1, omnibus legislation giving effect to some of its Budget 2013 initiatives.

In conjunction with the tabling of Bill C-60 and further to its Budget 2013 initiative to ensure that Canadians have first priority at job opportunities when they become available, the federal government also announced significant modifications to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (“TFWP”) through legislative, regulatory and administrative changes. In this regard, Bill C-60 would, if passed, amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to include the following:

  • permit the revocation of a temporary foreign work permit where justified by public policy considerations;
  • permit the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development to revoke or suspend a labour market opinion (“LMO”) or refuse to process a request for such an opinion where justified by public policy considerations;
  • allow fees to be paid for rights and privileges conferred by means of a work permit; and
  • exempt from the User Fees Act payment of a fee for the processing of an application for a temporary resident visa, work permit, study permit or extension of an authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident.