By: Thomas I. Likness
EBC News

(Eagle News) — Canada plans to grant permanent residency to more than 90,000 essential workers and international graduate Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said Wednesday.

“These special public policies will grant permanent status to temporary workers and international graduates who are already in Canada and who possess the skills and experience we need to fight the pandemic and accelerate our economic recovery,” said Mendicino in a statement today.

“The focus of this new pathway will be on temporary workers employed in our hospitals and long-term care homes and on the frontlines of other essential sectors, as well as international graduates who are driving the economy of tomorrow.”

To qualify, workers must have at least one year of Canadian work experience in a health care profession or an approved essential job.

International graduates must have completed their training within the last four years.

The government will start accepting applications May 6. The program will remain open until November 5 or until the 90,000 slots have been filled.

There are three streams of workers.

Twenty-thousand applications are available for temporary health care workers, 30,000 for selected temporary workers in essential occupations and 40,000 for international students who have graduated from a Canadian institution.

“With an accelerated pathway to permanent residency, these special public policies will encourage essential temporary workers and international graduates to put down roots in Canada and help us retain the talented workers we need, particularly in our health-care system,” said Mendicino.

Canada hopes to welcome 401,000 permanent residents this year.
(Eagle News Service)