Canada Unveils New Immigration Pathways to Boost Construction Sector

Key Initiatives to Address Labour Shortages

The newly announced initiatives aim to streamline the process for foreign workers to contribute to Canada's construction sector, offering pathways to both temporary and permanent residency. The core components of the announcement are:

• Pathway to Permanent Residency for Undocumented Workers:
  • The government will reserve immigration spaces for up to 6,000 undocumented construction workers currently residing in Canada.
  • Details regarding eligibility criteria and implementation timelines are yet to be released.
• Facilitated Apprenticeship Programs:
  • Qualified temporary foreign workers will be permitted to enrol in apprenticeship programs without the necessity of a study permit, effective immediately.
  • This change eliminates a significant barrier, as previously, obtaining a study permit from within Canada was often challenging for foreign nationals.
• Creation of an Advisory Council:
  • An advisory council comprising representatives from government, unions, and industry employers will be established to provide input on construction-related policies.
  • The council will advise on prevailing wages and the number of foreign national construction workers to be admitted.
  • Minister Miller has stated that up to 14,000 foreign national construction workers may be admitted to Canada.

Rationale Behind the Changes

The government's decision stems from the persistent labour shortages within the construction sector, which have significantly hindered Canada's ability to address its housing supply shortage. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's estimation that an additional 6 million homes are needed by 2030 underscores the urgency of this issue.

• Minister Miller acknowledged the limitations of domestic training programs, stating, "…as hard as we try, we cannot train them [skilled trades and construction workers] here in Canada."
• Statistics Canada reports that immigrants constitute 23% of all general contractors and residential builders in Canada's residential construction sector, highlighting their critical role.
• The current immigration pathways did not provide enough workers to fill the labour gaps.

Enhancements to Express Entry System

In a related development, IRCC had previously made significant changes to the Express Entry system on February 27, 2025, to prioritize skilled tradespeople.

• Trade occupations were designated as a priority category for invitations to apply (ITAs).
• 19 new occupations were added to the category, including:
  • Construction managers
  • Construction estimators
  • Bricklayers
  • Roofers and shinglers
  • Floor covering installers
  • Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)

Building on Previous Measures

The new pathway for out-of-status construction workers builds on a previous temporary public policy implemented in January 2020, which allowed construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to apply for permanent residency.

• This policy, extended multiple times, expired on December 31, 2024.
• As of November 2024, approximately 1,365 out-of-status construction workers and their dependents had obtained permanent residency through this pathway.

Impact on Immigration Levels Plan

The housing crisis has significantly influenced Canada's immigration policies.

• The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan reflects the government's decision to reduce immigration levels for both permanent and temporary residents to alleviate housing pressures.
• Minister Miller estimated that reducing temporary residents would free up 670,000 housing units.
• The "In-Canada Focus" category was created to prioritize candidates already in Canada with Canadian work experience, aiming to meet permanent resident targets without exacerbating housing pressures.
• The immigration department plans have allocated the landing of 82,890 new immigrants through the “In-Canada Focus” target in 2025.

The newly announced measures represent a strategic effort by the Canadian government to address critical labour shortages in the construction sector while navigating the complexities of the ongoing housing crisis. As further details emerge, we will provide updates on the implementation of these significant policy changes.

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- Rajneesh Kumar