RANDY BOISSONNAULT: I am happy to announce today that we're
announcing another initiative to address acute labor shortages
and cut red tape for employers who meet the highest standards
of worker protections.
So the announcement that I'm making today
is that, under the banner of the temporary foreign worker
program we are launching, the Recognized Employer Pilot, REP,
to provide eligible Canadian employers
with more streamlined access to labor,
while making sure they uphold the highest standards
in worker protections.
So launching, next month, in September 23,
as a three-year pilot, eligible employers will get access
to Labor Market Impact Assessments, or LMIAs, that
are valid for up to three years, and they will benefit
from a simplified application, and if they
need to hire more workers from previously
approved positions in the future.
So currently, LMIAs in the regular
temporary foreign worker program are valid for only 18 months.
So this investment will provide sustainable
services at a crucial time.
It's going to help employers better
plan for their staffing needs.
The other thing that will happen is employers will also benefit
from a job bank designation that shows
their recognized status to improve interest
from prospective workers.
Recognized employment program will focus on the protections
and support that improve workplace conditions
for temporary foreign workers, and employers
are going to be subject to a more rigorous
upfront assessment process based on their history and track
record with the program.
And this pre-screening approach is
going to ensure that our EP targets employers with the best
recruitment practices.
Now, this pilot is being developed
alongside other transformative measures,
as we continue to improve the temporary foreign worker
program.