Original language of petition: English
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recognizes the tremendous economic, cultural, and social benefits that international students bring to the country.
IRCC understands that due to the pandemic, some Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders and other temporary foreign workers in Canada have lost their employment or have seen their hours reduced and may be in jeopardy of not earning the one year of skilled work experience required to qualify for permanent residency programs, such as the Canadian Experience Class. Although PGWPs are a one-time opportunity, PGWP holders have other options available to them to remain in Canada to work.
PGWP holders with permits that remain valid but are coming to an end have the option to apply for another one of Canada’s work permit programs under either the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program (IMP) program. Both programs offer a range of options for employers seeking to hire workers in specific sectors or with specialized skills. Furthermore, time spent working under these Programs may count towards Canadian work experience requirements for permanent residency. If a PGWP holder applies for such a work permit before the expiry of their PGWP, they may continue working while waiting for a decision on their work permit application.
In addition, former PGWP holders whose work permits have expired or have converted to visitor status can benefit from the temporary public policies IRCC has implemented as part of the its COVID-19 response. These public policies include:
Former PGWP holders who apply to the above public policies may also be able to work while awaiting a decision on their work permit application. These temporary changes were made to benefit employers in Canada who continue to face difficulties finding the workers they need, as well as foreign nationals, such as PGWP holders or former PGWP holders, who would like to contribute their labour and skills to Canada’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
IRCC will continue to monitor the impacts of the pandemic on international students and Post-Graduation Work Permit holders.
Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.
Province / Territory | Signatures |
---|---|
Alberta | 123 |
British Columbia | 329 |
Manitoba | 67 |
New Brunswick | 36 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 9 |
Northwest Territories | 1 |
Nova Scotia | 143 |
Nunavut | 1 |
Ontario | 2040 |
Prince Edward Island | 9 |
Quebec | 239 |
Saskatchewan | 24 |
Yukon | 4 |