NEW MEASURES FOR VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS

Submitted by jayakiran02 on Sat, 06/01/2019 - 15:14

May 31, 2019—Winnipeg, MB – 

 

Canada is taking action to help protect vulnerable workers, newcomers who face family abuse, and help newcomers sponsor family members that they didn’t initially declare.

Every worker in Canada is entitled to a safe and healthy work environment where their rights are respected. 

Starting June 4, 2019, migrant workers who have an employer-specific work permit and are in an abusive job situation in Canada will be able to apply for an open work permit. This will allow migrant workers to leave that employer immediately, maintain their status and find another job.

Starting July 26, 2019, newcomers experiencing family violence will be able to apply for a fee exempt temporary resident permit that will give them legal immigration status in Canada and includes a work permit and health care coverage.

In addition, we are expediting the process for those in urgent situations of family violence who apply for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Sponsoring Previously Failed to Declare Family Members

When a person applies to immigrate to Canada, they are required to declare all of their family members. The consequence for failing to declare a family member is a lifetime bar on the principal applicant being able to sponsor that family member in the future.

As of September 9, 2019, we will launch a 2-year pilot project where a person (resettled refugee, was conferred refugee protection in Canada or were themselves sponsored as a spouse, partner or dependent child) who came to Canada can now sponsor undeclared immediate family members.

Quick facts

  • The expedited temporary resident permit process for victims of family violence is only available to foreign nationals in Canada who have not yet obtained their permanent residence and whose status in Canada is dependent on their abusive spouse or partner. It is not available to foreign nationals outside Canada.

 

  • The pilot project for sponsorship of previously undeclared family members will last 2 years – from September 9, 2019, to September 9, 2021. Applications that are already in process will also benefit from this pilot project.