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Last Updated on abril 3, 2017
The Canada immigration system is reinforcing a two-step trend, with figures showing a growing number of newcomers arrive on a temporary Canada work permit before making the transition to permanent residence.
Recent figures from Statistics Canada show an increasing number of temporary workers are making the transition, and the figure is only likely to grow with recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
More than 20 per cent, or one in five, temporary workers were achieving permanent status at the end of 2014, compared with 9 per cent, or less than one in 10, during the 1990s.
The federal government recently moved to end the TFWP’s cumulative duration rule that said workers could only stay in Canada temporarily for four years, and were not allowed to return for another four years.
Meanwhile, the new Global Talent Stream means high-skilled workers will see their Canada work permits processed inside two weeks from June 2017, bringing in a new group of temporary workers with excellent credentials for making the transition to permanent Canada immigration.
Source: Statistics Canada
The Statistics Canada report reads: “New entries of temporary foreign workers doubled from the early 1990s to the late 2000s, and most of this increase occurred in the late 2000s.
The report added: “From the late 1990s to the late 2000s, proportionately more temporary foreign workers gained permanent residence.”
The changing demographic of those coming to Canada as temporary workers was also highlighted in the report.
Between 1995 and 1999, the International Mobility Program accounted for 71 per cent of the total, compared with 29 per cent coming in through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Fast forward 10 years and the proportions have changed to 59 per cent and 41 per cent respectively.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program: Proportion of Total Temporary Workers by Category (%)
| 1990 to 1994 | 1995 to 1999 | 2000 to 2004 | 2005 to 2009 | 2010 to 2014 | |
| Live-in Caregiver | 9.8 | 3.7 | 6.3 | 9.1 | 4.5 |
| Seasonal Agricultural Workers | 3.8 | 4.2 | 6.2 | 3.4 | 2.2 |
| Low-skill Pilot | N/A | N/A | 1.4 | 10.4 | 8.6 |
| Others | 22.4 | 20.8 | 21.2 | 18.5 | 11.8 |
Source: Statistics Canada
The data also shows a shift in skill levels, with 67 per cent of temporary workers classed as high-skilled in the late 1990s, compared with 40 per cent in the late 2000s. This proportion is likely to have shrunk further more recently after changes made by the previous Conservative government.
When it comes to becoming a permanent resident, just 9 per cent made the transition in the 1995 to 1999 cohort, whereas 21 per cent did so between 2005 and 2009. The figures focused on those achieving the status within five years of their first work permit.
International Mobility Program: Proportion of Total Temporary Workers by Category (%)
| 1990 to 1994 | 1995 to 1999 | 2000 to 2004 | 2005 to 2009 | 2010 to 2014 | |
| International Agreement | 12.1 | 19.7 | 17.8 | 9.7 | 11.1 |
| Significant Benefit | 8.2 | 9.1 | 7.5 | 6.4 | 8.3 |
| Reciprocal Employment | 23 | 22.5 | 24.3 | 31.5 | 37.4 |
| Spouse/Common-law Partner | 1 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 6.1 | 7.5 |
| Research and Studies Related | 5 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 4 | 7.4 |
| Others | 14.7 | 15.2 | 8.4 | 1 | 1.2 |
Source: Statistics Canada
The highest transition rates were under the Live-in Caregiver Program and the Spouse of Common-law Partner in Canada Class, while Seasonal Agricultural Workers found bridging the gap more difficult, as did those coming here under the Reciprocal Employment category.
Source country and desire also played a key part in the transition statistics.
Despite it being easier for them to make the transition, high-skilled temporary workers were only slightly more likely than low-skilled workers to become permanent residents.
Transition Rate Within 5 Years of Arrival By Category
| 1990 to 1994 | 1995 to 1999 | 2000 to 2004 | 2005 to 2009 | |
| Temporary Foreign Worker Program | ||||
| Live-in Caregiver | 77.2 | 83.1 | 83.2 | 55.9 |
| Seasonal Agricultural Workers | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 2.1 |
| Low-skill Pilot | N/A | N/A | 11 | 30.8 |
| Others | 10.1 | 8.2 | 12.5 | 22.8 |
| International Mobility Program | ||||
| International Agreement | 4.9 | 3.4 | 5.7 | 10.8 |
| Significant Benefit | 8.9 | 7.4 | 8.3 | 13.5 |
| Reciprocal Employment | 7.1 | 5 | 5.4 | 9 |
| Spouse/Common-law Partner | 43 | 51.8 | 44.4 | 50.3 |
| Research and Studies Related | 24.3 | 18.3 | 19.9 | 16.2 |
| Others | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 6.2 |
| Skill level of first work permit | ||||
| Higher skilled | 8.2 | 6 | 8.9 | 17 |
| Lower skilled | 39.9 | 24 | 31.4 | 34.3 |
| Not specified | 8.4 | 6.7 | 10.4 | 16.5 |
Source: Statistics Canada
Those from less-developed countries, meanwhile, had higher transition rates than those who came from developed countries.
The way the transition was made was also revealed in the report, with most happening while the temporary worker was in Canada with a valid Canada visa.
Economic class immigration programs were the preferred route to permanent residence, although the pattern varied depending on the temporary program through which they were in Canada.
For example, Seasonal Agricultural Workers were more likely to make the transition through Family Class sponsoring after they had left Canada.
Those using the Low-Skill Pilot, meanwhile, preferred Provincial Nomination Programs to make the transition, with high-skilled workers most likely to use economic classes.
New federal government policies are geared towards attracting international students who want to make the transition to permanent residence after they have graduated.
By awarding points for a Canadian education under the Express Entry System, the hope is to attract young, high-skilled individuals with knowledge of Canadian culture to help ease the process of becoming a part of society.
The move is motivated by a need to tackle an aging population in Canada, with natural increases account for a declining proportion of the population increase.
Despite this trend, an increasing number of individuals from outside Canada will continue to be granted permanent residence as Ottawa gradually increases annual immigration levels. During the decade 2000-2010, annual levels averaged approximately 250,000 representing an immigration rate of .8%. The past two years have seen immigration levels set at 300,000 with actual admissions expected to exceed 310,000.
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