The federal government is fast-tracking approvals for temporary foreign workers already in Canada, to make them available to fill labour gaps in critical sectors such as agriculture and health care during the pandemic. Many foreign workers with employer-specific permits lost their jobs this spring due to the pandemic. "It just underscores the importance and the value of the contribution of the temporary workers who come here," Mendicino told CBC News. Under the temporary new rules, a foreign worker can start a new job before being issued a new work permit. An employers hiring a temporary foreign worker still needs to have, or obtain, a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada.

Source: CBC News May 12, 2020 20:35 UTC