Minister Metlege Diab highlights how Canada is working with provinces and territories to support worker retention
FrançaisDIEPPE, NB, Nov. 12, 2026 /CNW/ -- Immigration that's well-managed, efficient and focused on our economic needs is key to building Canada strong. As announced in Budget 2026, Canada is introducing a time-limited measure that delivers stability and fairness to select groups of people who are already in Canada while helping provinces and territories address their labour market needs.
Today, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, provided more details on the time-limited measure for workers, specifically on how the Government of Canada is offering the provinces and territories optional, additional space to transition up to a combined total of 100,000 workers and their families to permanent residence in 2027. These workers are already living in Canada and are contributing to key industries and supporting economic development in communities of all sizes.
As part of this time-limited measure, provinces and territories will be offered additional Provincial Nominee Program allocations and will be able to choose how much of this additional space they use to transition workers who are established in their communities and meeting their labour market needs. These allocations are intended to be used by March 31, 2027, to support the transition of workers and their families to permanent residence in 2027.
Provincial and territorial governments will also be able to identify workers in their jurisdictions who have already applied for permanent residence, including through several federal programs, and are awaiting a decision. This includes
- the Atlantic Immigration Program
- federal immigration programs and pilots that are closed to applications, including the Start-up Visa Program, Self-Employed Persons Program, Agri-Food Pilot and home care worker programs
By helping provinces and territories retain workers already established in their communities, the measure will help employers maintain access to skilled talent and support communities facing labour shortages without adding significant new pressures on housing and community infrastructure.
Quote(s)
"Communities across the country benefit each and every day from the contributions of workers--both Canadians and those who have chosen Canada. Our government understands that by retaining high-value, established workers, we can support economic growth and help our businesses thrive. With the new time-limited measure presented alongside our sustainable Immigration Levels Plan, we will work closely with provinces and territories to provide certainty and stability to even more employers, workers, and families right across Canada."
– The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Quick facts
- Under the time-limited measure, IRCC will also help transition to permanent residence
- up to 32,000 people who have applied under the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways, which closed to new applications in August 2026
- up to 18,800 people who have applied under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, which closed to new applications in October 2024
- up to 12,600 people who have already been found eligible for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds
- up to 45,000 spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada
- These measures do not create new programs or re-open closed pathways. Applicants do not need to do anything or contact IRCC for their applications to be processed under these additional spaces.
- This measure is separate from the In-Canada Worker Initiative announced in Budget 2025.
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SOURCE Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Contacts for media only: Taous Ait, Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary, Office of the Minister, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, [email protected]; Media Relations, People and Communications Sector, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, [email protected]
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