As the federal government moves to restrict the number of temporary workers in the country, a relatively new program to bring refugees to Canada on a permanent basis is beginning to catch on with employers. The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) is a federal program aimed, in part, at easing the labour shortages facing many industries. It matches Canadian employers with refugees and displaced people around the world.
If approved, the individual is given permanent residency and can immigrate to Canada with their spouse and children. The program, which began as a pilot in April 2018, faced criticism for its lengthy approvals process . However, those involved in the program say it's now much quicker, and its popularity has grown in the last year since Ottawa expanded the EMPP in 2023.
"We're at a place where we now have sufficient speed and predictability that makes this a really good option for hiring teams," said Dana Wagner, managing director of TalentLift Canada, a Toronto-based non-profit that helps employers across Canada hire refugees internationally when they can't find suitable workers locally. The number of displaced people globally has been rising for the last decade, says Dana Wagner, managing director of TalentLift, a non-profit that helps employers across Canada hire refugees internationally when companies can't find suitable workers locally. (Oliver Walters/CBC) The EMPP can benefit employers, Wagner said, while also being of value to the individuals pursuing.
