Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
Up to 6,000 undocumented construction workers will be given a pathway to gain legal status in Canada, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said recently in a news conference.
“These undocumented migrants are already living and working in Canada, and are contributing to the sector,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said in a statement.
“This pathway will keep them here legally so that they can continue to build the homes our economy and communities need with the proper protections.”
There is already an Out-of-Status Construction Workers Pilot Program running in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with an annual quota of 1,000 permanent residency spots.
The government did not provide details on when the new pathway will be implemented or the criteria for eligibility.
“We are reserving spaces for up to 6,000 undocumented workers across the country to participate in a new construction pathway,” Miller said. “This initiative will help bring these workers out of the shadows and into the light.”
Miller clarified that many of these workers originally entered Canada legally but continued working after their immigration status expired. These individuals, often referred to as undocumented or out-of-status workers, are vulnerable to exploitation, facing lower wages, unsafe working conditions, and a lack of dignity in their employment.
He also addressed concerns about rewarding workers who overstayed their visas, stating, “I want to be clear: no one should stay in Canada longer than allowed. There are consequences for overstaying.
“However, it would be counterproductive to ask those contributing to critical infrastructure projects to leave, especially when they have been helping build Canada.”
According to an RBC report in April 2024, the construction sector had one of the highest job vacancy rates in Canada, at 5.1% in the third quarter of 2023. Additionally, over the next decade, the industry will need to replace approximately 330,000 retiring workers.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has reported that 1,365 out-of-status construction workers and their families had already gained permanent resident status through a pilot project in the Greater Toronto Area.
“Given where we are as a country, this initiative makes sense for both the present and the future,” Miller said. “If we are serious about achieving our ambitious infrastructure goals—like building the homes we need—this is the right move.”
Miller also announced the formation of an advisory council composed of government, union, and industry representatives to guide the development of new immigration policies for the construction sector.
Additionally, IRCC stated that foreign apprentices in construction programs would temporarily be allowed to complete their studies without the need for a study permit
