Forward Regulatory Plan: 2021 to 2023
Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (specific to the International Mobility Program)

Enabling Act: Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Description:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is proposing an amendment to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to make clear that in multiple employer scenarios under the International Mobility Program (IMP), only the employer who was suspected to have committed non-compliance would be inspected and have consequences imposed.

For example, if there is reason to suspect that only one of the employers violated the program conditions, only that employer would be inspected and subject to consequences for that non-compliance (rather than holding of all employers who made the related offer of employment jointly and severally responsible).

Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)

The proposed regulatory amendment will not require cooperation with domestic or international partners, though IRCC will consult with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), which is responsible for a separate temporary foreign worker program (TFWP), to ensure any possibilities for alignment of the two programs (TFWP and IMP) are leveraged.

Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses

The amendment is expected to impact employers who hire temporary foreign workers through the International Mobility Program by ensuring inspections and findings of non-compliance are applied to the entity best positioned to have control over regulatory conditions.

No material impacts on Canadians are expected, nor to international trade or investment. Stakeholder groups that could be expected to have an interest include repeat users of the IMP, the CBA, and immigration lawyers.

Consultations

The amendment remains in the exploratory stages, however, consultation through the Canada Gazette is anticipated, as well as targeted consultations with key stakeholders (primarily employers and immigration lawyers).

Further Information

IRCC Employer Portal

Departmental Contact Information

Ian Gillespie
Director, Temporary Resident Policy and Programs, Immigration Branch
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Email: Ian.Gillespie@cic.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-437-5907

Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the plan: October 18, 2020