The Global skills strategy is a part of Canada Government’s plan to accelerate the hiring of exceptionally talented global workers by few innovative companies, which would in turn help in their growth and success.

As per the global talent stream, work permit applications for these skilled foreign workers need to be processed only within 2 weeks. This program is also a part of the temporary foreign worker program to recruit global talent in a fast way by reducing the visa processing time from 6 months to only 15 days.

However, the employees are mandated to create employment for Canadians and transfer knowledge to Canadian workers as a part of the Labour Markets Benefits Plan.

Given below are few key features of the strategy:

1. Canada work permit applications and visa applications processing time of 2 weeks.
2. Dedicated service for companies making promising employment related investments in Canada.
3. Annulation of the work permit requirement for short term high skilled workers and academic stays.
4. Client based service to guide companies through the application process and other details.

Requirements for employers within the global talent stream is divided into 2 categories as given below:

1. Category A: This category consists of high growth employers (outside Quebec) who can display authentic requirement to hire unique specialized talent across the globe. The employer needs to be referred to the Global Talent Stream by any of the below given authorized referral partners, as defined since June 2019:

• Accelerate Okanagan
• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• BC Tech Association
• Burlington Economic Development Corporation
• Business Development Bank of Canada
• Canadian Economic Development for Quebec Regions
• Cape Breton Partnership
• City of Hamilton’s Economic Develop ment Office
• Communitech Corporation
• Council of Canadian Innovators
• Economic Development Winnipeg
• Edmonton Economic Development
• Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
• Genesis (Newfoundland)
• Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service
• Government of Alberta, Alberta Labour
• Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology
• Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Education and Training
• Government of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Business Inc.
• Government of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade – Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
• Government of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade – Ontario Investment Office
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Island Investment Development Inc.
• Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of the Economy
• Halifax Partnership
• ICT Association of Manitoba (ICTAM)
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Accelerated Growth Service
• Invest Ottawa
• Invest in Canada
• Kingston Economic Development Corporation
• Launch Academy
• London Economic Development Corporation
• MaRS Discovery District
• National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)
• Privy Council Office, Special Projects Team
• Regional Municipality of Niagara
• Regional Municipality of York
• Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
• Toronto Global
• Vancouver Economic Commission
• Venn Innovation
• Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation
• Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation

Employers from Quebec are required to consult the province’s ministry of immigration, diversity and inclusion website for a list of designated referral partners.

1. Category B: This includes employers who must hire high skilled foreign workers for certain in-demand and labour scarce occupations as mentioned in the Global Talents Occupations List. The list is updated often as per labour needs:

The GTS program requires the employer to maintain certain standards for paying the skilled foreign workers. The prevailing wage should be a maximum value of any of the following:

The salary paid to foreign workers should be as follows:

1. Yearly salary of at least 80,000 dollars or equivalent to the previously mentioned standard wage, whichever higher being applicable. However, this is valid for only the first two unique and special positions mentioned under Category A. For other positions under the same category, the set cap is 150,000 dollars.
2. Applicable least salary for the same occupation for a high skilled position mentioned under Category B as per the Global Talent Occupations List.
3. Salary within the same window as that of a current employee at same position, with same skills and experience.
4. Average wage for the same occupation as mentioned in Canada’s job bank.

Labour Markets Benefits Plan

The Global talent stream requires the employers to develop a labour market benefits plan in conjunction with the Employment and Social Development, Canada. The plan consists of the following:

1. Positive impact of the recruiting foreign talent on the Canadian labour market.
2. Activities undertaken to encourage job creation, skills, and training investments.
3. Category A employees are required to assist in job creation for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
4. Category B employees are required to invest in skills and training for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
5. The employees are also required to commit to other benefits such as knowledge transfer, and/or improving company performance.

Following activities are required by the employer to support above said commitments or requirements:

1. Recruiting more Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
2. Imparting training to current employees in new techniques.
3. Creation of internship programs for local students.
4. Increasing revenue and investments.

Employers applying for both the categories are required to meet requirements related to both job creation and skills/training investments.

Under the Global Skills Strategy, following categories of workers are exempt from the need to get a work permit:

1. High skilled workers in NOC skill type 0 or A, entering Canada to work for 15 days in a 6 month period, or for 30 days in a 12 month period.