Get your Labour Market Impact Assessment applications in or face further delays, government warns

Employers who require a Labour Market Impact Assessment under Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program should submit their application "as soon as possible" in order to avoid worsening delays, the government says.

A notice published October 29 by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) says Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program "is currently experiencing an increased volume of Labour Market Impact Assessment applications" and processing times are expected to increase in the coming months.

"We are making all necessary efforts to minimize the impact on employers seeking to hire temporary foreign workers," it reads. "We therefore suggest that employers submit their application as soon as possible to avoid any additional delays."

A Labour Market Impact Assessment, or LMIA, confirms that an employer has followed the required steps to recruit a Canadian worker for the position they are looking to fill with foreign labour.

LMIA processing times have increased dramatically in recent months for Temporary Foreign Worker Programs other than the Global Talent Stream, which fast tracks work permits for skilled workers in specialized occupations and has a processing standard of 10 business days.

ESDC, which is responsible for Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program, has attributed the delays to technical issues associated with its transition to a new platform for assessing LMIA applications.