Quebec updates list of targeted occupations for facilitated LMIA process

Quebec has released the new list of occupations eligible under the facilitated Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process.

Quebec's Ministry of Immigration provides an annually updated list of occupations for which employers do not need to advertise an open position before hiring a foreign worker. The new list, which will be in effect for the current year, was made public today, February 24.

Like last year, the new list of occupations eligible for facilitated processing covers all of Quebec and is based on the labour needs of the entire province.

While many of the occupations that were on last year's list are on the new list, some have been added and some removed. There are 181 occupations on this year's list. Newly added occupations include telecommunication carriers managers, computer and information systems managers, home building and renovation managers, and geoscientists and oceanographers, among others.

The change announced today is effective immediately. There is a 30-day transition period for the employer, or their representative, to allow for the review of an application submitted under the previous year's list.

Quebec’s List of Occupations for Facilitated LMIA is established by Emploi-Québec in collaboration with ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), and is based on Canada’s 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.

Quebec employers offering jobs that correspond to one of the occupations or job titles on this list must follow the facilitated procedure.

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Facilitated LMIAs in Quebec

Before they can apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), Canadian employers who hire temporary foreign workers must demonstrate that they have advertised an open position through a variety of methods and provide proof of their recruitment efforts.

These efforts may consist of advertising the position for at least 28 days, interviewing eligible candidates and demonstrating to the Government of Canada that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is ready, willing and able to be hired for the position, which would require the hiring of a foreign worker.

The procedure for Quebec employers seeking to hire foreign skilled workers is different from the procedures for employers in the rest of Canada.

Quebec employers who hire temporary foreign workers for certain targeted positions must also apply for an LMIA, but are not required to provide proof of their advertising or recruitment efforts This simplified application procedure is known as a “facilitated” LMIA.

Facilitated LMIA process applications must be approved by both federal and provincial authorities. For this reason, employers who wish to hire foreign workers must submit application forms and supporting documents to both the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and the MIFI.

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