Recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) ensure it is only used as intended, as

a last and limited resort to fill acute labour shortages on a temporary basis when qualified Canadians are
not available.
Since July 2013, employers have been required to advertise their positions in Canada for a minimum of
four weeks, rather than the previous two weeks. The four-week requirement applies to all advertising
methods used and employers must continue to actively seek qualified Canadians to fill the advertised
position(s) from the time their application is submitted to when it is approved.
While these requirements did not apply to the previous Live-in Caregiver Program, Citizenship and
Immigration Canada (CIC) made improvements to the new Caregiver Program, ending the live-in
requirement and launching two new pathways that may lead to permanent residence.
As a result of these changes, Employment and Social Development Canada has also changed how it
processes requests for caregiver positions in order to ensure:
Canadians and permanent residents have the first opportunity at available jobs;
families still have access to the necessary caregivers for their children, elderly parents or those
individuals requiring medical support; and
vulnerable temporary foreign workers have the necessary protections.
Starting on December 1, 2014, Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA) under the Caregiver Program
must be submitted using the appropriate form, based on the skill level of the occupation being
requested (e.g. nanny or nurse), and must meet the requirements of that stream, including advertising.
Depending on the stream, employers must advertise on the national Job Bank or its provincial
counterpart in British Columbia and two or more additional methods of recruitment consistent with the
normal practice for the occupation. In addition, for the lower skilled stream, they must reach out to
underrepresented groups (e.g. Aboriginal people and new immigrants).
Meeting these requirements need not be costly for employers. For example, Job Bank does not charge a
fee for job postings and additional recruitment could include Website advertising. Employers can also
reach out to local or provincial employment centres for youth, Aboriginal people and new immigrants.
For details on specific advertising requirements for caregiver positions, visit
www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/foreign_workers/caregiver/index.shtml
The LMIA application fee is set at $1,000, ensuring that the costs of the program are borne by the
employers who use it rather than all Canadian taxpayers.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is intended to be a last and limited resort when
employers are facing short-term skills and labour shortages, and only when qualified Canadians are not
available.
Employers must pay caregivers, at a minimum, the posted prevailing wage for the occupation and work
location where the worker will be employed. This prevailing median wage is based on labour market
information and available through the Government of Canadas Job Bank. More information on this
requirement is available on ESDCs Web site, at
http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/foreign_workers/caregiver/index.shtml.