On January 20, 2023, the Government of Canada announced that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) would create pathways for out-of-status migrants, to help Canadian employers deal with critical labour shortages in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). In 2019, IRCC initiated a pilot program with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), granting permanent residency status to 500 out-of-status workers in the construction industry. IRCC is expanding this project by doubling its scope to 1,000 out-of-status individuals. Individuals who meet the requirements have until January 2, 2024, to apply for permanent residence and include their spouses, partners, and dependent children in their application.
