Canada’s Construction Shift.

The speech by the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, delivered on March 7, 2025, in Toronto, highlights new immigration measures designed to support Canada's housing goals by addressing construction labour shortages.

🔑 Key Announcements:

1. New Advisory Council on Construction Immigration
   A tripartite Advisory Council (federal government, unions, and employers) will be established.
   Its role: Advise IRCC on long-term immigration pathways for construction workers, ensuring strong wage protections and worker safety.

2. Study Permit Exemptions for Apprentices
   Foreign temporary workers in apprenticeship or trades training programs will no longer need a study permit if their training is under their work permit duration.
   This helps fast-track their contributions to Canada’s workforce while they gain skills.

3. Pathway for Undocumented Construction Workers
   A new national pathway for up to 6,000 out-of-status (undocumented) construction workers.
   Builds on the GTA pilot with the Canadian Labour Congress that granted PR to long-term undocumented construction workers.
   Aimed at helping them transition to legal status and continue contributing safely and formally.

For more details, check out the full speech here: Canada takes action to support housing with new immigration measures – Speech by Minister Marc Miller