Temporary foreign worker program

Employers interested in hiring temporary foreign workers are required to go through a specific process to bring them to Alberta. Several government departments are involved in that process and it is important to understand what roles the federal and provincial governments play in it. In general, the process includes the following steps:

1. Employers must advertise the job opportunity to Canadians first.
    
2. If there are no Canadians or permanent residents available for the job, the employer can recruit a qualified foreign worker.
    
3. The employer can then make an offer of employment to the foreign worker.
    
4. The employer then completes the application for a Labour Market Opinion.
    
5. If the Labour Market Opinion is positive, the employer sends a copy to the foreign worker.
    
6. The foreign worker then applies for a work permit in their country of residence (outside Canada).
    
7. The foreign national must then prove that they meet the job and admission to Canada requirements.

The role of the Government of Canada

1. Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)

Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) is the Government of Canada agency that processes and assesses employers' applications to hire temporary foreign worker applications and issues labour market opinions (LMO). HRSDC ensures that employers have made every effort to hire and train Canadian citizens or permanent residents and that hiring of foreign worker does not affect employment or career opportunities for Canadians and permanent residents. Therefore, if employers want to hire a foreign worker they need to receive a positive Labour Market Opinion from HRSDC before they can bring a worker from abroad to work in Alberta.

2. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)

CIC is the government of Canada department that manages immigration policies and programs. This includes the processing and issuance of permanent and temporary resident permits, including work permits. Foreign workers must obtain a work permit before entering Canada to work.

The role of the Government of Alberta

1. Alberta Employment and Immigration (E&I)

E&I supports and helps educate Alberta employers in recruiting and retaining temporary foreign workers, responds to immigration enquiries, and administers the Provincial Nominee Program.

2. Alberta Advanced Education & Technology (AAET)

The Apprenticeship and Industry Training, the section of the AAET minstry, assesses qualifications of foreign trained individuals in trades occupations to determine if they meet Alberta’s journeyman standards or trades qualifications requirements.

Date Updated: Nov 01, 2007
RDP-551