The Global Talent Stream was created to assist Canadian firms in acquiring international tech talent more quickly.
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• Overview
• Category A
• Category B
• Wages for the Global Talent Stream
• Labour Market Benefits Plan
• Work Permit Exemptions

Overview

Some talented employees can apply for a work permit through the Global Talent Stream and receive one two weeks later. It is a cornerstone of Canada’s Global Skills Plan, which aims to support the expansion of innovative businesses by ensuring that they can readily access the highly qualified individuals they require.

This workstream creates a two-week norm for processing applications for work permits (and temporary resident visas, if necessary) for highly skilled talent, among other activities. Part of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program is the Global Talent Stream.

Category A

Companies in high growth that can show a need to bring in exceptional expertise from outside come under Category A. Employers in this category must be referred by a designated referral partner to the Global Talent Stream.

The list of designated referral partners for employers located outside Quebec includes the following organizations.

• Accelerate Okanagan
• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• BC Tech Association
• Burlington Economic Development Corporation
• Business Development Bank of Canada
• Canadian Economic Development for Quebec Regions
• Cape Breton Partnership
• City of Brampton
• City of Hamilton’s Economic Development Office
• City of Mississauga
• Communitech Corporation
• Council of Canadian Innovators
• Economic Development Winnipeg
• Edmonton Economic Development
• Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
• Genesis (Newfoundland)
• Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service
• Government of Alberta, Alberta Labour
• Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology
• Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Education and Training
• Government of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Business Inc.
• Government of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade – Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
• Government of Ontario, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade – Ontario Investment Office
• Government of Prince Edward Island, Island Investment Development Inc.
• Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of the Economy
• Halifax Partnership
• Tech Manitoba
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Accelerated Growth Service
• Invest Ottawa
• Invest in Canada
• Kingston Economic Development Corporation
• Launch Academy
• London Economic Development Corporation
• MaRS Discovery District
• National Research Council – Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP)
• Privy Council Office, Special Projects Team
• Regional Municipality of Niagara
• Regional Municipality of York
• Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
• Toronto Global
• Town of Oakville
• Vancouver Economic Commission
• Venn Innovation
• Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation
• WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation

Category B

Employers seeking to fill specific highly skilled overseas positions on the Global Talent Occupations List, which have been considered to be in demand and for which there is a dearth of domestic labour supply, fall under Category B. To reflect changes in the labour market, this list may be updated on a regular basis.

Global Talent Occupations List for Category B

Both types of employers must adhere to regulations governing the payment of skilled personnel. The prevailing pay or a higher wage must be paid to foreign workers employed through the GTS. The higher of either of these amounts is referred to as the prevailing wage.

• the median wage for the occupation on the Government of Canada’s Job Bank;
• the wage within the range an employer pays current employees in the same position at the same location, with the same skills and experience;
• the minimum wage floor as defined in the Global Talent occupations list (if applicable).

Wages for the Global Talent Stream

Employers must commit to paying the highest of either:

• an annual salary of at least $80,000, or, for the first two unique and specialized posts requested under Category A, an annual compensation corresponding to the prevailing rate for that occupation if it is more than $80,000. a yearly compensation equal to the prevailing rate for that occupation, if it is greater than $150,000, for two or more distinct and specialized posts sought under Category A. The application of the salary requirement for extra positions requested under Category A, according to ESDC, is rigid.
• he applicable minimum wage for the occupation for a highly-skilled position requested under Category B as identified in the Global Talent Occupations List;
• the wage that is within the wage range that the employer is paying current employees hired for the same job and work location, and with the same skills and years of experience; or
• the median wage on the Government of Canada’s Job Bank. The median wage is listed by job title or National Occupational Classification (NOC) code in the middle column, by community or area in Canada’s job bank.

Labour Market Benefits Plan

Companies who wish to fill skilled positions through the Global Talent Stream are required to create a Labour Market Benefits Strategy in collaboration with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This strategy explains the advantages that foreign talent will have for the Canadian labour market as well as the steps the employer will take to promote investments in training, skills, and job development.

Category A employers are required to commit to creating jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. This job creation may be direct or indirect.

Category B employers are required to commit to increasing investments in skills and training for Canadian citizens and permanent residents

Employers in both categories must agree to provide two additional complementary benefits that are supported by specified actions in addition to the aforementioned mandatory benefits. These advantages might comprise—but are not restricted to—the creation of jobs, spending on education and training, sharing expertise with Canadians and other permanent residents, and/or enhancing business performance. Employing additional Canadians or permanent residents, retraining current employees, developing paid co-op or internship programmes for nearby students, and increasing income and investments are just a few examples of the actions that could be taken to promote these advantages.

If employers are applying for positions in both Category A and Category B, they must commit to one activity as part of the job creation benefit and one activity as part of the investments in skills and training benefit, as well as at least two complementary benefits. For the latest list of accepted activities to support mandatory and complementary benefits outlined in an employer’s Labour Market Benefits Plan, visit this government page.

Work Permit Exemptions

Two new types of workers are now free from the demand for a work visa under the Global Talent Stream.

Highly skilled workers in NOC occupations with a skill type 0 or level A may enter Canada without a work permit for up to 15 days every six months or up to 30 days every year.

Researchers may enter Canada for 120 days in a calendar year without needing a work permit if they are engaged in research projects at a publicly funded degree-granting institution or connected research institution.