Ottawa – The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has unveiled a series of new initiatives to address labour shortages in Canada’s construction industry. These measures, part of the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, aim to strengthen the workforce by streamlining pathways for skilled workers, supporting foreign apprentices, and regularizing out-of-status construction workers.
key Initiatives:
Tripartite Advisory Council:
A new advisory body, comprising federal government officials, union representatives, and industry leaders, will assess the sector’s workforce needs and propose strategies to recruit and retain skilled construction workers. The council will also ensure fair wages and strong protections against worker exploitation.
Regularization Pathway for Undocumented Construction Workers:
Building on the success of the Greater Toronto Area pilot program, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) plans to introduce a new pathway to grant legal status to undocumented workers who are already contributing to the construction sector. This initiative will help retain experienced labourers and strengthen Canada’s housing and infrastructure development.
Support for Foreign Apprentices:
Effective immediately, foreign apprentices in construction programs will no longer require a study permit to complete their training in Canada. This temporary measure will accelerate the entry of skilled workers into the industry and help address the country’s growing infrastructure demands.
With Canada facing a housing shortage and economic uncertainty due to global tariff threats, these measures seek to stabilize the construction workforce and boost infrastructure development. Further details will be released as the newly formed advisory council works on shaping the policies.