Overview
- Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab confirmed the one-time pathway has begun, with final criteria still pending public release.
- The program will run over two years for temporary foreign workers in specific in-demand sectors, with a stated focus on people living in rural communities.
- IRCC has not published eligibility rules or application instructions yet, with rollout information and processing numbers promised in April.
- Officials frame the move within a broader plan to reduce non‑permanent residents below five percent by 2027, following data showing over 2.1 million permits expired in 2025 and about 1.94 million expected to expire in 2026.
- Diab urged temporary residents to seek status extensions or leave if refused, while Bill C‑12—granting exceptional powers to pause or cancel documents—remains under discussion.