Public policy to support the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) – Phase 2

Date Announced:

March 3, 2022

Overview:

Following the conclusion of Phase I, in June of 2020, I announced Canada’s ongoing commitment to refugee labour mobility with a goal of admitting up to 500 refugees and their family members through existing economic immigration pathways. This second phase of the EMPP, which will be implemented in two stages, builds on lessons learned from Phase I, and continues to explore a scalable and sustainable model for refugee labour mobility to Canada.

With this public policy, I am introducing facilitation measures that will remove major displacement-related barriers and make it easier for skilled refugees to access economic immigration on par with non-refugee candidates.

This public policy exempts EMPP clients overseas from some applicable requirements of the Provincial Nominee Class, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, the Atlantic Immigration Class and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot economic immigration pathways.

All EMPP candidates will have to meet the class membership and selection criteria of one of the above-mentioned existing economic classes and be able to satisfy a processing officer that they can economically establish in Canada. EMPP clients will immigrate to Canada under one of the existing permanent residence economic classes. EMPP clients will also be eligible for settlement and integration services, including pre-arrival orientation and referral to in-Canada settlement services and supports.

As the first State co-chair of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) Global Task Force on Refugee Labour Mobility, Canada will share the EMPP experience and lessons learned with other countries and will help to amplify refugee labour mobility around the world.

Departments and Agencies:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Type of Administrative Action:

Immigration Category:

Refugees

Keywords:

Atlantic Immigration Class; Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program; EMPP ; Provincial Nominee Class; Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot; skilled refugees

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