A man now living in Portage la Prairie has personally witnessed the effects of the Canadian government's new policy changes on foreign workers. After arriving in Vancouver in 2022, Sanjeet Grewal studied for almost two months before returning to India due to his mother’s ill health. He stayed in India for about three months and, upon returning, arrived in Winnipeg.
"I enrolled at MITT (Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology). I studied there for almost a year; it was an 11-month course, the Client Service Specialist Program. In that course, they teach communication skills and how to deal with clients in a business environment. After completing my course, I applied for my work permit and got a one-year permit because I only studied for a year."
While in college, Grewal looked for work, expecting to secure a full-time job once his work permit came through.
"I needed to work 32 hours per week to apply for permanent residency. But in Winnipeg, it was very difficult to find a full-time job and an employer willing to support my PR application. It’s not just about getting 32 hours for one or two months; you need it consistently until you get your PR."
Unable to find a suitable employer in Winnipeg, Grewal moved to Portage la Prairie on the advice of a friend, who helped him distribute résumés. He quickly found work at Pizza Hut and at the Portage la Prairie Library.
"I think it was easier to get a job here because, at that time, the city was still new to people like me coming from bigger cities. But now, even that has changed. I see people struggling to get jobs here too."
Grewal’s work permit expired earlier this year, around the same time as his friend Abdul's.
"Abdul worked full-time at Shoppers Drug Mart and part-time at 7-Eleven. His permit expired in April, and he applied for an extension. He was on implied status for a while, but then the government introduced a new policy. Yesterday, Abdul received a refusal from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for his work permit extension. They said they would only extend permits for those expiring after May 7, 2024."
Grewal’s permit expired on May 11, so he is covered by the new policy. However, he feels the timing is unfair for those like his friend whose permits expired before May 7.
Abdul now has no status and is in a 90-day recovery period.
"He either has to apply for a tourist visa to stay in Canada or leave for Pakistan. He could also find an employer willing to support him through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), but the employers he found in Winnipeg are charging $40,000 to $50,000 for the LMIA, which would only give him a one-year extension. He’s not ready to pay that much just to stay another year."
Grewal explained that many foreign workers face similar challenges and are unaware of the level of exploitation by employers.
"In Canada’s laws, it’s clearly written that employers cannot charge for LMIA expenses. But the current economic situation is tough on both workers and business owners. Employers see this as an opportunity. They know they are low on profits and take advantage of people like Abdul and me."
In Toronto, LMIA costs have reached as high as $60,000. Even after obtaining an LMIA, there is no guarantee of full-time work.
"I’ve seen friends pay $55,000 for an LMIA in Toronto, and even then, they didn’t get the full-time hours promised on paper. On paper, it looks like full-time employment, but the reality is very different."
Grewal acknowledges that this situation is illegal but says the issue is more complex.
"It’s not as simple as just calling it illegal. Yes, employers shouldn’t charge for LMIAs, but the immigration system puts people in situations where they feel forced to buy one. It’s a two-way street. We can’t just blame employers. The Immigration Department also needs to create pathways that don’t force people into this situation. There hasn’t been a favourable draw for people with points near 605, 615, or 620."
LMIAs allow foreign workers to gain points for permanent residency, but with limited draws, many are left without options. Grewal believes Immigration Canada should create a more favourable pathway to permanent residency.
"If they could open up a pathway, some people would qualify because they’ve sacrificed so much to be here. I paid $60,000 for a two-year business diploma program in Vancouver. People are making huge sacrifices, spending years here, and then being forced to return home is hard."
For those whose permits expired before May 7 and who have no status, their options are limited to buying an LMIA from exploitative businesses or applying for a tourist visa and hoping for a policy change in a few months.
"It’s not feasible to wait here for three or four months without status. Abdul might have to go back to Pakistan."