Canada announces new pilot programs to support caregivers and Canadian families.
Caregivers from other countries are invaluable to Canadian families. Their dedicated efforts significantly impact the lives of those they support, including children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
As the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot come to a close later this month, the Honorable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced new, enhanced caregiver pilots. This will allow caregivers to continue to come to Canada, as we work toward making the caregiver pilot programs permanent.
The new pilot programs will grant permanent residence (PR) to home care workers upon their arrival in Canada. This new pathway allows caregivers to work for organizations that provide temporary or part-time care for semi-independent or recovering individuals. This change helps caregivers secure reliable work and gives them access to permanent resident status as soon as they arrive in Canada.
However, in these new pilot programs, candidates interested in working in Canada’s home care sector will be eligible to apply if they meet the following criteria:
- Attain a minimum of level 4 based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB).
- Hold the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma.
- Have recent and relevant work experience.
- Receive an offer for a full-time home care job.
Canada is taking a significant step in addressing the diverse home care needs of its population by introducing new permanent residency (PR) on-arrival pilot programs. More detailed information, including eligibility criteria and application procedures, will be made available before the full launch of the pilots.
Quotes
“Caregivers play a critical role in supporting Canadian families, and our programs need to reflect their invaluable contributions.” As we work towards implementing a permanent carer program, these two new pilots will not only improve support for carers but also provide families with the quality care they deserve”.
– The Honorable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
“After hearing stories and feedback from caregivers across Canada, I am proud that we are taking concrete action to create policies to support the caregiver community. Generations of women and men have advocated for this important pathway and have cared for our families and loved ones here in Canada. Now is the time to return the care they deserve.”
– The Honorable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business.
Quick Facts
- In June 2014, there were over 60,000 individuals in the Live-in Caregiver Program inventory. Today, less than 1% of that inventory remains.
- As part of the 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada plans to welcome more than 15,000 caregivers as permanent residents.
- As of April 30, 2024, nearly 5,700 caregivers and their family members have become permanent residents since the launch of the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot in 2019.
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Caregivers in Canada
As per the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada plans to welcome over 15,000 new permanent residents through the caregiver program. As of April 30, 2024, around 5,700 caregivers and their family members have become permanent residents since the introduction of the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots in 2019.
The demand for caregivers in Canada is increasing due to the aging population. It is anticipated that within the next six years, over nine million Canadians will retire. Consequently, there will be a growing need for additional care, both at home and in institutions, in the coming years.
The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence recently released a report emphasizing the pressing needs of caregivers in Canada. The report highlights that many caregivers are over 65 and may also require care themselves. It also points out that nearly one in five caregivers are over the age of 65, and this group is the least likely to access any services or support to help with their responsibilities.
Finally, families in Canada require childcare as more women, who have traditionally shouldered more of the responsibility for young children, seek to enter the workforce. Statistics Canada data from 2023 revealed that
“Over the span of the data series, from 1990 to 2022, the labor force participation rate for women aged 15 years and older, across all education levels, increased from 58.5% to 61.5%. In contrast, the rate for men during the same period decreased from 76.1% to 69.5%.”
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