In a significant policy shift announced this March, Canada announced a national pathway to permanent residence for up to 6,000 out-of-status construction workers, highlighting the government’s selective approach to immigration reform. While addressing the pressing needs of the housing and construction sectors, this initiative covers only a small fraction of the estimated 300,000 to 600,000 out-of-status individuals living in Canada as of 2024. The program, expanding on a previous pilot that benefited approximately 1,365 people in the Greater Toronto Area, notably excludes workers in sectors like caregiving, agriculture, and domestic work, which are predominantly staffed by racialized and female workers predominantly staff.
Canada introduced a selective immigration initiative focusing only on the construction sector
