Canada Announces New Pilot Programs To Support Caregivers And Families

June 3, 2024—Toronto

Canada has announced new, improved caregiver pilot programs as the current Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot are about to end.

The current programs will expire on June 17. The new programs will give home care workers permanent resident status as soon as they arrive in Canada, without needing them to complete a specific amount of work experience in the country.

Key Changes in the New Pilot Programs:

• Permanent Residence on Arrival: Unlike the current programs, the new pilots will grant PR status to home care workers upon their arrival in Canada, eliminating the need for a set amount of work experience in the country.
• Flexible Employment Options: Caregivers will be allowed to work for organizations providing temporary or part-time care for individuals who are semi-independent or recovering from an injury or illness.

Eligibility Criteria:

To qualify for the new pilot programs, caregivers must:

• Achieve a minimum level 4 on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB).
• Hold the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma.
• Have recent and relevant work experience.
• Receive a full-time job offer in-home care.

These requirements differ from the previous programs, which require a CLB level of 5, a year of Canadian post-secondary education or equivalent, and at least six months of work experience. The details regarding the work experience requirement for the new programs are yet to be clarified by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and will be announced closer to the program's full launch.

The new programs are expected to launch by the end of fall 2024 or early 2025, with more detailed information to be released soon. Canada plans to accept over 15,000 caregivers as permanent residents in the next two years, underscoring the country's commitment to addressing the evolving needs of its diverse population and ensuring quality care for all.