New Global Talent Stream to help Quebec businesses innovate and grow

QUEBEC CITY, Sept. 11, 2017 /CNW/ - When companies in Canada can thrive and compete globally, they create economic growth and more middle-class jobs for Canadians. That is why the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, and Kathleen Weil, ministre de l'Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion du Québec (MIDI), announced today that the Global Talent Stream is now available to employers in Quebec, providing a faster and more predictable process for attracting top talent to the province.

Through the Global Talent Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, employers in Quebec can now benefit from a new streamlined process to help them hire people with specialized skills or fill vacant positions for high-demand occupations. The Stream offers priority processing of applications, flexible recruitment requirements and faster work permit processing so businesses can get the talent they need when they need it. This helps Quebec companies quickly scale up or develop specialized skills to be more innovative and build their expertise. Companies in turn are able to invest back into Canada through commitments such as knowledge transfer, investments in skills and training, and opening doors to build a broader and more diverse Canadian workforce in these highly-skilled industries.

To apply, innovative Quebec companies will be able to turn to Investissement Québec, Montréal International or Québec International to be referred to Government of Canada to process the application under the Global Talent Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The three Quebec partners, which were designated by the Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion, have excellent knowledge of the entrepreneurial and business community in Quebec and are already working with the Quebec government in terms of talent recruitment. Quebec employers can also submit applications to the new Stream for positions on the Global Talent Occupations List. This list of occupations was developed in collaboration with all provinces and territories, including the Government of Quebec.

The Global Talent Stream is a key part of the Government of Canada's Global Skills Strategy and Innovation and Skills Plan. It is one of the ways in which the Government is positioning Canada at the leading edge of a changing world economy. The Global Talent Stream helps businesses and industries in Quebec and the rest of Canada to be globally competitive and grow, increasing the number of well-paying jobs for Canadians.

Quotes

"When companies are able to grow and thrive, they create good, middle-class jobs for Canadians; our new Global Talent Stream now gives Quebec companies a faster and more efficient process to bring in global talent, so they can grow and expand their Canadian workforces. We're keeping Quebec competitive in the global marketplace and helping our industries grow and succeed."
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

"The new Global Talent Stream is very good news for Quebec companies and the Quebec region. By recruiting the specialized talent they need to remain competitive and innovative, Quebec businesses will be able to invest in Quebec and the rest of Canada, and ultimately build a larger and more diverse workforce in high-skills industries."
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

"Thanks to the Quebec government's collaboration in implementing these new measures, Quebec companies can take full advantage of the Global Skills Strategy, just like Canadian companies outside Quebec. They will benefit from easier and faster access to highly specialized talent from around the world. These temporary workers will contribute to the success of Quebec businesses that have been unable to fill various positions with local labour. This program will prove very strategic for the Quebec economy, and I commend it."
– Kathleen Weil, ministre de l'Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion du Québec (MIDI)

"The labour shortages being experienced in numerous areas of activity must not hinder the development and growth of our businesses. This Global Skills Strategy will remedy the difficulties faced by many employers who are seeking talent. In an increasingly competitive world, it is critical that we bring assets on board who will make our economy more dynamic."
– Dominique Anglade, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy

"With a 3.8% unemployment rate and 25 years of continuous GDP growth, the Quebec region has a real need for this kind of strategy to support its businesses as they face labour shortages. We are therefore very happy to see the launch of the Global Talent Stream, which will enable our businesses to recruit highly-qualified and specialized foreign talent by providing faster and more predictable application processing." 
– Carl Viel, President and CEO, Québec International

Quick Facts

• Quebec companies applying for workers through the Global Talent Stream now have access to a new streamlined process that provides eligible employers with:
• priority processing of applications and client-focused service for the development of the Labour Market Benefits Plan, with a faster processing standard; and
• flexible recruitment requirements.
• Two-week work permit processing will be available to workers applying from overseas whose employers in Quebec have been approved to hire a foreign worker through the Global Talent Stream.
• The Global Talent Stream launched on June 12, 2017. As immigration is a shared responsibility between the federal government and the Province of Quebec, the implementation of the Global Talent Stream in Quebec required special consideration. The Government of Canada and the Quebec government worked closely together to make the Stream available in the province as soon as possible following the June launch.
• Similar to the application process in Quebec for other streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, employers in the province will need to submit their Global Talent Stream applications and any other required documents simultaneously to Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada and to Quebec's Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion (MIDI).
• Details on how Quebec employers can apply to the Global Talent Stream are available on the Global Talent Stream's web page.
• Further information can also be found on MIDI's website (French only).

Related Products

• Backgrounder

Associated Links

• Global Skills Strategy
• Global Talent Stream: Designated Partners
• Global Talent Stream: Occupations List
• Canada's Innovation Agenda
• Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion (French only)

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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2017/11/c5314.html