News that will excite caregivers! As part of the 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada announced intentions to offer Permanent Residence (PR) to 15,000 caregivers on Monday, June 3, 2024. Thus, carers are able to travel to Canada and get permanent residence upon their arrival. In Canadian households, caregivers are essential, giving care to young people, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Caregivers can also enter Canada as Home Support Workers, providing companionship and support.
On June 17, 2024, the Home Support Worker and Child Care Provider Pilots will come to an end. In light of this, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, has announced a new enhanced caregiver pilot program. Caregivers who join this program will be granted permanent residency status as soon as they arrive in Canada. Additionally, Caregivers will be able to work for companies that offer short-term or part-term care for people who are recovering from illness or accident or who are semi-independent. The program requirements and more information are listed below.
What are the duties and identities of caregivers?
- Those who help families in need of assistance with everyday tasks are known as caregivers. In Canada, the need for caregivers is rising. They can help with a range of duties, such as:
- Assistance with personal hygiene needs, including but not limited to bathing, clothing, grooming, and using the restroom.
- Activities of daily living: Helping with things like cooking, eating, getting around the house, and taking care of prescriptions.
- Providing emotional support and social connection to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation is known as companionship.
- Transportation: Helping with errands, going to appointments, or taking leisurely strolls.
- Light housework includes doing the laundry, cleaning the dishes, vacuuming, and making the beds.
- Medical care: In some cases, caregivers might be trained to perform more complicated tasks like changing bandages or helping administer medication (under supervision).
Eligibility Criteria:
- In order to be eligible for the New Enhanced Caregiver pilot program, you have to be:
- Reach at least level 4 in accordance with the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB).
- Have the equivalent of a high school diploma from Canada.
- Provide a recent resume with relevant experience.
- Get an offer to work as a full-time home care provider.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship’s Statement
Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, the Honourable Marc Miller, said:
“Caregivers are essential to helping Canadian families, and we need to acknowledge this in our initiatives. These two new pilots will improve support for caregivers and guarantee that families receive the high-quality care they deserve while we strive to establish a permanent caregiver’s program.
What percentage of caregivers will be granted Permanent Residency?
15,000 additional caregivers will be welcomed to Canada as part of the Immigration Levels Plan for 2024–2026.
Since the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot were introduced in 2019, around 5,700 caregivers and their families have become permanent residents as of April 30, 2024.
A pilot program: what is it?
A government experimental venture that is started every few years is called a pilot program. It is intended to evaluate the program’s advantages and efficacy for the nation as a whole as well as for the participants.
Canada’s Need for Caregivers
For many years, the caregiver program was in great demand in Canada because Canadians were always in need of outside help with their children or elderly family members who lived at home.
The ageing population in Canada is driving up demand for caretakers. The need for caregivers is rising as a large portion of Canadians age.
In-home caregivers will become more necessary as over nine million Canadians are expected to retire in the next six years.
Additionally, there is a big need for high-quality child care, particularly for early childhood education. Helping working parents take care of their young children is a common need.
