Foreign caregivers in Canada make small gains in fight for residency

Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, announced major changes to the Caregiver program today that began with a change in the name.  What was known as the Live-in Caregiver Program, is now known as the Caregiver Program and reflects the fact that caregivers will no longer need to live-in with their employer.  They may arrange to, and chose to but it is no longer a requirement.  This is an improvement as there were many complaints of caregivers, being exploited working extended unpaid overtime, living in poor conditions, and in some cases, too intimidated to seek help.

But this victory may come at a cost, as Lisa Draman of the Caregivers Action Centre explained.  The program has been split into two pathways; one called the Caring for Chlldren Pathway, the other, Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pathway.  The two have different requirements and the Caring for Children Pathway will be capped annually at 2,750 applications.

Lisa Draman questions whether caregivers will still have automatic access to Permanent Residency in Canada, after 24 months of work, as they did with the former program.  She is also curious about the new education requirements; the Childcare pathway demands a year of post-secondary, or an equivalent foreign credential and a language requirement.

For the People with High Medical Needs, the educational requirements are much higher, and include being a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse, a nurse aide.  Lisa Draman would like to know if the pay scale will reflect these increased qualifications.

“Caregiving is important and valuable work. It must be dignified and celebrated with permanent residency upon arrival,” said Renel Reyes of the Caregivers Action Centre in a recent interview in the Globe & Mail newspaper.

While this demand was not met, the new program has made provisions for a backlog reduction.  The government will admit 30,000 caregivers, as well as their spouses and children in 2015.  It will also increase the processing of applications for those waiting to have their permanent residence status finalized.

The new program will be launched Novermber 30, 2014.