Canada has announced new and enhanced caregiver pilot programs as the current Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot near their expiration date on June 17. The new programs will grant home care workers permanent resident status upon their arrival in Canada, eliminating the need for a specific amount of work experience in the country.

These new pilots will also allow caregivers to work for organizations that offer temporary or part-time care for individuals who are semi-independent or recovering from injury or illness.

Eligibility criteria for caregivers under the new programs include:

• Achieving a minimum Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) level of 4
• Holding the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma
• Having recent and relevant work experience
• Receiving an offer for a full-time home care job

This marks a shift from the previous requirements, which mandated a CLB level of 5, a year of Canadian post-secondary education (or a foreign equivalent), and at least six months of work experience. The specific work experience requirement for the new programs has not yet been clarified by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), with further details to be announced closer to the program's full launch.

In an IRCC news release, Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated, "Caregivers play a critical role in supporting Canadian families, and our programs need to reflect their invaluable contributions. As we work to implement a permanent caregivers program, these two new pilots will not only improve support for caregivers but also provide families with the quality care they deserve."

Residents are expected to be welcomed through caregiver programs. Since the launch of the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot in 2019, approximately 5,700 caregivers and their family members have gained permanent resident status as of April 30, 2024.

The demand for caregivers in Canada is increasing as the population ages, with over nine million Canadians expected to retire in the next six years, leading to a greater need for home and institutional care. A report from the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence highlights that many caregivers are aged 65 and over, and they are the least likely to access services or supports for their responsibilities. Additionally, there is a growing need for childcare providers as more women enter the workforce. Statistics Canada data from 2023 shows that the labour force participation rate for women aged 15 and older increased from 58.5% in 1990 to 61.5% in 2022, while the rate for men declined from 76.1% to 69.5% over the same period.