ARCHIVED – Backgrounder - Ontario Pilot Project for Spouses, Common-Law Partners and Dependents of Returning Canadian Workers

This pilot project in Ontario allows spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of certain Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning to Ontario, to receive open work permits that would allow them to accept any job with any employer in the province.
To be eligible to participate in the pilot, applicants must:

• be a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident returning to work in Ontario,
• have an application underway to immigrate to Canada through sponsorship in the family class,
• be old enough to work in Ontario,
• meet all admissibility criteria to come to Canada as a temporary resident.

The sponsoring spouse or parent must:

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
• have left Canada and be returning to work permanently in Ontario, as a health professional or an academic for post-secondary public institutions, in one of the specified occupations listed below;
• with their employer, obtain a letter from the Province of Ontario confirming their employment, location and occupation and provide it as supporting documentation with the work permit application; and
• have submitted an application to CIC to sponsor their spouse For dependent child.

List of specified occupations

Health Professionals

• Specialist Physicians
• General Practitioners and Family Physicians
• Dentists
• Veterinarians
• Optometrists
• Chiropractors
• Other Professional Occupations in Health Diagnosing and Treating
• Pharmacists
• Dietitians and Nutritionists
• Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Other Professional Occupations in Therapy and Assessment
• Head Nurses and Supervisors
• Registered Nurses
• Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants
• Medical Laboratory Technicians
• Veterinary and Animal Health Technologists and Technicians
• Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists and Cardiopulmonary Technologists
• Medical Radiation Technologists
• Medical Sonographers
• Cardiology Technologists
• Electroencephalographic and Other Diagnostic Technologists, n.e.c.
• Other Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental Health)
• Denturists
• Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists
• Dental Technologists, Technicians and Laboratory Bench Workers
• Opticians
• Midwives and Practitioners of Natural Healing
• Licensed Practical Nurses
• Ambulance Attendants and Other Paramedical Occupations
• Other Technical Occupations in Therapy and Assessment

Post-Secondary Education (Academics) for Public Institutions

• University Professors
• Post-Secondary Teaching and Research Assistants
• College and Other Vocational Instructors

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