OTTAWA—The federal government is offering asylum claimants and their immediate families the chance to apply for permanent residency if they worked in direct health care during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Others expressed disappointment, however, arguing the government should offer permanent residency to a broader range of asylum seekers and migrant workers in agriculture and other sectors. Eligible asylum claimants must also have at least six months’ experience in one of these jobs before they become permanent residents. Mendicino said the emphasis of the special program was on “those who put themselves at greatest risk by working in hospitals, by working in retirement homes where COVID-19 was ravaging through like a wildfire.”Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... “We will continue to maintain an open dialogue with the migrant workers’ community to be sure that we are providing them with the supports they need,” he said.

Source: thestar August 14, 2020 21:24 UTC