Included in Beyond the border: Immigration update – February 2022

Brendan Sheridan

Employers applying for Labour Market Impact Assessment (“LMIA”) applications generally must complete advertising and recruitment as part of this application. The minimum advertising requirements for LMIA applications require that employers advertise for at least four weeks using at least three different methods in the three-month period directly before applying for the LMIA. The purpose of this advertising and recruitment is to determine whether there are any suitably qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents available to fill the position.

When completing the recruitment portion of the LMIA, employers must review all applications received from Canadians and permanent residents to determine whether any of the candidates meet the requirements for the position. This requires that the employer reviews and tracks all applications received and keeps notes on the applicant’s suitability including their qualifications, whether they were interviewed, and why they were or were not suitable for the position. The results of the recruitment must be provided as part of the LMIA application submitted to Service Canada. The employer must also keep records of their recruitment and advertising efforts for a minimum of six years after completing the LMIA as required by Service Canada.

As recruitment forms an integral role in the LMIA process, it is important that employers are properly recording their recruitment efforts and retaining this information. We recommend that employers prepare a chart to track this information as it will help demonstrate that all recruitment requirements were properly completed. We also recommend that employers begin reviewing applications as they are received to avoid any delays that could be caused by waiting until the required advertising period is completed to begin this review. An example of the recruitment tracking chart is provided below.

This client update is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions about the above, please contact a member of our Immigration group.

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