Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled a new temporary policy that allows eligible foreign nationals participating in the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) to obtain work permits. This move, announced by Immigration Minister Marc Miller on October 1st, aims to support both local labor market needs and the transition of temporary residents to permanent residency in Canada.
Under the new measure, up to 215 foreign nationals currently working in Yukon may be granted work permits. These permits will enable them to remain employed legally in the territory while their permanent residence applications are being processed through the YNP.
To be eligible, candidates must meet several criteria: they must be working legally for a Yukon-based employer, have submitted an application to the Yukon Nominee Program, receive official support from the Yukon government, and show strong prospects of obtaining permanent residency in either 2025 or 2026. They must also fulfill all other conditions outlined under the program.
This Yukon-specific initiative is part of a broader IRCC strategy introduced in September, which provides open work permit options for certain candidates in Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). The policy was previously implemented in Alberta and Manitoba before expanding to Yukon.
The overarching goal of this temporary measure is to stabilize provincial labor markets while gradually reducing the proportion of temporary residents in Canada. IRCC has set an objective to bring this rate down from 6.5% to 5% of the national population by 2027.
By offering work permits to foreign workers awaiting permanent residency, the government aims to build a more seamless, efficient, and humane immigration system—one that recognizes the contributions of immigrants already building lives and careers in Canada’s smaller communities.
Maple News will continue to monitor how this policy unfolds across the territories and how it impacts both immigration pathways and local economies.