COVID-19: Government issues essential services guidance

IMPACT – HIGH

The government issued guidance on April 9 regarding travel to Canada to provide essential services.

Key Points:

• U.S. citizens and foreign nationals deemed to be providing essential services are exempt from the entry ban.
• The list of essential work concentrates on “critical infrastructure” essential to the health, safety, security or economic well-being of Canadians and the effective functioning of government. The list includes:
  • Energy and utilities.
  • Information and communication technologies.
  • Finance.
  • Health.
  • Food and water.
  • Transportation.
  • Safety.
  • Government.
  • Manufacturing.

• Priority processing of applications for new work permits for foreign nationals providing essential services.

Additional information: It is recommended to provide additional supporting documentation when submitting new work permit applications for those who will provide essential services, and for those seeking entry on an existing work permit to provide essential services.

Analysis & Comments: Employers are advised to consult the list, as they may benefit from faster processing times and prioritization of work permit applications if the work a foreign employee will carry out is deemed essential.

This alert was prepared by de Lint LLP, an independent immigration law firm, allied with Deloitte LLP in Canada.