Foreign nationals may now be eligible for an LMIA-exempt work permit if hired by one of eight Canadian companies, mainly from the tech sector. This new work permit is part of the Innovation Stream, introduced earlier this month by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The Innovation Stream is a key component of Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy, which is designed to stimulate economic growth by attracting skilled talent to the country. Below is an overview of the eight companies offering LMIA-exempt, employer-specific work permits, along with the job opportunities they have available as of October 16:
Companies Hiring and Job Openings
- Ada Support Inc.
- Location: Toronto (remote roles also available)
- Founded: 2016
- Focus: AI-driven customer service solutions for companies worldwide.
- Perks: Remote work, stock options, unlimited vacation, work-from-abroad opportunities, home office budget.
- Open Roles: Over 15 positions across product development, revenue, operations, finance, and customer experience.
- Examples:
- HR Generalist (Toronto)
- Staff Software Engineer, Solutions (Remote – Canada)
- DevOps Engineer (Remote – Canada)
- Senior Technical Writer (Remote – Canada)
- Manager, Sales Development (Toronto)
- AlayaCare
- Location: Montreal (with offices in Toronto)
- Founded: 2014
- Focus: AI and technology to address healthcare challenges, especially in home care.
- Perks: Diverse global workforce; some positions require bilingualism (French and English).
- Open Roles:
- Bilingual Senior Technical Services Specialist (Montreal)
- Implementation Specialist (Toronto)
- Senior DevOps Analyst (Montreal)
- Senior Developer, Scheduling (Montreal)
- Engineering Manager – SRE (Montreal)
- CellCarta
- Location: Montreal
- Focus: Research and technology for personalized disease detection and prevention through biomarker identification.
- Perks: Global presence with offices in China, Australia, the U.S., and Belgium.
- Open Roles:
- Global Technology Architecture Manager (Montreal)
- Global Revenue Accounting Manager (Remote)
- Clarius Mobile Health
- Location: British Columbia
- Founded: 2014
- Focus: Affordable ultrasound tools for medical professionals.
- Perks: Hybrid work, employee recognition, professional development, and team events.
- Open Roles: Manufacturing Technician (Vancouver)
- Clio
- Location: Headquarters in British Columbia, with offices in Toronto and Calgary.
- Focus: Cloud-based legal technology for law firms, assisting with client management, billing, payments, and more.
- Perks: RRSP matching, flexible paid time off (minimum of 4 weeks), parental leave benefits, health, dental, and vision benefits.
- Open Roles:
- Account Executive, Customer Sales (Vancouver, Calgary)
- Business Development Representative (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary)
- Data Scientist (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto; remote option available)
- Director, Product Research (Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver; remote option available)
- Lightspeed Commerce
- Location: Montreal, with offices in Toronto and Ottawa.
- Founded: 2005
- Focus: All-in-one commerce platform for businesses.
- Open Roles:
- Team Lead, Software Development (Montreal)
- Software Development Manager (Toronto)
- Senior Site Reliability Engineer (Ottawa)
- Senior Product Manager, Payment Processing (Montreal)
Additional Companies (Not Currently Hiring in Canada)
- Vive Crop Protection
- Location: Mississauga, Ontario
- Focus: Ag-tech solutions to optimize farming through a patented delivery system.
- Note: No current openings in Canada, but open to applications from qualified candidates.
- Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG)
- Location: Montreal
- Focus: Pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving patient health and developing new medicines.
- Perks: Hybrid telework options, flexible schedules, and summer hours.
- Note: No current openings in Canada.
How Companies Are Chosen for LMIA-Exempt Permits
The Innovation Stream allows LMIA-exempt work permits for companies participating in Canada’s Global Hypergrowth Project (GHP). This initiative aims to support innovative Canadian companies, helping them create jobs, scale their businesses, and contribute to national economic growth. The first eight companies selected, listed above, are recognized for their leadership and innovation within their respective industries.