Canada’s AI Strategy Promises to Fast-Track Work Permits for AI Talent

On June 4, Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a new national Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy called AI for All. This strategy outlines a five-year plan to grow the country’s AI sector, create jobs, and position Canada as a global leader in the technology.

Buried in the announcement was one line about accelerated entry pathways for highly skilled workers in AI through the Global Talent Stream (GTS). For AI professionals hoping to work in Canada, this may make it sound like new doors are opening. But the reality is that AI occupations were already eligible for fast-tracked work permits under the GTS.

Key Takeaways

• Canada’s new AI for All strategy highlights accelerated entry pathways through the Global Talent Stream for AI talent.
• The Global Talent Stream already covers AI-related occupations like AI analysts and AI programmers.
• Canada’s NOC classification system has not been updated since 2021 and does not reflect the full range of roles in the modern AI industry.

What the AI for All Strategy Includes

The AI for All strategy targets $200 billion in economic growth and 250,000 new AI-related jobs over the next five years. It is built around three pillars: building trust, creating opportunities, and reinforcing Canadian sovereignty.

To build trust, the government will modernize laws and regulations to improve AI transparency and protect Canadians from AI-related harms, including deepfakes and surveillance pricing.

The strategy document includes several approaches to create opportunities for Canadians, including a National AI Literacy Initiative, up to 90,000 AI-related jobs and work placements for young Canadians, and support for small and medium-sized businesses to adopt AI.

Finally, to safeguard Canada’s sovereignty, the government plans to build a public AI supercomputer, invest in Canadian AI companies, and expand the country’s AI talent base.

The strategy lists “accelerated entry pathways for highly skilled workers through the Global Talent Stream” as part of its plan to expand Canada’s AI talent base. No further details were released alongside the announcement.

What is the Global Talent Stream

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is an existing pathway under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program that lets Canadian employers hire highly skilled foreign workers in in-demand occupations faster. IRCC aims to process 80 percent of GTS applications in 10 business days, which is significantly quicker than the processing time for standard LMIA-based work permit applications.

The stream has two categories. Category A is for innovative companies referred by a designated partner that need to hire someone with unique, specialized talent. Category B covers employers hiring for occupations on ESDC’s Global Talent Occupations List, where there’s a recognized domestic labour shortage. Category B does not require a referral.

Employers need to submit a Labour Market Benefits Plan (LMBP) and commit to certain activities that will have a long-term positive impact on the labour market, such as job creation, training investments, or transferring skills to local employees.

What This Means for Global AI Workers

Unfortunately, for those high-skilled AI professionals looking for an advantage, this announcement doesn’t change much.

First, there are only two National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes that specifically mention AI-related jobs. These are:

• NOC 21211, which covers data scientists, explicitly includes job titles like AI analyst, AI consultant, AI designer, and machine learning engineer.
• NOC 21232, which covers software developers and programmers, includes “artificial intelligence programmer” as an example title.

The NOC system was last updated in 2016, and the next update is expected to be released in late 2027. However, unlike the previous one, the 2027 NOC update is expected to be a minor one.

Second, the current Global Talent Occupations List for Category B already includes both NOC 21211 and NOC 21232.

The narrowness of the NOC system and GTS occupations list doesn’t mean that there are no other AI jobs out there. In fact, a quick LinkedIn search shows roles ranging from AI prompt specialist to AI content reviewer, which aren’t captured in the NOC classification at all. Workers in these jobs would find themselves trying to fit under broader categories, where the listed duties don’t match the work they do.

Since the Global Talent Occupations list for Category B is based on NOC codes, it is unclear whether the government plans to add other AI occupations to the program. How it would accomplish that, given there are only two NOC codes that specifically mention AI, is unclear.

Under Category A, employers could already bring skilled workers with unique and specialized talent in any field.

So, the AI for All strategy, well-meaning as it might be, doesn’t really move the needle on attracting AI talent or even bringing skilled workers to Canada more quickly.

What to Watch For

The AI for All strategy is only a framework. The specifics haven’t yet been finalized. Whether the government plans to expand the GTS occupations list, prioritize modern AI roles under Category A, or modernize the NOC code with emerging occupations next year, remains to be seen.

If you are an AI professional and your job falls under NOC 21211 or NOC 21232, this strategy doesn’t change anything for you. A Canadian employer wishing to hire you can do so under the existing Global Talent Stream.

However, if your AI role doesn’t fall neatly into those two categories, we recommend waiting for further guidance from the government. In the meantime, you can begin your job search and find a Canadian employer interested in hiring you.